Trying to wrap up my 5 year old rifle project. Have an older Sako action, barreled and chambered for the .338-06 Improved. Have not done any loading for this caliber yet. Anyone have a pet load for this caliber? I'd like to use a 250 grain bullet, or maybe a Barnes Triple shock of lighter weight.

Can't help with the load data but sure would like to see a picture of the gun.

I'd like to see that also DJ. That sounds like a great cartridge with the improved version beating on the heals of the 338 Win mag with less recoil. Like Flash I don't have any loading data on it either.

I'll try to get a photo of it as soon as I get a stock for it. I had the late Larry Brace install a match grade, medium contour, 24" Krieger barrel on it. Then when he got sick, Bob West did the chambering. I really wanted Brace to make a nice classic style, English walnut stock to fit me. Now that he's gone, not sure what I'm going to do. It will have one of my Leupold 1.5-5 scopes on Sako bases. Bob West really liked the caliber, so took his advice. I had West build me a standard .338-06 about 20 years ago, but got offered more than it was worth before Mr. West finished it, and never took possession. Heard good things from the Elk hunting buddy that bought it though, and wanted one again ever since. Now, for a stock. . . . .

i've got one, it's an FN with a shilen bbl in a hand carved laminate... love it. great round!!
as far as loads go 200 gr nosler bt's with h414 were spectacular, since they don't make the bt's anymore i'm looking at 225 gr hornadys. at this point i'm working mainly with ramshot big game but i think anything in the range of varget/rl15 to as slow as 4350 should work fine. Fred Zeglin is doing an article on the various AI's and he is having western powders lab do the pressure testing, i'm pretty cranked about that... the more of the ramshot powders i use the more i like them.
the problem with the powders like h414 and slower is that you 'll have a hard time getting enough in the case to get top velocity. that's why i've gone to a little bit faster powders.
i haven't messed with anything heavier than the 225's, my opinion is that the 338 win or weatherby is the way to go for the "heavies", just my opinion tho. the great thing about 338 bullets is that they are all more than tough enough for the 338/06.