.338-06 for Plains Game?

[Safari Dave]

A .338-06 will do just fine.


My experience in Mozambique was pretty lengthy, but my safari company had a man who met me at the Tambo airport and knew the system.

I was expecting to pay quite a bit for importing the ammo, but it cost less than 1/2 of what I was expecting.



Never try it by yourself in Africa, unless you are very experienced.

An experienced concierge is worth their weight in gold when trying to get guns and ammo through an airport.

 

[DLSJR]

Clear back in 1983, Roy Vincent was extolling the virtues of the .338-06 for African plains game. And he’s certainly an authority among PH’s about the merits of various cartridges on African game. He had one, may still have it for all I know, and he thought it was an excellent option for most game.

 

[Deepfork]

I also worked up a load in my 338-06AI with the Hammer hunter 213 which actually weighs 210gr. That load averaged exactly 2900fps. For reference I worked up a load in the 338WM with the same bullet and ended up with 3038fps. Powder for both loads is Alliant 2000-MR. 61.8gr in the 338-06 and 70.2 in the 338WM. Also my 338-06 is a 22 inch barrel, 24 inch on the 338WM.

 

[Rick HOlbert]

That’s a great point. I have lots of 30-06 that has been fire-formed, but only a handful of properly headstamped brass. A quick search of the internet shows almost none for sale. Or none at a reasonable price, anyway.

Good day sir, As Bob has said, I just returned from Namibia and did use a 338-06. Worked like a hammer! I worked up a load using 230grn Oryx bullets at a chronographed 2680fps delivering 3668 ft/lbs of energy. W760 was the powder but I'll refrain from printing the charge weight and let you work up the load your self. Start at 57.0grn. My only dislike was that bullet seemed soft. At 110 yards, the bullet broke up on a kudu shoulder/ Killed quickly (ran 40 yards). Would have used A-Frames but as scarce as teeth in a chickens head. Didn't know at the time I could get North Fork bullets out of Oregon so went with the Oryx. I wouldn't hesitate to take it back again. Great round. As for head stamp, we went thru SA (OR Tambo) to get there and had no issue with Lapua 30-06 brass. Other countries, not so much as they are real jerks about the head stamp matching the rifle caliber. Hope this has been of some help. Let me know if I can be of further help.

 

[Slick3006]

How fast will a 338-06 push a 210 grain bullet? (Any flavor, but preferably a Barnes TTSX.)

I have been getting 2900+ FPS out of my Cooper 338-06 with the 210 gr Barnes. IMR 4064 and H4350 are my powders.

Have some 200 gr Noslers on order. Can’t wait to see what they do.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have been getting 2900+ FPS out of my Cooper 338-06 with the 210 gr Barnes. IMR 4064 and H4350 are my powders.

Have some 200 gr Noslers on order. Can’t wait to see what they do.

@Slick3006
Great velocities mate but unfortunately it ain't a Whelen.
Yes I know it will still get the job done as @Rick HOlbert found out in his last hunt.
Rick has a nice little 358 win and a 338-06. I'm still trying to get him to buy a Whelen but he's happy with what he's got.
Bob