.338 Federal Results
- Thread starter Twisted Canuck
- Start date
- Location
- Barrie Ont. Canada
Sure, Rem 600 (originally 308), custom walnut stock, timney trigger, 21" Douglas barrel, CVMW trigger guard I just got yesterday, vx3 1.5-5 on top. Just fitting the stock and trigger, then it goes to the smith for the barrel install. wanted it for moose this year but looks like next
Sure, Rem 600 (originally 308), custom walnut stock, timney trigger, 21" Douglas barrel, CVMW trigger guard I just got yesterday, vx3 1.5-5 on top. Just fitting the stock and trigger, then it goes to the smith for the barrel install. wanted it for moose this year but looks like next
Right on ! Nice Build ! Be sure to post up or send me pics Please . Years ago I was gonna build a 338 Fed on a M600 308 rifle I waited a couple of years for JC to make me a barrel but never got it and a Tikka T3 SS lite became available so I bought it .Never have regretted it. The M600 is still a 308 which is Fine . RJ
Coolness factor of the .338 Federal is high in my book........... very useful an for me, a suitable cartridge for the large deer i chase.
ive just never been in the position to need one.. with the .35 whelen always in the safe, an a 308 or 3006 floating around, its just not one ive invested in!
thanks for posting. #wishlist
ive just never been in the position to need one.. with the .35 whelen always in the safe, an a 308 or 3006 floating around, its just not one ive invested in!
thanks for posting. #wishlist
I have a 338 Jordan, which is nothing more than a 338 Federal with a bit of extra capacity, but not enough to make a difference.
It came about because I had a 338-06Jordan (338-06AI) chambered match grade barrel that was on a Ruger No1 and when loaded to its best accuracy node with 225 grain bullets generated more recoil than I can handle.
So, the Ruger tenon got cut back and a Mauser 98 tenon thread was cut and then had the shoulder cut to headspace on the 308Win cartridge. This blew things out a bit but only gives 3-4 extra grains of powder, after reaming the mouth of the chamber with a 308 Palma Match reamer. The same reamer was used to repurpose the die set.
I ended up shortening the barrel to 19.5 inches and use a blended lot of WC867, which is a form of non cannister grade W748 surplus powder, over CCI250 primers.
I cut back the barrel length twice, from its original 26 inches and found that because of diminutive case capacities for the volume of the 338 diameter barrel, I lost less than 50fps when all was recorded on my Magnetospeed, for quite a bit of weight loss and enhanced handling. The barrel measures 15/16" at the muzzle so it isn't a lightweight, but balances perfectly between my hands and comes to the shoulder for eyes on scope picture almost instantly.
I use 45.0 grains of powder over CCI 250 primers for an average 2450ishfps. This load will ethically kill anything I hunt out past 200yds.
I will not outperform the 338-06 or the 35Whelan, both excellent cartridges that I no longer use much, but only because as I age the recoil is excessive and I find myself anticipating ignition which is a recipe for disaster.
You aren't missing anything by not having a 338Federal in your safe, unless you find a need for a powerful cartridge with reduced recoil and a very large selection of very good bullets to choose from.
The 358Win is also another underappreciated cartridge but suffers from good loading data when chambered in strong modern actions in North America.
The difference between performance in all four of these cartridges, when compared to case capacities is nonexistent in the field
https://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/338-Federal.pdf
200 grers will Do 2700 ! Factory Federal Fusion 200 gr Bonded do 2700 from my T3 with 22.4 “ barrel. RJ
medvedqc, Ruger, Savage and Kimber still offer the 338Federal chambering.
It's a great cartridge and if you can't find brass, it's super easy to neck up 308Win cases with one pass, if using new brass. All of my cases are made this way.
I fully understand your desire for a Tikka but Ruger/Savage will easily do the job and the Kimber is only a bit more expensive.
I built one for a friend, while I still had the reamer about ten years ago, with a very similar profile and 21'' barrel length on a Short action Rem 700 and he has often expressed that in his opinion it's the equivalent of a 30-06 with 200-225 grain bullets but on a light, handy platform. He uses it for all of his hunting, other than small game.
He uses a different powder, I believe RL15, velocities are almost identical when we shoot the rifles side by side on paper out to 300yds, with same POA as indicated by bullet drop. My load usually shoots about 2cm lower than his at this range.
He gets about 50+fps more out of his barrel.
It's a great cartridge and if you can't find brass, it's super easy to neck up 308Win cases with one pass, if using new brass. All of my cases are made this way.
I fully understand your desire for a Tikka but Ruger/Savage will easily do the job and the Kimber is only a bit more expensive.
I built one for a friend, while I still had the reamer about ten years ago, with a very similar profile and 21'' barrel length on a Short action Rem 700 and he has often expressed that in his opinion it's the equivalent of a 30-06 with 200-225 grain bullets but on a light, handy platform. He uses it for all of his hunting, other than small game.
He uses a different powder, I believe RL15, velocities are almost identical when we shoot the rifles side by side on paper out to 300yds, with same POA as indicated by bullet drop. My load usually shoots about 2cm lower than his at this range.
He gets about 50+fps more out of his barrel.
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Who makes a rifle chambered in 338 Federal? RJ
338 Federal ! Savage Arms is currently the only US rifle maker chambering hunting rifles for the cartridge.
338 Federal ! Savage Arms is currently the only US rifle maker chambering hunting rifles for the cartridge.
New rifles? Im not sure who makes a new 338 fed you can buy off the shelf. I think you'd be better off to find a nice Tikka, Sako, Remington and just spend the little extra to have a nice KS arms tube slapped on it. Then you get exactly what you want.
There was a beautiful Sako 85 Grey Wolf in 338 Federal sale either on the EE or ####### (I cannot remember which one) for like $1400 I regret not scooping up. It was for sale for awhile, and Ive always thought the 338 Fed was a neat caliber. Unfortunately for the flatlanders like myself, my shots on game can be 100 yards or 500. And I like having something with a little more thump for those 500 yard pokes a guy has to make every now and again. But I still think it would look good in my safe.
- Location
- Barrie Ont. Canada
I watched that Sako on GP for a long time. Couldnt figure out why it lasted so long, nice set up at a decent price i thought
Prob because other then a couple of Federal loads ammo is non existent for the cartridge - Its a Perfect HANDLOADERS cartridge ! RJ
Well, it's pretty much all Federal, but more then a couple options:
210 gr Partition
200 gr Trophy Bonded Tip
200 gr Trophy Copper (TTSX for all intents)
200 gr Fusion
200 gr Power Shok (Blue Box)
180 gr Accubonds
I managed to obtain multiple boxes of each to try, granted it took some looking. But, there *are* factory options. Once I settled on the Trophy Bonded Tip, I stocked up 17 boxes...
There was also the Federal Premium 185 gr TSX ammo.
I haven't tried it, or the 200 gr Trophy or Copper ammo in my Sako as yet. So far, it prefers the blue box 200gr ammo; sub-MOA.
I too stocked up on the Federal 210 gr Partition ammo (17 boxes) when I rebarreled my Winchester Model 88 to the 338 Federal. It produces 1" groups @ 100 yards. Haven't chronied the load as yet to check velocity from the 20" barrel.
I haven't tried it, or the 200 gr Trophy or Copper ammo in my Sako as yet. So far, it prefers the blue box 200gr ammo; sub-MOA.
I too stocked up on the Federal 210 gr Partition ammo (17 boxes) when I rebarreled my Winchester Model 88 to the 338 Federal. It produces 1" groups @ 100 yards. Haven't chronied the load as yet to check velocity from the 20" barrel.
Well, it's pretty much all Federal, but more then a couple options:
210 gr Partition
200 gr Trophy Bonded Tip
200 gr Trophy Copper (TTSX for all intents)
200 gr Fusion
200 gr Power Shok (Blue Box)
180 gr Accubonds
I managed to obtain multiple boxes of each to try, granted it took some looking. But, there *are* factory options. Once I settled on the Trophy Bonded Tip, I stocked up 17 boxes...
you re ready for a few seasons ...
I wasn't able to source any to try. I think it may have been discontinued when they introduced the 200 gr Trophy Copper.
