.338 federal

shoots a 210 grain at the same speed a 30-06 shoots a 200, but with more frontal area and a short action (unless its a tikka which are all the same size). Should be a good large game rifle within 250 yards. If you got the $ and want one, buy it!
 
I know from wet phone book tests of SSTs,33 caliber bullets expand with more force than 30 caliber bullets.Ken Waters in Pet Loads ,said the 338-08 made sense.
 
It won't do anything your .30-06 won't do except cost you far more money, and give you far greater muzzle blast and felt recoil.
 
sunray said:
It won't do anything your .30-06 won't do except cost you far more money, and give you far greater muzzle blast and felt recoil.
Click to expand...
Except fit in a short action :onCrack:
If this matters then it's certainly a step up on a 308 win ;)

I would think a Nice light "Mountain" rifle chambered for the 338 Federal would be a Great "Sheep" rifle delivering abit more poop then most other "non magnum" class, short action chamberings.

Sounds like a great lil performer and actually has been around for awhile in various wildcat forms :cool:.....(338-08 etc)
 
I don't have much interest in the 338-08, but if it interests you, may as well buy one.........Despite what the "New cartridge =Bad crowd" says. :)
 
338-06 makes sense to me, and the 35 whelen makes even more, but the 338federal fills a gap that doesn't seem to have existed. DO NOT believe what the gun writters get paid to say in magazines.
 
sunray said:
It won't do anything your .30-06 won't do except cost you far more money, and give you far greater muzzle blast and felt recoil.
Click to expand...
recoil energy figures for the 30-06 & 338 Federal

30-06 ~ 8 lb rifle

180 grain @ 2700 fps over 56 grains of powder
- 22 ft-lbs recoil energy, 13 fps recoil velocity

338 Federal ~ 7.5 lb rifle

180 grain @ 2800 fps over 47 grains of powder
- 22 ft-lbs recoil energy, 13 fps recoil velocity

WOW! its the same :p

hmmm what about a heavy bullet


338 Federal ~ 7.5 lb rifle

225 grain @ 2450 fps over 45 grains of powder
- 23 ft-lbs recoil energy, 14 fps recoil velocity



yeah, this thing is gonna tear your head off! :D
 
Yup the 338 Federal makes some good sense... a serious option for bears and moose. Not the same as a 30-06 thats for sure. Larger bullet, managable recoil, good ballistics... whats not to like?
 
I believe the .338 Federal to be a wonderful, all-too-uncommonly-sensible cartridge design. For a do all rifle for somebody it would be great...as for whether it is worthwhile to move "over" to the .338 Federal form a 30-06...I'm not so sure. For some of us, who have tried so many rifles we can hardly keep track of them all (talking about myself here :rolleyes:)

WHY NOT? (Sorry Ted, I couldn't resist...;) )

But for the guy who is wondering whether to switch from a 30-06 that may already be just what he needs, to a rifle which will be tougher and more expensive to buy ammunition for; maybe it's not worthwhile.

Jeff/1911.
 
Using the same thinking...the .358 Win. should be even more of a good thing. I too think the gunwriters are stretching it a bit.
 
ben hunchak said:
the .358 Win. should be even more of a good thing
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well the 358 option doesnt look so good when you look at a couple things. First, ammo availability on the shelf. Winchester is the lone producer of 358 Winchester ammo and even that is a seasonal yearly run. Federal loads four options for the 338 Federal, all which should be readily available.

Secondly, look at the ballistics between the 338 Federal and the 358 Winchester.

338 Federal 200 grain Fusion @ 2660 fps
drop @ 300 yard from a 100 yard zero = 15.6"
velocity @ 300 yards = 2060 fps
energy @ 300 yards = 1875 ft-lbs

358 Winchester 200 grain Silvertip @ 2490 fps
drop @ 300 yard from a 100 yard zero = 23"
velocity @ 300 yards = 1610 fps
energy @ 300 yards = 1150 ft-lbs


easy decision for me :onCrack:
 
Jeff/1911 said:
WHY NOT? (Sorry Ted, I couldn't resist...;) )
Click to expand...
If you ask Ted, he'll probably vote for the .358 instead.

But like the 338/06, the 338/08 probably has some very good points and given the smaller case might be a better choice for the smaller caliber.


.
 
That my friend is voodoo balistics, if the .338 fed. can push a 200gr. bullet, faster than a .308 can, then it only stands to reason that a .358Win. can push a 200gr. bullet faster than a .338 Fed.(wider bullet, less bearing surface=less pressure(ballistics 101). Handloaders will flush this all out in time, meanwhile...take what the mag. writers say with a grain of salt. I have no stake in this as i use bigger cals. for all my hunting and don't see why one would use these cals. for up to 200yds. when they can use a 45/70 or some such.
 
todbartell said:
well the 358 option doesnt look so good when you look at a couple things. First, ammo availability on the shelf. Winchester is the lone producer of 358 Winchester ammo and even that is a seasonal yearly run. Federal loads four options for the 338 Federal, all which should be readily available.

Secondly, look at the ballistics between the 338 Federal and the 358 Winchester.

338 Federal 200 grain Fusion @ 2660 fps
drop @ 300 yard from a 100 yard zero = 15.6"
velocity @ 300 yards = 2060 fps
energy @ 300 yards = 1875 ft-lbs

358 Winchester 200 grain Silvertip @ 2490 fps
drop @ 300 yard from a 100 yard zero = 23"
velocity @ 300 yards = 1610 fps
energy @ 300 yards = 1150 ft-lbs


easy decision for me :onCrack:
Click to expand...

That is quitte the difference in velocity and energy
 
ben hunchak said:
Using the same thinking...the .358 Win. should be even more of a good thing. I too think the gunwriters are stretching it a bit.
Click to expand...


Yup, 180 @ over 2800 FPS...

Bartell is smoking crack :)

IM a big fan of the 358 win, and would definately love a 338 federal for the same reason... Short action, less powder for similar ballistics to the 06 family. And, I have lots of brass, and bullets for both :)
 
I was just going by what Winchester and Federal load for the respective cartridges. Handloads always change the story, but the majority of shooters dont shoot handloads.

fastest load data for a 180 grain in 358 that I can find is 2845 fps (Barnes #2 - 44 grs IMR 4198 - Barnes 180 gr X bullet [discontinued]). BC is .298

358 Winchester 180 gr X bullet @ 2845 fps
- 14.4" drop @ 300y from 100y zero
- 2030 fps impact velocity 300y
- 1650 ft-lbs impact energy 300y
- 10.2" wind drift @ 300y w/ 10mph crosswind

if you look at the currently available 35 caliber 180 grain bullets, there are only two options, the Speer flat point (BC .245) and the Hornady single shot pistol bullet (BC .248).


358 Winchester 180 gr Speer flat point @ 2845 fps
- 15.6" drop @ 300y from 100y zero
- 1880 fps impact velocity 300y
- 1410 ft-lbs impact energy 300y
- 12.9" wind drift @ 300y w/ 10mph crosswind

so thats the "fast flat shooting" 358 load

in comparison, the 338 Federal can push a 180 grain Accubond at 2768 fps (Hodgdon.com - 47 grs Benchmark - Nosler 180 gr AB. BC is .372)

338 Federal 180 gr Nosler Accubond @ 2770 fps
- 14.3" drop @ 300y from 100y zero
- 2115 fps impact velocity 300y
- 1790 ft-lbs impact energy 300y
- 8.3" wind drift @ 300y w/ 10mph crosswind

so, comparing that to the 358 it drops the same at 300, if not an inch less, retains a hundred or almost two hundred fps more velocity, which turns into a couple/few hundred foot pounds more energy, while drifting 2-4 inches less in the wind

whats not to like? :D
 
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