Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Any updates on .338Federal loads or animals taken this season

Anybody want to share game taken w/the .338F this year and the load used. Would really appreciate the stories and loads. powdr

I shot a cow with a 210 nosler at about 80 yards, pass through the ribs. She stumbled in a circle and went down. No bullet recovery. They chronograph 2580 loaded with 2000mr powder. It is a Kimber Montana. Groups around an inch, give or take a little.

Thanks Cecil. If I lived out west...that would be the only load I used. Just got a T3 for hogs and deer here in Texas. Gonna load the 200gr Fusions, Speer hot cors, and 180gr ballistic tips. Just starting to reload. powdr

I killed a couple of deer with my 338 Federal this year. The buck below was chasing a doe at about 20 yards. He almost rolled at the shot. I also killed a doe at a lasered 303 yards. She made a 30 yard death dash. I used the 160 TTSX ahead of IMR8208XBR. I like the combo....perfect performance!

Great buck smoker. He's about 18in...right? Secondly, everyone knows it's pure stunt shooting to try and kill a deer w/the .338F past 300yards. powdr

Just caught the back of this Waterbuck's heart
160 TTSX, AA-2230, 3020-3050 FPS.





The Waterbuck was the only 160 TTSX I've recovered from Elk, Waterbuck, Gemsbok, Impala, Kudu, Blesbok. The Gemsbok was a 167 yd chest shot and I I have no idea where it stopped, but not a pass through.

160gr TTSX at 3k.

Sounds like a near perfect load for that cartridge.
Looks like your evidence support the idea.

I took a small 8 point and 200 pound bear with the 200gr CT ahead of x-terminator. The deer was around 100 yards, the bear was around 30. Both bullets broke two shoulders and are still going for all I know.

I like the looks of what the 160 TTSX does. I have a DPMS in 338 federal and the 160 should feed extremely well in it. How many grains of powder are you using?

I'm running 52gn of AA-2230. Barnes book load is 53gn and 3089 FPS at 2.82" COAL out of a 24" barrel. It is a VERY accurate load in my MT. Definitely does not allow you to keep the meat right up to the hole on close shots though. Makes a big mess of shoulders. I was leery about using the 160 at first. I had great results with the 185 TTSX at ~2740, but saw how pleased folks were with 130s out of a .308 so decided to give it a try. Wow does it ever work! Based on test shooting into magazines I think you lose a bit of penetration due to less weight and wider opening, but is a rare occasion it will stop in an animal. I don't think an elk would ever stop one on anything remotely broadside. The only reason it stopped in the Waterbuck was due to how wide it expanded and that the hide that caught it was very thick.

What speeds are you getting with X-Terminator?

2650 per my buddy's Oehler. Tac was quite a bit slower. I never ran 8208 but I'm thinking it is in the same neighborhood as x-terminator.

That's good, thanks. Looks like a short barrel too. 2650 is all I get using TAC with a 22" barrel.

This was last year, but here is where a Bull Elk was standing when he got hit in the chest with a 160 TTSX. He ran for ~4 seconds. I liked all the fur that was blown off too (bottom of pic is where his chest was). There was a tree to the left that had fur stuck to it just like whats in the snow.



And where he went down. No shortage of blood.

I think i may have to try some 160's. That's impressive performance.

What is really impressive is that when you look at the Hodgdon reloading chart for the 7mm Rem Mag 160gr bullet there hottest load is under 3000fps.Anything over 3000fps is excellent. In my 264wm I have pushed a 160gr PPSN to 3261fps but it is pushing the danger zone showing signs of pressure and using 73gr of H570 powder which is no longer in production. I am looking forward to trying your load in my DPMS 338 Federal and hoping that the 18" barrel will still come in at 3000fps or better.

I think 3000 would be a stretch with an 18", maybe 2900? But who knows, only on way to find out. I stopped at 52gn, so maybe there's room for more there.

Going to pick up my Tikka t3 on Friday. Got lots of bullets to try. Have some Norma 201 that I'm going to try first and see at what bullet weight it shines. powdr

Has anyone tried the Hodgdon CFE powder in the 338 Federal? It should work good in it but can't find any info on it just the 308.

Hodgdon has data for CFE in the 338 Fed. Nothing too impressive.