Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 338 Federal

I really thought this cartridge would be much more popular... with bullet weights from 180gr, 200gr & 225gr ... In a light 20 inch barreled carbine .. seems to be the ticket ..
for a Whitetail , Elk & Black bear .. medicine ..

I get 3007fps with TAC and the Barnes 160TTSX out of my Hawkeye 22" barrel. That's 7mm rem mag territory!

I know this fellow that has been a 338 Fed fan since its debut... He is a avid handloader .. And his new custom Savage with the accutrigger and accu-stock .. is a tack driver with various bullet weights .....

It wasn't a 358, the end.

Yeah I dont own one at the moment but if a rifle maker that i like would chamber this excellent cartridge I would be a buyer.....Im not a Savage fan and at the moment I cant think of another currently built rifle that is chambered in .338 Fed........Hb

Yeah other than too-expensive Sakos there's aren't a heap of factory rifles in the chambering.

A nice Kimber 84M in 338 Fed shooting 200g bullets would be near perfect for my pig and deer hunting.

I'm a fan. Don't know why, but I like the 338 Federal. I also like the 160TTSX in the cartridge.

give it 20 years and it will be a cult classic like the 358...

That's a nice combo right there...I run the 185TTSX out of my .338-06

Federal factory loads are 200 grains "plodding along" between 2630 to 2700 fps... velocity sells... a 160 TTSX at 3000 is a hand loader with a passion for the bullet and the cartridge.

Montana Rifle Company still lists it.

I'm a fan. Shocker, I know! I will say the 160 TTSX zipping along at 3050 or so is a very effective killer. I am surprised there isn't a Federal factory load with the 160. Maybe Federal not loading Barnes as much?? That may have had more consumer appeal. Hard to say. It certainly is not a commercial success, but being Federal's cartridge I think ammo will remain available. Note to Federal: a 160ish Trophy Copper or Trophy Bonded Tip at 3000fps would be pretty cool!


I have a pile of 180 Accubonds I hope I can get to shoot well in a new PAC NOR barrel that is on the way. Those at 2800+ should be good medicine.

Each year I struggle to pick a bullet for hunting. This year I'd like to get the 180 or 200 ABs to shoot really well. Elk have failed to cooperate when I had 210 Partitions chambered, but the 185 and 160 TTSX did exceptional and the 180 BT worked.

I'm a fan and am likely to have a Ruger Hawkeye (LH) rebarreled to the 338 Fed.

BTW, there's a great thread in the reloading section on the 338 Federal. Lots of discussion about different powders and bullets. Worth a look if this is a caliber you plan to load for. In the meantime, the Blue box Federal 200 grain classic and the Federal Fusion ammo, also 200 grain, are both extremely accurate.

I'm another that wonders why the .338 Fed isn't more popular.

Seems to me it would be a great choice game in areas where ranges are under 350-400 or so.

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.

At 400 the same bullet is down 18.3" and retains 1985fps and 1399fpe.

The only reason I don't have one is I have so many other choices. If starting from scratch it would be on my list of top 10.

The 338RCM appealed me as a near perfectly balanced, big game cartridge for a short action rifle. Perhaps for the same reasons as the 338Fed, it never did a good trade either...?

They work great! I shoot 160 ttsx bullets in my latest one but haven't scored with it yet.

Same bullet weights can be fired to same speeds in 30-06 and roughly 100-150 fps faster than 308. The difference in .03" greater bullet diameter is roughly the same as your fingernail. In other words it doesn't make a hole enough bigger to matter.

But that .03" greater bullet diameter means much worse BC's in the same bullet weight.

The 30-06 beats it at all ranges, 308 is slightly behind at the muzzle, but passes it at around 100-130 yards.



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.

I have a Sako Hunter in 338 Federal. I love the 358, but factory ammunition for the 338 Federal is available and cheap. I like to stick to the heavier bullets...guess I'm an Elmer Keith type :-)

It must be a regional thing. I have never seen 338 Federal on the shelves.

I like the 338 Federal, but my passion lies with a 338-06.

If you'd prefer a short action as I would, it's a better option than the -06.

As for the 308 vs 338Fed, not too much in it. But there aren't too many flies on a .338, 200g SST at 2700fps. They hit considerably harder than the .308, 165g version at about the same velocity. (I've shot a good few pigs with both combos FWIW.)

GeorgiaBoy - "It must be a regional thing. I have never seen 338 Federal on the shelves. " A very good chance you are correct. Despite its attributes (better SD/BC etc.) factory loads are very hard to find locally. Had to feed my Ruger All Weather Hawkeye with components initially gathered for a .338WM. IMHO - it outshines the .358Win and the .338-06 (i.e. can't shoot what's not available). Homesteader

bobnob17 - "As for the 308 vs 338Fed, not too much in it. But there aren't too many flies on a .338, 200g SST at 2700fps. They hit considerably harder than the .308..." Amen to that. Homesteader

I seldom, if ever see anything new on the shelves that interests me. With all the emphasis on "affordability" these days, Tupperware rifles and ARs get the most play. The majority of new, higher-end investment seems to be $1000+ 1911s. I understand the business reasoning, but it must cut into impulse purchases, from fussy old guys, anyway.

They marketed it as equal to an 06. Why would I want something that at its best is like an 06, and falling behind with distance. The 308 is so similar, and established.

If someone would kick in reloading stuff with one of the Tikka 338 Feds sold locally I might be a buyer, if cheap enough. I do not want one, but would be willing to try it. We usually can't see over 200 yards.

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.

The 338 Fed isn't going to win a longer range math contest, especially not comparing a TTSX to an ELD-X. It's a fatter bullet. But I know from experience the fatter 338 makes things very dead and using a CDS and a rangefinder I could care less about a little difference in drop. If shooting beyond 400-500 yds was what I was planning for I wouldn't get the 338. Since everything I've shot has been at shorter distances it works well for me.

I bet you're right Dogger. I've killed deer with the 180 Accubond and moose with a 210 Partition with my .338 Federal All Weather Hawkeye. It's easy to make brass out of .308 cases and it has a certain cool factor to it. Mine loves 180-185 bullets with TAC.
I see Starline is making brass for .338 Federal now so maybe that will make people happy. It seems like some reloaders don't care too much for Federal brass and as far as I know they were the only ones to produce .338 Fed head stamped brass in the past.

You are not concerned about trajectory, like others are not concerned about recoil.
I can easily think of reasons for .338fed for BG
225AB @ 2500mv = 2100 energy 300yd
210tsx approaching 2600mv can out-penetrate 200/220NP 30/06!

-some people will never shoot game at 300yd or 400yd in their life,
those people are in no way ballistically disadvantaged by .338F

95% of my hunting happpens within 200 yards, 200 grain hot cors at about 2500 fps, out of a 17" kimber montana is some good medicine for deer and big bodied hogs.

6# all up and hits like a hammer on both ends!

Would like to try to handlaod the faster pills before next year... but it's hard to improve upon that light of a package that shoots MOA, and kills everything it hits.

That's why everyone flocks to the 270 over the 30-06.

Pappy348 - "I'm seldom, if ever see anything new on the shelves... Local outlets i.e. gun-shops, Wallyworld and the like, stock what their records show SELLS best i.e. .308/.30-06. 22LR and so on. Had to look really hard to find one that had 5 boxes of .338 Federal on the shelf. This is a LGS that stocks .470NE and assorted other exotica. "Tupperware rifles and ARs get the most play..." True again, at least for now. Have plenty of .308 brass I can turn into .243W and .338F (fills a niche) if necessary. However, .338F factory ammo and head-stamped brass, are nice to have around too. Homessteader

My Montana is going to get a .338Fed take off slapped on it as soon as my current project is done.

You already have the take off? I know where one is located.

Also, a 200gn out of the Fed is really good for a lot of things!

Yes, I have one in-hand. Thanks, though.

I'd have a .338 Fed. in a flash if I didn't have my .358 Win. There's no point in having both and I've been happy with my .358 since 1977.

What is your experience with the 200 SST? They fly well for me but I've always questioned their toughness. I have no experience with them on game.

jmho- i've never laid eyes on any animal where i've hunted
that i couldn't kill cleanly with one of my 30/30's or
.308's or 12 gauge with appropriate ammo, so any of the
"newer" chamberings would just be for personal satisfaction
for me

My impression of the SST is that it bloodies meat pretty bad at high speeds. I wonder what it will do when traveling at 2,500-2,700 fps?

I won't disagree on BC and LR shooting with a smaller bore.

Yes, will say I had a 338/06 built by Hart years back, mid 90s, and around 96-97 stuffed one of my 200 BTs in a 308 case.

It was done LONG ago and a write up in Precision Shooting was done, I believe on a M88, and the premise was at the time, there was not a 35 bore partition, so the author, cannot recall the name right now, used a 338 bore to use the 210 PT.

It works and well to around 300 yds of decent trajectory. If one hunts wooded areas, like the 358 you will get a nice entry and exit holes if you need a blood trail. Yet you do not have less expensive pistol bullets to plink and practice, or small game hunt if one so inclines.

I see it like the 358, best in a 17-20 inch carbine that thumps deer and hogs, or larger, but keeping shots to around 300 yds where it's trajectory and retained impact speed for expansion is best. Sure it can be stretched but would choose a smaller bore if longer shots were expected.

185-210s are IMHO where the round is works best, no doubt the lighter Barnes works fine to ranges where is expands. I would choose the 185 Barnes and 200 loads, the 200 BT is a longer bullet and deep seating required for many mag boxes.

I did see a 338 Federal at a SHOT show in a Ruger 1A IIRC, 99% sure, but never seen them hit production that was scheduled. I may be wrong. COL might be generous in that rifle, but an '06 case more fully exploits the potential of the round, giving it around another 100 yds of usable distance, again - if it matters to one's hunting conditions.

i bought one of the ruger frontier rifles when they came out in 338 fed. i love it. i had it set up with the scout scope for a few years and recently switched over the a vx3 1.5-4x20. it is a slick little gun and shoots those federal fusion into tight little groups and knocks deer off their feet.

I must not have gotten that memo. I have two 338 Federals and three 358 Winchesters. And each one is special. But I can understand your point.

One reason it works for me is I'm hunting elk at 10,000'. A Nosler 180 AB would still be doing 2084 at 500 yds. The little Barnes is doing over 2100. More than enough for my situation. Doubt I'm ever shooting anywhere close to that and I don't feel range limited at all. Skills limited perhaps...

I loaded it down to 2700fps in a Vanguard 338WM using a mild load of H4895. I used it on pigs and goats. They held together fine, achieving double shoulder exits on all pigs so hit.

The 225g version loaded to 2600 was even better.

I got a chuckle out of Coyote Hunters numbers. Altitude of 7500 feet. In South Georgia planes don't fly that high.
I've had a 338 federal for a number of years and it is as good as anything else I have for hunting around here. My trips out West have all been with my 338 winchester magnum but that has probably stopped due to the weight of my 338 Federal. It sure is easy to cary, and hits hard too.

A couple pics to perk up this 338Fed thread.

Hoping to take a Blacktail with a 160 Barnes TTSX this fall. Pretty much a mountain guide clone with a little heavier barrel.

I like it!

What is the recommended bullet for brown bear...in a 338 Fed?

I'm far from an expert on this.. I'd personally run a 210 Partition. Or, why not a 185 TTSX? There's a video out there of a guy shooting a brown with a 200 Trophy Bonded Tip through and through. Those who have hunted them a lot seem to think a 30-06 with 200 Partitions is good bear medicine, why not a 338 Fed?

I'm planning on building one for an upcoming hunt in AK, and am just starting my intel. Thanks.

I must have missed this. That's interesting, thanks. I'll see how the 200 SSTs fly in the new barrel and consider them. Have a handful of things I want to try: 180 & 200 ABs, 160 TTSX, 200 SST, 200 Hot Cor, and I want to try AA2460 powder. Turns out it's just a slightly slower version of AA2230. 2230 is the king of speed with lighter bullets. 2460 might be just right with 200s.

Why I like the 338 Federal one picture says it all.[img]https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10209698571756139&set=a.10209698570596110.1073741834.1085402646&type=3&size=1000%2C750[/img]

The best thing that could happen to the 338 Federal is a short action with 3.00" usable cartridge COL

I agree with that. I've gone to lighter pills(180BT, 200IL, 185Sp, 160TTSX) in my T3 as the longer bullets rob way too much capacity for the short mag length and MV suffers. I did the bolt stop and mag swap for a while and that helps tremendously, but the lighter pills are more than ample for what I use the cartridge for(WT and hogs).

I killed my largest elk with my 338 Fed Kimber Montana with no fuss. But I recently switched to a 338-06 due to the fact that the 338 Fed is pretty much a handloader's cartridge anyway at this point. Try Alliant's 2000-MR I was getting very accurate 200 grn loads at 2800 fps.

You live where 338-06 ammo is on the shelf...and the 338Fed is not?

No, I mean that if I'm going to reload I may as well as load the 338-06 over the weaker 338 Fed.

And I found a better handling rifle in 338-06.

I agree.

As per usual, it comes down to personal preferences.

While my .338 is a WM, I can see where a Fed would be more suitable to my needs if I lived or hunted other parts of the country. I download my WM a bit because I've found a really accurte load and value accuracy more than velocity. (I still get more velocity than a .338-06 could provide.)

As a general rule, I prefer heavier, fatter bullets and less recoil. The .338 Fed provides a nice balance. It is not a long range cartridge but does not need to be.

I actually went the other way 338-06 to 338 Fed. Never have shot anything with the -06. The Fed seems to put 338 bullets through critters big and small though.

One thing on the plus side of the ledger for the Fed is that it is Federal's cartridge. If any non-mainstream cartridge is going to have ammo produced it's the 338 Federal.

Edit: mine is definitely not a long range package at well under 6lbs. But I wouldn't hesitate to shoot to 500 when elk/deer hunting at high elevation. I'm the limiting factor. For a true long range setup I'd definitely go with a heavier rifle and with better LR bullets in 7mm or 30 cal.

Nothing wrong with the Fed, its just that my Montana punched me hard in the cheekbone every time I pulled the trigger!

They can be rather snappy. Not a big thump, but definitely a quick smack.

I'll definitely have a Muscle Brake on mine.

And just planning on 200-300 at the most, yard Grizzly and Moose. Maybe Brown, as I'm on a cancellation list.

So, you guys are recommending 180 or 200 NAB for what I'm talking about? Thanks!

I cut my .338 montana down to 17" its tapped my shooting glasses a few times from the bench, never a probelm from the field. Galco safari ching sling really helps keep it tight to reduce the movement of the gun when firing...