35 Whelen vs 338-06

[sgt_zim]

Ray B, a question, but first an observation. I thought that the 338-06 and a Norma 308 Mag. were essentially the same. That being said, the bullet used is 30 cal i.e. 308". So I think you ment to say that the 30 cal has a vast selection of bullet weights. Is that correct or am I wrong?

there's a fairly extensive selection of .338 bullets as well, though not as extensive as 308; but there's no purpose in .338 bullets lighter than 180 grains, and I think most of the .338 bullets stop at about 250 grains. If you want heavier than that, you need to move to .358, .366, or .375.

 

[Shootist43]

My assumption did make an a__ out of me. I was thinking that the 338-06 used 338 brass and a 30 cal. bullet, when in fact the cartridge uses 30-06 brass necked up to 338. My mistake. Apologies to Ray B.

 

[rookhawk]

Don't forget, you need properly marked brass in Africa! For that reason, I think you're better with a Whelen, especially since you're saying you have a very tight budget.

 

[sgt_zim]

My assumption did make an a__ out of me. I was thinking that the 338-06 used 338 brass and a 30 cal. bullet, when in fact the cartridge uses 30-06 brass necked up to 338. My mistake. Apologies to Ray B.

Dude, if I had a nickel for every time I'd made a simple mistake like that, I'd be sipping mojitos in Boquete for the rest of my days already, and I won't be 49 until August. No worries.

 

[sgt_zim]

Don't forget, you need properly marked brass in Africa! For that reason, I think you're better with a Whelen, especially since you're saying you have a very tight budget.

I'll not be re-purposing 30-06 brass, whichever way I go. I usually use Hornady brass, and i've not ever seen their brass without a caliber stamp on the head.

I might be tempted to repurpose 30-06 into 35W or 338-06 SOMEday, but there is way too much difference in shoulder height and angle for me to even think about doing that with 9.3x62. And in any case, SOMEday is not THIS day, nor any day in the foreseeable future.

 

[Ray B]

Ray B, a question, but first an observation. I thought that the 338-06 and a Norma 308 Mag. were essentially the same. That being said, the bullet used is 30 cal i.e. 308". So I think you ment to say that the 30 cal has a vast selection of bullet weights. Is that correct or am I wrong?

Some clarification: There are two systems regarding the necking up/down of a cartridge case. the British system designates the original case first, then the new bullet diameter. So a 450/400 would be the case of a 450 that was necked down to 400. the US system is reversed in that the new bullet size is listed first followed by a designation for the case. So the 338/06 is a 338 bullet fit into an "06" case. The US system uses shorthand designations for cartridges such as "06" for the US Army .30/1906 and "08" for the 308 Winchester; gives us such cartridges as the 25/06, 7mm/06 and some as the 35/06 that have been named, 35 Whelen. Using the British system a 338 Win Mag necked down to .30 would be called the 338/30; which is very close dimensionally to the 308 Norma.

I may have misunderstood the original question- I thought it was a comparison of the 35 Whelen (30-06 necked to .358) to the 338/06 (30-06 necked to .338). For several years bullet makers have made bullets designed for the 35 Rem & 358 Win. These bullets were of light construction and did not perform well at higher velocities such as the 35 Whelen or 358 Norma. the selection of bullets that would perform well was quite limited. With the 338/06 the situation was reversed. The primary cartridge in .338" was the 338 Win Mag, so dropping a few hundred fps from the mag to the 06 case did not present performance problems. As stated, there were and are several bullets to select from that perform well in the 338/06. In recent years the bullet makers have increased the bullet selection in .358" so it isn't the problem it once was.

 

[Rob404]

Don't forget, you need properly marked brass in Africa! For that reason, I think you're better with a Whelen, especially since you're saying you have a very tight budget.

338-06 Brass can be bought, I orignialy stretched 06 brass but could not keep it separate once stretched so I bought 330-06 brass being stupid only costs about .04c a round more

 

[BC.Pat]

Just my 2cents there are lot of fellow here with lots of knowledge but I would like to share my experience. My first safari to Botswana many years ago my (1982) the airlines managed to lose my luggage with my ammunition in it for a few days. I was shooting a 9.3x62 steyr , there was no problem find replacement ammunition. I am not sure you would have the same luck with 35 whelen or 338/06 outside of North America. The 9.3x62 is a African caliber that might weight in to your decision depending where you will hunt.
cheers
Pat
p.s. I am very bias as I have four.

 

[sgt_zim]

Just my 2cents there are lot of fellow here with lots of knowledge but I would like to share my experience. My first safari to Botswana many years ago my (1982) the airlines managed to lose my luggage with my ammunition in it for a few days. I was shooting a 9.3x62 steyr , there was no problem find replacement ammunition. I am not sure you would have the same luck with 35 whelen or 338/06 outside of North America. The 9.3x62 is a African caliber that might weight in to your decision depending where you will hunt.
cheers
Pat
p.s. I am very bias as I have four.

That makes pretty good sense. Thanks.

 

[35bore]

Just go with the 35Whelen, it one of the best cartridges ever designed.

Your platform, ,, I will always recommend a 700, but there is nothing wrong with a 70, 77, 16, or Mauser.

It's all in what fits you best.

But just like any other caliber, use premium bullets.

 

[sgt_zim]

Just go with the 35Whelen, it one of the best cartridges ever designed.

Your platform, ,, I will always recommend a 700, but there is nothing wrong with a 70, 77, 16, or Mauser.

It's all in what fits you best.

Well, I'm 6'6" with about a 17" LOP. Nothing fits me very well, at least not right out of the box.

 

[35bore]

Well, I'm 6'6" with about a 17" LOP. Nothing fits me very well, at least not right out of the box.

Well, a custom stock is a hell of a lot cheaper than a custom build brother.

 

[sgt_zim]

True dat, but I'm only looking at an extra 4 bones, tops, for a rebore. And as a matter of fact, the Choate I want to put on my 308 is about $525.

 

[PaulT]

Well, I'm 6'6" with about a 17" LOP. Nothing fits me very well, at least not right out of the box.

6'6" with 17" LOP, Dude, you could hunt Geese with a rake !!!! (just kidding).

 

[Shootist43]

What happens if the rebore is a flop? For a couple of bones more you can have a quality barrel installed and move on. If it were my choice, I wouldn't give reboring a second thought.

 

[8x68]

I've always been advised that a rebarrel is always better for the most part than a re-bore.

 

[BC.Pat]

I think there is a lot more chance for error in a re-bore IMHO. The skill and equipment required to re-bore is considerable, and the smiths I have talked to have stated the end result can often depend on the original barrel and how it was manufacture (metallurgy etc.). Its a case by case, (barrel by barrel) out come. But in new barrel manufacturing and chamber-ing its a much more controlled and repeatable process leading to consistency and accuracy. Just my 2cents

Cheers
Pat

 

[sgt_zim]

6'6" with 17" LOP, Dude, you could hunt Geese with a rake !!!! (just kidding).

 

[Milehighshooter]

If you buy a Savage, go with a re barrel, if you buy anything else, go with a rebore. They'll cost about the same, since a Savage is such a simple job.

With a rebore, find the best deal you can on a 30-06 or 270. Its the same price to go from 277 to 338 as 308 to 338, so leave it up to the best deal/ rifle you find. You should be able to find a R700 or M70 for $3-350, rebore (from JES that also includes the rechamber AND shipping back to you) for $250 and you're into a semi-customish gun for 600 bones. That's cheaper than buying say, a new left hand Ruger 35 Whelen or someones old project possibly.

The 338-06 will really shine with 185-225 range of bullets, the 200 and 210 would be a nice sweet spot. As to the difference between the 06, a 338-06 will throw a 185 gr faster than the 06 180. Bore expansion ratio favors the slightly wider bullet.

Vs the 35 whelen? Meh.....flip a coin

 

[Milehighshooter]

Some smiths don't like rebores, but I take that with a grain of salt coming from a person who makes money selling you a barrel install at 2-3x the price. JES has probably done thousands, and I've yet to see a firsthand account of a problem.

As a bonus, JES usually has your gun back in under a month. Hard to find a good smith who can deliver in those times and prices in a long time

Yes, there ARE some barrels that won't cut clean, or are problematic. I know early Ruger SS is an issue, military Mauser are 50/50, Sako can be hard (jes will do it for bigger cost) and pre 64 can sometimes have pockets of soft metal. Cut-rifle in Arizona has a list on their page of possible problem barrels