Hi Bob! I am glad the RL19 is working well for you.
Your take on the velocities and maximum point-blank range pretty well spell out why I sold my 338 WM after shooting the 338-06 for a while. While my original intention was to build a light-weight "mountain-rifle" with up-close "bite" - pissing off a Griz while hunting sheep or caribou is a very real possibility here- the fact that the 338-06 can do anything the 338 WM can at reasonable ranges using less powder and with less recoil pretty well has sold me on the round. Also getting an extra round down the mag compared to it's magnum cousin pretty sealed the decision to stay with the round.
My rifle started life as a BSA Imperial Featherweight (circa 1958) in 30-06. Bevan King - one of Canada's top barrel-makers - cut me a SS barrel with 1 in 10 twist that my gunsmith installed for me. The end result is a rifle that tips the scales at under 7 pounds scoped and has a one hell of a bite! LoL
