So there I am reading the April 2006 issue of shooting times. On the last page is Jim Wilson's monthly article. This month it's about the .338 federal cartridge. at the bottom of the 5th paragraph he states

"In fact, both the 180- and 185- grain .338 Federal offerings generate more velocity than the standard .30-06 loading"

For this statement to be true wouldn't the .308 win have to out perform the .30-06?

Is this some form of magic? Or perhaps hype to sell more guns? I have been loading both .30-06 and .338-06 for several years and still have not got my .338-06 to go faster than my .30-06 with simular powder loads and same grain bullets.

Or maybe my ignorance is sticking out again.

Anything's possible but we may not be comparing apple to oranges.

Conceivabley (sp?), it could be possible to push a 33 caliber bullet in a smaller case faster than a 30 caliber bullet in a slightly larger case if one were to say, load the 30-06 with a 220 grn bullet to 35,000 CUP and the 338 Federal with a 180 grain bullet to 55,000 CUP. But, I don't know this to be a fact; merely conjecture. And frankly, it doesn't really matter much anyway.

To me, this claim sounds more hype than fact. I'm sure someone with Quickload is going to prove me wrong and that's fine. I'm not turning my 06 in for a 338 Federal anytime in the forseeable future; I'll happily harvest game with smaller slower moving bullets...

I have read that same article. It seems to me the claim is with the same grain bullet. I may be wrong. It sounds a bit fishy to me also. I remember the same type of claim made in regards to the .300 savage and the .30-06 that was pure BS. Time will tell.

I think it would be easy to drive a .338/180gr @ 2700fps. That's a bit faster than most factory 180gr 06 loads. It's all marketing hype. You can use HE 06 loads & go way past the .338-08 or handload for better perf. I think the .338Fed. is going to be factory loaded right near the top.
oddball, I load my .338-06 w/ 210grNP @ 2750fps. I doubt I can get a 200gr bullet to do that in my son's 22"bbl. 06.

I hope I understand your question correctly but, all other things equal (ie case design) it is often possible to push a given bullet weight faster in a cartridge with a larger bore. For instance, the Nosler #5 lists a 338/06 pushing a 180 at 2950 while the 30/06 gets 2850 max. This pattern holds across cartridges. Larger bore, more velocity for a given bullet weight (within reason). You often give up BC and SD for that same weight however....

Snowcat's right. What is the SAAMI pressure limits for the 338 Federal ?

quote:

Originally posted by snowcat:
I hope I understand your question correctly but, all other things equal (ie case design) it is often possible to push a given bullet weight faster in a cartridge with a larger bore. For instance, the Nosler #5 lists a 338/06 pushing a 180 at 2950 while the 30/06 gets 2850 max. This pattern holds across cartridges. Larger bore, more velocity for a given bullet weight (within reason). You often give up BC and SD for that same weight however....

You are correct. Given two identical cases differing only in bullet diameter, the one with the larger diameter bullet will win the velocity race. Because of the larger surface area to push on and greater expansion ratio(the larger bore), it will do the same "work" with lower pressures provided bullets are of the same weight.

Dang, theres that ignorance again.

I don't buy that the .308 case can generate more velocity than the larger '06 case with a larger diameter bullet. Granted I aint no physics major or nuthin like all you fellas. So my response is to not buy one of them 338 federals.

quote:

Originally posted by bigguns45:
I don't buy that the .308 case can generate more velocity than the larger '06 case with a larger diameter bullet. Granted I aint no physics major or nuthin like all you fellas. So my response is to not buy one of them 338 federals.

Unless Federal is loading ammo for it in a similar fashion as HE ammo. I would think that Federal would produce several loads for their cartridge, and it only makes sense that some of this ammo would be a little hotter than average.

For any cartridge to succeed, ammo for it must be readily available, so I bet that Federal will have several loads for it soon, including loads that produce higher velocities than the average reloader ca safely load.

bingo buckshot, EXPANSION RATIO matters.

Guys, I believe that yes Federal 'marketing' is claiming to equal if not exceed factory '06 loads with 180s.

The truth will probably have it that the 180s will do right at or slightly higher than 2700 and that standard factory 30-06 loads do about the same.

The fact also is that the bc and sd is better in the same wt. with .30 cal

Fact also, within 300 yards, the 338 will be a capable round with nice game dropping performance and gaining a marginable (my opinion-time will tell) improvement over say a 260 or 7/08 as the expansion ratio allows for a fatter heavier bullet to impact with more momentum.

Is it needed? Better? That is debatable.

Do I personally want a 338F. YES. No doubt, as I see it and the 358 as VERY efficient and effective HUNTING (not varmint/target) ctg's for deer and up under 300 yards which will do a lot of what I want.

Do I recommend anyone sell what they have to replace it. Not unless you are losing deer to a smaller ctg like 243 (for whatever reason) or want a better blood trail (as I do- in case esp. on evening hunts you want it/need it), or if you just as me, have more confidence if hunting say elk, using a .338 bore vs say a under .30 cal.

I see it as having pros and also other ctgs that might trump it but I DO strongly believe if you are looking to 'add' or acquire something new, and different, that you can take in the field and know if you plant a .338 slug in your game under 300 yds in a decent shot placement, you won't see your game run too far, if it does not drop right there.

It fills a void, but no it does not replace other great ctgs.

I like it, and will use one hopefully next season, and planning to use it a lot. Had this in mind 8-9 years ago having installed a 338 ballistic tip into a 308 case and it has sat in my drawer all this time saying, 'BUILD ME'

yes, another project, just what keeps my interest in this never ending sport of pursuing knowledge and enjoying the journey.

your 338-06 should shoot faster than the 30/06 with the same powder and same bullets. assuming same barrel length.

Your max loads should be a couple grains higher in 338 version.

Or you could possibly go to the next faster powder with the same bullets in the 338 version too.