Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Who has a 338 Federal?

I have a rebored Howa 1500, still haven't shot the rifle yet...

I have a Montana. Have loads for 160TTSX, 185TSX, 180 Accubond and a few different 200 cup and cores. I use the 180 Accubond for elk. Deer and pigs usually get a 200 of some sort.

It’s probably anecdotal and trivial, but I feel like the Fed hits animals with a lot of authority. The Fed chambered in the Montana is a dream to carry. Mine is topped with a Leupold FX-II 4x. Carries and points like a nice shotgun.

I have a REM 700 that Mickey Coleman built for me in a Hi-Vis blue McMillan stock to give the deer a fighting chance. They are losing so far. Haven’t had a deer or a hog go more than 10 yards so far. 185 TTSX’s work very well for me.

I have a Kimber Montana 243 rebored to 338 Fed. Right at 6lbs with a Leupold 2.5-8, shoots great and easy to carry.

JES rebored md 88..Shoots better now than it did as a 308...Very happy with it..

OK that's just awesome.

Likewise the NIB Grey Wolf. Still have it.

Looking at JES web site..... they can take a .223 and re bore it to a .338 federal ?

I would need some work on the bolt to make that work also ?

Is that possible ?

JES did a 223 to a 350 legend for me, sweet shooting gun and cycles flawlessly, but the 223 is the parent case of the 350 legend.

optics planet carries them and they are much cheaper than the factory. There are also 30mm rings from Ruger, I've never seen advertised.
but optics planet carries them. I've bought, 5 or 6 sets for 30 mm scope tubes. think I paid like $65.00 per set.
just passing that on....

The M722 on the bottom is a 338 Federal. Originally chambered for 222 Rem, JES did the rebore.

The 338 Fed is such an interesting cartridge to me. It has enough velocity to be useful - meaning I don't feel like I'm lobbing a pumpkin. It is found in rifles that are very practical - meaning short, light, plain ol' handy. Has enough 'power' to be genuinely a large game cartridge. And all at a level of recoil that makes a light rifle very tolerable. I'm not sure why it hasn't caught on better other than it is very practical which apparently is not a desirable trait.

That’s about where I landed. Looking forward to getting it out and trying it some.

I agree. It just plain works without any fanfare. It’s only downside really is if you want to shoot 225gr or larger bullets and/or 400 yard shots.

Mine is a model 70 rebore with McMillan stock. Very good shooter!

I’ve had 3. Tikka T3, Kimber Montana, and Kimber classic. The Montana recoil was a bastard. I shot several deer and hogs with mostly the Federal 200gr Fusion load. Pretty much DRT on everything I hit with it.

I download a 22" .338WM to about 2,750fps and it's a great killer wit the 185TTSX. Always liked the notion of the .338Fed in a compact package. Might get there someday.

Some neat rifles on this thread for sure!

I re-barreled mine with the Lilja heavier contour barrel cut to 23" inches. Tamed recoil noticeably.

Mine will end up at .625 at the muzzle. What did the Lilja contour have?