If you could only have one...

[Cariboo]

Up until 2 years I would have went with the majority and said 30-06 in a heartbeat.


Now however after shooting the 338-06 for a couple of years I feel it is a better all-round cartridge than it's parent for the country I hunt and the beasts I chase. On any given day I might be shooting 350 yards across a logging slash or hunting black timber where a 30 yard shot may be the maximum possible.

For long range shooting it throws a 200 grain bullet as flat as the 30-06 launches a 165 grain slug using about the same amount of powder. If even more speed is needed a 24" barreled 338-06 will chuck a 180 grain X-bullet at close to 3100 fps!

With 225 grain bullets it is only 100 fps slower than my 338 Win Mag with the same bullets. I hunt large animals a lot, moose, elk and occasionally griz, and while the .338 diameter bullets are not "needed" they do give an added measure of confidence.