338-06 vs 338-08

[lariat]

The OCD/cartridge porn addiction has kicked in. Any of you guys ever had the 338-08 wildcat? 338-06 has been on my radar for a good bit, and probably won’t go away until I scratch that itch. But since A-Square ain’t making it any longer, I might as well look at all the options and enjoy the process. I got to turn down brass anyway.

Before dome of you ask: because. Just like your mom said when you asked her. Because.

 

[Supersubes]

The 338-06 is the same as 338 Federal, no?

Whats your question exactly? You can use the parents of both cartridges to come to useful conclusions about speed.

 

[Ledzep]

.338-08 is .338 Federal. .338-06 is the wildcat.

 

[lariat]

The 338-06 is the same as 338 Federal, no?

Whats your question exactly? You can use the parents of both cartridges to come to useful conclusions about speed.

Correct. More than anything wondering if there are any idiosyncrasies with the -08 flavor. I can find good info on the -06 but not the -08.

 

[Supersubes]

.338-08 is .338 Federal. .338-06 is the wildcat.

Technically A-Square made an honest cartridge out of the 338-06, but its a small niche for factory ammo. Nosler I think is the only one.

 

[Supersubes]

Correct. More than anything wondering if there are any idiosyncrasies with the -08 flavor. I can find good info on the -06 but not the -08.

If you want performance data, the 338 federal has a good following.

 

[lariat]

If you want performance data, the 338 federal has a good following.

Thanks. I’ll start there.

 

[Supersubes]

Theyre both interesting. I chose to build the A-square. Used a standard A-Square spec reamer, and shoot 185 gr Hornady GMX/CX bullets from a 20” barrel at 2800 fps. Killed a few bears with it, and one cow elk.

 

[Edds]

The OCD/cartridge porn addiction has kicked in. Any of you guys ever had the 338-08 wildcat? 338-06 has been on my radar for a good bit, and probably won’t go away until I scratch that itch. But since A-Square ain’t making it any longer, I might as well look at all the options and enjoy the process. I got to turn down brass anyway.

Before dome of you ask: because. Just like your mom said when you asked her. Because.

Niether of those are Wildcats. You should be able to buy correct head stamp brass for either one. Federal makes brass for the 338 Federal. Norma makes 338-06 brass.

 

[lariat]

Niether of those are Wildcats. You should be able to buy correct head stamp brass for either one. Federal makes brass for the 338 Federal. Norma makes 338-06 brass.

It was before Federal ran with it in 2005. Some of my documentation on the caliber goes back that far.

 

[cas6969]

I came close to having a beater 30-06 re-bored to 338-06 a while back but it fell through.

My thought has always been... other than some recent bullets made specifically for the Federal, most .338 bullets are designed for the Win Mag and it's speeds, so the -08 will be pushing them at the bottom end of their operating envelope. (assuming you plan on shooting anything but paper/steel with them) So a little more oomf from the -06 would be a good thing.

"I got to turn down brass anyway." ??

 

[lariat]

I came close to having a beater 30-06 re-bored to 338-06 a while back but it fell through.

My thought has always been... other than some recent bullets made specifically for the Federal, most .338 bullets are designed for the Win Mag and it's speeds, so the -08 will be pushing them at the bottom end of their operating envelope. (assuming you plan on shooting anything but paper/steel with them) So a little more oomf from the -06 would be a good thing.

"I got to turn down brass anyway." ??

I have extra brass that can be sacrificed for this project., I'm cheap, and don't mind the task. Should have said "modify" to accept the .338 pill, poor choice of words on my part.

 

[cas6969]

You should be able to make .338-08 , -06 brass accidentally, without realizing you did it.


I have a .375-06 variant that has an extra step, making a false shoulder for fire forming. It's been too many years now for me to recall the details, but .280 brass worked better than 06 brass. I don't remember why it was better, how I stumbled across that or where the brass came from at the time, not owing a 280. It's a shame we learn so much only to have it drift away over time. lmao