Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .338 Federal

Anyone shooting/loading for one? First hand experience on game? Want to build another brush gun and was thinking .358Win but the federal has me Re-thinking.

Not sure why it's not a sticky but...

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...34927/good-338-federal-loads#Post3634927

It’s a good one. Easy to load for, effective and easy on the pocket as far as powder requirements. Ballistics very similar to 308 with lighter mono bullets. Everything I’ve shot with mine has been DRT (Deer and hogs).

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1020927830

Topical.

Happy Thanksgiving Fellas!

JM, I snagged a little Kimber Classic a few months back. AKWolverine preys on my weakness now that he knows and I think he sent me the link. It kinda sat for awhile, till I got a scope on it which was one of the older 2-8 Conquests.



Well, I finally got some dies and necked up some SIG brass and decided to try a few loads from it to see if anything would show itself good enough to hunt.



That was the first group I shot after bore sighting it. I said, well darn this little fella is trying to show. Anyhow, I shot through some 200 BT's and 185 TTSX's, but those 200 grain Speers with 8208 were still the best once the dust had settled.

Ended up taking a buck with mine two days ago, 104 yards which says 0 about its capability. But at the trigger press the buck never twitched that I could see, just went straight in a heap.



Bullet went in at the neck



Out mid ribs



So, I'll say this, I like it, pretty easy on recoil in the Kimber as well. As others have said, it doesn't need fancy bullets to kill deer or probably even elk, but it works like all the 308 based stuff does, pretty well.

160 Ttsx, accurate2230, 3100 fps. Not much recoil. Elk slayer.

See fellas! AKW is always there to help a guy out of jam needing a new rifle!

I have a Kimber Montana. Love the rifle but considering turning it into something other than 338 Federal. I shoot factory ammo and the ammo selection is dismal.

It’s my elk rifle and it’s right at home in the timber I like to hunt but still works for reaching out a bit. My longest shot on elk was 250yds. The bull dropped in tracks.

My favorite load was Federal’s 185gr TSX which was discontinued years ago. Currently shooting the last bit of Federal’s 210gr Partition I have, which is also discontinued.

Pm sent

Thanks for the replies. Thinking about having JES rebore my Winchester push feed lightweight for the easy button. Was going to send it in to be a .358 but already have a Whelen and watching for a .350 Rem Mag so the federal might be the better option.

I’ve killed two elk with my Montana. Load is a 180 Accubond at 2700 fps. First elk was a 200 yard shot through both shoulder blades. Bullet exited and left two nice round holes in both blades that showed good expansion. The second was a facing neck shot at 125-150 yards. Broke the spine and exited. Killed many deer and pigs with it. It thumps. It is easily a 300 yard gun and in the right hands could go a good bit further.

I’m not a fan of paying big bucks for bullets. After my accubonds are gone I plan on using 185 grain fusions which I bought on sale last year. The velocity of the round negates the need for premium bullets, IMO.

I think the Montana in 338Fed has a strong following. They only made them a few years. You could probably make good money off that rifle and buy one you like.

I have had both...

I prefer the .358W... out to 400

I wasn't crazy about 338 bullets for the 338fed. Sure there's plenty of 338 bullets. But most are built with the big 338s in mind.


The 358 made more sense to me...range not being of any importance.


I handload so I have no idea what factory ammo is available in either.

I concur...

Ran into the same thing with .375 SOCOM and .375 Raptor... MOST bullets I could find were a NO GO under RUM or H&H speeds.

JM... I have plenty of .358W ammo (my loads) if you ever want to test drive my data (BL-C(2) and 3031... depending on barrel length).

P.S. Federal Fusion .338F factory ammo is horrible... save your money. IMHO

As already pointed out, unless you're rolling your own ammo selection isn't that great. I have a Kimber Montana I rebarreled to .338 Fed (before Kimber had them in their lineup) and have a good supply of the discontinued Federal Premium 210gr. NP.

Honestly, if I had it to do over I'd just skip the .338Fed just leave it as a .308Win

Heck yeah, that is the absolutely easy button JM.

Agree with the others, if factory ammo is your thing, the 338 isn't or shouldn't be on your horizon. But, if you handload, it doesn't get much easier and there are a few bullets like the Speer and Hornady that are cheap and should plant deer pretty nicely. The Nosler 180 AB and 200 BT's should be pretty good as well.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1020927830


The ultimate 338 Fed!

I had JES rebore a Rem 660 that had been previously bastardized (original bbl replaced with a 22" 700 bbl, original walnut stock replaced with a birch stock off a Mohawk) to 338 Fed. Cut the 22" bbl back to 20" and threaded it for my Rugged Alaskan 360 can. As expected, JES's rebore shoots well. Just wish I could find a nice, factory walnut stock for it. A Brown Precision would be nice, but I have yet to justify the $$$ of same.

I rebarreled a 257 Robts that shot terrible to 338 Fed. Had Shaen twist a Lilja Kimber 84m mod at 23". It shoots 210 Part and 185 TTSX well. My current load is a 185 TTSX at 2700 over H322. I haven't shot anything with it but built it for elk in the timber. My gun also liked the 210 Part over 8208.

That’s good info Bill. Thank you.

I may have to try the 210's and bunches of 8208. I have a million of them suckers.

Me too - prob 500 or so. I do like the 185 TTSX a bunch and is what I'd carry whenever I decide to part with some Benjamin's and go Moose hunting.

The 185's worked great on 2 moose out of my .338-06. The last batch of 210's I bought wouldn't group worth a hoot, so I switched. Couldn't have asked for better performance.

I have extra 185s if you need them.

I have a Ruger Hawkeye in 338 Federal that is my favorite deer rifle. I have only killed 2 bucks with it but it knocked both of them right down. I really like the round. I am in the northeast so I am not taking long shots but it has surprisingly good ballistics out to at least 300 yards. Both buck I shot with mine were within 50 yards.

I am constantly experimenting with different cartridges for some reason. I have shot 3 deer with a 6.5 Creedmoor and was not at all impressed with the killing power. It works but not like the 338 Federal. I know this would change at really long range. I have also killed bucks with 308 and 30-06 with no trouble. Still 338 Fed hits hard and is currently my favorite for deer.

I need to monkey more with them in the off season. I did try them and didn't get awesome results, but they weren't bad either. They'd probably be something in my 338 Win though, so they'll get used somewhere.

It does have some thump. It worked beautiful on a small 8 for me a week ago.

Which bullet do you use?

Had this mid 1950’s savage 99 rebarreled to 338 Federal. It shoots 160 Barnes real well. I really like it! Work was done by CTW here on the Fire

I killed the 2 bucks with 200 grain Fusion factory loads. Over the summer I loaded 210 Partitions and they shot well. I have not tried the Partitions while hunting yet.

That's a really nice looking rifle! Congrats!

I have a Sako 85 in 338 Federal. I shoot the Federal 200 gr Trophy Bonded Tip ammo. I've taken elk, moose and a few deer with it. It seems like a pretty tough bullet but it expands enough to kill deer quickly too. I've never recovered one.

I’m sure hoping a big ass aoudad come out this week. Ready to 338 Fed his ass!!