Interest in 338 Federal

slinkylegs

slinkylegs

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Hudson Bay, SK
Gun fever is starting to get to me, and I seem to be drawn to oddball calibers lately. One of the ones that I've looked into a little bit lately is the 338 Federal. I know that hardly anyone chambers it anymore, but it seems to offer plenty of thump on animals without being too punishing on the person. Ballistics are good enough for my normal hunting ranges (within 200 yards most of the time), and for the animals I'd be targeting (elk and moose mainly). I have a 9.3x62, and while I do love it, it's a little much for anything I need it for. I've been having some health issues lately and it's just a little more than I'd prefer to use at this point, so I'd probably sell it to secure the funds for whatever I get next.

I got thinking about what kind of gun I would rebore if I couldn't find something already chambered in 338 Federal. I used to have an old Savage Hog Hunter in 308, and had I not sold it off a few years ago I think that would have been a good option. I like the open sights option, and it had a plenty thick enough barrel. Plus it was only a 20" pipe, and that is perfect for me. But maybe I'm missing out on better options.

Anyways, does anyone have any experience with the 338 Federal? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Good, bad?

Also, does anyone know a good gunsmith who would be able to rebore something to 338, if that is the route I end up going? Or an approximate cost?
 
slinkylegs said:
Gun fever is starting to get to me, and I seem to be drawn to oddball calibers lately. One of the ones that I've looked into a little bit lately is the 338 Federal. I know that hardly anyone chambers it anymore, but it seems to offer plenty of thump on animals without being too punishing on the person. Ballistics are good enough for my normal hunting ranges (within 200 yards most of the time), and for the animals I'd be targeting (elk and moose mainly). I have a 9.3x62, and while I do love it, it's a little much for anything I need it for. I've been having some health issues lately and it's just a little more than I'd prefer to use at this point, so I'd probably sell it to secure the funds for whatever I get next.

I got thinking about what kind of gun I would rebore if I couldn't find something already chambered in 338 Federal. I used to have an old Savage Hog Hunter in 308, and had I not sold it off a few years ago I think that would have been a good option. I like the open sights option, and it had a plenty thick enough barrel. Plus it was only a 20" pipe, and that is perfect for me. But maybe I'm missing out on better options.

Anyways, does anyone have any experience with the 338 Federal? If so, what are your thoughts on it? Good, bad?

Also, does anyone know a good gunsmith who would be able to rebore something to 338, if that is the route I end up going? Or an approximate cost?
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Years back I built a wildcat 338-08, I liked the cartridge. Really didn't do anything my 358 BLR didn't do, but if I was starting from scratch I think I would do a 338 Federal on a Savage 99. - dan
 
dan belisle said:
Years back I built a wildcat 338-08, I liked the cartridge. Really didn't do anything my 358 BLR didn't do, but if I was starting from scratch I think I would do a 338 Federal on a Savage 99. - dan
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Is the barrel thick enough for that? I don't know a lot about this reboring stuff, but I know that has to be a consideration
 
Find a Tikka T3, factory chambered, in 338 Federal or re-barrel to 338 and do not be impartial to loading lightweight 160 grain Barnes bullets in it, they are efficient and accurate.

Reloading is easy for the 338 Fed, and most factory ammo is always 200 grain Federal soft points when you can find them.

I haven't stretched mine out past 30 yards on game critters yet, but spring bear season is coming.
 
I did a bunch of research into good cartridges for short barrels with a .308 bolt face and a short action magazine. This was before 8.6 blackout existed... Anyways, I read a bunch about .338 Federal. It can transfer a lot of energy in a shorter barrel, more than .308 in a short barrel (it's analogous to how .300 blackout can transfer more energy in a shorter barrel than a 5.56). Even better is the .358 Win, but the ballistic coefficients of those bullets aren't as good as the .338 bullets.

Anyways, I thought about building a .338 Federal bolt action with a 10-12" barrel (would still have 26" overall length to keep it NR) but never got around to it. Would have been a great gun for dense brush. Higher ballistic coefficient than a 45-70 so even with a short barrel at longer ranges (200m+) the .338 Federal hit harder. Of course within very short distance, 45-70 was superior but still .338 Federal was no slouch in the ballistic calculator even at short range and still had a wallop at longer ranges.
 
remington jim said:
Just SOLD my Tikka T3 SS Lite 338 Fed to another CGN Guy . I love that cartridge ! It’s the little BIG cartridge that can DO it All !
I Will be Miss it ! 😢
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Hopefully that guy enjoys it as much as you did!
hoytcanon said:
.338 Federal is "oddball?"
Great little cartridge... almost as great as the .358 Win.
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Oddball for around my parts for sure. Most people seem to use more common calibers (243, 270, 308, 30-06, 300 WM, etc). I picked up a 6.5 Grendel last year, and that is kind of a oddball caliber for many as well. I seem to like short, efficient rounds lately.

Tell me more about the 358 Win, I'm not all that familiar with that one. I know it is also a necked up 308 as well, but I understand it doesn't carry as much speed or power as the 338?
 
slinkylegs said:
Hopefully that guy enjoys it as much as you did!

Oddball for around my parts for sure. Most people seem to use more common calibers (243, 270, 308, 30-06, 300 WM, etc). I picked up a 6.5 Grendel last year, and that is kind of a oddball caliber for many as well. I seem to like short, efficient rounds lately.

Tell me more about the 358 Win, I'm not all that familiar with that one. I know it is also a necked up 308 as well, but I understand it doesn't carry as much speed or power as the 338?
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When SAAMI standardizes a cartridge, the major OEM's chamber for it, and ammunition manufacturers load it, I no longer think of it as an oddball.
The statement that the .358 Win does not carry as much speed or power as the .338 Fed is incorrect. Sure, if you compare a 200 grain in the Fed and a 250 grain in the Win, the Win will be slower, but "power" expressed in foot-pounds, will be greater. Compare the same bullet weights in both and the Win is actually a smidgen faster than the Fed. Where the Fed gains traction is in bullet ballistic coefficient and SD as weights increase... that gives it an edge as distance increases, but let's be real, neither is a true long distance cartridge anyway. I am biased though, as I have a 40+ year history with the .358 Win and have taken tractor trailer loads of game with the cartridge, and I am getting more and more Fuddly with each passing year and get kinda irritated by these young whipper-snapper cartridges like the .338 Federal... mind you, not nearly so much as the obnoxious Creedmoor.
 
slinkylegs said:
Hopefully that guy enjoys it as much as you did!

Oddball for around my parts for sure. Most people seem to use more common calibers (243, 270, 308, 30-06, 300 WM, etc). I picked up a 6.5 Grendel last year, and that is kind of a oddball caliber for many as well. I seem to like short, efficient rounds lately.

Tell me more about the 358 Win, I'm not all that familiar with that one. I know it is also a necked up 308 as well, but I understand it doesn't carry as much speed or power as the 338?
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I had both the 338 Fed and a 358 Win ! Both rifles had 22 “ barrels The 338 Fed shot faster and with SUPERIOR BC bullets shot flatter . The 338 Fed certainly can out distance a 358 Win BUT at distances most game is shot at makes no PRACTICAL difference ! Although a member on her shot a large Moose at over 400 yards with 160 Barnes TTSX AND GOT PLUS 4/ft of penetration ! DRT .
Higher SD with the 338 bullets too . More better selection of Good quality bullets in 338 Diameter too .
358 Guys will start in with the Bigger bullet Diameter of 20 thou trying to convince you that makes a Difference ! Totally the least important factor 🤪
If I was buying a rifle I liked either or would do for me but would take the 338 Fed if available.If I was building or buying a custom rifle it would be 338 Fed .👍
I did like the 2 BLR s I owned in 358 Win but that‘s more the gun as I liked my 308s also .

JMHO. Cheers RJ

Check out AlpineRifleCraft.ca Custom Canadian built rifles and now offering the 338 Federal as a option 👍😊
https://alpineriflecraft.ca/
 
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I think the 338 Federal is a nice cartridge. I know of an elderly fellow who has one in a Marlin lever action. Every second year he would get drawn for calf moose. He was proud of his new rifle and always returned home with a moose. (y)
 
track said:
I think the 338 Federal is a nice cartridge. I know of an elderly fellow who has one in a Marlin lever action. Every second year he would get drawn for calf moose. He was proud of his new rifle and always returned home with a moose. (y)
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track He must of had it Custom Built or YOUR just mistaking :) it for the Ruger 338 Marlin Express which is a Rimmed shorter fatter cartridge . (y)
 
dejavu, didn't this discussion just happen for a few pages and dozens of posts?
Oh...right... that was the pissing contest between 338-06 and 35 Whelen,
same/same

slinkylegs, Ruger Scout would be another good option for the 338/358 cartridges
have heard the re-bore is possible in alberta iirc, with a long wait time. maybe a pre-fit re-barrel would be better option
on another Savage would be easy
 
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boxhitch said:
dejavu, didn't this discussion just happen for a few pages and dozens of posts?
Oh...right... that was the pissing contest between 338-06 and 35 Whelen,
same/same

slinkylegs, Ruger Scout would be another good option for the 338/358 cartridges
have heard the re-bore is possible in alberta iirc, with a long wait time. maybe a pre-fit re-barrel would be better option
on another Savage would be easy
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Thanks for the suggestion, didn't think about the possibility of the Ruger Scout. Might be something to look into.

And I agree that these kinds of threads get derailed all too quickly (and often). Rabbit trails can be greatly informative, but too often it ends up with insults and senseless arguing
 
There is no such thing as "derailing" these are the "discussion" forums... what you refer to as derailing is called a discussion... it goes where it goes, all members get to jump in with whatever is on their minds... as long as they aren't breaking any rules, it is all good.
 
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