I prefer the 338 FED to the 358 WIN too. About the only thing that a 338 FED can't do that the 358 WIN can is shoot 0.357" handgun bullets, but that is only an advantage if you think that shooting handgun bullet from a rifle is useful.
I’ve had a few 358s > BEFORE the 338 F was produced. The 358s did well with 180 gr Speer bullets but POOR bc. I killed quite a few deer with it within its limitations.
Today I’d NOT think twice about getting a 358 ! 338 Fed w/o a doubt.
Good luck w/yours and I hope it shoots well for you.
My Ruger 338 fed was accurate as well. I got it cheap bc the previous owner couldn't get ammo at Walmart. Unfortunately I used it for a donor action. PM me if you want that ammo, it's somewhere in a box.
I finally got to shoot the rifle. It was pretty good on accuracy. Probably 2” groups at 100 yards but a few touching. If I was a better shot it would be tighter.
You can kill every animal on the mountain with a 2" grouping rifle, ha. It will settle down, and so will you. I had the same rifle for years, but had it pillar bedded/floated and a trigger job. Though I shot it a bunch, it was my marine SIL who hunted with it. He shot a mule deer with the 180AB. His friend uses a Tikka and has killed deer and elk for several years. I sold it to do something or other. I found that a case full of TAC and the 160TTSX gave me 1/2" groups of three and averaged 3007fps! Wicked. Good luck to you Pard!
As an aside. A couple days later I took a doe with the Creedmoor that dropped 10 feet after the hit. I was thinking I needed a brush buster. I know a 308 or 30-06 would do anything I needed to but I think buying guns is a sickness.
If I was going to buy into the "brush busting" theory, I'd go bigger than the 338.
As an aside. A couple days later I took a doe with the Creedmoor that dropped 10 feet after the hit. I was thinking I needed a brush buster. I know a 308 or 30-06 would do anything I needed to but I think buying guns is a sickness.
If I was going to buy into the "brush busting" theory, I'd go bigger than the 338.
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