Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Is the 338 federal dead?

The .338 fed actually compares better to a 30-06, than the .308.

I didn't find the published data on the 200 partition in a .308. Going to the Speer published data it shows with both shooting a 200 grain bullet the .338 federal has a 340 fps advantage which is actually quite a bit.

I had some 200g bullets loaded up for a .308 win ten years ago, all it did was match a similar load from a .356 win. I really wouldn't pt that load in the same classification at a 200-210 338 Fed load.

I have one, picked it up on a whim, a stainless Ruger Hawkeye. Dropped it into a B&C stock, put a 2x7 vortex viper on it. My teenager adopted it and won't let it go. I think the theory behind the cartridge is excellent. And with a BDC or a dialed in dials on the scope it can be stretched out to 300-400 yards if needed. I think if it came out instead of the .358 Winchester it may have been more popular than either is today.

Was DOA at my house

I'm an advocate of the 338 and 358 calibers on standard cartridges, all of them. There is plenty of sufficient examples that these calibers do more on large or dangerous game than their 30 caliber parent cartridges. This knowledge goes back as far as Col. Whelen and Elmer Keith.

With that said, there is no 340 fps difference between the 338 federal/200 grain and the 308 win/200 grain. Load development on the 308 isn't based solely off your load development from 10 years ago.

Here in Alaska, a handful of us expreimented with the little 308. With MR-2000 powder or Reloader 17, I topped out at 2450 fps from a 20" barrel shooting the 200 grain nosler partition in a Savage 99 308 winchester. Other folks topped out at 2500-2550 fps with 22 inch barreled kimbers and tikkas with the same load.

We were trying to bring the 308 Winchester compliant with our bison hunting regulations, and it accomplished that.

I found a 200 grain 308 load in five seconds online. 2550 FPS.

Arguing that a 200gn from a 308 Win performs better at long range than 200gn from a 338 Fed is silly. If you’re using either for long range your choice is questionable. Penetration? If there is a difference it will only be measured in the ground on the other side of the animal.

The 338 Fed is for hunters who do all their killing inside 400-500 yards, most within even less, and are comfortable with that. It shoots bullets of similar weight the same velocity as a 30-06. A 200gn bullet in the 2700s is a rather well proven recipe for success. If that fits you, it kills exceptionally well. If it doesn’t fit you, there are countless alternatives to choose from. Shoot what you like, it’s not that hard.

I have an AW Ruger Hawkeye in 338 Federal and I love it. I have taken both whitetail (180 Accubond) and moose (210 Partition) with it. I've also worked up a load with the 185 TTSX that shot great but I haven't hunted with it yet. The AW Hawkeye is a solid rifle too. Besides, the 338 Federal is waaaay cooler than a plain old run of the mill 308!
Check out the "Good 338 Federal Loads thread in the Reloading forum. It has a bit of a cult following. https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/3634927/all/Good_338_Federal_loads

Like to hear how the 180 AB and the Partition performed. Each time I’ve had Partitions in the chamber the elk didn’t cooperate. I have a load for the 180 AB using benchmark that shoots very well at 2800fps. That will likely be what I use for hunting this fall.

Could one be necked down to 30 cal for a great little all-around cartridge?

I see what you did there....

I loaded the 180 Accubond over 47.5 grains of TAC at 2649fps. The one whitetail I shot was angling away at a pretty sharp angle about 70 yards out. The bullet entered through the ribs on the right side and I found it under the hide on the right shoulder. Perfect mushroom. Weird, I don't know how that happened. The deer wobbled and dropped within 10-15 yards.
I loaded the 210 Partition over 45.0 grains of H4895 at 2515fps. I shot the cow moose as it turned away. My shot went high and struck the spine, she dropped on the spot and I put another one in her head. The first shot was about 60 yards. I was pretty excited so I must have jerked that first shot.
Not a very good report, I know. I've enjoyed reading your many posts on the Good 338 Federal Loads thread.
I'd like to try some 160 TTSX with TAC but I haven't found any published data. I have read on here that 52.0 grains works well though.