Agreed, the 338F is a 'niche' ctg, one where you want to select it if you expect the majority of shots are within 300 yds.

As to lack of bullet availability? I never heard a 338 Win mag owner complain, nor a 338-06 owner......210 partition or other, pick your poison, they all do the job well.

Mountain rifle niche-perfect place for it, Kimber should do well, I won't buy a 300 or 325 WSM esp. would not want one in a lightweight myself, but would be happy toting the Kimber around the mountains after Elk.

? for 308 users, would you feel as comfortable toting a 308 with say 165's vs a 338 with 210's should by a remote chance, Mr. Grizz or Mt. Cat come out after you? Not that it will or has, but it can and does/will happen to some.

As to <150, sure it will be great at that range, and I would just as quickly let one fly up to 300.

Now 350 and further, expansion can be starting to become an issue.

How many here have often killed large game that far where you could not get closer? Just curious. I am sure it happens.

Well, the above L579 owner is happy as should be and will be, just as I would whether it were a 358 or 338F.

I realize many if not the majority of NEW rounds over the recent years were 'overlapping' and offering perhaps more cons i.e. more recoil, blast, high ammo cost, poor barrel life, poor feeding, more difficulty perhaps in sizing ctg's, and perhaps a future problem in getting brass for some, or even forming.

I believe Federal did a good job researching the concept, PRIOR to bringing this round to market.

Would I liked to see more hunters toting the 33's and 35's whether on 308 or '06 case? I think they might be more pleased with field results than other choices. Only 1 time was I really wanting more gun, I had carried a 270/150 partition combo to Colorado, and a 708 in a Winch carbine clocking 139's at 2850 in that gun, and because it was so handy, ended up carrying that gun the entire hunt with a 4x scope.

Had a bull elk within 30 yds, and had to pass, did not meet the antler regulation of 4 on one side, or a 5" brow tine.

The 'shortfall' perhaps was seeing a bull elk that was CLEARLY legal fly up a mountain, wind howling 30+ mph, and the range easily looked 400-600 yds, no range finder and no, I held fire and likely would have with any rifle. That is a situation that with a range finder, good rest, and more gun, I MIGHT have thought about taking a shot, but odds were not in good favor, esp considering he was running and in some timber on the ridge.

Another time on the hunt I had a heard of dozens of elk in timber, clearly visible, but NO bulls in sight. Range, about 100-140 yds.

Any reasonable rifle with proper bullet placed would have done it if a legal bull was there, had no cow tag.

Recently saw a pic of a NICE 6x6 elk, fell into a canyon after shot, lodged where the antlers were holding the animal in a crevasse. They tied a rope to the horns and cut the head off-kept horns, could not salvage the animal, nor the cape. Bad things happen, but if I were elk hunting, I would prefer a midbore, even on 308 case over a smaller round. Even if the difference is all in my head.

Perhaps the best thing the 338F will do is create controversy, causing rifle and ammo companies to reconsider more offerings in 358, 338-06, and even the Whelen. That would make everyone happy that is on this thread I am sure.

Just to be sure no confusion, I was referring to my liking the Kimber....in 338F, with tolerable recoil, perhaps the 358W will be offered in the future, will see.

About faster burning rate powders, in the 338 JDJ No 2, I found Reloader 15 and Varget to give good velocity, excellent accuracy and great load density with all bullet weights from the 180 to 250 grain weight bullets. These two powders should also do well in the 338 Federal.

As far as bullets working at lower 338 velocities compared to the 338 Win mag, Hornady's 225 Gr SST should be a good performer. Nosler's partitions are soft on their fronts and should work well at or above 2,000 fps. The Nosler Accubond in the 180 grain weight should be a fine performer on lighter weight game as well. Sierra's 215 grain GameKing should also be another good bet. Speer also has some bullets that ought to work fine at 338 Federal velocities down range.

This is a problem that handgun hunters have had to work with all the time. Doc Rogers successfully took a 6 point bull elk with a 338 175 grain X-Bullet at better than 400 yards using his 14 inch barreled 338 JDJ No 2 in a Contender handgun. It was a one shot kill penetrating and exiting both shoulders. The elk stood there about 30 seconds and then fell over and was dead by the time Doc and his guide reached the animal. The guide bet him he couldn't even hit the elk, much less kill it. There are plenty of bullets out there that will work even better in the 338 Federal with rifle length barrels than work in handguns...Rusty.

quote:

Originally posted by Con:
HighSlot,
I'd be interested in your loads using 10x in the 358Win as I'm waiting on some to be delivered. Out of interest why do you use Varget in the 358Win? Mine gets along just fine with AR2207 (H4198). But I admit I havent put any of my loads over a Chrony yet either. I'd also like to try Benchmark in the 358Win ...
Cheers...
Con

Using 200 gr Hornady SP, Varget has been the fastest with the mostest potential accuracy--my gun is a BLR. I've tried AA2520--no accuracy and low velocity, IMR 4320--no accuracy, Benchmark--very good accuracy at lower velocity (2350-2400), and H4895-- gives good velocity but no accuracy. Varget goes 2500+ with respectable groups, but is very, very compressed at my accuracy load and COL creeps all around. So I keep looking for a powder that will give good accuracy at the velocity potential of this cartridge without the kernal-packing gymnastics associated with Varget...so I'm currently looking at Re10x as Seafire suggested. Loads are in the box, just need to shoot them...max around 45-46 gr but I'm going to chrony them to avoid personal injury, cut-off @ 2500-2550 fps. Of course, this is what has been happening in MY gun...if I had to hunt right now, I'd probably use my Benchmark load and call it good. I've promised myself that I'll stop chasing velocity after trying this powder (Re10x)...

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty Hook:
.... Doc Rogers successfully took a 6 point bull elk with a 338 175 grain X-Bullet at better than 400 yards using his 14 inch barreled 338 JDJ No 2 in a Contender handgun. It was a one shot kill penetrating and exiting both shoulders. The elk stood there about 30 seconds and then fell over and was dead by the time Doc and his guide reached the animal..

That tells me a man needs no more than 165-180tsx/mrx308win in a compact rifle....but it also tells me that 33fed185tsx should give the penetration one needs + extra frontal area.

if buyin a 338fed means you will be posting photos of your field adventures,buy all means get one.

For those who like rem700 &.358win..Here.

High slot, if you have not read the data/articles below, it might be of value for you:

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/358_wcf.htm

http://www.35cal.com/

Nothing wrong with 358, and the 200 should zip good, though BC is less than a 225 35, or 200-338.

That custom 358 is nice, I wouldn't mine trying it out W/O muzzle brake-hate the blast those things have, but for taking one of the beaten path, I would have to have more confidence in the bolt handle (had one fall off-practically new gun-with no abuse, never beat handle!), and actually would have preferred say a Win 70 action-the claw style.

Looks nice though, and perhaps the kinks are worked out of those carbon wrapped barrels, heard mixed feedback on early one's. Thanks for the link.

quote:

I predict that we will soon here of 338 Fed owners complaining that bullets designed for 338 Win Mag didn't open up at 350 yards with their gun.

To each his own but why would anyone want to use .338F out to 350 yards?

350 yards is for magnums, IMO.

Woodjack, I am not a Remington fan but I am a 358 fan, and that one makes me drool. Lou