I was contemplating the fact that Kimber will likely chamber the 338 Federal in their 84M sooner or later.

How do you think the round will perform in Africa? It looks like the ballistics will replicate the 318 WR, although I can only find ballistics for the 250 gr 318 WR, and only up to 210 gr for the 338 Federal.

I'm thinking a 225 gr slug in the 338 at about 2300-2400 fps would be an excellent combo for plains game.

I am sure it will be great. Personally I would rather have a 338wm though.

My .338 WM killed sable, wildebeest, eland, kudu and zebra very well. All but the wildebeest were one shot kills (in spite of using Fail Safes!)

I think the .338 Fed would be very similar in performance to the 8x57JS and the 9x57 Mauser and those two have certainly taken their fair share of African plains game through the years.

The 9x57 Mauser
http://www.african-hunter.com/9x57_mauser.htm
"...the standard Kynoch loading (and the one which established this cartridge's reputation) was a 245-grain round-nosed bullet (available as a solid or a soft-nose) at 2150 feet per second. Other factory ammunition was loaded somewhat hotter, particularly the German DWM sporting ammunition, which offered a 247-grain bullet at an alleged 2310 feet per second."

My two cents....
-Bob F.