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Common uses: Hunting, Big Game
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 200gr Nosler Nosler Custom AccuBond |
| Muzzle velocity | 2800 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 3483 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.414 |
| Case length | 63.3 mm |
| Overall length | 84.8 mm |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2800 | 3481 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 2578 | 2950 | 0 |
| 200 | 2366 | 2486 | -3.8 |
| 300 | 2165 | 2082 | -13.7 |
| 400 | 1974 | 1731 | -31.1 |
| 500 | 1794 | 1428 | -57.5 |
At 1,000 yards, .338-06 (200gr at 2800 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 38.9 MOA / 11.3 MIL, retaining 1122 fps (transonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 2165 | Supersonic | -13.7 | 4.4 | 1.27 |
| 400 | 1974 | Supersonic | -31.1 | 7.4 | 2.16 |
| 500 | 1794 | Supersonic | -57.5 | 11.0 | 3.19 |
| 600 | 1626 | Supersonic | -94.7 | 15.1 | 4.38 |
| 700 | 1471 | Supersonic | -145.2 | 19.8 | 5.76 |
| 800 | 1334 | Transonic | -211.6 | 25.3 | 7.35 |
| 900 | 1217 | Transonic | -297.8 | 31.6 | 9.19 |
| 1000 | 1122 | Transonic | -407.5 | 38.9 | 11.32 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
A retained-energy reference only — not a shoot/don't-shoot distance. Real effective range depends on your accuracy, shot placement, bullet construction, and conditions. The ~1,000 ft-lb (deer-sized) and ~1,500 ft-lb (elk-sized) figures are commonly cited rules of thumb, not standards.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .338-06 is prized as a hard-hitting medium-bore that works in standard-length .30-06 actions and feeds off widely available parent brass, making it a practical choice for reloaders. It delivers ballistics close to the .338 Winchester Magnum with noticeably less recoil and more efficient powder use, though it gives up some velocity and reach to the belted magnum. Hunters favor it for larger North American game such as elk, moose, and bear, where heavy .338-caliber bullets provide deep penetration and reliable terminal performance. It remains a niche, largely handloader-driven cartridge with limited factory ammunition, so its appeal centers on those who value moderate recoil and the versatility of the .30-06 platform over outright magnum power.
The .338-06 began as a handloader's wildcat, formed by necking the .30-06 Springfield case up to accept .338-inch bullets, and it circulated among experimenters for decades after the .338 Winchester Magnum appeared in 1958. It was standardized in 1998 when Col. Arthur B. Alphin's A-Square company submitted it to SAAMI, giving it the formal name .338-06 A-Square. Weatherby chambered rifles for the cartridge, moving it from wildcat obscurity into limited factory production.
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