AusVarmint

Before I get too old I want to go up to the top end and bowl over a Buffalo.
I'm now in the process of building a rifle for the job, waiting for a Maddco barrel and then Shane will be doing the chamber work and fitting the barrel.
I'm going to screw the barrel on to a Mauser action that I'm sporterising at the moment.
Can someone help me with some loads for the .338-06 AI?

Regards,
Lindsay.

Nothing in any of my books for the Ackley version mate. Best bet is to do a work up starting from mid range .338/06 loads and work up in the normal way. No-one can give you definative loads as it is a 'wildcat' chambered in a custom rifle - even loads from a book would need to be checked thoroughly for pressure and accuracy before you load up for a hunting trip.

could you use 8mm/06 firmishloads as starters?
I don't know for sure, but it just a suggestion...

Another option is to use starting 35Whelen data as your starting point. As HiWall noted your on your own when it comes to 'cats ... which is half the fun!
Cheers...
Con

I think chuck hawks did some load development for a 338/06 so his mid range laods might give you a good start point to work up from

I'm wondering why you didn't just ream out the 8x57 chamber to an 8/06?? says me whos haveing a .338 Federal made.


later
P

ogre6br wrote:I think chuck hawks did some load development for a 338/06 so his mid range laods might give you a good start point to work up from

I'm wondering why you didn't just ream out the 8x57 chamber to an 8/06?? says me whos haveing a .338 Federal made.


later
P

I didn't have a barrel fitted to this action. I have had the action sitting around as an action only for the past 27 years!

This creates a problem these days. Do you register a plain action? Is an action by itself a firearm? I don't think so! Well I didn't register it as it was sitting at the back of my reloading cabinet wrapped up in newspaper and plastic. Now this is where the problem comes into things.
Question...."Where did this firearm come from"?
Answer....."I made it".
What happens when I get to that stage?

Regards,
Lindsay.

Interesting prospect, registering an action (bare) with the bureaucracy, and especially when you eventually 'wildcat' it!
Thy sometims do not undersdtand that an action is,in itself, just a few (admittedly precisioned) lumps of metal, about as dangerous as two chopsticks.(let's not go there!)
As for wildcats, that is well beyond the understanding of (those who know all.) -(bureaucrats)
Try contacting your weapons licensing branch and ask to talk to a senior officer, the enxplain the situation to him; that the action has been in your possession as a spare or just overlooked, and what youn intend having done to it. It may be worth you while to pass it on to your friendly 'smith (who is going to do the work).
A frank open approach often works. Good lucK!

does NSW have a amnesty system??
In vic a way round that is to get the rifle built- then "surrender" it under amnesty to a dealer you trust and then "buy" it back with a legit PTA from him.
or get the GS who builds it for you to put into their books as an action only and "SELL" it you as a completed rifle.

just an idea
later
p

To get back onto the post, the 5th edition of sierra's manual gives ,loads for the 338/06 A Square the dimensions of which are identical to the 30/06 up to the base of the neck; shoulder angle is 17deg 16', same as the parent case.
This would make it a necked-down 35 Whelen, in all but name.
Starting/top loads are as follows: 215gr SBT:
IMR 4895: 49.1...... 54.2
" 4064: 48.0...... 52.0
" 4350: 56.0...... 62.0
w760: 54.9...... 62.2
RE19: 58.1...... 65.8

For their 250grainers:
IMR 4895: 47.0...... 51.3
" 4064: 46.3...... 50.4
" 4350: 53.1...... 57.5
W760: 52.1...... 56.8
RE19: 55.0...... 61.2

M/Vs range from 2400 to 2700 with 215s,
and from 2300 to 2550 with the 250s.

AS USUAL, CAUTIOUSLY START LOW, AND WORK UP CAREFULLY, PAYING ATTENTIONTO ANY PRESSURE SIGNS!
The WOOB
Good luck![/b]

More on the 338/06 A Square (standard 30 06 dimensioned case)
CoW 10 (Cartridges of the World, volume 10, page 73) lists this as a factory cartridge for both A Square and Weatherby; the factory load is a 210 grain Nosler Partition @2750fps, and 3527fpe. again this is the standard case, so an AI version could improve on this the same way that the improved version of the 35 Whelen does over the standard cartridge.
If you're going after buff, I'd suggest heavy Woodleigh projies; I think they produce a 275 grainer.
Regards,
the WOOB

G'day

Kent Waters' pet loads has a decent article on the 338/06. List several different loads.

If you like I can type some of them out to help you get started.

Pete

locutus,

I've Googled 'Kent Waters' and can't find anything. Who is he?

Loads would be great.

Regards,
Lindsay.

Try "Ken Waters"...

Sory, cant spel to well, it is Ken Waters. Wolfe Publishing sell his Pet Loads book in the States and ship to Australia. Also, Bunduki Books (no affiliation) sell it in Melbourne.

Pete

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be a smartarse; I actually can spell things right; sometimes... read some of my other posts, or better yet, don't!