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

I have shot a couple of hogs and the round just blew them down. Load was Barnes 160 with 45 grs of Aliant 7 shot from a custom barrel for an Encore from MGM

I remember the "Good 338 Federal loads" thread where we compared a lot of notes on loads. You've certainly put your Federale to good use. Congrats on some great trophies.

It was your playing with the 160 TTSX and AA2230 that first got me to thinking about the potential. Realizing it was the most accurate load in my rifle, and zipping along along at ~3030 FPS, I decided I needed to try it. With my handful of data points, here is what I have surmised: The 160 does not penetrate quite as well as the 185 TTSX or other premium heavy bullets such as the 210 Partition or 200 gn Trophy Bonded Tip. It does penetrate as well as the heavier cup & cores that I've tried including 200 SST, 200 BT, 180 BT. However, the 160 does more internal damage than the 185 TTSX (only thing I can compare to). My PH was quite leery of this bullet at the start of the hunt, but in the end he changed his tune. In fact, his only complaint, and that of the skinners, was that the 160 did far too much meat damage. As for the penetration, the only time I expected a pass through and did not get it was on a short, broadside shot on the Waterbuck. However, it did center punch ribs coming and going, took about a 6" radius hole out of the side of the heart, absolutely turned both shoulders to mush and then the bullet was under the hide on the far side. It had opened to .73"! Seeing how thick the hide on the Waterbuck was, it did not disappoint me that it did not exit. The only other shots I did not get exits were a chest shot on an Elk and quartering shot on a Gemsbok where I hit the point of the shoulder. I would not expect exits on those. No problem passing through the Kudu, Impala and Blesbok. All had massive internal damage. So, in summary, while I think I lose a bit of penetration, which would rarely matter, I think the 160 actually kills better than the 185 TTSX. Speed and getting that thing to open wide really works.

i bought one of the ruger frontier scout rifles in 338 fed when they first came out. 16.5" barrel and scout scope setup. i got a deal on federal fusion 200's and haven't handloaded for it yet. i may not, since i have about 25 boxes. it is devastating on whitetails and in my ruger it is deadly accurate. my son used it until he got the marlin lever bug. the deer he shot with it ever took a step.

The cartridge is on life support. Death is "imminent". The cartridge is not "eminent".

I don't see .308 brass or .338 cal bullets going away. I'm not worried.

Well put. I salute your to-the-point post, and your grammatical eminence.

It may be going the way of the Dodo bird but every site I visit they are talking about the cartridge. powdr

I suspect that's because the .338 Federal is sort of like the .260 Remington: It may not be all that popular, but the people who believe are True Believers!

One thing I've noticed about most of the .260 loonies is they constantly brag about how it's such a fantastic all-around cartridge, capable of duplicating .243 and .25-06 muzzle velocities, and even down-range .270 ballistics with the right load. But despite that they have several .260's! Dunno if .338 Federal people are like that.

Despite my comments, I was just at the range with my .338 Federal on Monday, trying some new loads....

Hi, my name is PRM, I am a True Believer. Yea, I admit it.

MD, I'd like to hear about your 338 Fed loads if they prove interesting.

Yeah tell us what's going on in the laboratory. powdr

It'll appear in a couple months in GUNS magazine. Still not quite done with all the shooting.

HOT DIGGITY DANG. Come on Guns Magazine. powdr

Look forward to it, I'll keep an eye out. On my loading bench I still have a copy of the Handloader where you had an article on the 338 Fed and 358 Win.

Damn and blast, why isn't it Handloader, I've got an electronic subscription to that.

John has to spread his money out. powdr

John, has this article been published yet?

It's now September and I still haven't sent my gun off to be re-barreled. I said I had in an earlier post but on the day I was suppose to ship it a family emergency came up. Well I'm hoping to get it off this month barring any emergencies. I'm really excited about getting it and ringing it out. powdr

Follow up. I read the article in the Dec Guns Magazine. It's a good read. Actually has substance, vice so many articles I see by others these days that appear to be reprints of marketing material. I assume the 210 Partition load for the 338 Fed is supposed to read 2593 vice 2693? That would match what I've seen. I may have to re-try 8208 with the Hot Cor. That looks interesting.

I've used one for several years. I shoot mainly 210gr. Nosler Partitions. It's like a can of RAID, kills stuff dead.