I'm going to through my observations into this discussion. I find it interesting that writers dis-obey a rule I had pounded into me years ago: Never bite the hand that feeds. I've read quite a bit on the .338 Federal. I've discussed it's merits with other shooters, and introduced it to many who asked "What the Hell is a .338 Federal?"
I've read alot of comparisons lately. Heck, for fun I've started a few threads on the topics myself just for kicks. But I do not get paid for it, rather I do it for fun. Many of the things I've read take a new cartridge, (.338 Fed) and compare it against the old stand by's (.30-06) Then they draw the conclusion "Why do we need this when we already have so many other choices?" Well for one it's different. I like the fact that not everyone is going to shoot a .338 Fed where as I bet $100 that if I bump into a dozen hunters this Fall, half of them will be carrying an '06. Another point is it's a kick in the pant's to modern thinking. Yay, let's discuss the .300 WSM.
Afterwards we can talk about how soon it will be obsolete as deer are becoming ever more bullet proof. In the same issue, there is an excellent aritcle by Charles Petty titled "What's changed?" In it, he talks about how 100 years ago, in spite of the fact that hunters had cartridges like the .30-06 available, a rifle chambered in the .25-20 was capable of killing a deer. Now we all know that it is scientifically impossible to kill a deer with such a cartridge today, so we need at least a .300 magnum somthing to do it. Sorry, I don't buy into such nonsense. I like the idea that this little cartridge, while not new, nor a magnum will be able to perform on anything I may have the desire to hunt in the future.
Now that the writers like to compare this new cartridge to yesterday's cartridges, what happens tommorow? Granted this particular article is not bad, in fact Mr. Barnsness almost praises it, however another article from not long ago from him basically states, buy a .30-06 instead. The same can be said about other works. I suppose it's alot like others writing about how this or that cartridge sucks, so lets scrap it. Nonsense to stir the pot and sell books. The problem here is too many shooters take what these 'profesionals' say to heart. "Well if Captain Barscraigspomer said a .30-06 will out perform it, why would I buy it?" The cartridge goes the way of the dodo, money invested into adveritising it is lost due to free adveritising for an already established cartridge, rifles and accesories don't sell and we lose a very good thing.
I for one like this cartridge. I have gotten extremely good accuracy out of mine, and am going to try these 165 X bullets. If I can get them to fly straight, I'll have the option of a very flat shooting rifle without magnum stamped on it's barrel.
And to answer "Why" That's simple, "Just because."
