Fixed that for you.
338 Federal
- Thread starter DGY
- Start date
Fixed that for you.
At the time I had the 338-08, 338-06, 338 Win Mag, 340 Wby, 338 Lapua and a 338-378. I sold the 338-08, 338 Win Mag, 338 Lapua and the 338-378. It was too many, too close. - dan
REM footprint is NOT the obvious choice - WHY not a Tikka T3 Series ?
RJI know that a lot of folks like thier Tikka's....... I don't and that's okay.
If I did choose a tikka, I'd have to tear down a rifle to start the build
If I want to just rebarrel a rifle to .338 fed I would just buy a used older ruger m77 mkII
Actions are availlable in the remington 700 footprint whereas others are not..... so it does make it an obvious choice for a rifle build.
If I did choose a tikka, I'd have to tear down a rifle to start the build
If I want to just rebarrel a rifle to .338 fed I would just buy a used older ruger m77 mkII
Actions are availlable in the remington 700 footprint whereas others are not..... so it does make it an obvious choice for a rifle build.
Shedmaster
Member
- Location
- ne Alberta
They don’t any longer. There’s one on ####### right now.
As well as a nice Sako Finnlight in 338 fed
Shedmaster
Member
- Location
- ne Alberta
I’m with you here. Not a real fan of the tikka rifles. I am rebarreling an older 700 rem. Why do you mention the Ruger m77?
I never thought of that model when deciding on my build.
The M77 is a TOUGH action, and reliable. Always feeds, always ejects, and you cant break them easily. Everything is metal in them. No plastic mags, bottom metal etc. Downfall is they're a little heavier but whats an extra 3-4oz honestly.
Another good action choice that I think is underrated is a Model 70 CRF. Downfall is limited aftermarket parts for it, but I think there are more options for it over a M77? But honestly if a guy found a nice, gently used newer style M70 featherweight and re-barreled it, it would be awesome.
Ive always thought a 338 Federal was cool, but for flatland SK, I couldn't justify it. Maybe one day i'll finally cave and add one to the safe just to say I have one.
I have two rifles chambered to the 338 Federal.
The first is a Winchester Model 88 I had rebarreled, with a 20" Krieger heavy barrel that had been cut too short for another guy's build, but just right for mine, as I wanted a handy thick timber bear/moose rifle. It has a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x36 B&C scope in QR rings, and NECG open sights. It weighs 10 lbs 4 oz with a full magaine (4 rounds). While heavy, it balances very well, and feels lighter than it is when handling in the thick timber. It shoots the Federal 210 gr Partition ammo into just under an inch at 100 yards @ 2505 fps from the shorter barrel. To date, it has accounted for a very nice caribou. I have a good supply of ammo for this rifle, so don't need to handload for it as yet.
The second is a LH Sako Model 85 Finnlight II rebarreled with a 22" Wilson carbon fiber barrel. It has a Leupold VX-6HD 2-12x42 Illum. B&C scope mounted on it. The scoped rifle pkg weighs 8lbs 6 oz with a full magazine (5 rounds). It shoots the Federal 200 gr Trophy Copper into 0.457" groups at 100 yards @ 2579 fps. I shot my moose with this load last fall. It also shoots the Federal blue Box 200 gr Uni-Cor ammo into 0.654" groups at 100 yards @ 2648 fps. This load has accounted for moose, caribou and a stones sheep to date. It will shoot the Federal 185 gr TSX ammo into 0.821" groups at 100 yards @ 2700 fps. I have not taken any game with this load as yet. I am lucky as I have been able to gather a good supply of these various ammunition over the years, so am good for a while.
I do still need to do some load development for this rifle. My preference is to find a good load with the 200 gr AccuBond, I also want to try the 215 gr SGK, 225 gr Speer, and 225 gr AccuBond.
I did have a LH Tikka T3 in 338 Federal, but it now belongs to my stepfather as I had finished my Sako build. It will shoot the Federal 180 gr AccuBond ammo into 1/2" groups according to the previous owner; I just didn't have any of this ammo to try or verify the claim at the time. I now have some and we'll be trying it out this spring for him. Right now it is shooting the Fusion 200 gr and blue box 200 gr into groups of just less than an inch for him.
While the Tikka is a nice rifle, I just prefer the Sako over the Tikka for its features, fit and finish.
While I am not exactly achieving the factory specs with the various types of ammo, I am definitely within what is to be expected due to the shorter barrel lengths where I should be losing 25-35 fps/inch of shorter barrel length. If I need more velocity, I can always pack my 338-06! (Which I also like!)
Over all, I am really liking this round. I have actually packed the Sako on more hunts over the past 3 years, than any other rifle. It is light and handy, and with the synthetic stock, is better suited to rough terrain and nasty weather conditions that can be encountered on many of the hunts I go on.
While I am also a fan of the 358 Win (having a BLR and a LH Rem 700), and have taken mule deer, moose, elk and grizzly with the BLR over the years, it just doesn't have the reach that the 338 Federal can provide. The 358 with a 200 gr Power Point bullet will only retain enough velocity to reliably expand out to 200 yards, whereas the 338 with a 200 gr Fusion bullet will retain enough velocity to reliably expand out to 400 yards.
So, when I am hunting where shots may tend to stretch out a bit further, I will pack the 338 Federal versus the 358 Win.
Is it really needed...not always...as my average shot distance on game over the past 38 years has been ust 132 yards.
But as I have had to take shots farther than that, it is nice to know that I have the capacity and capability to do so if needed. And I continue to practice out to 500 yards (limit of my local range) in order to keep my skills sharp, just in case I need to make a follow up shot on a wounded animal.
The first is a Winchester Model 88 I had rebarreled, with a 20" Krieger heavy barrel that had been cut too short for another guy's build, but just right for mine, as I wanted a handy thick timber bear/moose rifle. It has a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x36 B&C scope in QR rings, and NECG open sights. It weighs 10 lbs 4 oz with a full magaine (4 rounds). While heavy, it balances very well, and feels lighter than it is when handling in the thick timber. It shoots the Federal 210 gr Partition ammo into just under an inch at 100 yards @ 2505 fps from the shorter barrel. To date, it has accounted for a very nice caribou. I have a good supply of ammo for this rifle, so don't need to handload for it as yet.
The second is a LH Sako Model 85 Finnlight II rebarreled with a 22" Wilson carbon fiber barrel. It has a Leupold VX-6HD 2-12x42 Illum. B&C scope mounted on it. The scoped rifle pkg weighs 8lbs 6 oz with a full magazine (5 rounds). It shoots the Federal 200 gr Trophy Copper into 0.457" groups at 100 yards @ 2579 fps. I shot my moose with this load last fall. It also shoots the Federal blue Box 200 gr Uni-Cor ammo into 0.654" groups at 100 yards @ 2648 fps. This load has accounted for moose, caribou and a stones sheep to date. It will shoot the Federal 185 gr TSX ammo into 0.821" groups at 100 yards @ 2700 fps. I have not taken any game with this load as yet. I am lucky as I have been able to gather a good supply of these various ammunition over the years, so am good for a while.
I do still need to do some load development for this rifle. My preference is to find a good load with the 200 gr AccuBond, I also want to try the 215 gr SGK, 225 gr Speer, and 225 gr AccuBond.
I did have a LH Tikka T3 in 338 Federal, but it now belongs to my stepfather as I had finished my Sako build. It will shoot the Federal 180 gr AccuBond ammo into 1/2" groups according to the previous owner; I just didn't have any of this ammo to try or verify the claim at the time. I now have some and we'll be trying it out this spring for him. Right now it is shooting the Fusion 200 gr and blue box 200 gr into groups of just less than an inch for him.
While the Tikka is a nice rifle, I just prefer the Sako over the Tikka for its features, fit and finish.
While I am not exactly achieving the factory specs with the various types of ammo, I am definitely within what is to be expected due to the shorter barrel lengths where I should be losing 25-35 fps/inch of shorter barrel length. If I need more velocity, I can always pack my 338-06! (Which I also like!)
Over all, I am really liking this round. I have actually packed the Sako on more hunts over the past 3 years, than any other rifle. It is light and handy, and with the synthetic stock, is better suited to rough terrain and nasty weather conditions that can be encountered on many of the hunts I go on.
While I am also a fan of the 358 Win (having a BLR and a LH Rem 700), and have taken mule deer, moose, elk and grizzly with the BLR over the years, it just doesn't have the reach that the 338 Federal can provide. The 358 with a 200 gr Power Point bullet will only retain enough velocity to reliably expand out to 200 yards, whereas the 338 with a 200 gr Fusion bullet will retain enough velocity to reliably expand out to 400 yards.
So, when I am hunting where shots may tend to stretch out a bit further, I will pack the 338 Federal versus the 358 Win.
Is it really needed...not always...as my average shot distance on game over the past 38 years has been ust 132 yards.
But as I have had to take shots farther than that, it is nice to know that I have the capacity and capability to do so if needed. And I continue to practice out to 500 yards (limit of my local range) in order to keep my skills sharp, just in case I need to make a follow up shot on a wounded animal.
My best groups were with 200 gr Nosler ballistic tips if I remember correctly. Not the toughest bullet, but considering the velocity, it worked well. - dan
Was out hunting a few years ago now and came across a beautiful bison bull at 60 yards...pointed my Win Model 88 in 338 Federal at it 3 times, but kept from pulling the trigger as it was less than an hour from last light, in a terrible wind/thunder storm...trees falling everywhere!Big BoyRJ
I have that Fusion Bullet loaded to 2700 from my T3 !
Would have been a long night field dressing and loading that beast in that storm, with just me and my disabled wife...and I wasn't willing to leave the bison in the bush overnight in an area frequented by grizzlies! (Not to mention wolves and black bears.
NOTE: spots in photo are from rain on camera lense from storm
I've had both as well , I still have the 338-06 . Our mutual friend Rembo rebarreled a H&R model 340 , which was originally a 30-06 , last year . Both great hunting rounds , but the 06 version is a little more versatile IMHO .
I want my rifle back lol .
I fully realize that I'm being a bummer in this thread, but the fact remains that a 308 will do anything a 338Federal will do and conversely, a 30-06 will do anything a 338/06 will. If it was otherwise, they both might be more popular outside the ranks of a few old gun cranks looking for something a bit different.
Flame away!
Flame away!
