Thoughts on a 338 Federal?

[mattri]

Kicking around the idea of a 338 Federal- anyone here have any experience with one?

Would mostly be for hunting med game, deer, pigs, maybe elk if we ever get back west to hunt.

Like the idea of something a little different, I reload so no issues trying to find ammo.

Would probably play with at the range through the off seasons, we have a local one that goes to 600, might be fun.

Thoughts?

 

[areaone]

Why not just go with a 308.Do you really need the ability to shoot a 225 or 250 gr at a deer or pig. If you want a wallop go to 358. Just can not see a 338 or its advantage to most. Other than a short action what is the advantage? Pushes a big bullet on the slow side with not the best trajectory.

 

[mattri]

Always had a bit of an aversion to the 308, its about as overrated and boring as a round can be.

Like the fact that this 338 is a bit opposite than the recent trend of overbore magnums, and like I said, have an affinity for that which is a little different.

 

[Glenn Powell]

I don't have any experience with the Federal, but I too am kicking the idea around. I can't make up my mind between the 338 Fed, 338×284, or something really wild with the 7×57 case. The 338's have a better bullet selection compared to the 35's, from 160 to 250, though 210 would be as far as I would go in a short case. So now that I have this thread marked, maybe we both can make up our minds.

 

[mattri]

Yeah the 35s are a great idea but there just isn't the bullet selection that there is in other calibers. Kind of like the 270 vs the 6.5 or the 284. And at least with the 338s you can at least theorize about a longer shot.

 

[Glenn Powell]

If I thought I would be in a situation where a long poke would be the norm, the 338 Fed would stay in the safe. The longest shot I have made on a deer around these part has been 35 yards, so a 338 Fed would fit the bill. Fall black bear is up close and personal on salmon choked streams, so the Fed would be an excellent round. I could see it for moose, if I don't push the distance, brownies in a pinch if it were the only thing I had in my hand, and it was UNAWARE of my presence.

 

[swehrman]

I have a 338 Federal built on a Rem 600 action with a Rem mountain rifle contour barrel and McMillan stock. It serves its purpose well, which is a short range, light weight hunting rifle that can shoot heavy-ish bullets.

-- Scott

 

[mattri]

Great replies thanks.

I didn't mean to infer that a 338 Federal was a cross-canyon shooter, just that you had a much better bullet selection, and if you look atthe #s it has the potential to be a medium range round.

Would love to have many of the opportunities afforded those that live in Alaska, happening upon a brown bear is not one of them.

 

[GSPV]

How about the classic 338-06?

 

[mattri]

Ah man I was hoping someone wouldn't open that can of worms.

 

[Savage99]

A wise man said:

"Remember this all just for fun."

When we were arguing on another topic.

Get the 338 if you 'want something different'.

Back in 1966 I got my first .358 Win. in a 99F. I made it my deer and maybe a bear rifle here in the Northeast. I took most of my game with that caliber.

It's still cool talking and thinking about it.

I admit that I may have been able to do as well with a .308 or a 338 fed if it was out then.

 

[wboggs]

To glenninjuneau I have a bolt action .35Whelan Ackley that is perfect for your conditions. The 280gr Swift will handle any bear and the rifle doesn't kick that much. A dream to shoot.

 

[Glenn Powell]

I have a 358 Norma for when I am "really" in big bear country. Most of the hunting close by is deer, black bear, and goat, if your lucky enough to draw a tag. The Brownies are concentrated on the ABC islands and larger bays and inlets on the mainland. Though they have been known to come in close to town, its not common and they don't hang out for very long. Its weird how Douglas Island dose not have brownies, Admiralty Island has one brownie per square mile, and they are only separated by maybe a mile and a half of water. I have seen deer swim farther than that up here. For general hunting here around town, Kuprenoff Island, Prince of Whales Island, Douglas Island, and a few more islands, a 338 Federal would fit the bill me thinks.

 

[DumpHollow]

This cartridge made sense to me. So, I built one with a Sako L-579 action, McMillian Sako Classic stock, and a 21” stainless barrel of a No. 3 contour. Scoped with a Leupold 2.5x8 the rig weighs just 8#. In my opinion, the Kimber rifles are too light for this caliber. The scope is low mounted and with the short 21” barrel, the rifle handles and points like a shotgun. I felt that for the powder to bore ratio, not much would be lost by not having a 22” barrel. Actually, a 20” might not be a big loss in performance. Rifles are like golf clubs. They are purpose built. This caliber fits a specific niche. That would be a fast handling close range thumper. I have moved away from the light bullet high velocity philosophy to larger bores at moderate velocity. The 338 Federal should be effective out to 300 yards.
I have a 338 Win Mag that I consider a better case for launching 215 to 250 grain bullets. I considered the 338-06 briefly. But if you are building a 338 rifle on a long action, the 338 WM is a better choice. It will perform well loaded to ’06 levels and you still have case capacity left to launch heavy bullets. .and. factory ammo is commonly available. The 35’s just don’t have the bullet selection.
There is a large selection of 338 bullets available but they should be selected carefully for the 338 Federal. I believe that the Barnes 185 TSX is probably the optimum bullet for this cartridge. Federal offered this bullet as a factory load but it has been dropped from the line. I purchased a couple boxes to try and they were the most accurate load through my rifle. I had been working with Hornady’s 225 spire point with several powders and never got to the MOA level that the 185 TSX factory loads gave me. I also tried the factory Nosler 210 partions and Fusion 200 grain loads. My test range had a sand pile for a backstop that was pure sand, no rocks. At 100 yards the Barnes always expanded and retained 98+ % of its weight. The Nosler 210 Partition ALWAYS blew the front half off losing the frontal area and retained weight. I saw better performance from the Interbond than the partition.
There’s still 7 loads available from the factory including a $20/box cheapy. Initially, Federal did not offer bras. So you had to buy their ammo to get brass with the right headstamp. Ther is a lot of good 308 brass and just running a tapered expander ball through a 308 case gets you in business. Loose brass is now available. I have not completed load development for this cartridge and intend to focus on the 185 Barnes TSX next. I haven’t killed anything with the cartridge but fully expect the first will probably be a pig with an Aimpoint on top of the Sako.
There’s more to a rifle than having more power than you will ever need for the ranges that you typically hunt at. For the power that is provided by the 338 Federal in a short, easy to carry, quick handling, it has more merit than carrying a long action rifle that is longer and weighs 1 to 2 pounds more. The 338 Federal was introduced during a period when the Short Mags and Ultra Mags were all the craze. In practical terms for the average hunter, the 338 Federal makes more sense, at least to me.

 

[leadburner]

Hey Mattri. I had my smith build what he calls a 338-08. Which is basically a 338 federal improved with a 40* shoulder. Been working up a load the last couple of months & really like the rifle. Using a 215 Seirra gameking at 2480 fps & shooting 1/2 moa consistently. It will absolutely knock the snot out of a piece of steel out to 300 yards. Can't wait to try it on whitetail this fall. Good luck with what ever you choose to build.

 

[longbow]

I have my 284 Mtn rifle , built up over 25 years ago..A 7 1/4 pd wonder. So decided to do a 338-284 also about a year later. In looking around picked up A Rem 350 Mag "Classic", dropped it in a Brown Precision Kevlar stock, same 3x9 Leupold Compact...a 7# wonder! But kicked like hell and after a year or so of always grabbing the 284 sold the 350 and here I be, a one gun Hunter. What all this comes down to..the 350 Mag did almost what a 338 Mag could do to 300 yds, as far as that gun was set up for. But the 284 shooting just 140 Barnes has racked up quite the game count and a joy to shoot.......... Just to pass it on.

 

[gat]

I have a .338 federal I built for myself 6 years ago. Model 70 classic stainless with#5 barrel fluted at 21" in length. Had Doc at MPI stocks shorten up one of his Winchester Featherweights by 3" in the forend. Put a Leupold Boone and Crockett compact scope on it. Have not shot handloads in it yet because it shoots The cheap Blue Box Federal 200gr into .5 @ 100yds. Hits like a hammer and I wont hesitate to shoot whitetails or even black bear out to 350yds about the same trajectory as a 180 gr 308 from same length barrel. Hits real hard and kicks like a .308 Go for it you will love it!

 

[Ledd Slinger]

Read the whole thread. My take on what you want so far is this:

1) Something different that will fit in a short action.

2) A chambering in 338 for good bullet selection.

3) Ability to shoot a longer ranges if need be and still have the energy to take down large tough game like rocky mountain elk.

Have you ever considered the 338 Ruger Compact Magnum??? It is one of the offerings in the Ruger Compact Magnum (RCM) family of cartridges. Designed by Hornady and Ruger as their own version of a short magnum round, it is very effective on game and offers impressive ballistics for a round with a case capacity of 72gr H2O. Best of all, I'm sure you don't know anyone who has a rifle chambered in 338 RCM

The RCM family are very effective all purpose hunting rounds that lost the spotlight as fast as they gained it upon their introduction. To see one in the hands of a hunter is not very common at all. Yet they will anchor large game as well as anything else on the market.

Here's a wiki link on the cartridge specs:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/.338_Ruger_Compact_Magnum

 

[Riesel]

I have had a .338 Federal for quite a few years and have used it on deer and hogs. DRT on all with a few of the hogs going close to 300 pounds. I use either the Hornady 225 SST or the 200 grain flex tip. The flex is total internal destruction on a lung/heart and will drive the 225 through both shoulders on a big boar. Most shots taken between 100-200 yards. Recoil is quite tolerable. I like it.

 

[Tommie]

A 338 Federal will put away every game animal you've listed. Go for it.