Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 338 Federal

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...