.338 federal

[todbartell]

heavy bullets you say? comparing bullets with similar sectional density between 338 Federal & 358 Winchester :


338 Federal 225 grain Nosler Partition @ 2450 fps
- 50 yard energy = 2785 ft-lbs
- 250 yard energy = 2050 ft-lbs
- drop @ 250y from a 100y zero = 10.7"
- velocity @ 250y = 2025 fps


358 Winchester 250 grain Nosler Partition @ 2300 fps
- 50 yard energy = 2720 ft-lbs
- 250 yard energy = 1970 ft-lbs
- drop @ 250y from a 100y zero = 12.6"
- velocity @ 250y = 1885 fps


Pretty close, although the low downrange velocity with the 250 grain 358 load could cause some bullet expansion issues at ranges past 200 yards when it dips below 1900 fps impact. A 338 Federal w/ 225 should be good until a tad past 300.

 

[thinhorn]

338 federal

Hi my friend had my 338 federal out & chroneyed it & with factory ammo got slightly better speed than advertised on the box.so far the handloads are a little slow.robin

 

[coyotebc]

A buddy of mine was going to convert his model 88 from 308 to 358, however he decided to try the 338 instead. One of the reasons was that he wanted a unique rifle (18 1/2 inch barrel)

One other reason is that winchester has handicapped the 358 by not loading it in either a 225 or 250 grain bullet.
The round it self makes great sense and I think would have been much more popular if they were to offer a greater bullet selection for non-handloaders

 

[Kilo Charlie]

I think that the .338 would be a great all-round big game choice. Good ballistics, moderate recoil, and, if it takes off, factory ammo availability shouldn't be a problem. It does lose some ground to the Whelen and the .338-06, but so what? My .280 Rem loses ground to the 7mm mag on paper, but I'm happy with the performance. The fact that it's my favourite cartridge doesn't make me disdain the 7 mags or the 7mm-08....it's just what suits me.
I wouldn't run out and get a .338 federal to replace a .30-06 or a .358 if I had one, but if I were in the situation where it was time to upgrade from a .30-30 or a .303, or if I just decided it was time to buy a Sako rifle (or whatever brand), why not a .338 Federal? Seems like a sensible cartridge design for the average hunter.

 

[powder burner]

Thanks for the replies. Im gonna stick with the 06 for awhile yet. Who knows, maybe I'll pick one up(338 FED) in a few years.

 

[bushwhacker]

I think that Winchester must have capped the pressure for the .358 below the maximum SAMMI loading, perhaps because of some of the actions they envisaged it being loaded in. If you compare velocities for 180 Gr. bullets, then there is no point to a .338 or .358 over a 30-06. except that the .308 case achieves the same velocities with less powder (if you handload). The real point of the bigger bore is to use heavy bullets, so if I wasn't safisfied with my 30-06 I would go to the the .35 Whelan or .358 Win. and handload.