338-06 VS 35-06 aka 35 Whelen

[truck driver]

Are you ready for some well spirited conversation?
Which one is better, easier to load, available components and coherently more accurate? :mrgreen:

 

[Kodiak]

I would guess the Whelen might get the nod.
That said, I have always liked the .338 bore, so I may lean towards the always reloadable .338-06.

 

[gerry]

Which one is better is up for debate but in the real world there is no real difference between the two in performance on game. The 35 Whelen is much more available when it comes to properly head stamped brass and factory loads. The 35 Whelen is capable of more speed than a 338-06 but the higher B.C. of the 338 bullets evens things out at longer ranges. Others may disagree but I would run a 30-06 with 190 or 210 gr ABLR's or 200 gr AccuBond or Partition before I would get a 338-06.

 

[DrMike]

Flip a coin. Each has strong points that would recommend it over the other. In the end, they balance out.

 

[sask boy]

I am a 35 Whelen type of guy :wink:. The only real advantage in my opinion is the availability of factor Ammo if you don't reload!!

Blessings,
Dan

 

[nvbroncrider]

Now I put a lot of research into this before making my choice and they are virtually identical. I went with a 338-06AI I didn't see much gain over the standard version. The 338 has some major advantages in my opinion a 200 gr at 2900ish 180 at 3-3050. Basically giving you 300 Mag performance minus the BC advantage of the 30 cal. But you are practically equal at 225 to 400 yards and the 35 has a slight edge initially with the 250's. That quickly is nullified by the higher BC 338 bullets. That is how I summarize the two. If your leaning to a Whelen might as well step up to the 9.3X62!!

 

[gerry]

The 9.3x62 is eurotrash :mrgreen:

 

[truck driver]

The 9.3x62 is eurotrash :mrgreen:

Now lets play nice Gerry. :roll: :lol:

 

[gerry]

Actually I do think the 9.3x62 is a really neat round

 

[FOTIS]

Be nice Jerry! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[FOTIS]

Be nice Jerry! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

This is one Eurotrash I would not mind owning!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =365396262

 

[gerry]

That is a beauty, I wouldn't mind a LH Hunter in 9.3x62 myself

 

[truck driver]

That is a nice looking piece of wood.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Ouch Eurotrash?!?! Dang that must really sting for those who still are loyal to the Queen!!

 

[DrMike]

I rather like those 9.3s--pretty much all of them.

 

[Guest]

Always wanted a 9.3x62 in an Austrian-style "hogsback" stock. Maybe one day...

Of the two Rodger mentioned in his original question, I'd have to say, from a function standpoint, not a nickle's worth of difference. The singular advantage goes to the 338-06 for bullet selection, however, but it is a slight advantage at best.

 

[PJGunner]

The late Finn Aagaard did an article comparing the two cartridges and decided the 338-06 was the better of the two. :shock: What was he thinking? :lol: I'm not a fan of the .338 Win. mag. That one flat out hurts me. I have bigger stuff in lighter weight rifles that do not hurt me like the .338 Win. does. I have thought about doing a .338-06 just to see what all the fuss is about. I even have the donor sitting in the closet a 1917 Eddystone Enfield with a corroded bore. Just a simple rebore and it's be good to go. But then again, I could have it rebored to the .35 Whelen and be good to go as well. :roll: Just a short drive up to Prescott AZ to see Danny Pederson and tell him to bore away. :lol: 8) Oh well, one of these days when I have the time. :wink:
Paul B.

 

[Rigbymauser]

.333 Jeffery.

 

[35 Whelen]

Well the .338/06 is one heck of a good round and is probably equal in lots of ways to the old Whelen, the only thing is if your messing around with these two calibers , it is obvious early on that the availability of the .338 projectiles is a larger selection than the .35 bore has to offer, however with that said for myself I only use mine on game larger than 500 lbs and have zero interest in trying to use it for smaller stuff, that's why I have a .270................... so light bullets like 180/200 210 don't really interest us at all from this sorta gun. I feel like if you are in this areana then most probably the 225gr is the very lightest bullet I would use and have really always stuck with the 250gr as the standard bullet weight for the Whelen, so like someone else said already if I wanted to shoot 200gr or less out of these larger bores [which I don't] I would simply pull out the 30/06 and shoot those weights of bullets and don't really see the reasoning of wanting to shoot light bullets out of large bore guns as you are instantly into a BC that is hopeless for long range style of shooting. I guess if you only own one gun and needed to shoot 180 at Caribou and 200 gr at Big Black Bears or something like that one could fool around with that but for us when you reach for the Whelen there is a good reason for it ................. wounded Bear or Moose or Bull Elk, then of course I want a good 250gr bullet to put to work so I can get the job done quickly .
I remember when folks would try to take a small engine and add two carbs and tuned exhust and new cam and taller pistons etc............... and in the end it seamed like the bigger engine just always worked better to me . So for us, a souped up 289 is fine, but I think I will just stick with a 427 Shelby CobraJet,........... it has always worked just right, and still does........ imho
e

 

[BD1]

Hi all, I'm new here,
I've never owned a 338-06 however my brother has one I've helped him with and I've owned several Whelens.
I have to think that if a fella was looking at one or the other to have right now, component availability would be a concern if you wanted properly head stamped brass. Sure you could anneal and fire form new brass if you were inclined to but that can be a bit of work and time so it would be labor of love.
As mentioned earlier the broader availability of higher B.C. 338 bullets would get you a little more down range performance if you felt it necessary but I have to question whether a different .338 would be more suitable for longer ranges if you were anticipating shooting at long range.
As far as the Whelen is concerned, I've had very good success with it in the field, easy to load, components aren't terribly difficult to obtain and seems to be well mannered without the sharp recoil often encountered in larger bored rifles or magnums.
Just my 2 cents,

BD