I was told my 06 is fine for elk, but with more study and a second look, there is more "weight" with the 338.

in looking at the charts, 225grain going 2600 at muzzle sends a wallup down range the o6 can not measure up to.

I originally was going to take the trusty 06, but with further review I am leaning toward the 338. Am I wrong, or is it a wash?
Thanks, Tim

30-06 loaded with 180 gr nosler partition, or similar bullet design will be great.

Whose's charts are you looking at? I load the 338 WM for a friend. Out of his 338 WM, used to be my rifle, w/ a 24" barrel, you can safely drive most 225 grain bullets around 2800 fps. Heck, 250 grainers will go 2650 fps.

338 Win Mag for decades had been "THE" Elk and Moose cartridge.

"If" you can't kill an elk with an 30-06 at any range you "should" be shooting at then haveing a .338 won't make a bit of difference!!!

Like the other poster said, use "premium bullets", and i also like Nosler partitions!! I'd use 180 or 200 grain NP's.

Drilling Man

I use a .338 for almost all my hunting,it has more punch that is for shure.What I like is I can take 210 gr. bullet and hunt deer,elk and bear.The plus side of the .338 is the less meat damage,I compared a antelope shot with a 30-06,243,25-06 and .338 and the one shot with the 1 shot with the .338 had less,then the 25-06,30-06,the 243.

I will put it this way,I love,double love the .338 win mag for game.

You don't need a .338 per se, but it is a very nice caliber and versatile as well. One rifle that you can use for all big game in North America with no hesitation. If you have the money, get one -- you will not regret it.

I used a .338 Wmag for many years and killed a bunch of moose with mine. I have never seen a better round for heavy game. When shot they basically don't go anywhere. But having said that I moved down to a 7mm rem mag a couple of years ago and guess what they drop just as fast! Your 3006 is not much different than a 7 mag so I would say shoot the one that you shoot better. Oh, and if you decide to use the big one I used to drive 250 partitions (which is what a .338 is really designed to do) at 2700fps no problem with a couple of powders.

Either one will work very well for Elk. Buy which ever rifle that you like best. I had a couple 338 Win Mags. Most of the time the collected dust in the closet because other rifles that I owned were more useful to me for a variety of game animals. I also found the 300 win Mag much more versitile for my needs although I hardly ever needed anything that big either.

If you can handle the added recoil of the 338 then by all means use it. I have a stainless laminated tikka T3 in 338 that only weighs 7.5lbs with a burris black diamond 3-12x50 scope. It was one of the most brutally kicking rifles I had ever shot until I had a muzzle break put on it, now it is not only light, but also kicks about as much as an 06 with lots more power.

I think I'd rather use the $1000 you are going to spend on the rifle, on a taxidermist, to mount the fine bull you can shoot with the .30-06.