When compared to the venerable '06, it looks like .338-06 is one of the few chamberings where the increase in energy is greater than the increase in recoil. So, this is a long post but I appreciate comments.
I've been thinking of building a rifle just for the fun of it and started doing a little research on different chamberings/loads. Here's the basis of my analysis: I estimated a chambering/load as more efficient than the '06 if the increase in energy (@ 100, 200, or 300 yds) exceeds the increase in recoil energy (or if the decrease in energy was less than the decrease in recoil). In other words, does the chambering/load offer a better bang per pound of recoil?
I used data from Chuck Hawks' ballistic and recoil tables wherever possible and looked at: 6.5X55, 7mm-08, .270, .280, .308, .30-06, .300WM, .325 WSM, .338-06, .338WM, .358Win, .35 Whelen, 9.3X62, .375 Hawk, .375 H&H.
It looks to me like the efficiency winners are 7mm-08 if you want less recoil than '06 (nearly 40% reduction in recoil with only about 10% reduction in energy), .338-06 if you want more wallop (18% more recoil but about 25% more energy), and .300WM if you need more wallop with a flat trajectory.
Here is an example. CH lists .30-06 180gr @ 2700 fps with energy as 2436 @ 100 yds, 2023 @ 200 yards, 1666 @ 300 yards. In an 8lb rifle it would produce 20.3 ft-lbs of recoil.
CH lists .338-06 210gr @ 2750 fps with 2975 @ 100, 2503 @ 200, 2074 @ 300 and 23.9 ft-lbs of recoil in an 8lb rifle. The .338-06 generates 18% more recoil but about 25% more energy at each range.
There were several chamberings with lower energy than the '06 that were more efficient, but only two with more energy. Here are the more efficient chamberings that I found (all percentages as compared to the '06 180 gr @ 2700 fps):
6.5 x 55 swede (140 @ 2600fps): recoil -48%; energy -33% @ 100, -25% @ 200, -23% @ 300
7mm-08 (140 @ 2860): recoil -38%; energy -15% @ 100, -8% @ 200, -5% @ 300
.270 Win (140 @ 3000): recoil -16%; energy -9% @ 100, +1% @ 200, +5% @ 300
.280 Rem (140 @ 3000): recoil -15%; energy -5% @ 100, -2% @ 200, -1% @ 300
.308 Win (180 @ 2620): recoil -14%; energy -7% @ 100, -6% @ 200, -7% @ 300
.300WM (180 @ 2960): recoil +28%; energy +24% @ 100, +27% @ 200, +32% @ 300
.338-06 (210 @ 2750): recoil +18%; energy +25% @ 100, +24% @ 200, +24% @ 300
Any ideas for others to look at? I've got quite a bit of '06 brass so I think it might be fun to build a .338-06. If I want something with less wallop than the '06 I'll just buy a 7mm-08.
I've been thinking of building a rifle just for the fun of it and started doing a little research on different chamberings/loads. Here's the basis of my analysis: I estimated a chambering/load as more efficient than the '06 if the increase in energy (@ 100, 200, or 300 yds) exceeds the increase in recoil energy (or if the decrease in energy was less than the decrease in recoil). In other words, does the chambering/load offer a better bang per pound of recoil?
I used data from Chuck Hawks' ballistic and recoil tables wherever possible and looked at: 6.5X55, 7mm-08, .270, .280, .308, .30-06, .300WM, .325 WSM, .338-06, .338WM, .358Win, .35 Whelen, 9.3X62, .375 Hawk, .375 H&H.
It looks to me like the efficiency winners are 7mm-08 if you want less recoil than '06 (nearly 40% reduction in recoil with only about 10% reduction in energy), .338-06 if you want more wallop (18% more recoil but about 25% more energy), and .300WM if you need more wallop with a flat trajectory.
Here is an example. CH lists .30-06 180gr @ 2700 fps with energy as 2436 @ 100 yds, 2023 @ 200 yards, 1666 @ 300 yards. In an 8lb rifle it would produce 20.3 ft-lbs of recoil.
CH lists .338-06 210gr @ 2750 fps with 2975 @ 100, 2503 @ 200, 2074 @ 300 and 23.9 ft-lbs of recoil in an 8lb rifle. The .338-06 generates 18% more recoil but about 25% more energy at each range.
There were several chamberings with lower energy than the '06 that were more efficient, but only two with more energy. Here are the more efficient chamberings that I found (all percentages as compared to the '06 180 gr @ 2700 fps):
6.5 x 55 swede (140 @ 2600fps): recoil -48%; energy -33% @ 100, -25% @ 200, -23% @ 300
7mm-08 (140 @ 2860): recoil -38%; energy -15% @ 100, -8% @ 200, -5% @ 300
.270 Win (140 @ 3000): recoil -16%; energy -9% @ 100, +1% @ 200, +5% @ 300
.280 Rem (140 @ 3000): recoil -15%; energy -5% @ 100, -2% @ 200, -1% @ 300
.308 Win (180 @ 2620): recoil -14%; energy -7% @ 100, -6% @ 200, -7% @ 300
.300WM (180 @ 2960): recoil +28%; energy +24% @ 100, +27% @ 200, +32% @ 300
.338-06 (210 @ 2750): recoil +18%; energy +25% @ 100, +24% @ 200, +24% @ 300
Any ideas for others to look at? I've got quite a bit of '06 brass so I think it might be fun to build a .338-06. If I want something with less wallop than the '06 I'll just buy a 7mm-08.