New Cartridge - the "338 Federal"

MiG25 said:
what will it do that the 8x57 won't do?
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Nothing if the two are loaded to the same pressures. The 8x57 has 15% more case capacity by virtue of its 1/4" longer case. You'd have virtually the same velocities bullet weight for bullet weight, with the edge to the 8x57 on sectional density. Plenty of great hunting bullets are available for the 8mm, and the oft-claimed advantage of heavier available bullets for the 338 is irrelevant with the smallish 308-based case. No-one would load the 338 Federal up with 250, 275 or 300 grain bullets. You'd have no room for powder and would be loafing along at just above 2000 fps.
 
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The .338 Fed may have a small advantage in terms of SD but it's Ballistic Coefficient would be lower.
What the .338 Fed will do is take advantage of all those lighter .338 cal bullets on the market that don't really exist for the 8mm.
Wouldn't be surprised to see this round in the Steyr Scout rifles either.
A nice compromise between the .376 Steyr & the .308.
 
MiG25 said:
what will it do that the 8x57 won't do?
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As others have mentioned it will fit in a short action and have alot of bullets available for reloading that the 8x57 does not.
I like this cartridge and wish that companies don't bring it out in some heavy short rifle like the M70 WSM's. If Kimber picks up this round in their Model 84 it will be the cats meow. I also wish Kimber chambers their M84 in 358.
bigbull
 
todbartell said:
one of these 338-08s in a stainless Model Seven with a good fiberglass stock, and a Leupold VXII 2-7x33...hmmmm :D
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Yeah, maybe, but I like Spitzer's idea better - stainless/laminate BLR! ;) Tell me they wouldn't sell a few of those!
 
Monty said:
Yeah, maybe, but I like Spitzer's idea better - stainless/laminate BLR! ;) Tell me they wouldn't sell a few of those!
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Well, forget that. I just checked Browning's site and their new cartridge for the BLR is the 325 WSM... plus, of course, they still have the .358...
 
the fact that they would be competing with thier own 338
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So their .300WSM doesn't compete with their own .300 WinMag? And their .270WSM doesn't compete with their .270 Win.? I think there's other factors at work here and Winchester isn't giving us the straight goods. I think it would have been entirely possible to unvail a .338WSM rather than the .325WSM. Does anyone know if any wildcatters have tried a .338 based on the .300WSM?
 
BC Bigbore said:
So their .300WSM doesn't compete with their own .300 WinMag? And their .270WSM doesn't compete with their .270 Win.? I think there's other factors at work here and Winchester isn't giving us the straight goods. I think it would have been entirely possible to unvail a .338WSM rather than the .325WSM. Does anyone know if any wildcatters have tried a .338 based on the .300WSM?
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Go to http://shortmags.org/shortmags/snitzforum/default.asp and look into the subject. It's been heavily covered. It might clear up your conspiracy suspicions.
 
i dunno, i think it is an interesting cartridge that will be useful, there should be no surprises as it doesn't break any new ground ballistically.

i think it makes a lot more sense than some of the new rounds, like the 7mm WSM or the .243 WSSM.

time will tell. it isn't something that appeals to me.
 
JohnC said:
could be useful - along the lines of the .35 Whelen. I can see Ruger offering its Frontier rifle in it.
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not even close. anyone that want's to compare this "new" :rolleyes: cartridge to the .338-06 and .35 Whelen needs to Stuff a 250gr in each and THEN look at the specs. or even a .225gr then do a propper comparison. I can see it's advantage when shooting 180 and 200gr bullets, but then you are sacraficing the High BC and SD that make the 225gr and 250gr .338 bullets so nice.

oh well, another caliber on the market.
 
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