338 Federal ammo availability and actual ballistics?

Ruffed Grouse

Ruffed Grouse

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Fife
Hi all,

A friend of mine wants to buy a .338 Federal. We’ve looked around local gun shops and not seen any factory ammo. Does anybody know if it is easy to get it on order, or do the gun shops themselves have a hard time getting it?

Also, has anybody put any of the factory loads through a chronograph? The published ballistics seem like they might be overstated. Even if so it seems a very sensible and useful cartridge; we were just wondering what the real ballistics might be.

RG
 
check the alliant reloading site online. they have new data and the velocitys are not that impressive. maybe the factory with there new powder blends can do better.
 
Maybe if you say what general region you're in, someone near you can help find ammo. Most of the magazine tests I've seen have .338 Federal running about 75 to 100 fps behind published data, IIRC.
 
chappy said:
check the alliant reloading site online. they have new data and the velocitys are not that impressive. maybe the factory with there new powder blends can do better.
Click to expand...

Kilo Charlie said:
Most of the magazine tests I've seen have .338 Federal running about 75 to 100 fps behind published data, IIRC.
Click to expand...

Right, which is another reason I wonder that anyone would choose it over the 358 Winchester that beats the socks off the 338 Federal. :runaway:

Ted
 
If he could expect to consistently find ammo in southern Ontario or by mailorder I think he'd be happy. I looked on Wholesale Sports and SIR, but neither lists 338 Federal despite the fact that both list guns so chambered!?!

re. the 358: that's next on my list, but I am lucky enough to have a cousin who reloads for me. In my friend's case, he'll need something where at least a couple of factory loads can relatively easily be had.

RG
 
factory ammo isnt difficult to obtain, although the amount of shops who stock it might be few. I will chrony the factory Fusion 200 gr ammo out of my Sako once I get shooting it in the next while
 
I'v been looking at this caliber as well if it preforms like they say on paper , its comparable to a 308 180grn in the fusion line. velocity 2660 mz 2450 @100 2250 @2 2060 @3 1870 @4 1700@5 energy 3140 mz 2665 , 2245 , 1875 , 1555 , 1285 long range trajectory 1.0 50 yrd + 2.2 100 yrd 0 200 yrd -9.1 300 -26.2 400yrd -53.7 @ 500 with a 200 grn
 
Best I can tell, in factory form, the .338 Federal moves a 210 grainer as fast or a bit faster than the .358 can push a 200 grainer. The .358 has had 50 years to catch on, and is unfortunately a very useful cartridge that just failed to set the world on fire. I think the .338 Federal is just as promising, and with the right marketing, could succeed where the .358 did not. The differences in the two are pretty insignificant, really. Mind you, I don't see a whole hockeysock of difference between the .35 Whelen and the .338-06 either....but true fans of each cartridge have their loyalties.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom