Savage 11 hog hunter in .338 Federal

Mean Steak

Mean Steak

CGN Regular
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Location
Central Alberta
Hello guys!
I’m looking for a Savage 11 hog hunter in .338 federal (not 338 WM)
What I’d like to know from those who own them is…
1. How’s the recoil?
2. What is the furthest I could expect to shoot? (I have access to 800m ranges)
3. What’s the twist rate?
4. Which bullet weights work best for you?
5. Is it a good caliber for North American game like deer and moose within 100-150m

The biggest question is where can I find one? I have an add on the EE but no luck yet. I’m wondering if any of you guys has seen one for sale anywhere.

Here’s a picture of the rifle I want

5lJr9AA.jpg
 
I don’t own one… but I was very close to buying one, chose between the 9.3x62 and 338 federal and ended up with a steyr 9.3x62.

Having said that, looking at the numbers and ballistics etc for a 338 fed with sometime in load development etc, that caliber looks like it has a ton of potential for mid and large game in the provinces.

If my interest was punching paper at 800 yards or if I was wanting to hunt game over 300 yards, I would probably go with something else. Not that it isn’t capable, but for those purposes there are better tools. For a versatile hunting rig in the woods, it seems to check a lot of boxes though!
 
Can’t answer most of your questions but I do endorse the .338 as a caliber. I started off with a 338 WM (too much gun) then traded down to a 338-06. If there was a 338 Federal , at the time, I would’ve considered it. If you reload, there are plenty of bullet options starting as low as 160 grains. For plinking, I have a custom mould that drops 145 grain SWCs. For those who don’t cast, Hornady’s 000 buckshot (67 grain) sized down to .339 are a hoot to shoot ... with just 5 grains of fast shotgun powder. So, I my book, anything in 338 is tops in versatility.
 
Another non-owner here, sorry, but there are several observations we can make just based on the build. First, I assume you're reloading, it's going to be pretty tough finding any variety of factory ammunition for this cartridge. I like the cartridge, and maybe you know already but it can be difficult to find 338 bullets that will reliably expand at the lower velocities you'd get with this cartridge. Most seem to be made for the 338 magnums.

1. Recoil will be relatively mild, it's not a light rifle. Felt recoil is subjective, and depends on the ammunition. A bit more stout than 308Win.
2. Range will depend on ammunition, but if you know your dope I'm sure a dedicated shooter could get out to 800m with that rifle.
3. Everywhere I've seen says 10-twist.
4. Best bullet weight and design will depend on what you're trying to do with it.
5. Deer and moose at 100-150m, sure, if you can get the right type of bullet at the right impact velocity with the right shot placement. Same as any other hunting cartridge.

Never seen one for sale, looks like Savage stopped producing them in that chambering. You have to ask yourself why they did that...
 
You may find a Sako pop up every now and again, but they aren't cheap. I'm rebarreling my 99 in 338 Fed; starline brass from Prophet River and 200 grain hot cors from Budget Shooter Supply ought to make a fine 300m game gun. There's a huge wealth of reloading recipes over on 24hourcampfire if you're curious of what sort of velocities and bullets to use. If you're looking to have it as a target rifle for shooting 250-300 grain match kings, you'll probably find that the 1-10" twist won't stabilize them, and the trajectory will be...quite parabolic. Best of luck in your search!
 
Good cartridge for sure. I know I will regret selling my kimber 338f when it goes. Could be the perfect do all rifle for Canada if you hunt 400 yards and closer. I shoot 160ttsx at 3000fps and 200gr accubond or SST at 2700.
Shot a giant bull moose at 380yards no problem with the ttsx

800 yards shots on paper should be done with a better cartridge. The bc of the lighter .338 bullets are not that great. I would go to a 6.5 or 6 creedmoor with lighter recoil and sleeker faster bullets for that application
 
My Ruger Scout in .338 Federal the recoil is stout, but not harsh, more than the .30-06 in the same weight rifle. I shot a coyote at 364 yards with it last fall while deer hunting, knowing the individual ballistics of what ammo you are using in the important part. I used a gain twist barrel and it shoots like a dream. The biggest drawback is it would bash the tips of a bullet like the 215 gr. Sierra SP so bad in the magazine it was a joke, would knock the tips off of Ballistic tip type bullets as well. Went with the Woodleigh protected point bullet and no more issues.
 
A&Shuntr said:
...The biggest drawback is it would bash the tips of a bullet like the 215 gr. Sierra SP so bad in the magazine it was a joke, would knock the tips off of Ballistic tip type bullets as well. Went with the Woodleigh protected point bullet and no more issues.
Click to expand...

That's really good to know, thanks.
 
Awesome fellas,
Thanks for all the information!
I should have indicated that I do reload. I picked up a set of Redding dies at the gun show in Edmonton last week. I have already reloaded 100 rounds for the rifle that I don’t even have yet LoL
They are all reformed 308 cases that were annealed before and after reforming. I loaded them up with 44.4 grains of H335 according to Lyman’s 50th edition reloading manual. Also like others here I’m using 200 grain Speer hot core’s and hoping for good expansion and accuracy. I mainly want the savage hog hunter because it looks like a good utility rifle in an under appreciated caliber.
Keep the information coming if you have experience or advice, it is appreciated!
Cheers!
 
Agreed with RJ. It's risky building loads for a rifle you can't test it in. And there's no way I'd make any kind of a hunting load without at least using a chronograph (preferably a full ladder workup).
 
But I have a “chamber” already. The full length sizing die will make sure of fit. As for a mild load, it’s .6 of a grain from maximum according to Lyman’s 50th edition. I only have Varget, H335 and Win 748 but have copious amounts of H335. So I thought I’d start there.
I have plenty of reloading supplies so working up a load should be fine. I was going to use the first loadings to test and fire from the brass to my chamber. Then neck size to reload and find out what it likes.
I do hope it likes 200 grain Speer hot cores because I have a bunch of them as well

I’m starting to think that finding one of these Savage hog hunters in 338 federal is going to be difficult LoL
No leads yet and no responses to my EE ad sadly…
 
It's a relatively uncommon chambering, you might be waiting a while. ####### lists 5232 rifles for sale, and exactly one is chambered in 338 Federal.

Aha, we didn't know you were just fire forming brass with those loads. As long as your overall length will fit in the magazine, and the bullet doesn't hit the lands, should work.

Personally, I only use full length sized brass for hunting, but it sounds like you have your reasons.
 
i like 200grn hornadys or speer sp for the fed and 200grn noz bt in the 338 06. 200 sst would also be good in the fed but are a little long. would prefer to use noz 200 grn bt but there obsolete and i save my remaining for the 338 06.
 
I always loved the idea of a 338 Federal for a bush gun and got lucky and a few years ago found a Sako 85 chambered in it for a really good price.

I'm still tweaking the load but I am using 210gr Swift Scirocco II's over LeveRevolution powder and am around 1 moa @2700 fps. Not as accurate as I would like yet but I figure a moose or black bear at anything under 200 won't notice much ;)
 
Sako 85 would be nice I'm sure.
There is a decent looking CZ550 in 338 Federal on EE that id be looking at if I wasn't in the process of building one. Ive got a bunch of 185gr TTSX to try out when I get that far. Im going to look into the 210 scirocco
 
Mean Steak said:
Hello guys!
I’m looking for a Savage 11 hog hunter in .338 federal (not 338 WM)
What I’d like to know from those who own them is…
1. How’s the recoil?
2. What is the furthest I could expect to shoot? (I have access to 800m ranges)
3. What’s the twist rate?
4. Which bullet weights work best for you?
5. Is it a good caliber for North American game like deer and moose within 100-150m

The biggest question is where can I find one? I have an add on the EE but no luck yet. I’m wondering if any of you guys has seen one for sale anywhere.

Here’s a picture of the rifle I want

5lJr9AA.jpg
Click to expand...

I have 2 338 federal rifles.
The first is a rebarreled Winchester Model 88, with a 20" Krieger barrel 1:10 (got a good deal on the barrel as it had been cut too short for someone else's project). Scope is a Leupold Vx-3 2.5-8x36 B&C in Leupold QR rings and bases. The barrel has a fairly heavy contour so it is not a light rifle, and it shoots the Federal Premium 210 gr Partition ammo into 1" groups at 100 yards. With the Pachmayr Decelerator pad on it, recoil is noticeable, but not bad. Worked well on a nice caribou bull at 120 yards.
The second is a rebarreled Sako Model 85 LH Finnlight II, with a 22" Wilson carbon fibre barrel 1:10. The scope is a Leupold VX-3 3.5-10x40 B&C in Optiloc rings and bases. The scoped rifle weighs 7 lbs 12 ounces.
It will shoot the Federal blue box 200 gr Hot Cor ammo into .477" at 200 yards (gunsmith's test target after fixing throat issue), Recoil is a little more noticeable in this lighter rifle, but again not bad. I took a young bull moose @ 80 yards and young bull caribou @ 150 yards.
It also shoots the 210 gr Partition ammo well (sub-MOA), and I need to reshoot the 180 gr AccuBond ammo again now that the throat issue has been resolved, to check for accuracy.
I hope to develop a load with the 200 gr AccuBond bullet for this rifle for accuracy somewhere in the 2600-2700 fps range.
With this, I have found the following max. load info (vel, energy, drop muzzle out to 500 yards in 100 yard increments), but have to try:
Nosler AccuBond 200 gr 0.414 0.250 Re-17 50.6 gr 2652 3123 2453 2672 2.2 2263 2274 0 2081 1923 -8.9 1908 1617 -25.9 1745 1352 -52.5
Nosler AccuBond 200 gr 0.414 0.250 CFE 223 50.0 gr 2675 3178 2475 2720 2.1 2284 2316 0 2101 1960 -8.8 1927 1649 -25.4 1763 1380 -51.5
Either load will provide sufficient velocity and energy for moose out to 400 yards, but after that velocity drops off enough that reliable expansion may become an issue (dependent upon bullet).
The Federal Premium 180 gr AB ammo will have sufficient energy at 500 yards for deer (1200 ft lbs), but at only 1730 fps, may not reliably expand at that range.

I have rung steel consistently with both rifles and the aforementioned factory ammo out to 500 yards, as that is what our range is good for and the B&C reticles is designed for.
Practicing out to 800 yards would take determining your specific rifle and ammunition ballistics and holding for the appropriate bullet drops and windage. A load specific turret would probably be a good idea for this application.

If you are willing to pay extra for your Savage Hog Hunter in 338 Federal, you could purchase one via GunBroker in the US and have it imported into Canada (Prophet River or I Run Guns offer these services). Just another option to acquire what you are looking for.

Best of luck in your quest!
I know that I am really enjoying my 338 Federals; they are fun to shoot and hunt with! (and I also own a 338-06 and have owned 338 WIn Mags; love the 338 's - they work great!)
 
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