338 Federal, Kimber Montana

bearkilr said:
The difference in the Montana in calibers we were discussing, a 30-06 and 308, is 8 ounces or half a pound. In a rifle people buy mainly because of its light weight, that's quite a substantial weight difference. Almost 10%.
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We spend $1500 to save a few ounces, buy titanium sporks to save grams, half a pound is monstrous in a backpack hunting rifle indeed. Many folks don’t get it, once you do a 2 week backpack hunt, they will. Grams matter.

This was one of our more dedicated mountain hunting client’s gear list, was impressed by his attention to weight.

OHA2aeh.jpg
 
bearkilr said:
The difference in the Montana in calibers we were discussing, a 30-06 and 308, is 8 ounces or half a pound. In a rifle people buy mainly because of its light weight, that's quite a substantial weight difference. Almost 10%.
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X2 8oz is huge in the lightweight world.
 
Ardent said:
We spend $1500 to save a few ounces, buy titanium sporks to save grams, half a pound is monstrous in a backpack hunting rifle indeed. Many folks don’t get it, once you do a 2 week backpack hunt, they will. Grams matter.

This was one of our more dedicated mountain hunting client’s gear list, was impressed by his attention to weight.

OHA2aeh.jpg
Click to expand...

Yes but if he was packing a short action 308..the rifle and the ammo would be lighter yet
 
Ardent said:
The .308 will do 2,600fps with a 200gr and CFE223, and have a better ballistic coefficient and sectional density. The .338 Fed was designed to sell rifles, it’s succeeded better than I expected at doing that. Just doesn’t have the case capacity to really make a .338 work any better than a .30. In fact it’s less versatile with a smaller range of viable bullet weights. Admittedly underwhelmed by the cartridge.
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i get that argument.
I chose the .338 federal for simple practical reasons that suit my hunting. Reloading was a big part of the decision as well.
As I get older, my firearms collection becomes more refined and I have specific rifles I chose for certain hunts. Also I reload .338 win mag for my hunting partner so we purchase reloading components together. I don't bother reloading for .308 as I have a good stash of plinking and hunting ammo.
I wanted a close range thumper in a short action but with some ballistics that are superior to some of the other "close range" rifles..... or at least I perceive them to be anyways.

I consider the .338 federal a wonderful idea for a hard hitting calling rifle where bringing the animal as close as possible is the idea. I'm no super hunter like some of you fellas seem to be but I see a niche for the .338 federal beyond selling rifles. It seems I also have developed a bit of a talent for calling in bull moose uncomfortably close.
Big bullet, less powder, short action, short barrel..... but will reach out to 300 just as easily as a 308, 30-06 or a 7mm rm.
I don't see any point in using the light weight .338 federal bullets and would agree .... why bother with this caliber if you are just going to shoot 160-180 gr bullets.
I've got some barnes 185's i think but otherwise i plan to exclusively hunt with the nosler 210gr.

I think my reasons for supporting the .338 fed are valid.
it'll put meat in my feezer, there's no doubt about it ;)
 
It’ll kill moose for sure nobody will argue that, and I get the component standardisation. I really tried hard to like the 9.5x57 (.375x57 Mauser) so I could get away with only stocking .375 bullets on the bench, being an avid .375 H&H user at work. Just couldn’t warm up to the potato guns, heavy bullets at moderate velocities, as I found no better lethality than my 7x57s and 7 Mag I was trying to replace. Often worse as on a 250-300 yard mountain shot, you’re falling out of optimal bullet expansion velocities. For a hundred yards from a tree stand, blind, or calling perch yea not gonna to be giving up anything for sure.

In the end if a guy likes it and actually hunts it, I can’t fault it, I simply wouldn’t choose it personally seeking any kind of terminal ballistic benefit.
 
Ardent said:
It’ll kill moose for sure nobody will argue that, and I get the component standardisation. I really tried hard to like the 9.5x57 (.375x57 Mauser) so I could get away with only stocking .375 bullets on the bench, being an avid .375 H&H user at work. Just couldn’t warm up to the potato guns, heavy bullets at moderate velocities, as I found no better lethality than my 7x57s and 7 Mag I was trying to replace. Often worse as on a 250-300 yard mountain shot, you’re falling out of optimal bullet expansion velocities. For a hundred yards from a tree stand, blind, or calling perch yea not gonna to be giving up anything for sure.

In the end if a guy likes it and actually hunts it, I can’t fault it, I simply wouldn’t choose it personally seeking any kind of terminal ballistic benefit.
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I hear ya.... and I do value the comments from you guys that hunt for work and spend more time afield than most of us. You must see a variety of hunters showing up an equal variety of calibers they chose to hunt with.
To be honest, my initial desire to employ the .338 federal was for the m14 platform as I thought it would make for a good brush gun. It would..... and i still have the shorty m14 truck/quad rifle on all my trips but not in .338fed
So I dumped a pile of money on a high end .338fed bolt gun...... it's cool and all and very accurate..... but i deviated from why i wanted this cartridge in the first place..... and it wasn't a bolt gun.
I might sell it but who has 3200 for a decked out .338fed ? (silly me)

The stag-10 just came out and this is where the .338fed will shine for me. My favorite spots for blacktail and moose are in areas where I keep getting jumped by wolves and bears. Also I have nerve damage from a workplace accident 20 years ago that is screwing up my right arm and affects how fast I can manipulate a bolt action. Getting worse as I slide into 50.
For those hunts in particular, I think the .338fed in a semi auto action is good for me. If the wolves try and get me again..... an xcr-m mag full of 185gr barnes bullets will give me the upper hand LOL

I'll admit it.... I have very active ptsd from my pemberton wolf experience..... and it is affecting my decisions on what rifles/calibers i hunt with these days.
 
the 338 federal would hold a good place in sambar hunting if the chambering were more common in rifles down under, the 308 is a great choice for bush hunting with 180 grains but sometimes a fatter hole an more grain is a better thing.

the 338 Barrel to Aus wouldnt be such a drama :D :D i would seriously buy it........ real seriously. :D
 
I've been hunting with my Montana in .338 Federal for years now. It's my main elk rifle and has performed very well on a number of bulls and cows at ranges from 14 to 175yds. I was loading 185gr TSX but switched to 210gr TSX and will stick with that. It has become my favorite rifle and I will be carrying it for whitetail again this year.
 
Being a 338 caliber fan (have used the 338 Win Mag for years and also have a custom Remington 700 LH 338-06), the Federal version really intrigued me, and I built a custom Winchester Model 88 with quick detach rings on a picatinny rail, and ghost ring sights, with Trijicon's tritium front sight bead.
I initially built this for close brush bear work. While it shoots the 210 gr Partition factory load 1.5 MOA at 100 yards, with the Leupold Vx-3 1.75-6 scope, it will place bullets on targets out to 300 yards with great consistency. Looking to harvest my first big game animal with it this fall. I am confident that it will perform admirably. This bullet has worked great in its bigger brothers for years.

I also have and use regularly a BLR in 358 Win that is very effective on large game out to 250 yards. It also has quick detach rings with a Leupold Vari-XIII 1.5-5. With Speer 220 gr Hot Cor's it will shoot 1" groups all day long. It has been my my main horse/atv/guiding/archery backup rifle for almost 20 years. It just plain works!

I have also taken game with both rifles chambered in 308, and they work too; I just like the heavier bullet weights and larger frontal areas. Inside 300 yards, I am not worried about lower BC's, and the SD's are effective on the moose, elk, bears and other game that I have harvested with these rifles over the years.

Hope you enjoy your new 338 Federal! Happy hunting and shooting!
 
Ardent said:
The .308 will do 2,600fps with a 200gr and CFE223, and have a better ballistic coefficient and sectional density. The .338 Fed was designed to sell rifles, it’s succeeded better than I expected at doing that. Just doesn’t have the case capacity to really make a .338 work any better than a .30. In fact it’s less versatile with a smaller range of viable bullet weights. Admittedly underwhelmed by the cartridge.
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My 338 federal will do 2560fps with 225gr AB,with a max charge of LRV, I load the 200gr SGK like you stated above, both great rounds, when I’m going after big moose in bear country I feel better with the 338. Flies just as flat too
 
My main go to hunting rifle this year is a 14" barreled T/C Contender carbine in 338JDJ#2 = 444 Marlin brass necked down has a slightly larger case capacity than a 338 Fed but the Contender frames can't handle the high pressures so I have to trade off with max 45,000 psi loads compared to the closer to 60,000psi 338 Fed loads.

I'm loading 180gr Accubonds @ 2500fps, 200gr SST's @ 2350fps haven't had a chance to kill anything with it yet but I would not hesitate to take it after deer/elk/moose out to 300 yards with the 180gr Accubonds.

Anyone have any experiences with the 160gr Barnes TTSX in their 338 Fed I'd appreciate any thoughts on them are they worth the extra monies to get another 100fps?
 
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