Next question - .338 Federal or .338 Win Mag?

J

Jeff/1911

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Hi Boys,

For all around hunting purposes on the larger game like Elk and Moose...

After reading your well thought out response to my .340 Weatherby question I'm taking a small turn in my thinking...

I am strongly considering buying a Tikka T3 Lite in either .338 Federal or .338 Win Mag. By buying one of these rifles in the new "Federal" chambering I would save an ounce or two in carrying weight but more importantly about 2 inches in barrel length, according to the Tikka site.

Your thoughts, esteemed shooting brethren? :)

Jeff.
 
I admit I havent' taken a good hard look at the 338-08 (Federal) because it doens't interest me much. If I want a 338 caliber cartridge, I want it to have a bit more horsepower, liek the 338-06.

I imagine the 338 Fed is more applicable to shorter ranges, similar in purpose to the 358 Winchester.

For moose and elk- especially at ranges longer than 200 yards- I think the 338 WM is probably a better choice.:)
 
I've read a little on the .338F and it seems to be a good idea. Your sending a good sized bullet downrange, at respectable velocities and with less recoil than you would get out of a WM. But of course, your not going to get the same performance out of it over the larger case. I like it though, because it is different and efficiant. Only time will tell if it lasts or not, but I imagine forming brass is simple enough. The .33 caliber is a good choice, in there are plenty of bullets to choose from, it will hit harder than a standard .308 and shows good accuracy from the reports I've seen. But at the same time, I'm a firm beliver in the fact that Bambi doesn't care if he gets hit with a .243 or a .458, put the bullet in the right spot and you've got venison. But again, i like it because it's different, and a complete 180 from all the fuss about short mags, ultra mags and super short whizbangs. A standard cartridge, for real shooters. Good call.
 
If you're looking for something that will perform in the 200-300 yard range, I'd lean toward the .338 WM or the .338-06.

My .338 Win Mag (in a Tikka 695) is my prefered rifle for elk season. Not very difficult to shoot well and remarkably flat out to 300 yards.

If you're planning on hunting inside 250 yards, then the .338 Federal is probably going to be just fine. I'd be concerned if ranges were being stretched. (Realistically, if that isn't going to happen, go with the Federal and "get closer" ;) )
 
For all around hunting purposes on the larger game like Elk and Moose...
Click to expand...

.338 Win Mag is the better cartridge, so get it.

BTW, my hunting partner has a Tikka .338 Win Mag and he loves it.
 
Define 'all around' - what kind of range are you looking at? The Fed ought to be perfect, up to around 200 yards. Given that (bull#### aside) the vast majority of game is taken within that distance, I think the Federal would be about the most ideal 'all around' cartridge you could get.
 
I'd also go with the .338 WM, although I might hesitate to get it in a lightweight rifle such as the T-3. I have a push feed Win. Model 70 that is probably a bit heavier than the average rifle these days, but the recoil is tolerable with a bit extra weight. A 250 gr. Partition at 2700 fps is going to put most critters down.

I do think the .338 Federal is interesting. Seems like it would be a very good round where the game was big, but the shooting range a little more on the short / medium side.
 
But the federal isn't supposed to go up against the WM. It's a different approach. It was intended to be a more well mannered cartridge. Not a fire breathing dragon. And i still say the .338 WSM would have been a better idea than a 8mm WSM.
 
If you like the Tikka and you're looking for a rifle that's perfect for deer and 'pretty good' for moose and elk, then the .338 Federal is for you.

If you don't like the Tikka, or if you're looking for a rifle that's perfect for anything in north america, and any plains game around the world, then the .338 Win Mag is for you.

The only choice I would strongly recommend against is a T3 Lite in .338 Win Mag. At 6lbs 6 oz it's at least a pound too light, I'd prefer even more (my Win70 is 7lbs 12 oz w/o scope and rings--that's about perfect) unless you're planning to give it as a gift to your worst enemy.

One other consideration is availability of dies and brass (if you're a reloader) and availability of factory ammo (if you'e not). This may be a big deal for you, or it may not. I like being spoiled for choice for components, dies, and accessories with my Win Mag, but it wasn't a big part of why I chose it.
 
Well considering you Mentioned Tikka I'd go with the 338 Win Mag.

Alot of the point & appeal of the 338 Federal is that it fits in "Short actions"

Given T3's use the same Generic long action length for all Cartridges might just as well make use of it............:onCrack:
 
I'm thinking...the fact that I will do my deer hunting with my BLR in .308 makes me think I'd better go a little "heavier" than the .338 Federal so as to see much difference on the larger game. The .338 win Mag it is!

Thanks, Jeff.
 
Jeff,

One thing to consider is the recoil in a lighter rifle. If you are recoil sensitive you may want to consider an 8lb+ rifle.

My 338 is 9+++lbs and I find the recoil modest.
 
I'll second everything that's been said so far about a T3 and the .338WM. The T3 is a good gun and the .338WM an awesome cartridge, but that combo will beat the daylights out of you. I went to the M695, it does a much better job of handling that big .338. In a few days, as soon as she comes back from the gunsmith, I will post a picture of the .338 tamer.
 
I love my T-3 in .338mag. Its putting 3rds of 210g partitions into 3/4" at about 2950. I did put on a sporting clays recoil pad, but really it's not that bad. If you wanted to blast away prone all day then no, but as a hunting gun I like the light weight.

Homesteader
 
Homesteader said:
I love my T-3 in .338mag. Its putting 3rds of 210g partitions into 3/4" at about 2950. I did put on a sporting clays recoil pad, but really it's not that bad. If you wanted to blast away prone all day then no, but as a hunting gun I like the light weight.

Homesteader
Click to expand...

Thanks Homesteader...I really don't want to carry around more weight than I need to. I wouldn't be buying this rifle as a dedicated "paper puncher" that's for sure. ;)
 
you gotta ask yourself " do you want 5 shots or only 3" as well - the reason i went with the 338 win mag was that i have numerous rifles in 308 and a 308 or 06 will do about 85% of what the 338 will do on the top end( basically 180 grain vs 250) and i wanted an advantage over the 308- the way i view it, the 338 fed provides no advantage, and the 338/06 only a minimal advantage- the 338 is a MAJOR LEAP FORWARD, as would be a 375.
there are disadvantages too, though - 5 shots vs 3 in the magnum because of the belted head, basically only 1 bullet weight that provides the advantage,( you can get 30 cals up to 220 grains, and they don't make the 275 grain anymore) and powder that is slower burning and uses far more of it- plus the recoil factor- about twice that of the 06 in some rifles- add it all up, and the 338 doesn't make a lot of sense -UNTIL YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO SHOOT THIS THING AND YOU'VE GOT BIG ANUMALS TO CONTEND WITH
then the arguements fade quickly- and that SHOCK WAVE when you fire a 250 or a 275 is AWESOME
 
a .338-06 is a minimum advantage over a .308win? you need to put down the crack pipe.


165gr @ 2700fps vs. 225gr at 2675fps

hmmmm.......


as for bullet capacity. if you need more then 3 338win mag rounds you need to spend a LOT more time at the range.
 
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