Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 338 Federal

How effective is the 338 Federal for general hunting purposes?
( Please note, I live in Australia, therefore it will be used for feral pigs, goats foxes etc )

1) What Rifle are available in 338 Federal?

Any help appricaited

Well for me the 338 Federal has dropped 3 elk and a few deer, all one shot apiece. My rifle is a Kimber Classic with a good looking walnut stock and is very accurate with the 210 Partition loads. I might not take it hunting for cape buffalo or elephants, but just about anything else I would consider fair game for it at appropriate ranges.

One bull elk, one deer and one hog for me with a Kimber Montana in 338 Federal. Very effective in my opinion. As others have noted, it basically shoots bullets of similar weight at speeds very comparable to the 30-06. 160s at just over 3000 and 210s at ~2600. The 185 TTSX is what I've used on game so far and it works real well! Going to try the 160 TTSX this fall on elk & deer. As for availability, I'm only aware of Kimber and then Sako/Tikka and some ARs. Of course you can probably still find some Rugers out there as well or rebarrel any .243, 260, 7-08, .308, etc.

My experience is limited to a Sako 85 (now belongs to my brother) and a Kimber Montana. Between the two, they've accounted for 2 bear and quite a few deer. All shot with 185 tsx and 185 ttsx. Very effective. I have every intention of using the Kimber for elk next year.

KRC I reckon a Sako in 338 Fed would be the ultimate Aussie allrounder for everything up to scrubbers and camel.

210g Partitions for big stuff and 200g SSTs for everything else!

For pigs and goats you don't need a 338 Fed; get a 308 cheaper to feed, ammo and components easy to find.

Components are pretty easy to find (308 Brass, 338 Bullets). New factory rifles may be hard to find. I know Sako still makes the 338 Federal. I'm not sure Kimber makes them anymore. I have a feeling that Savage will start making rifles in 338 Federal now that ATK (parent company of Federal) bought them. Seems like a perfect fit for their Hog Hunter.

That's a good point about ATK and Savage and building 338 Federals. A Lightweight Hunter or Hog Hunter in 338 would be a great rifle. I'd even like a Model 16 Bear Hunter with the stainless fluted 23" barrel. Kimber does still make the 338 Fed, and in my opinion that is a fantastic hunting combination! Purely speculation on my part, but I believe the reason Ruger stopped making them was to help discern their 338 RCM. Of course, they have stopped making the 338 RCM now too. A good point for the 338 Federal is that it is Federal's first rifle cartridge and I suspect they will always have ammo and components available. And, as you mentioned, all you need is .308 brass and .338 bullets, both of which are in great supply.

If I'm not mistaken HugaJackass's bride shot a hog with a .338 Federal at the hog hunt this past March. All who saw the performance were impressed. Not sure what bullet she was shooting though.

PRM,

I just checked the Kimber website and they no longer list the 338 Federal.

Seems you are correct. Guess the 338 Fed isn't available in the US anymore. Don't think Sako/Tikka imports them to the US.

I built my 338 Fed on a Remington Model 7 action. It has become my favorite deer rifle. As far as the availability of ammo goes, around here they don't have anything that resembles a 308, brass, bullets, or ammo, but the 338 Federal is on the shelves in Bass Pro and a couple of other gun shops I frequent ready to go. Your milage may vary.

Bad ass rig! Love it. I have a Ruger Hawkeye 338 Federal, I'm waiting on a McMillan.

I like that! What's the specs on that rig? What bullets you shooting?

The rifle has a stainless 21" Hart Barrel, an HS Precision stock and a Leupold 2X7 scope. I haven't weighed it and probably won't because it feels great, balances well, kicks just enough to enjoy shooting and if I found out it weighed 8 pounds, I might be tempted to change something. My guess would be about 7.5 pounds.

For the last two or three years I've been shooting some 200 grain Federal Fusion I got in a trade. I haven't reloaded anything for it yet since I have plenty of the Fusion on hand and it shoots great in this rifle. I have enough to last me a couple of more years before I need to worry about reloading for it.

I will be picking a new Tikka Camo in 338 Federal very soon, does anyone have a preference to Scope / Magification type?
On most of my Hunting Rifle I usually settle for a good 4-12 x 42
I will be using the Sako /Tikka Optilock ring and bases

Any advise appreciated

As much as I hate to say it, the rings that come with the Tikka are not all that great. Talley makes a good light weight set for the Tikka. My boss tried to get away with the stock rings on his 338WM, needles to say they did not last very long before he broke down and got the Talley rings. Just a sideline observation, I don't have a Tikka.

Second the Talley lightweight one piece mounts for the Tikka. Light weight one price, so less variables.

I have two 338 Fed. New this year to me, so no game yet but my Tikka like the factory 185 TSX. I suppose the bears won't like them though.

I've said plenty about the .338 Federal already (awesome for hogs and deer!) but I will give a recommendation for Tikka T3 mounts. Here's what I use on my .308 Winchester.



Base: EGW 1-Piece Heavy Duty Picatinny-Style (aluminum)
Rings: Medium Burris Signature
Scope: Leupold VX-3 Rifle Scope 4.5-14x 40mm

HIGHLY RECOMMEND a Limb-Saver recoil pad. No more bruising for me!

I'm going hog hunting later this month so the 8 lb Tikka sounds good (long hike) - otherwise I'd be using my Savage .338 Federal aka "Thumper"! (11 pounds). I'll take the Savage for a back-up.

Montana Rifle Co aka MRC still lists a 338 Fed rifle in right & left hand with a 24" barrel in their 1999 reciever ASR series at $1100msrp for the wood/blue and $30 more for a SS wood stock gun according to the catalog and price list I got couple weeks ago.

Dunno if they have any inventory but it's worth a phone call.
Ron