I for one do not understand why the .338-06 is not a popular cartridge. I understand the rifle manufacturers are not chambering it in rifles but I mean with all the high B.C. bullets available in .338 caliber the .338-06 can be loaded to levels that outperform many magnums at less recoil and will kill anything that walks on North America. Now it may be a little light for some for Brown Bears in the alders but for everything else it will flatten.
No. it is not the ultimate long range range sniping cartridge but for thumping things for 99% of Americans in the hunting fields it will do the job with a lot less recoil, muzzle blast, with the right bullets used! I have owned a .35 Whelen and gave it to my grandson for the Giant Black Bears that inhabit the Pennsylvania forests that can reach the size of a grizzly. Now a deer caliber can suffice for the average black bear but when you run into a outsized black bear north of 500lbs a .338-06 or .35 Whelen and 250 grain controlled expansion bullets come in to there own to put a big bear down before they get deep into thick tangles where tracking and recovery can be difficult. Now I know, I am an old 67 year old Elmer Keith throwback type, that still believes in making big holes in things preferably two (one in and one out) depending on high velocity to kill. I like things that hit them hard up close and stagger them. My eyes are not what they used to be and I had to have my lens in my eyes replaced. Now I still love the .300 Win Mag, but for in close work I have my Ithaca custom shop DeerSlayer III bull barreled 12 gauge firing a Dixie IXL-DGS Dangerous Game Slug, .729 caliber, 870 grain at 1300 FPS out of my 24 inch barrel. I may have its barrel shortened to 20" which will reduce the velocity to 1200 FPS. However, a hardened 870 grain .729 chuck of lead slaps things rather hard up close even moving at under 1200 FPS as that is a LOT of momentum to run into.
It is my hunt black Bear Bear at under 100 yard firearm. If fire arm manufacturers made rifles more practical for the hunting we Americans actually do like making us some good bolt actions in .338-06s and a lot of good hunting ammo in that caliber I would would buy one. I mean how many people actually need or can even accurately shoot a .300 Remington Ultra Mag but then what do I know I hunted elk in Wyoming with a custom .375 H&H rifle. It felt good to have in my hands because I hunted in a grizzly use area that was known for problem grizzlies and I could shoot it as well as my .30-06 as I practiced with it. I'm just thinking out loud as old farts sometimes do.
....Rich
