Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Thinking about a 338 Federal?????

Well about the only reason to shoot one is because you want to, and that is reason enough. My current four rifles that I kept when I pared down my collection is a 6.5 x 55, 7 x 57, 7mm RM, 300WSM and a 338 Winchester Mag. I could get rid of three of them and not be lacking, I am attached to all but the 300 WSM. Could a 338 Federal be useful to me, gee I could talk myself into it if I was so inclined, or if I din't have a centerfire hunting rifle of any kind. And I will agree the Fusion Ammo is some of the best commercial loads around, I shoot 150 gr 7mm RM myself and have found it to be very accurate and it done short work on the white tails I hunt. I could down load the 338 WM with a 200 gr Speer SP if I was so inclined to the performance level of a 338 Federal. And in my Sako 75 it would have very little felt recoil too.

Not meaning to disparage anyone who posted on this thread... But I think one should not pose a question unless one is prepared to receive answers one doesn't like or accept...

"There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."-Will Rogers

This is my personal opinion, but I think for the intended game listed (deer & hogs), he's right on track with the 180-200 grain bullets. Yes, on paper, it does about the same as a .308 shooting a 180, but in my limited experience with 180's on deer, they tend to be a little hard out of a .308. I prefer 150's & 165's. IMO, my reduced .338-06 loads with 180's and 200's smack deer harder than anything I've used in a .308 Win.

I have a .338-284 that's a really nice, accurate rifle.

I'm looking for soft, expandable bullets for WT's. I don't want a hard bullet to poke a hole with little internal damage.

DF

Will's is, of course funnier; but he basically poached that line:

Wise men are instructed by reason; men of less understanding, by experience; the most ignorant, by necessity; the beasts, by nature. ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

Rovering,

Thanks for that insight and the history lesson... But I still like Will's version better...

Of course, many of the posts here involve the proverbial peeing on the fence... (I'm no stranger to that... ) But I have numerous .308's and .358's... After trying about three of the .338 Feds, I've DTDT, and have the T-shirt... I can find no use in my arsenal for one... (The product of logic and experience...)

GH

I just like good quotes, and 7mms and .35s. I know that I'll never earn my loony card here, since I only venture beyond those for 'must have' rifles not the cartridges for which they are chambered. Most here, though, are more interesting and like the variety for its own sake. The .338F is a good round, almost as good as the .358W.

Since I have a short action and not a long one...the 338 Federal will be what I'll have IT&D barrel up for me. They've done great work for me in the past and at $375 vs. PacNor's $675 it's a no brainer for me. powdr

I think you would be very happy with a 180 or 200 grn Accubond.

.338 Fed- if you handload, the 160 Barnes is a rocket-about the same velocity as a 7Mag. Great round

Exactly.

While a lot of people would consider the .338 Federal a "woods cartridge," as I mentioned earlier in another post it actually is sort of stumpy .30-06, and like the .30-06 would work fine as an all-around big game cartridge. I'd gladly hunt any big game in North America with the .338 Federal, whether pronghorns with 160-grain bullets at around 3000 fps, or brown bear with 225's at 2400-2500.

My .338-284 Alpha Arms Alaskan loves the 180 gr. NAB with RL-15, its best hundred yd. group. so far, 3/8". I just never killed anything other than paper with that load. May change that this Fall.

DF

John,

I am amazed that you endorse the .338 Fed. Inasmuch as I remember that not all that long ago, you told us that you abandoned the .338/06 because it doesn't really do anything the '06 won't do. I would have expected the same sentiment toward the .338 Fed.

At the risk of sounding that I take your writings to heart, I will admit that I also abandoned the the .338/06 for much the same reasons. But I know that I will Always own an '06 and likely more than one. Even tho' the '06 is NOT my favorite by any stretch of the imagination, There are too many good reasons to own one (If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand anyway... )

I will also admit to being down to just one .35 Whelen. And that only because it is one of the SS/Walnut Lipsey's ltd ed. #1's... (And I've been accused of hoarding #1s...) But also because I have two rifles in .350 Rem Mag which is a personal favorite...

There is no logic to explain the reasons for personal taste in firearms and cartridges, and I think all are useful. If anyone here has a right to prefer any particular brand, style, action, or cartridge in a rifle, then anyone else has the same right not to, or to prefer something else...

Bottom line is; I guess we are all loonies to one extent or another...

GH

Grasshopper,

I sure wouldn't trade a good .30-06 for a .338 Federal, but that doesn't mean the .338 Federal won't do most of the same things. And with heavier bullet it will outperform the .308.

.338 Federals are also usually much lighter and handier rifles than those chambered for the .338-06--and the .338 Federal Kimber I've been hunting with is five ounces lighter than my NULA .30-06, even with the Kimber's walnut stock!

Most .338-06's are about the same size and weight as .338 Winchester Magnums, whereupon all the advantages go the .338, whether the availability of factory ammo, trajectory or power. Plus it can easily be loaded down to .338-06 velocities if all the power isn't needed.

JB,
One of the main reasons I bought a Tikka T3 in .338 Federal was exactly what you said, it is a light easy to handle rifle with more than enough power and distance for my hunting. As well as getting it at a good price (from the CF) made it an easy choice. I don't worry about the Tikka, some others with the pretty wood stocks I just hate to bang up.

I love the 338 Federal, but mine is an 8mm and 57mm long. Seems the Krauts figured it out a 100 years earlier, who knew.

Nothing trumps a short action cartridge (338 Fed) in a long action (Tikka)

Is it say to re-size a .308 case to a .338? Anything to be aware of with respect to SAAMI specs?

Bigwhoop, I have great luck with Lapua .308 brass sized up to .338 Federal for my Kimber MT. Going from .358 Win down to .338 Fed left brass with almost no neck tension when using RCBS FL dies. I just gave the .358 brass to a friend with one and use the Lapua brass now with perfect results. No .338 Fed brass available in these parts of Canada except to buy outrageous priced factory ammo and make some. Since I don't own a .308 there isn't any risk of confusion of the upsized brass with my 7mm-08 or .260 Rem. Kurt

I used .308 Lapua and .308 Federal brass for quite some time until factory 338 Fed brass became available. Worked great. I wish Lapua made 338 Fed stamped brass.

Yep the Tikka is a long action with a short bolt stop. When you change out the bolt stop for the long one you can use the -06 magazines and set the heavy bullets out longer than a short action 338 Federal. Benefit to the Tikka is accuracy, smoothness, no need to bed, great trigger and NO RECALLS for a trigger.................. Put a scope on it and go kill stuff. And yes the bolt cover is plastic. As to the 8X57 Mauser it is indeed is an underrated and under appreciated classic with a long history. But then again it is a Long Action. Why the action length is such a big deal is something I never could understand.