.338-06
01-09-2003, 03:36 PM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Nebraska
Posts: 3,393
.338-06
I have not kept up on the gun industry for a couple years and may have missed it......Has this cartridge become a legitimate factory loaded cartridge.....and factory chambered?
I see so much discussion about it, it's as though it's a legitimate factory loaded round. I've considered it the last great wildcat and now wonder if it's lost it's wildcat status while I wasn't watching!!
I see so much discussion about it, it's as though it's a legitimate factory loaded round. I've considered it the last great wildcat and now wonder if it's lost it's wildcat status while I wasn't watching!!
01-09-2003, 08:04 PM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: va USA
Posts: 580
RE: .338-06
Weatherby now chambers a rifle and sells ammo for the 338-06. Unfortunely both carry a high price. I think the rifle sells around the $900 - $1,000 mark and a box of ammo that I saw at a local gun shop was going for $44.95. Ouch! The price of the rifle may not be to bad for WBY quality but the ammo cost is laughable. I hope Federal or Hornady will one day load the 338-06 and I bet it will not sell for $45 a box.
Edited by - popeye on 01/09/2003 20:33:42
Edited by - popeye on 01/09/2003 20:33:42
01-09-2003, 10:30 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Nebraska
Posts: 3,393
RE: .338-06
Popeye......that means that Weatherby has standardized the cartridge by issuing a production chambered gun for a cartridge named .338-06.
the rest of the pack can't be far behind because it's a deserving round and RCBS will be making dies for it and it'll be available in Remingtons and winchesters as well.....I think that's great news......I just hope someone figures it out that that cartridges value is in a festherweight gun!!!
the rest of the pack can't be far behind because it's a deserving round and RCBS will be making dies for it and it'll be available in Remingtons and winchesters as well.....I think that's great news......I just hope someone figures it out that that cartridges value is in a festherweight gun!!!
01-10-2003, 04:56 AM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: dedham massachusetts USA
Posts: 1,361
RE: .338-06
i think even thoug it is close to the 30-06sprg. with reloaders out there and a good selection of bullets for the 338 bullets. it would be a great round for reloaders.
i would like to see it out in maybe a ruger or any other gun for that matter. i would definatly buy that round. but if it stays just in a weatherby it will not last that long. since i don't see anyone here on the sites who own one or know of someone.
i would like to see it out in maybe a ruger or any other gun for that matter. i would definatly buy that round. but if it stays just in a weatherby it will not last that long. since i don't see anyone here on the sites who own one or know of someone.
01-10-2003, 02:25 PM
#6
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 917
RE: .338-06
Somehow, I don't think Remington or Winchester will chamber for this round, at least not right away. I've got a feeling that one or both of them is toying with the idea of a .338-caliber cartridge based on either the SAUM or WSM cases.
They may try and squeeze Weatherby out by not offering any rifles or loads for the .338-06 A-Square, which would be a natural competitor.
In fact, I think the case length of the '06 makes a better .338-cal cartridge than the short mags because it allows seating of the long, high-sectional density 225-250gr bullets that make that caliber so effective. The short-action rifles for which a short mag-based .338 would be chambered in would not allow enough room for these larger bullets to be seated properly, therefore eating up some of that precious powder space.
At this point, I think we can reasonably look to Ruger and Savage to pick up the ball and run with it as far as .338-06 rifles are concerned. In terms of ammo, let's hope that Federal and Hornady have the guts to go against the big guys and start offering good loads for this outstanding round.
By the way, my hat is off to the men and women of Weatherby for making one of our finest all-around cartridges available as a commercial entity. It kind of goes against their grain of developing ultra-high velocity cartridges desinged for serious long-range shooting. I guess it says a lot for the .338-06 in regards to the respect it deserves. <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>
Good Dogwork and Good Hunting
They may try and squeeze Weatherby out by not offering any rifles or loads for the .338-06 A-Square, which would be a natural competitor.
In fact, I think the case length of the '06 makes a better .338-cal cartridge than the short mags because it allows seating of the long, high-sectional density 225-250gr bullets that make that caliber so effective. The short-action rifles for which a short mag-based .338 would be chambered in would not allow enough room for these larger bullets to be seated properly, therefore eating up some of that precious powder space.
At this point, I think we can reasonably look to Ruger and Savage to pick up the ball and run with it as far as .338-06 rifles are concerned. In terms of ammo, let's hope that Federal and Hornady have the guts to go against the big guys and start offering good loads for this outstanding round.
By the way, my hat is off to the men and women of Weatherby for making one of our finest all-around cartridges available as a commercial entity. It kind of goes against their grain of developing ultra-high velocity cartridges desinged for serious long-range shooting. I guess it says a lot for the .338-06 in regards to the respect it deserves. <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>
Good Dogwork and Good Hunting
01-10-2003, 03:48 PM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Western Nebraska
Posts: 3,393
RE: .338-06
Now.....If I can just get Douglas to make a .338 diameter, 1-10 twist featherweight barrel!!!!! "short faced" and chambered to the .338-06....I've got a model 70 action that's just begging for that thing.....
I believe this cartridge is what the .35 Whelen was supposed to be!!!
I believe this cartridge is what the .35 Whelen was supposed to be!!!
01-10-2003, 07:19 PM
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: va USA
Posts: 580
RE: .338-06
Vapodog, I have a Shilen barrel on mine, shoots great. Dies are available from RCBS, Redding and probably a few others. I wish Weatherby would devote a few more marketing dollars to the 338-06. If hunters don't know that its commercially available they won't buy it. It it doesn't sell then it will just fade away. Hornady has taken chances with new rounds recently, like the 17HMR and 480 Ruger, maybe we will get lucky and they will pick this one up.
01-11-2003, 10:42 PM
#10
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ketchikan AK USA
Posts: 3
RE: .338-06
"I believe this cartridge is what the .35 Whelen was supposed to be!!"
Are you serious? The .35 Whelen IS what it was supposed to be. It is a powerful, flexible, accurate cartridge that works effectively in hunting-weight rifles. I've been hunting with my Whelen for almost 10 years now, and have ample reason to believe the good colonel knew what he was doing 80 years ago.
I'm sure the .338-06 is a wonderful round, and is probably indistinguishable from the .35 Whelen in actual hunting practice. But I sincerely doubt that it is in any way superior.
That being said, I would like to have one, just for the fun of it.
Are you serious? The .35 Whelen IS what it was supposed to be. It is a powerful, flexible, accurate cartridge that works effectively in hunting-weight rifles. I've been hunting with my Whelen for almost 10 years now, and have ample reason to believe the good colonel knew what he was doing 80 years ago.
I'm sure the .338-06 is a wonderful round, and is probably indistinguishable from the .35 Whelen in actual hunting practice. But I sincerely doubt that it is in any way superior.
That being said, I would like to have one, just for the fun of it.