338-06 vs. 300 win mag

[laker]

Ok which would you guys take for elk if you had a 338-06 that shot 225 grain accubonds at 2700 fps and you had a 300 win mag that shot 180 grain accubonds at 2975 fps? Why would you take the one you choose?

 

[YoteSmoker]

I wouldn't take either. You need a 416 rigby to kill an elk-or antelope.

 

[Big Squeeze]

Ok which would you guys take for elk if you had a 338-06 that shot 225 grain accubonds at 2700 fps and you had a 300 win mag that shot 180 grain accubonds at 2975 fps? Why would you take the one you choose?

........................To be honest? Either one! However given the choice, I`ll take the 300. In using Hornady`s web site down range ballistics calculator, punching in the BC`s for both Nosler A/B`s, the velocities you state with a 300 yard zero, you`ll find that the 300 Win. is somewhat flatter shooting; -10.2" @ 400 yards and -27.2" @ 500 yards vs. -12.4" @ 400 yards and -32.7" @ 500 yards for the 338/06

Between the two, at 3-4 and at 500 yards, the velocity and downrange energy #`s are very close in those two depts., with both having the power to take care of biz on any elk.

However, if you were to throw in to the mix, the 30. cal 200 gr. A/B with a BC of .588 moving at say 2900 fps. MV with a 300 Win?? That would be my top pick for elk over the 180 gr. 30 cal. @ 2975 fps. or the 225 gr. 338 cal. @ 2700 fps. If you run the down range #`s on the 200 gr. AccuBond and compare them to the other two, you`ll see why!

My 300 WSM, using a 200 gr. AccuBond @ 2828 fps. MV has 1956 ft. lbs. in energy remaining @ 500 yards, which is better than either one!!

But! Aside from trajectory and for a little extra stopping power, I`ll take that 338/06 with a 225 grainer over the 180 gr. 300 Win. But I would definetly take the 200 gr. 300 over both!..............

 

[Big Squeeze]

I wouldn't take either. You need a 416 rigby to kill an elk-or antelope.

............. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[bullet]

I wouldn't take either. You need a 416 rigby to kill an elk-or antelope.

Or at least a .375Wby :lol:

 

[JD338]

laker,

Either one would be great for elk hunting. The 300 Win Mag with a 200 gr AB would make a serious long range elk rifle with a lot of retained energy.
Take a look at the ballistics for the 200 gr AB, its a hammer.

JD338

 

[bullet]

Kidding aside and on the serious side I would go with the 300Win Mag and a 200gr AccuBond. 300 to me is more versatile. That is why I really like my 300Wby lots of retained energy at long distance.

 

[tjen]

One will better for longer ranges and the other better for say under 300 yards. If you want the advantage of the 338 cal at longer ranges you will need a 338win, 338ultra, or 338 Lapua.

If your shooting 400 yards the 300win if only out to 300 yards the 338-06 gets my vote (or a 35Whelen).

 

[Mighty Peace]

Well I have a Sako m75ss 300WM shooting 180gr Accubonds superbly. Great performance on big game. BUT I'm getting a 338-06AI (thanks JD338 :grin: ) built on a Sako m75 Greywolf just for the fun of it to shoot 225gr Accubonds.

Either will get the job done. I think the 300WM will be better @ longer ranges (250+). My Tikka T3 LS 270WSM with 140gr Accubonds @ close to 3300ft.s - do the job-one shot kills on moose, elk, deer, bears. BULLET PLACEMENT!!!!


If going on a trip, take both the 300WM and the 338-06 and choose which to hunt with and use the other as backup. Us e the caliber you are most comfortable with shooting.

Have fun.

 

[Greg Nolan]

Laker, The 338-06 with the 225 gr AccuBond would be the choice. You get the advantage of the heavier bullet and the larget caliber. If you have a bullet drop compensator (like Burris, Nikon, B&C etc.) the range won't be a problem. The bigger the bullet the better the penetration and tissue damage. The 300 Win. mag is good too but the meat hunters in Montana, Idaho and Washington think the 35 Whelen is better than a 30 mag and the 338 caliber 225 gr. is excellent for breaking big shoulder bones and hitting the heart/lung area. I think the 338 Win. is a minimum for reliable elk. A 300 Weatherby is about as good with a 200 gr. bullet. Elk weigh about 3 times as much as a big deer and are a lot tougher. You don't need a 416 but it would make a lot more sense to me than a 270 unless you don't mind passing up shots beyond 200 yards unless they are standing broadside. Every caliber will kill with a standing broadside shot at 100 yds or so but elk are stubborn and usually only want to give you quartering away shots at 200+ yards with almost 4 feet of wet stomach to shoot thrue. A 300 mag will do it if you have a tough enough bullet like a Swift A-Frame that penetrates and retains 95% of it's weight. Elk will take a solid hit and not flinch as they cover a mile of black timber. A lot of people will dispute this but most of those people (think) they missed their shot when the animal ran off.
Good luck
Good Hunting
Elkhunt :grin:

 

[big rifle man]

Greg, I couldn't agree with you more. Having used both the .30 caliber and .338 caliber to harvest Elk I see a definite difference in the results. Bullet mass is a definite plus and up to any sane distance the difference in drop is easily correctable. I know there are those who disagree but there is a lot to be said about heavier bullets.

 

[nomosendero]

Ok which would you guys take for elk if you had a 338-06 that shot 225 grain accubonds at 2700 fps and you had a 300 win mag that shot 180 grain accubonds at 2975 fps? Why would you take the one you choose?

I ran the numbers & in this case they are pretty close with the 300WM a little flatter. However, when we look at the 2 velocities the 338-06 is at the upper end of expected velocities according to the stack of manuals I have at 2,700 in the average 338-06, but the 300WM at 2,975 is a little short, most 300Wm rifles will get closer to 3,000-3,050 & many manuals show 3,100 with the Nosler showing 3,160 with RL22, although I have not been able to do that with RL22. With RL22 I can get 3,075 & with RL25 I can get 3,140 & change(26" Sendero). Point being that the 300WM compares better yet when you compare both at upper end but safe pressures.

Better yet as others have stated the 300WM pulls away more with the 200 AccuBond. I can get 2,925-2,950 just fine with most rifles I would think are capable of 2,900+.

If I feel a need for more than the 300, I would opt for the RUM although I know the 338WM is great. I hope I don't run across a RUM like JD's Rem
Lam, I am afraid of what I might do, though it would just be another toy
I guess.

 

[Britz]

As it has been said before, both would be fine, but the 300 is a better choice for me since I always favor the longer range calibers. The 338 will have more kenetic energy at close range, but the 300 will pass it by in a hurry. The 200 AB would be my choice for the 300 win mag , and the 180 AB for the 300 WSM due to a smaller case capacity and short action. I'm not a huge fan of the 338-06, but honestly just because I'm partial to the larger case capacity of the larger 338's.

 

[FOTIS]

I wouldn't take either. You need a 416 rigby to kill an elk-or antelope.

THAT IS FUNNY DUDE!!!!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[FOTIS]

Kidding aside and on the serious side I would go with the 300Win Mag and a 200gr AccuBond. 300 to me is more versatile. That is why I really like my 300Wby lots of retained energy at long distance.

YOUR POST TOTALLY MIRRORS MY THOUGHTS AND PHILOSOPHY.

 

[Scott Spencer]

This discussion is causing a dilemma with me. I have a 30-06 right now that just isn't performing as well as I want it. I had pretty much decided to rebarrel it into a 338-06 AI and now all of these posts have me hesitating!

I'm looking for a rifle that will cover my hunting for elk, moose, black bear, whitetail, and mule deer. I really wanted to stay away from the belted cartridges and really didn't want another .30 cal rifle like the .300 Win Mag or .300 RUM. I suppose there is nothing wrong with two rifles but I would prefer a single rifle and that is why I was going with the .338-06 on my Winchester Mod 70 that want to keep.

Maybe I should just plunk down $550 on a Savage Model 116 in .338 Win Mag and keep my Win M70 30-06?

 

[Richracer1]

Since you own a 30 cal now, have you thought of the 300WSM?? Non-belted, not as much recoil as 338WM, and you can still use your 30 cal bullets .

 

[Jrogers]

I can only tell you from what I have, I would go with a 338/06AI. I started out with a weatherby ultra-light in 338/06 (to bad they don't make it any more) after a while I to wanted more. After a lot of looking I decided to go with the 338/06AI as i could just use the brass that i already had. It has taken 4 black bear so far at ranges from 50 yards to 175 yards. I think it is very close to the 338 win mag when loaded correctly plus you can use regular 338/06 ammo in it and they fire form great. Just my 2 cents. You can figure in about 150fps more than the standard 338/06 (around 2800 fps for a 200gr or 2570 for a 250gr).

 

[JD338]

I think it is very close to the 338 win mag when loaded correctly plus you can use regular 338/06 ammo in it and they fire form great. Just my 2 cents. You can figure in about 150fps more than the standard 338/06 (around 2800 fps for a 200gr or 2570 for a 250gr).

Welcome to the forum.

You are nipping at the heels of the 338 Win Mag for sure.

JD338

 

[Greg Nolan]

Scott,
I've gone thrue the re-chamber for improved performance a couple of times. It makes sense if you are increasing chamber without having to re barrel. When you have to re-barrel and re- chamber and re -work the magazine feed it starts to gets expensive. You can easily pour $400 into the project even with a standard barrel and you can end up with a gun that's not worth $10 more than when you started (except to you). The result is a gun that almost reaches the power of the caliber you're trying to match. And then there are the custom die costs etc.
I found (in my case) I could sell the rifle I had and buy the caliber I want all set up and using factory ammo, dies etc. for an additional 2 or 3 hundred or I could buy the $550 rifle for about what it would cost for the conversion and dies etc. and have both rifles. When you write down all the costs of all three options the numbers will help with your decision.
Good Hunting
Elkhunt :grin: