.338 federal reviews

[Boomer]

It's an impressive round,and if your not worried about ammo price
you'll love it. I shoot a.338 lapua mag at the cost of $5-6 a round.
If you load your own it'll be about a buck a round.Excellent for DROPPING moose or elk, used on anything smaller would be total overkill.

It doesn't work that way.

The lighter density of smaller game prevents the bullet from expanding rapidly, resulting in a wound volume that is less than what is typical of a high velocity small bore on similar sized game. For example, its common for the client bound for Africa to take a single .375 rifle and a few boxes of 300 gr soft points with which to swat buffalo, and/or other members of the big 6, a variety of plains game, or a minature antelope or even a baboon. The result is a dead buff and a neatly killed rabbit sized antelope or monkey. It is no different if a .338 Lapua is loaded with an appropriate game bullet and used on a whitetail or a speed goat.

 

[vikingocazar]

There's one for sale on the EE right now.

 

[WhelanLad]

The 338federal, Is definatley no 338 winmag, the only thing the WM an Fed have in common is the same size hole in the end..

I dont believe they were ever to rival each other..

The Fed is basically the "308" with more thump out to your average hunting distances of 250ms..

I think it has its place in the field for sure, seems the pricing for Ammo is letting it down lately, although a reloader wouldnt have much to "type home" about.

 

[Reflex_84]

There's one for sale on the EE right now.

Correction.....there WAS one on the EE.

 

[gunrunner8]

Correction.....there WAS one on the EE.

Yep, they sell like hotcakes lately and no wonder, with exc BC-338 Federal bullet hits harder than 308Win and has flatter trajectory than 358Win.

 

[WhelanLad]

spot on gun runner

 

[Reflex_84]

I figure that once I start reloading for it, the 210 TTSX from Barnes will be just about the cats posterior.

 

[paperslayer]

You cannot never win an argument about cartridges and calibers because someone will always argue against you.

I have a 338 federal and love it. Taken moose, elk and plenty of deer using 185 TSX. Accurate, easy to load for and will never wear out a barrel. My free anonymous internet opinion.

 

[g-manz35]

You cannot never win an argument about cartridges and calibers because someone will always argue against you.

Last time there was a thread on the 338 Fed. There were arguments made that the 308 and 358 win were both supperior to the 338 Fed??? I still have'nt figured that one out! Now will you guys stop talking about it. I'm still kicking myself for not buying one.

Paperslayer. Have you ever chronoed your loads? Could you give us some examples of what you are getting? One guy at the range said he could get over 2800 fps with 210gr Partitions. I'm thinking he may have been pushing the envelope if he was being honest.

G

 

[1899]

Last time there was a thread on the 338 Fed. There were arguments made that the 308 and 358 win were both supperior to the 338 Fed??? I still have'nt figured that one out! Now will you guys stop talking about it. I'm still kicking myself for not buying one.

Paperslayer. Have you ever chronoed your loads? Could you give us some examples of what you are getting? One guy at the range said he could get over 2800 fps with 210gr Partitions. I'm thinking he may have been pushing the envelope if he was being honest.

G

Lol....Because they are!

And +2800 fps? That is +300fps faster than the data says, and is faster than data shown for the .338 RCM.

IMO the .338 Federal cannot take advantage of the good BC .338 bullets because those are 225gr and up.

 

[g-manz35]

Lol....Because they are!

And +2800 fps? That is +300fps faster than the data says, and is faster than data shown for the .338 RCM.

IMO the .338 Federal cannot take advantage of the good BC .338 bullets because those are 225gr and up.

Federal shows their factory 210 partition as going 2630. I guess what I'm saying is the 308 and 358 excel at too different types of situations and the 338 falls somewhere in the middle. To say it is inferior to both does not really make any sense. I'm not going to argue the point actually.

 

[1899]

2600 I can believe. Why Not? was getting that out of a .308 Win and 200gr Speers and 2700 with 180gr bullets using RL17. I think the inferior to both is meant to indicate it is a compromise. Not as flat shooting as the .308, and doesn't carry as big a wallop as the .358....I don't know if any of it matters to game at most ranges. Like I said, being a fan of the .338 Win Mag I seriously considered the .338 Federal, but in the end just stuck with the .338 WM.

I'm sure the .338 Fed works well.

 

[45sbetter]

i am considering a .338 federal myself, seems like an excellent big game round with ballistics matching the energy of 7mm rem mag, speed is pretty impresive too. I looked into factory ammo prices and it sells anywhere between $25.00-$33.00 a box. Not bad!

 

[paperslayer]

Last time there was a thread on the 338 Fed. There were arguments made that the 308 and 358 win were both supperior to the 338 Fed??? I still have'nt figured that one out! Now will you guys stop talking about it. I'm still kicking myself for not buying one.

Paperslayer. Have you ever chronoed your loads? Could you give us some examples of what you are getting? One guy at the range said he could get over 2800 fps with 210gr Partitions. I'm thinking he may have been pushing the envelope if he was being honest.

G

My current set up has 47 grains of varget pushing a 185 triple shock out of a T3 stainless at 2780. It can go a bit faster but this is accurate as hell. 210 doing 2800? bullschit.

 

[crazydave]

i am considering a .338 federal myself, seems like an excellent big game round with ballistics matching the energy of 7mm rem mag, speed is pretty impresive too. I looked into factory ammo prices and it sells anywhere between $25.00-$33.00 a box. Not bad!

The energy matching the 7mm rem mag is only at close range, stretch the legs on the .338 federal a bit and it would be quite the opposite

 

[Reflex_84]

My current set up has 47 grains of varget pushing a 185 triple shock out of a T3 stainless at 2780. It can go a bit faster but this is accurate as hell. 210 doing 2800? bullschit.

I just may have to try this. Sounds good!

 

[paperslayer]

he energy matching the 7mm rem mag is only at close range, stretch the legs on the .338 federal a bit and it would be quite the oppositeT

Agreed. this is not a long distance round.

 

[gunrunner8]

The energy matching the 7mm rem mag is only at close range, stretch the legs on the .338 federal a bit and it would be quite the opposite

The longest distance I ever shot at an animal was at bull moose at 325m or so with my custom 21" barrel LH Rem mod 788 in 7-57 AI. It's doable to do the same feat with 338Federal as well. The only question is what would you rather have in your hands when creature with the ability to fight back is within stone throw or closer in the bush....7mmMag with typical 150gr NP or 338Fed with typical 210gr NP? Don't ask me the same question, I allready know the answer....

 

[Cleftwynd]

I'll take the 375 H&H for the lion at three paces over anything ellse mentioned in this thread so far.... we could argue this all day!!!


Back on topic, the 338 Fed is a neat package with great potential for what is was intended for, if you want to take large game at 600 yards, get a 338 LM, if you want to defend yourself from african maneaters, get a marine pump with 3.5" slugs and buckshot.... or better yet, buy what you want and use it for what you want and be happy!!!

 

[Reflex_84]

delete