My .338-06 A-Square is nigh on the horizon. While I am an experienced handloader this will be new territory for me. I've got c

[007]

My .338-06 A-Square is nigh on the horizon. While I am an experienced handloader this will be new territory for me. I've got cases formed from new W/W .30-06 brass (found out that Remington cases suck for this), and am leaning toward IMR 4064 and 200 grain Hornady Interlocks. I know, heavy for whitetails but should be great for black bear. Anybody have any experience or words of wisdom to share with me regarding my project? Thanks much and good shooting/hunting.

[Del in KS]

I would try some of the Hodgdon and Reliant powders. Should be a good Moose , bear and elk gun. That bullet should work well I would try Barnes trple x also. Have fun shooting.

[bonnier-admin_2]

The best brass to form 25-06, 270, 280, 338, and 35 is 30-06 Lake City Military Match Brass of the same year. They works fantastic!!!!!!

[bonnier-admin_2]

30-06 Military Brass same year none Match works too!!!

[007Dom]

same as claycooper

[007Dom]

same as claycooper

[Beekeeper]

007,

I use Winchester 30-06 brass to form my .338-06 cases. I have also purchased Weatherby factory 338 A Square brass to assure I won't have trouble clearing the TSA check in at the airport.

Weatherby brass is made by Norma and will last you forever. The I find the Winchester brass quite satisfactory also. Some of my necked up cases have been fired 3 times with no problems. If you choose to use necked up military brass, decrease your loads by 10% and work up carefully. The military brass is thicker than commercial stuff.

Try the book loads with Reloader 15 in the Hornady manual with their 200 grain Interlock bullet. My loads duplicate the published velocity with the 24 inch tube on my rifle.

No such thing as the 200 grain bullet being too big for deer. I have actually found that it produces less wasted meat than my '06. It will pound a very large feral hog also!

The .338-06 is a great cartridge. Recoil is relatively mild and it is only a hundred feet per second or so slower than the .338 Win. Mag.

[007]

Thanks so much, Beekeeper, greatly appreciated. It's a Ruger 77 MK II synthetic rebarreled to the .338-06 and reworked a bit. Never had a custom or an all-weather rifle so of course I'm looking forward to it. You make a good point on the 200 grain bullet, bet it will work great. Thanks again, good hunting to you and yours.

[DakotaMan]

Sounds like fun! The Barnes manual #3 shows the most accurate powders to be the H414 with a max load of 65.0 g and Varget with a max load of 55.5 grains with the 200 grain bullet. I have got to believe that you will like RL15 for this cartrige too. It is shown as their most accurate powder on most bullet weights and I have had great luck with it on similar cartriges. Have fun... I may build myself one of those some day. I like the .338 but just don't care for the recoil of the .338 Lapua.

[rudyglove27]

Agreed with Beekeeper and + 1 for you sir!!!

[RedTeam98]

Reloader 17 @ 63.0 with 225gr Hornady SP
WW brass and Fed 210M primer
Most excellent load in my 338-06 WBY

[007]

Redteam, what do you use it for? I carry mine for whitetails and black bear, took it to Ga. for hogs this past February.

[RedTeam98]

I use a Weatherby UL in 338-06

My load for several years

Reloader 17 @ 61.0
WW Brass
WLRM Mag primers
225 Nosler Part

2700 FPS in 24" barrel
Very Acuurate