Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Real world experiences with the 338 Federal

I just sent my Rem.722 action to IT&D for a re-barrel to 338 Federal. Would like to get some real world experience w/this cartridge. I would like to know about game taken, bullet, powder charge, OAL of cartridge and velocity. Any info will be greatly appreciated. powdr

My Kimber Montana shoots the Federal 210 NPs very well. It isn't my primary hunting rifle but more of a convenience rifle that is always in my truck. With Ti bolt handle and aluminum trigger guard it weighs 5.25 pounds with Leupold 2.5x ultralight.

I did take one moose with it.

It's currently behind my door as we have a sow and two yearling terrorizing the neighborhood.

Expect it to do what a 308 Win can. I believe Bob took one to Namibia a few years ago so you might do a search for that.

Ive found it to be the 308 Win but with a 200gr bullet. It is very close to 358 Win also.

My on-game experience is very limited. I've taken one shot at an animal with my T3 in .338 Fed. That one shot dropped a button buck at 185 yards, using a 200 grain Federal Fusion factory load.
Shot placement was tight behind the shoulder on a broadside shot. The deer dropped instantly and the only movement was the tail sticking straight up for a few seconds.
The Tikka shoots MOA or better with both the Fusions and handloads with 200 grain Hornady SPs.
The exit wound could have been covered with a silver dollar.
I see no downside. I'm sure you will be happy with your choice.

I've taken some deer with it, and seen some others taken, using Fusion and Hornady Interlock 200-grain bullets at around 2650 fps. It kills about like a .30-06 with 200's, which makes sense since the muzzle velocity is similar, but neither the Fusion or Hornady penetrates like the 200-grain Partition I normally use in the .30-06.

Also killed one ruffed grouse with the 200 Fusion, legal here in Montana. Aimed for the head at about 20-25 yards while the grouse was sitting on an aspen branch. The bullet caught a tiny twig just in front of the grouse and apparently tumbled, blowing the grouse to inedible pieces, the first time I've had that happen. (The next grouse encountered I shot with a .257 Weatherby Magnum, which didn't hit anything except the grouse's neck, leaving plenty of fine meat for a fine meal.)

For woods hunting here in the Northeast the Savage 99F that was chambered for the .358 Winchester is the Valhalla of hunting rifles as compared to the clumsy and heavy P17 Enfield I had back in the 50's.

I still feel that way about that magnificent rifle.

If the .338 Fed. had been out at the time I might have chosen it.

I load my .338-06 to .338 Fed velocities for deer and couldn't be happier with how it works on whitetails. Generally have used the 200 grain Speer at about 2650 fps the most. Hope to use the 180 Accubond this fall.

For many years, I hunted the forested country of of the Middle Fork of the John Day River in Eastern Oregon. Given the area the longest possible shot I would ever have was maybe 250 yards. So I hunted deer with my .338-'06 loaded with 200-grain Winchester Power Points at a muzzle velocity of 2,500 feet per second.

The load worked superbly and I killed maybe 30 deer with it, and perhaps ten of them were downright excellent 4-5 year old mule deer bucks.

I also killed two bear with the load; incidental kills during deer season. One of those was a monster, a 26 year old black bear that squared an honest seven feet.

I hunted elk in the same area, but always stepped up the velocity to 2,700 fps with the same bullet. I probably killed 20 elk with that load over the years, some bulls some cows. Never had to shoot an elk twice and never missed one.

Yeah, your .338 Federal is simply a common-sense round. I pray that you enjoy many years of wonderful hunting with it.

kd

Thanks for the practical experience guys. I think John's article on the .338-.358 did as much to promote interest in the cartridge as anything. I'm really excited about getting my barreled action back and put in my Brown precision stock w/3.5-10 VX3. powdr

I've taken 6 deer with my Tikka T3,all within 75 yards. All were thru and thru, never recovered any bullets. All of the deer went down within sight. Barnes 185 TSX and 46.5g XBR8208 powder. This is a max load, so use with caution.. Bought the Tikka for a rough use rifle, and it's light weight. So far no disappointments. In the Tikka this loading is MOA. I would agree with Mule Deer, power wise its like a 30-06 with the option of heavier bullets.

Zebra heart shot at about 100 yards with a 210 grain TSX from 338 Federal





Loaded as such I'd say it will get the job done.

Just got back from S. Africa and it performed superbly. Kudu, Gemsbok, Waterbuck, Impala and Blesbok all taken with a 160 TTSX and all died quickly. Given the thick brush and resulting short ranges I'd go with a 210 Partition next time. Not because the TTSX did anything wrong, I just have seen the Partition do great damage and penetrate very well. The 160 does not penetrate as well as the 185 TTSX, but it opens wider and perhaps does a bit more internal damage. My PH prefers heavy bullets at moderate velocities and thought a 225 A-Frame at ~2500 would be absolutely perfect for the lowveldt brush.

Taken with a 200gr Fusion. This is just one of the camels I shot on that trip, IMO it's a very capable cartridge.

Did you shoot low?

Won't let me edit post above. The 160 TTSX provided pass through on Kudu, Impala and Blesbok but not the Waterbuck and Gemsbok. WB was a broadside shot and bullet was under off-side hide. Hit ribs on both sides and opened very wide (.73") making a complete mess of meat and vitals. Gemsbok was quartering towards and it hit point of left shoulder. Never found bullet. Probably in the grass in the stomach.

160 TTSX, BR2, Federal Brass, 52gn AA2230, 2.82", ~3020 fps.

I have a Rem 600 rebarrled to 338Fed. It has about 15 GA Whitetails and a small cow elk under its belt. Not one of the WTs moved, they just dropped. The elk was down within sight-30yds or so. All shots were pass throughs at ranges from 5 to 175 yds. I could not be happier. I use 200gr hornady SPs at 2550fps. I use CCI LR primers and IMR4895.

RH

I really need to try those 200 Hornady's. Don't believe I've ever read a negative review. They just seem to work. Could probably get them up to the mid-2600s with TAC. Be curious if anyone has used both the 200 Hornady and 200 BT (Silvertip). Any meaningful difference?

rr how long is your barrel. Looks like 2500fps up is good for about every critter w/every bullet so far. PRM I think if I were to het

I've never hunted with a 338 Federal, but have used the .358 Winchester extensively. While I really like the .358, I'd probably opt for the .338 Federal now. It's a tossup, both are very effective, but the .338 is a slightly superior in the ballistics area. Not enough to switch calibers, but if all else is equal, I'd go for the .338.