338 federal

Status
Not open for further replies.
2

22 precision

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
northern Ontario
hey guys
I want to get a 338 federal incase your not familiar its a 308 necked up to 338
I think this cartridge has great potential
I know you could mod a gun to this caliber but was wondering
do you guys know where to get one?
what makes models are made from factory?
does anyone have one and use it to hunt?

thx for the input
 
Check The Gun Dealer used section... I just traded a Ruger M77 Hawkeye All-Weather to Ross (I had two)... great gun and cartridge.

I have two Feds... a M77 Hawkeye All-Weather and a stubbed Handi. It is a nice, relatively mild thumper.
 
I have one in a Kimber Montana and it is my dedicated elk rifle. I hunt some fairly demanding terrain and heavy bush so the light weight rifle makes the day a little easier and the .338 Federal has more than enough power for elk at the typical ranges I shoot them at.
 
i'm of the opinion the case is too short to take advantage of standard factory bullet weights- I have several 308s and one 338 win mag- the FACTORY bullet weights for that thing are 250 grains and up- mine won't take a 300 b/c the 1/12 twist is too slow- the best bullets for the 308 are 150's, 165s, 180s- you get heavier than that and you get into the 06 rage- heavier than that again and you're into 338 winmag territory- and unless you're after BIG bears, you don't need it- add the fact that bullets are MUCH more expensive, and the 338 becomes a selective use gun- and I reload, so I can pick and choose my bullet weights
 
It's yet another answer to an unasked question. Doesn't do anything older cartridges won't and only loaded by Federal(soft brass) Few high priced rifles and expensive ammo. Sako, Kimber, TC, Ruger and Steyr/Mannlicher. Most likely as special order rifle.
If you opt for one, buy as much brass as you can afford plus dies and a shell holder too. Even if you don't reload now. The marketing types think nothing of discontinuing stuff with no regard for their existing customers. Having brass, dies and shell holder means you won't get stuck with a rifle you can't feed.
 
Yup...I got one....probably the rarest .338 Fed ever made. It's a Factory M77 Frontier...in .338 Fed (pre .338 RCM)....which came from the factory with the MK2 stainless (rather than the shiny finish of the other Frontiers)....and also came with a checkered stock from the the M77 compact.


love the rifle and the cartridge


frontier_1_1.jpg
 
Wrong Way said:
Yup...I got one....probably the rarest .338 Fed ever made. It's a Factory M77 Frontier...in .338 Fed (pre .338 RCM)....which came from the factory with the MK2 stainless (rather than the shiny finish of the other Frontiers)....and also came with a checkered stock from the the M77 compact.


love the rifle and the cartridge


frontier_1_1.jpg
Click to expand...

Barrel length? My Hawkeye All-Weather is in the matte stainless finish with 22" barrel... its in a Boyd's Varmint Thumbhole now.
 
Wrong Way said:
16.5" :)

to put the overall size in perspective....it's wearing a VXIII 2.5-8 x 36.....it's a TINY gun!
Click to expand...

Am I remembering correctly, that you also have a K77/44? I have one on its way to me as I write this... I've been looking for awhile... how do you like it?
 
hey guys thx for the input it would be a choice just based on opinion and preferences
would be for bear moose and elk most likely and mid to short ranges
I want a heavier bullet than the 30's but have no need for a magnum
the other contender is the 35 weland (I don't remember how to spell it lol) but the federal just seems to be more interesting and ive never heard of a 338-06 unless it was a wildcat
and I know a 30-06 is fine for hunting everyone and their grandmother has one I just want something a little more interesting and I reload so wont be an issue once im set up to start

where is the dealers used gun section couldn't find or would I have to go individually through them and find one?
 
I just checked and the gun is marked "On Hold" so someone beat you to it... to bad, it was a like new beauty that could really shoot. BTW there is a .338-06, and alot guys like it... but don't feel like you are giving up much with the Fed... I shoot mine with 200's... I know a couple that prefer 225's... but I shoot 225's in my .358's.
 
I've never used a .338 Fed (though I've shot .338 WM for years)....but I do regularly shoot 220 gr. Sierra RN bullets in a .308 Model 7 Remington with great success. I get 2300 ft/sec and superb accuracy. I tried it on a whim, just because I had several boxes of those bullets, and was amazed at how well they did.

I know Sierras are kind of soft, but at 2300 ft/sec that doesn't really matter.
 
The only thing kind of critical on this list is dies, and not even that bad, shell holders and brass are the same as many other chamberings, you'll be able to make brass no problem.The die companies have carried for a long time some very obscure chamberings so I wouldn't worry.

It is nice when a particular chambering is put together with already popular components of others. ;)

A bigger worry these days is powder!

I do find the .338 fed interesting , maybe have one some day.

sunray said:
It's yet another answer to an unasked question. Doesn't do anything older cartridges won't and only loaded by Federal(soft brass) Few high priced rifles and expensive ammo. Sako, Kimber, TC, Ruger and Steyr/Mannlicher. Most likely as special order rifle.
If you opt for one, buy as much brass as you can afford plus dies and a shell holder too. Even if you don't reload now. The marketing types think nothing of discontinuing stuff with no regard for their existing customers. Having brass, dies and shell holder means you won't get stuck with a rifle you can't feed.
Click to expand...
 
22 precision said:
hey guys
I want to get a 338 federal incase your not familiar its a 308 necked up to 338
I think this cartridge has great potential
I know you could mod a gun to this caliber but was wondering
do you guys know where to get one?
what makes models are made from factory?
does anyone have one and use it to hunt?

thx for the input
Click to expand...

They're a fine cartridge on antlered animals out to 300 yards. I wouldn't go after grizzlies with it...but ungulates, for sure!
 
Ballistically it looks pretty impressive for a smaller cartridge, it seems like it is even more efficient then the 308 win, though not for over 400 or 500 yards which isn't what most hunters look for anyways (except the long range hunting crowd), I'm surprised it didn't become more popular but I guess the industry was doing other things at that time and the 308 win based cartridges were getting a bit lack lustre. Personally Id prefer one in a carbine or a bush rifle over the 308 win.
 
I've owned two,a Sako 85 LSS and a Ruger m77 Hawkeye SS bedded into a McMillan. Great cartridge but I always wished it would shoot a little heavier bullet, a little faster. Now I'm into a custom 338-06 built on a Model 70 SS and I'm very happily chucking out 210gr TTSX @ 2750 fps


In the Sako I shot 210 TSX @ 2600 fps and in the Ruger, 185gr TTSX @ 2750
 
sunray said:
It's yet another answer to an unasked question. Doesn't do anything older cartridges won't and only loaded by Federal(soft brass) Few high priced rifles and expensive ammo. Sako, Kimber, TC, Ruger and Steyr/Mannlicher. Most likely as special order rifle.
If you opt for one, buy as much brass as you can afford plus dies and a shell holder too. Even if you don't reload now. The marketing types think nothing of discontinuing stuff with no regard for their existing customers. Having brass, dies and shell holder means you won't get stuck with a rifle you can't feed.
Click to expand...
Pretty sure you can just resize any .308win brass then fireform and shell holder is the same also. I have almost got a couple over the years but deals fell through. I would go for it if you want it. Don't think .308 brass will be hard to find ever.
 
22 precision said:
hey guys
I want to get a 338 federal incase your not familiar its a 308 necked up to 338
I think this cartridge has great potential
I know you could mod a gun to this caliber but was wondering
do you guys know where to get one?
what makes models are made from factory?
does anyone have one and use it to hunt?

thx for the input
Click to expand...


I have a TIKKA SS T3 chambered in 338 Federal -wearing a Leupold V111 2.5-8 in Talley LW rings-mounts ! Very Nice rifle - My 338 Federal is a 358 Win Necked DOWN to 338 ! ;) LOL RJ
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom