338 Fed or 358 Win for elk?

You're comparing oranges to oranges.

If you can't make up your mind, mark a coin and flip it.

Whichever side is up, go for the build.

Good 338 bullets for the case capacities you're suggesting are easier to come by.
 
If you're only going to shoot to 200 yards, the 358 Win will be fine. My average shot distance on elk is only 60 yards.

Plus you can plink with some 357 handgun bullets for cheap
 
I like my two .358s, my Ruger, has quite a long magazine, and loaded hard with 3031, and a 225 gr Accubond or sierra, 2650fps, its a decent 250m point and shoot rifle,
I've also got a .35 Whelen and 9.3x62 and consider theses, are capable out another 100m or so, at the cost of more recoil.
I've seen a few comments on pistol bullets in the .358, and yep you can shoot them, don't always feed well from the mag, and i am yet to get any I've tried, 140,150 158, 180gr, within 3-4" of my 200-225gr rifle bullets at 50M, would sure be nice.
One thing about the medium bores, is they all seam to shoot very well, with a large variety of bullets.
No right or wrong choice, I would have a look at components first, drying up in most places, .338 has more bullet choices, .358 has plenty, but perhaps less volume sold,
 
I would go with the .358... I have three and shoot them confidently to 300 yards loaded with W748 and 225 Partitions. I have taken truck loads of game with them, deer, bear, moose and others.
 
I have a T3 338 federal and a T3 9.3x62. They are both cool and shoot very well! No problems past 200 with either! Of the two you were thinking of, I will agree with RJ on 338 federal over 358.....
 
Not an elk hunter but don't think any would be a bad choice. I'm something of a 9,3x62 fan and that with 250gr Accubonds doing 2,500 or a little more is really quite something in terms of putting game down.

Scrummy
 
scott_r said:
Ive got a Tikka T3 action that Im thinking of getting rebareled into a dedicated bush elk/bear gun. Was thinking 338 Federal or 358 Win....Most shots on elk we have had have been anywhere from 20-50 yards but would like a thumper that has a range of 200 yards.....some open areas I may try. What cartridge would you guys reccomend and what barrel length?
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No much of a gunnut answer here, but one could just shoot heavier bullets from a 30-06 and get the same or better results as the two chamberings suggested esp when it's a long action already.

Just sayin'. :)
 
Suther said:
The 35 cals give you the option of plinking/small game loads using pistol bullets though. For that reason I'd go with the 35 Whelen that others suggested, but I reload and like to mess around with stuff.
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would ya know any loads for normalish powder? im using adi but its similiar to hodgon if that helps

todbartell said:
If you're only going to shoot to 200 yards, the 358 Win will be fine. My average shot distance on elk is only 60 yards.

Plus you can plink with some 357 handgun bullets for cheap
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Hey do you have a load for any normaler sort of powders to do this?
i really wanna use my whelen more , even if it is just trigger time plinking pistol bullets, i should be able to get a good supply cheap enough down here in .357? i assume mate?
 
WhelanLad said:
would ya know any loads for normalish powder? im using adi but its similiar to hodgon if that helps



Hey do you have a load for any normaler sort of powders to do this?
i really wanna use my whelen more , even if it is just trigger time plinking pistol bullets, i should be able to get a good supply cheap enough down here in .357? i assume mate?
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Sorry mate. I haven't actually messed around with this yet, its on the to-do list but so is a lot of stuff, and I don't make enough money to work though the list as fast as I'd like.
 
For a bush gun I would go with a 20" barrel and flip a coin on the cartridge - either of those are going to get the job done at sub-200 yards. But I would also do a short, handy bush gun on a short action. As the T3 is a long action, I'd just suck it up and go with an '06-based cartridge, either .338-06 A-Square or .35 Whelen (or 9.3x62, as has been recommended).

Personally I don't have any of them but have shot a .35 before. Any load with good bullets and modern components will drop anything in North America pretty effectively in any of those cartridges. They can all hammer pretty hard.
 
Even though the T3 is a long action, I would still go with the .358 Win... go up to the 250 Partition and seat the bullets out, don't allow the bullets to encroach on the case... with a full powder charge, you will have a pretty potent round from a 20" barrel. My little Ruger Frontier .358 with 16.5" barrel is hammering game with 225's... it has been gratifying to see the reaction of bucks, bulls and big bears to the impact.
 
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I've owned , and used both , great cartridges . As to which is better , I couldn't say there was that much difference when using comparable bullets/velocities . I currently have a 358 , mostly because I like using heavier bullets .
 
i have the fed, 338 06 and 35 whelen. if i was to only own one of them it would be the 338 06. hits hard and would fit in your tikka just fine. that said i will continue to own all three as at close range the performance is very close for longer range the 338 06 has an edge over the whelen.
 
I do not believe either caliber would influence tastiness of the meat off an elk. Especially the ones that were in the straw piles and had dessert in the left over barley and wheat piles. Just a suggestion. Spend more time on where and how you are going to get that elk. They are sneaky buggers.

Mighty Tastee.
 
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