Hey Guys - And Gals Need Advice!

Every time I look at the ballistics possible fronm the .338-06 I start wondering why I don't send my Mauser Mark X with an 18 1/2 inch barrel and Mannlicher stock out to Cliff LaBounty for reboring and rechambering.
Then I start to worry about the velocity loss in the "short" barrel - Yeah, I know that I will only lose about 50-90 fps per inch of barrel loss from a 22 inch, and that any bull, boar, or buck tagged with a 250 grain bullet in the right place is meat on the table - BUT - still I worry.

Anyone have any experience with this wildcat in a shorter than usual barrel?

Thanks -

Bluesman

It's my understanding that Cliff LaBounty is on the verge of retiring, so if you are going to do it, you had better be quick. I'm not sure if he's taking any new work or not.

I think it's a great idea, though.

The second thing I'd purchase is a good set of ear muffs!! :eek:

It's my understanding that Cliff LaBounty is on the verge of retiring, so if you are going to do it, you had better be quick. I'm not sure if he's taking any new work or not.

I think it's a great idea, though.

Thanks Alyeska338,

Cliff has been retiring for almost as long as we've known each other. But he can't really retire too soon because he is going to be one of the characters in my next novel. Therefore even if he retires I'm going to bring him out of his retirement for at least one book.

Although anyone who has done business with Cliff knows this I think that Mr. LaBounty is one of our national treasures. Cilff should write a book that covers all of the "rifle quirks" he's run into. In fact I'm going to call him and suggest same!

I'm sure he could sell a truck load or two right here to all of us that have the devotion and interest but not his talent or experience.



Bluesman

Hey Guys - And Gals Need Advice!

Every time I look at the ballistics possible fronm the .338-06 I start wondering why I don't send my Mauser Mark X with an 18 1/2 inch barrel and Mannlicher stock out to Cliff LaBounty for reboring and rechambering.
Then I start to worry about the velocity loss in the "short" barrel - Yeah, I know that I will only lose about 50-90 fps per inch of barrel loss from a 22 inch, and that any bull, boar, or buck tagged with a 250 grain bullet in the right place is meat on the table - BUT - still I worry.

Anyone have any experience with this wildcat in a shorter than usual barrel?

Thanks -

Bluesman

Actually you can figure around 35 fps per inch of barrel taken off the end of that rifle. I love that caliber however NOT in a rifle with an 18 inch barrel.......You won't like to target practice with it I am sure. Now at night time it will look impressive with almost 3 feet of flame coming off the end of the gun.

I doubt if this gentleman would knowingly even commit to such an operation, knowing full well the outcome later. You could of course just leave that 22 inch barrel on the rifle or have him put on a new 24 inch barrel and you would have a heck of a big game rifle for future hunts and something a lot more practical. :cool:

Actually you can figure around 35 fps Loss! I love that caliber however NOT in a rifle with an 18 inch barrel.......You won't like to target practice with it I am sure. Now at night time it will look impressive with almost 4 feet of flame coming off the end of the gun.

I doubt if this gentleman would knowingly even commit to such an operation, knowing full well the outcome later. You could of course just leave that 22 inch barrel on the rifle or have him put on a new 24 inch barrel and you would have a heck of a big game rifle for future hunts and something a lot more practical. :cool:

Dear 2bits -

Thanks for the comments.

Bluesman

Dear 2bits -

Thanks for the comments.

Bluesman

I have a 338/06 with a 23 inch barrel on the rifle! It shoots great will kill anything on the planet with the proper bullet. I could actually get rid of all my other rifles and still do the same hunting I do now in this country or Canada. This is a NO nonesence type of a rifle when it come to hunting big game animals.

Heaven forbid I ever do such a thing! :D

None the less this caliber will in fact do what a 338 mag will do up to 300 yards and that is just not someone talking out their ears. I sure wouldn't be affraid to hunt the biggest of bears using this caliber and premium 250 grain bullets.

Let me know when that bood is coming out OK. :cool:

I have a 338/06 with a 23 inch barrel on the rifle! It shoots great will kill anything on the planet with the proper bullet. I could actually get rid of all my other rifles and still do the same hunting I do now in this country or Canada. This is a NO nonesence type of a rifle when it come to hunting big game animals.

Heaven forbid I ever do such a thing! :D

None the less this caliber will in fact do what a 338 mag will do up to 300 yards and that is just not someone talking out their ears. I sure wouldn't be affraid to hunt the biggest of bears using this caliber and premium 250 grain bullets.

Let me know when that bood is coming out OK. :cool:

Thanks 2bits -

The book, "Sniper's Eyes," should be out before Christmas, 2004 if the publisher can get it done. It is the first in a series of six books that has been well reviewed by lumanaries in the shooting and hunting world such as J.D. Jones, John Barsness, and Ed Siemon. If you know any movie producers looking for a killer-thriller let me know.

If I can get some book signings lined up I will let you know when and where.

Bluesman

Hey OK!

If I were 25 years younger I would run off to Hollywood for the part......chuckle chuckle! :D :D :D

If you want a short barrel 338, why not go with a 338-08? You could use a short action, and you wouldn't need as much powder, and having a short barrel you wouldn't really miss any velocity that you would gain from the larger case.

George

Maybe this article will inspire you to consider a longer barrel than your short Carbine for a 338-06?


http://www.huntingmag.com/guns_loads/338_06_rises/

GOOD LUCK! :)

Maybe this article will inspire you to consider a longer barrel than your short Carbine for a 338-06?


http://www.huntingmag.com/guns_loads/338_06_rises/

GOOD LUCK! :)

Thanks Gowge - Good article, complete with loads!

Hey Guys - And Gals Need Advice!

Every time I look at the ballistics possible fronm the .338-06 I start wondering why I don't send my Mauser Mark X with an 18 1/2 inch barrel and Mannlicher stock out to Cliff LaBounty for reboring and rechambering.
Then I start to worry about the velocity loss in the "short" barrel - Yeah, I know that I will only lose about 50-90 fps per inch of barrel loss from a 22 inch, and that any bull, boar, or buck tagged with a 250 grain bullet in the right place is meat on the table - BUT - still I worry.

Anyone have any experience with this wildcat in a shorter than usual barrel?

Thanks -

Bluesman

The 338-06 is a heck of a cartridge and I myself am a fan of carbines. If it was my rifle though, I wouldn't go shorter than 20" because of the sharp increase in muzzle blast. Been there. I assume most of your shots are within 300 yards. That being the case, don't get too hung up on velocity loss. The animal will never know the difference. I have found that the ideal bullet weight in that cartridge is 225 grains for power and trajectory, a nice balance. This year I am going to start experimenting with 230 grain FailSafes. That's my two cents.

The 338-06 is a heck of a cartridge and I myself am a fan of carbines. If it was my rifle though, I wouldn't go shorter than 20" because of the sharp increase in muzzle blast. Been there. I assume most of your shots are within 300 yards. That being the case, don't get too hung up on velocity loss. The animal will never know the difference. I have found that the ideal bullet weight in that cartridge is 225 grains for power and trajectory, a nice balance. This year I am going to start experimenting with 230 grain FailSafes. That's my two cents.

Dear Cobra -

Thanks for the info. I use the 225 grain Sierra and 300 grain Sierra in my Ruger .338. In fact the 300 grain Sierra plays a role in my new novel - "Sniper's Eyes" - that should be out before Christmas. It will be available at Accurate Press. The 300 grain bullet is sub-MOA and is the BEST sniper's bullet I have ever fired.

The 225 grain is a little too much for deer at under 300 yards. Just too much meat loss if it hits, as mine did, the legbone.

I'm strill considering the .338-06 in the carbine - Thanks again.

Bluesman

I want to caution you about muzzle jump in a short carbine pushing a big hunk of lead out the barrel. The recoil will also be very similar to you .338 magnum, as it is lighter in weight. Still a great combo for elk in the mountains, bear or just deer.

I want to caution you about muzzle jump in a short carbine pushing a big hunk of lead out the barrel. The recoil will also be very similar to you .338 magnum, as it is lighter in weight. Still a great combo for elk in the mountains, bear or just deer.

Hey 2bits -
Thanks for the input. I shoot a lot of high recoil rifles so that recoil has enabled me to become clinically brain dead - a REAL ADVANTAGE with serious calibers.

Bluesman

OK Bluesman! Me too......Ouch.....Duh LoL

Hey Guys - And Gals Need Advice!

Every time I look at the ballistics possible fronm the .338-06 I start wondering why I don't send my Mauser Mark X with an 18 1/2 inch barrel and Mannlicher stock out to Cliff LaBounty for reboring and rechambering.
Then I start to worry about the velocity loss in the "short" barrel - Yeah, I know that I will only lose about 50-90 fps per inch of barrel loss from a 22 inch, and that any bull, boar, or buck tagged with a 250 grain bullet in the right place is meat on the table - BUT - still I worry.

Anyone have any experience with this wildcat in a shorter than usual barrel?

Thanks -

Bluesman
I think you migh be pleasantly surprised by the lack of fire etc. You use a faster burning powder with the 338/06 so a shorter barrel is not too bad. My old 338/06 has a 21 inch barrel and is pretty easy on the noise/eyes. Velocity isn`t too bad either but I cannot remember the exact figures. I use a guy down here in Or who does pretty good reboring too.

Aloha, Mark

Anybody found a source for light bullets for the .338? I'm thinking 150gr for deer - 250gr for bigger beasts. ;)

TIA!

Anybody found a source for light bullets for the .338? I'm thinking 150gr for deer - 250gr for bigger beasts. ;)

TIA!

The only light bullets I know of, are the Barnes in the 160 grain weight. The have an SD of .200 and BC of 337.

In the heavier weights, I have found them NOT to open up all the time! However, I have shot some great 3 & 5 shot "one hole" groups at 100 yards and less than 1 inch at 200 yards.

Anybody found a source for light bullets for the .338? I'm thinking 150gr for deer - 250gr for bigger beasts. ;)

TIA!

Dear Gowge -

My suggestion is to think CAST bullets for deer - I wouldn't, personally, go to light weight bullets. I would use cast bullets at lower velocity for deer out to 150 or so yards and and use the jacketed bullets for high velocity situations.

Firing a light bullet at high velocity has a couple of drawbacks. At close range they'll blow-up too much tasty venison, and at long range (300 or more yards) they may have lost too much velocity to expand and penetrate adequately - though they might fail to expand at all and that would be the worst type of failure - a deer that's fatally wounded but able to run for a long way before bleeding out from the smaller wound channel made by the non-expanding bullet.

On the other hand one can easily argue that the .338 should be reserved for hunting game larger than deer - meaning - of course - that you have the perfect excuse to get ahold of another rifle "just for deer" and then you can start wondering what bullet would work for say - pasture poodles - and that will start you down the path to another new rifle.

Have Fun -

Bluesman

Anybody found a source for light bullets for the .338? I'm thinking 150gr for deer - 250gr for bigger beasts. ;)

TIA!
How stable are lighter bullets given the twist rate in most 338 barrels?