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At 300 yards, with a MPBR zero for a 6" diameter target, a 2950fps 160g TTSX is down only 4.5" with 2206fps and 1728fpe.
I'm loading 178 gr ELD-X's in my 308 at 2650 fps. At 300 yards I'm only 32 fps slower, but with 1869 ft lbs.energy. I don't know how the drop at 300 compares to 338 fed. But I do know that if zeroed at 100 I'm hitting perfect POA with the 200, 300, and 400 yard dots on my scope. I'm not concerned about flat trajectory with a BDC scope. And I'm doing it with less recoil than 338 Fed.
I can't think of a single reason to choose one over a 308, let alone a 30-06.
Not to disagree, but I ran the numbers out of curiosity, using Point Blank, 50F. 7500 ft altitude and MPBR for a 6" diameter target
Muzzle =======================
2775fpe = .308/178g ELD @ 2650fps
2960fpe = .308/200g ELD @ 2582fps
3197fpe = .338 Fed/160g TTSX @ 3000fps
3122fpe = .338 Fed/225g AB @ 2500fps
300 yards =======================
5.5" drop, 2289fps, 2071fpe, 4.5" drift = .308/178g ELD @ 2650fps
6.7" drop, 2252fps, 2253fpe, 4.3" drift = .308/200g ELD @ 2582fps
3.4" drop, 2387fps, 2025fpe, 6.4" drift = .338 Fed/160g TTSX @ 3000fps
7.6" drop, 2150fps, 2309fpe, 5.1" drift = .338 Fed/225g AB @ 2500fps
400 yards =======================
19.4" drop, 2175fps, 1870fpe, 8.5" drift = .308/178g ELD @ 2650fps
20.9" drop, 2148fps, 2049fpe, 8.0" drift = .308/200g ELD @ 2582fps
15.1" drop, 2201fps, 1721fpe, 11.9" drift = .338 Fed/160g TTSX @ 3000fps
23.7" drop, 2040fps, 2078fpe, 9.1" drift = .338 Fed/225g AB @ 2500fps
MPBR =======================
296yd = .338 Fed/160g TTSX
268yd = .308/200g ELD
274yd = .308/178g ELD
257ys = .338 Fed/225g AB
Recoil (8.3LB rifle/scope/ammo) =======================
17.8 ft-lb = .308/178g ELD
20.3 ft-lb = .308/200g ELD
19.8 ft-lb = .338 Fed/160g TTSX
23.7 ft-lb = .338 Fed/225g AB
I've often thought the strength of the .338 Fed was in the short range and the muzzle energies above tend to show that.
An ELD would not be my choice for hunting big game but I do use the TTSX and AB in various rifles, calibers and weights, hence their choice for the above comparison. Swapping the178g and 200g ELD bullets for 180g and 200g AB doesn't change the results much and is the way I would go.
