Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 338 Federal

Thank you Mule Deer. It seems to me that I’ll stick with my 308 and 30/06. 200 grain partitions in both seem to work pretty good🙄

There goes MD throwing a wet blanket on us again.
Keep it up and we'll revoke you're rifle looney card!

Don't think you or the critters will be able to tell a difference.

But, that's so un-Loony...



DF

On the other hand, if a true-blue rifle loony gets a thrill from using a "different" cartridge, then why not?

That's probably 99% of loonyism--and new rifle sales, and gunsmithing work, which boost the economy.

I haven’t tried a 250. I did try 225 Partitions. ~2500fps, but accuracy was not good. The 160 TTSX is excellent. Mule Deer, I did recover one 160 from the offside hide of a Waterbuck, and it measured .75” across. Turned the near shoulder and internals into soup.

Also, if MD says it performs like an -06, I consider that high praise! I’ve only shot about 11 critters with the Fed, three bull elk, kudu, gemsbok, down to smaller things like whitetails, Impala and a hog. Not one has made it very far. Maybe 30 yds? That was a bull elk that had no remaining heart.

Still pondering my bullet choice for elk this year. Leaning towards a 200 Northfork at 2650.

If they kill similar then if a guy was wanting 06 performance in a short action the .338 federal might be just the ticket?

In my experience just about any cartridge in that general class will kill as well as another, but .30 caliber bullets of the same construction and basic weight will penetrate deeper.

If a short action is your heart's desire, then the .338 Federal might be the deal. But the .308 Winchester also works great.

I think the big difference comes if you are wearing blue or black socks that day. Happy Trails

I rescued a 160 TTSX from the deer above and the diameter was the same the bullets around here somewhere. Its in the .700 range and looks like the Barnes add. I agree with MD's observations I have harvested more than a few whitetails with .308 130 and 150 TSX and .338 160 and 185 T/TSX and I have not noticed a major difference. I am sure the frontal diameter changes with different bullets/ogives though.

PRM I'm surprised you would use anything on an elk other than a 160 TTSX I recall a few posts the last time you harvested an elk with it looked pretty successful. Maybe it was with another bullet not sure now but I recall a blood trail a blind man could follow. Every time I harvest one of the deer here with them it seems like they drill a hole through them like 2" in diameter between the entry and the exit.

Good luck and shoot straight y'all the season is going to be on us soon.

Hard to beat a short action 30/06. My 338 Federal is in a Savage 99 and it loves the 160 ttsx. If I wanted to shoot another flavor of short action 30/06 I've also got a 99 in 30/284. It's a screamer with 130 ttsx's but that's a topic for another day.

If I do use something other than the 160 it’s because of curiosity only. The 160 performs about as perfectly as a bullet can in my estimation. If anything it damages more than a preferred amount of meat. But damage is what we want from the bullet for quick kills on heart/lung shots so I accept that and try to keep shots towards the heart.

I was surprised how accurate the 160 TTSX was out of my .338-06.

DF

I don't think anyone has answered the OP's question yet, although a couple of posters have come semi-close. No doubt all well intentioned, but....

The OP asked about 250 grain Hornady Round noses out of a .338 FED, not 210's, 160's or anything out of a different chambering.

I'm also really interested in hearing answers to this question!

SQUIRREL!

Posters seem to be trying to let him know the 250 RN may not be an optimal choice for the 338 Fed.which seems to be an overwhelming consensus.

Suggestions have been posed in good faith, trying to help.

Probably not many using 250's for reasons covered.

DF

What you're saying is the OP isn't smart enough and it's the job of others to enlighten him.

Impressive narcissism on display in this thread.

OP asked a question, got several answers, several options.

Has little to do with being "smart", just experience he's asking about.

Not sure "narcissism" is an appropriate description.

DF

I bowhunt, but have a .338 Fed Kimber Montana as a loaner rifle and for walking back to meat in grizzly country. A couple years ago I loaned out the .338 F to a buddy who flew up to northern BC where I picked him up. He shot a moose with it. Two shots at close range, neither 160 gr Barnes TTSX were recovered as they went through the chest broadside. Moose went 10 or 15 yards, then needed to be packed out the rest of the way. Looked like great performance to me on the moose carcass.

I tried 200 gr Hornady spire points, 180 Nosler Accubonds, both of which came with the used rifle along with cases and dies, but they shot significantly poorer groups than the 160 TTSX. I use a max load of IMR 8208 with them. The 160s also kick significantly less than the heavier bullets in a 5#-12ounce rifle with scope.

I have 2 338fed 1 a ruger #3 21" and 1 98 mauser. I have a few 250 horn rns and time on my hands so am going try some.I will use a chronograph and begin with starting loads for the 358 win and see where it goes.Will report back. mauser is 24" brl

Thank you Chuck. I’d like to see pics of the 98......