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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 369
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 369 |
My father won a sako 338 federal at an auction. He was exited at first because he thought it was a 338 win mag. He was so discusted when he found out it was a 338 federal and looked at the ballistics he hasen't shot it yet and it has sat in the gun rack untouched for at least a year if not more now. He is looking at rebarreling it to a 243.
The ballistics to me say "meh" so what. If all your shots are limited to 200 yards and you feel the need for a large hole using a bullet with poor SD then this is probabbly a good choice, but then again there are a number of other good choices out there that already do just that.
Not that it is a bad caliber, I just don't see what it has over other calibers.
Now in an Ar10 it makes perfect sense and almost seems made for an auto. What does a .270 have over a .25-06 or a .257 Wby? What about a 7mm-08 and a .308 ? A 7mm mag and a .300wm ??? Dude, face it... LOTS of cartridges overlap in every category out there. To say your father was disgusted with the cartridge is just plain ridiculous, it will cleanly take anything in North America. Poor sectional density, eh???? What do you plan on shooting and at what distance....Oh let me guess - another, "I shoot Moose at 1,500 yards..."
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277 |
3k out of the lil 3 might be doable with a 22" tube but I think one would have to step on it a lot harder than one would to get a 160 out of a 7 Rem with 24" tube.
Just the way I see it, but I've not owned a 338 Fed as of yet. In the Montana package it'd be a heck of a fun lil round. But, I'd run a 180 NBT and call it a day.
Barnes lists the BC as .342 with the 160/338 and I'd say that's a generous number, but then I've not been one to trust the BC's that Barnes puts out either. This isn't a bullet I'd pick to run with a 7 Rem mag in a drag race either though.
Running a 160 Noz out of the 7 which is a pretty common 7 Rem mag bullet which has a BC of .475 and running the numbers with JBM things begin to get ugly real fast!
Sight em both spot on @ 100 (which IMO the only way to do a side by side test) at 500 yds the 338 Fed drops a mere 14" more, energy for the lil 33 is 1191 and for the 7 the energy is 1826 ft lbs. Which gives the 7 a edge of about 635 lbs which is almost 50% more than the lil 33 has in total...
Take it to 600 and 700 yds and things get even worse.
Now grant it not many people take game in the 400-700 yd range but some do and for me when I begin to comp rounds I take it to the max ranges I'd be shooting at game.
Bottom line to me and my way of thinking the lil 33 is kind of a cool round but when comping it to a big 7 things are gonna go so well for it.
Course one could begin to take into account the ability of the two rounds to penetrate on big big game (IE elk) and things will no doubt get even uglier. And I for one want two holes in game, they're not always needed but it sure does help from time to time.
A bunch of BG for sure but it is what it is.
Dober
"True respect starts with the way you treat others, and it is earned over a lifetime of demonstrating kindness, honor and dignity"....Tony Dungy
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,476 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,476 Likes: 2 |
If someone wants magnum performance, buy a magnum. Where I see the .338 Federal really shining, and my purpose for it is, a lightweight hammer for spot and stalk bears, with 300 yards being an extremely long shot. Would a 7mm-08 or .308 serve the same purpose, sure, but what's the fun in that? Everyone's got a .308.. 
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277 |
I hear you GW, I've always had a thing for the 33's and would love to tote a Montana/Federale around for all that moves for a while.
I'd add Talley's, and a 6x36 Leo with dotz and a 180 NBT and rock on. Would love to sanction some elk/whitey's and bruins with it. Most likely even a yote or 3 would fall victum...grin
Dober
"True respect starts with the way you treat others, and it is earned over a lifetime of demonstrating kindness, honor and dignity"....Tony Dungy
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,476 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,476 Likes: 2 |
Great minds think alike, only difference is mine will be wearing a Leupold VX1 3-9x40 with LRD and I'll be shooting 180gr Accubonds (BT's on roids). It's in the shop getting Tefloned as we speak and will hopefully be done later this week.
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 28,277 |
Was yours the one that had the spider paint job on it?
Dober
"True respect starts with the way you treat others, and it is earned over a lifetime of demonstrating kindness, honor and dignity"....Tony Dungy
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,748
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,748 |
I have a VX-3 2.5-8 with a B&C waiting for my Montana to arrive.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,476 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,476 Likes: 2 |
Dat's the one. Matte black Teflon is gonna be sweet with that paint job.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,476 Likes: 2
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,476 Likes: 2 |
I have a VX-3 2.5-8 with a B&C waiting for my Montana to arrive. I'd like to have a 2.5-8x on mine, but ran outta $$$
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,748
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,748 |
I have a VX-3 2.5-8 with a B&C waiting for my Montana to arrive. I'd like to have a 2.5-8x on mine, but ran outta $$$ I have a Burris FF II 3-9 with a B-Plex on my Ruger and I honestly think it's a better scope. Spent A LOT of time doing side-by-side (near, far, dark, bright, you name it...) . But since it's sighted in on the Ruger (it replaced the VX-3) I'm leaving it there until I see how the Montana works out and then decide what to do with the Ruger. Probably don't need 2x 338 Feds and a 338-06.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,262
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,262 |
If'n I end up with one, it'll wear a Minox ZA-5 1.5-8x32 with BDC reticle and have a load worked up for the 185gr TTSX/TSX...whichever shoots better. All critters great and small will not be safe.... grin
What could be a sadder way to end a life than to die having never hunted with great dogs, good friends and your family?
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900 |
I think the 338 Federal is pretty neat in that AR platform as a Pig rifle....I see those guys on TV mow them down by the flocks......looks like fun! 
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,162
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,162 |
I think the 338 Federal is pretty neat in that AR platform as a Pig rifle....I see those guys on TV mow them down by the flocks......looks like fun! Hmmmm. Who chambers it in the AR? Haven't been paying attention to that, but now that you mention it...
If you're fixin' to put a hole in something,
make it a hole to remember.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 35,900 |
Kentucky I dunno......have seen it on TV with Dick Metcalf and a young guy where they specialize using the AR platform for a lot of different hunting....
The 338 Fed in the AR provided fire power and rolls those piggies head over heels......looks like lots of fast action and piles of fun!
The 280 Remington is overbore.
The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 846
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 846 |
Kentucky I dunno......have seen it on TV with Dick Metcalf and a young guy where they specialize using the AR platform for a lot of different hunting....
The 338 Fed in the AR provided fire power and rolls those piggies head over heels......looks like lots of fast action and piles of fun! DPMS LR338L $1214 I purchased one last month http://www.dpmsinc.com/firearms/firearm.aspx?id=50
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 846
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 846 |
If you look at the load data for the 160 gr bullet in 338 Federal and the 7mm rem mag the fps is the same with the 338 having more ft lbs of energy U seriously believe that the 160 out of a 338 Federal is gonna be the equal of the 7 Rem with a 160...? I've had no issues running a 160 out of a 7 rem at 3100 with what I would call a standard 24" barrel. What speeds the 338 Federale gonna run a 160? Be my guess with what I would call a normal 22" tube of 22" 2900 would be about top end speed. Here is the Hodgdon load data web page link. http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp7mm rem mag 160 GR. NOS PART Hodgdon Retumbo .284" 3.290" 65.0 2756 43,200 CUP ( 69.5C 2915 49,900 CUP)Max Load 338 fed 160 GR. BAR TTSX Hodgdon H322 .338" 2.840" 44.6 2761 52,400 PSI ( 48.5C 2937 61,800 PSI) Max Load Same fps with a lot less powder Thoughts...? Dober
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,748
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,748 |
Is it time to just go hunting yet?!
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,162
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,162 |
Kentucky I dunno......have seen it on TV with Dick Metcalf and a young guy where they specialize using the AR platform for a lot of different hunting....
The 338 Fed in the AR provided fire power and rolls those piggies head over heels......looks like lots of fast action and piles of fun! DPMS LR338L $1214 I purchased one last month http://www.dpmsinc.com/firearms/firearm.aspx?id=50 How about a report?
If you're fixin' to put a hole in something,
make it a hole to remember.
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,262
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,262 |
I just want to see pictures of dead animals with big, .338-cal holes punched in them by guys running .338 Federals.
What could be a sadder way to end a life than to die having never hunted with great dogs, good friends and your family?
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 846
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 846 |
Kentucky I dunno......have seen it on TV with Dick Metcalf and a young guy where they specialize using the AR platform for a lot of different hunting....
The 338 Fed in the AR provided fire power and rolls those piggies head over heels......looks like lots of fast action and piles of fun! DPMS LR338L $1214 I purchased one last month http://www.dpmsinc.com/firearms/firearm.aspx?id=50 Waiting on scope purchase next couple weeks. How about a report?
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