.338 Federal...what do you think?

thatmikeguy

thatmikeguy

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I do not and have not owned anything chambered for 338fed but i would like to. it seems like an excellent caliber. Do you have one? today in the magnum craze i wonder how well it could do. Personally, i like short action 308 based cartridges so i think it would be a great addition to the gun rack.
 
I have a tikka 338 federal brand new never fired stainless synthetic for sale if your interested $750
 
I have one and I've shot three animals with it and not one has taken a step after being shot. I have not reloaded for this cartridge yet, but the Federal factory loads have worked just fine. The rifle shoots better than I can hold it with around 1" @100 yds. being common.
 
A Excellent cartridge I have a Winchester model 88 re barreled for this caliber. Its a nice handy rifle with all the power I need for Elk or Moose.
 
.338 Federal

Just another one to fill in the gaps between .22lr and .500 Nitro.... :p

It isn't actually about the ctg at all.... just a marketing scheme to sell more rifles.... ;)

2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
 
"...and .500 Nitro..." .700 NE. Man up. snicker.
The .338 Fed is another cartridge that answers an unasked question. The assorted manufacturers have to come out with new stuff regularly or they're marketing department thinks they'll lose market share.
 
Probably the most sensible new cartridge in a long time. Nobody doubts what a 33 cal bullet can do and nobody doubts the sensibility of 308-based cartridges.

...just a muse...Somebody posted the other day that the .300 Savage is the most efficient 30 cal cartridge in terms of fps per grain of powder. I would suspect that the .338 Federal is the equivalent for 33s.

RG

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What Piping said is probably the most telling. He has it, and has used it and it works. Would others work just as well? likely. It is the most wonderful thing that was ever devised? not likely. But if it floats yer boat, then great. It will work. Won't be a great long distance cartridge, but if you realize that, and also realize that most critters are shot within its MPBR of about 270 yards, then you'll go out and happily use it to shoot all sorts of stuff.
 
I don't own one, but it does seem like a very promising cartridge for short to medium range big game hunting. I've got a Rem 600 in .308 that is very nearly needing a rebarrel and I'm definitely going to consider the 338 Federal when my rifle goes to the gunsmith.
 
I bought one a few weeks back, and so far I am very happy. No animals yet (season opens in a month), but it kills paper like no tommorow :)

Short action, efficient case throwing a .338 bullet at 30/06 velocities....what's not to like?

This rifle means I own every variant of the .308 cartridge now....but I don't/won't own a .308....:D
 
i think its lots of advertising hype. it doesn't due any thing the 358 did and most people thought that round was a bust. the 338 06 or 338 win mag are far better. faster and better down range performance. the difference on recoil between the 338 fed and 338 06 is hardly noticeable. i have had all three rounds and prefer the 338 wm.
 
Nugget got one in a little Kimber, sweet gun considering it has a plastic stock.
Ammo not cheap, brass not available except for factory loaded that I know of.

I think he is going to put a tag on something with it this fall. However that might change when he gets his birthday present this weekend, the lucky bugger.
 
Ive owned a couple, had a Sako 85 and currently have one in a Ruger M77 SS

Efficient cartridge, and very accurate. My Sako would shoot almost any handload into 3/4" or less, my new Ruger only has a few dozen rounds down the tube but average group so far with factory ammo is about 1moa (shot it out to 330 yards).

160gr @ 2950 fps
180gr @ 2800 fps
185gr @ 2750 fps
200gr @ 2675 fps
210gr @ 2625 fps
250gr @ 2325 fps

that has been my experiences with the cartridge over the chronograph

haven't shot anything with it yet but I have no doubts on what the outcome will be, on a shot inside 300 yards

Moose09019.jpg
 
oh yeah, and recoil is very similar to a 270 or 30-06, so almost anybody should be able to shoot it well. Federal currently loads six different factory loads for it
 
The 358Win is another excellent cartridge option in the same class. I like the 358 better, but only cuz I have all the loading stuff for 35cals. I wouldn't think there'd be any diff either way.


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