35 Whelen vs 338-06

Which cartridge should I pick to re-barrel a Remington 700?

  • 35 Whelen

    Votes: 44 63.8%

  • 338-06

    Votes: 13 18.8%

  • Something else

    Votes: 12 17.4%
  • Total voters
    69
  • Poll closed .
It sounds like you want a Whelen. So get it!

I've always wanted a .338-06, and have considered sending my 30-06 M70 to J E S reboring to do so. He gets good reviews and would be a more economical choice for you than a new barrel. I still might do that someday. I'd try and find a good load with 210 Partitions and go from there.

But I voted other. I think a 280 AI would be a more practical hunting cartridge for elk and moose but that's just me. Thumpers kill on both ends.
 
DM~ said:
Every bullet made for the .338 Federal and all the 200, 210NP and 225 grain bullets work just fine in the .338-06, and they don't have to be pushed to MAX velocity to work either. That's a LOT of choices! DM
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I have never had any trouble finding good bullets for my 338-06 rifles. Top choices for my hunting are the 180 and 200 grain Nosler Accubond and the 210 grain Partition. For target shooting I have a ton of Speer 200 grain HotCor and when those run out I will go to the Sierra 215 grain Gameking and Hornady 185 which are available locally. When all of the bullets were off the shelves in 2022 I found box after box of 185 grain AccuBonds at a cheap price and I really like those so I stocked up when prices were cheap. Powder selection for a 338-06 is also easy with Reloader 15, Viht N 150 and Reloader 17 being my top choices. A 338-06 is a handloaders dream and really fun to load.
 
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I could go the rest of my life and never buy another box of bullets to hunt with.

IF I have a rifle that I like, I stock up on the components for it, there's no reason not to! Even if I sell the rifle, I can still sell what I have stocked up for it, I mean how hard to you think it would be right now for me to sell some bullets??

DM
 
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My "heavy rifle" is a custom '03 Springfield in .35 Brown Whelen. This is strictly a handloading proposition, since the cases must be fire-formed. But if you're willing to do that, you'll have a rifle that will tread on the heels of the .338 Win Mag -- 225 grain Nosler Partition Jacket at 2800 fps.
 
Laphroaig said:
I've always wanted a .338-06, and have considered sending my 30-06 M70 to J E S reboring to do so. He gets good reviews and would be a more economical choice for you than a new barrel. I still might do that someday. I'd try and find a good load with 210 Partitions and go from there.

But I voted other. I think a 280 AI would be a more practical hunting cartridge for elk and moose but that's just me. Thumpers kill on both ends.
Click to expand...

I have been working for several years to reduce my number of hunting rifle that I use and to find the best calibers for me into the future. I think as a hunter gets more experience they will pick larger diameter heavier bullets because they just work better. My current goal is to keep the two 338-06 rifles that I have and the one 280 Remington that I also have. This year I will build a second 280 Remington and those four rifle should take me into the future. Those four rifle will be on the front row of my gun cabinet.
 
I like the .338-06 mostly because of the variety of bullets that are (not now though) available. Sizing up the neck of .30-06 cases is relatively easy, and 06 brass is easy to come by. Weatherby makes loaded ammo for the .338-06 if you don't reload, they call it the .338 A-Square. I shoot the .338-06 out of a Encore that I had deep throated so I can seat the longer bullets out further to provide more powder. I get velocities withing 100-200FPS to a .338 Win Mag using the same weight bullets.
 
What configuration is the 30/06 you like? Just as an alternative you could build the 700 into another 30/06 in a different configuration.
 
mavracer said:
What configuration is the 30/06 you like? Just as an alternative you could build the 700 into another 30/06 in a different configuration.
Click to expand...

Tikka t3x lite. My only complaint is the barrel isn’t threaded or really even threadable. But it’s a joy to carry and with the limbsaver pad not too bad to shoot. Noticeably more accurate than my old Remington. I’ve thought about a shorter 30-06 with a threaded barrel. But I don’t know if that will scratch my itch or not.
 
Okie_Poke said:
I’ve thought about a shorter 30-06 with a threaded barrel. But I don’t know if that will scratch my itch or not.
Click to expand...
Mmmm some 185 juggernauts or 208 ELD-Ms thru a match grade 1:10 twist 5r heavy barrel when you wanna hammer steel out to 1000 sounds fun.
 
Another vote for the 9.3. It's a true step up in power class when going to heavier bullets. With mid weight bullets the 35W is a ballistic twin, however you can find plenty of heavier offerings including dangerous game loads for the 9.3. Simple to make from you existing 30-06 brass and surprisingly not super expensive factory ammunition. Besides all that, who doesn't want an actual Safari rifle?
 
I had a custom 338/06 A Square made from a Remington long action a number of years ago. It was put together from a fellow who had worked for H S Precision and went out on his own. The rifle shoots really well. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to use it on game yet.

It is very easy to reload for. I bought RCBS dies with a tapered expander and can take regular, 30/06 brass, lube the inside of the case necks and get 338/06 brass in one stroke.

I did recently have to reload some monolithic bullets for it due to my State mandating non toxic bullets. I used some Nosler 200 Gr. E Tips. Reloaded some using now discontinued IMR 4166 powder. Tested loads to 2750 FPS with no pressure signs. Luckily, I bough a couple of #'s of the 4166. That load shoots 1 MOA A 100 yards. Hopefully, I can get out with it and try it out.

I like the variety of 338 bullets to choose from.
 
I could write a book on .30, .338. .35Whelen but it would only rehash most of what has already been stated.
I rebarreled my Interarms MkX to .338/06 in 2003.
I had 30/06 barrel replaced in ‘21...

I had originally planned to do a .35Whelen but got a Adams &Bennet barrel for $59 from Midway...
I scrounged and located many boxes of dusty set asides and partial boxes. Bought out the last of 5-boxes of 180gr Ballistic Tips at Ga Arms...

I agree with Jon Barsness; their is precious little difference between the three, with advantage going to the .30 due to ballistic coefficient and sectional density.
However, I do agree with Jack O’Connor that in comparing the .30/06 with the .270, the ‘06 will tend to make’EM FLINCH a little harder when hit...Meaning the .35Wh3len...

I dearly love my .35Remington Marlin M336C for deer and pig hunting. I load up a 200gr RN to 2,250fps. It’s a “stomper” Likewise my .358Win BLR-81 would be “more better” except it’s got a terrible trigger, and is just too pretty to haul around in an aluminum boat with muddy boots and wet gun cases...

Besides, it all moot now... In 2010 I ran up on a Ruger M77MkII African .375Ruger at a LGS. It was getting no love as it had a “knocked off” rear sight. I bought it for pennies on the dollar. Sent it back to Ruger who replaced the barrel for a VERY REASONABLE price.
So, the Ruger is in place in case we have a Velociraptor season, or an elephant escapes from the Atlanta Zoo. I’ve found all sorts of .375 bullets in dusty boxes or plastic bags at flea markets. 250, Sierra 250’s in a plastic bag for $27.00! A box of 50, 300gr Nosler partitions for $19.95... 200 Nosler 260gr Accubonds for $40.00. And 500 Hornady 270gr RN (pre interlock) fo $17.95/100.
I’m set for bullets! Not to mention some Speer 235’s and Hornady 225gr Spitzers (discontinued)...

I also have a Colt Lt. Rifle in ‘06 that gets the pick if elevation is above 8,000’.
Too many choices!!!
 
Do what I do when I can't decide... get one of each! I don't own a 338-06 but I do have a 35 Whelen and a 9.3x62, both rebored from JES, both on 1903 Springfield custom setups. Honestly, the only reason I built the 9.3x62 was to have a DG rifle setup if I ever get that opportunity. The cartridge was developed for the 286gr projectile as others have already stated. In my Whelen, I use 225gr loads, which it shoots very well. I think they are Sierra bullets if I recall. I handload for both cartridges. If you're OCD like me, you can purchase brass for each with the proper stamping. The 9.3x62 is popular in Europe and Africa so factory loads abroad are an option for that one.
 
I'd go .35Whelen, but I'm biased after using my .350RM.

I would take VTs take on it and go with a 18-20" barrel and let the expansion ratio make up for the lost velocity VS the .338-06. I'd set the rifle up as a "mid range" rig for out to 300yds, and at those distances the higher BC .338 bullets won't make a bit of difference. That way I could make use of the .357 pistol bullets and cast bullets for plinking. I could even load it down to .358win or 35rem velocities for whitetails out of stands/blinds.

Here's the effect of a .358 Horn SP at 2830FPS on Friday night:

gYkgzjwl.jpg
 
Chuck R. said:
I'd go .35Whelen, but I'm biased after using my .350RM.
Click to expand...
I started out using two different 350 Rem. mags., a Rem. 600 or 660 and a Ruger 77, I liked the .338-06 much better for bigger big game and have stuck with it.

My first .336-06 was a Ruger 77/30-06 that I had PO Ackley rebore, that rifle was very accurate, too bad the bolt was on the wrong side! lol

DM
 
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