I don't know what to think on this one. What's the point? It's inferior to the .338-06 and I won't even dare compare it to the .338 Win Mag. I'll be surprised if this succeeds.

I agree. With a 308 and 358 I don't see benefit in splitting the difference. See the 358 thread.

ALthough there is probably no real need for it-I think a light SA with a 3x scope would handle a lot of hunting.

Someone said that it costs a lot to develop a new cartridge. Somehow I doubt that at least in terms of selling new product and the net profit.

Auto companies have changed the look of cars every year for a long time to interest buyers and make them think their old car is out of fashion.

Seems to work these days for the gun companies too.

Some of the .338 bullets will be too long for the new cartridge if the COL is 2.8". Otherwise it will go bang and someone will like it.

I have three .358 Wins and three 308's. If I got another cartridge in that range it would be another 308. Cartridges overlap.

If this cartridge actually makes it past the developement stage and into production, I will be curious to see the reaction from the professional gun writers.

Even more interesting will be to compare their thoughts on this to their thoughts on the short magnums.

Well I see a place for it.. I own a 338/06 and it is a rifle I won't give up....

But for heavy brush... I can see a rifle of mine getting rebarreled to a heavy sporter barrel in a short action, but with a barrel length of 20 inches or so...

I just never got into the 358 Winchester thing... so I personally like the new 338 Federal myself....A lot more reason that I can see for the WSMs.....

cheers
seafire

Much greater bullet selection in 338 than in the 358. Don't always need a mag.

It's another usfull cartridge.
I would,nt mind having one but I don't plan on running out to do so. I am sure inside 300 yards it would be a dandy game stopper, like a million other rounds. If i found a short action model 70 with a manlicher stock 20,inch barrel and a good set of backup sights it would be hard to pass, put a 1.5X5 VX3 in a set of QD rings and you would have a hell of a classy .338 federal hunting rig but I think i.d prefer a .358 win....tj3006

I see the .338 Fed as a reincarnation of the very fine .358 Win. Simply outstanding for patroling the west coast jungles for roosie's or the north face deadfall thickets for rocky mnt elk. It will work just fine for strafing bulls across most canyons should the occasion arise.
Gotta be perfect for stand hunting wt tail and bears as well. BT53

358 Win... there is no substitute! At least for most hunting conditions 250 yds or less, and for me that's 90% of my hunting, which does not conclude antelope hunting.

I like the concept of the .338-08. I've been looking for a reason to get something bigger than the 6.5/7mm "deer rifle" categories, and as I must be the only person in North America who doesn't want a 30-06 or 300 Mag, this Federal entry might just do it for me. If they can truly do 2630 fps from a 210g Nosler Partition in a production rifle, this may move me off of a planned 9.3x62 puchase.

Jaywalker

No, your not the only person. I don't want anything 30 cal. I know it's a great cal. but it just dosen't float my boat.

Jaywalker--

Give that some thought.....in 9.3mm, 210 grains is a PISTOL weight. The 9.3's start at 232 grains--and they are good for nearly 2700 FPS in the 9.3 x 62.

think of it this way. You could drop heavy for caliber bullets in on animals like a 45-70. Not the same entity by any means, but still could work. Get a mil dot scope and learn how to use it so you can learn your rainbow trajectory intimately...

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=675099

Nothing like a SD of .375!!

quote:

If i found a short action model 70 with a manlicher stock 20,inch barrel and a good set of backup sights it would be hard to pass, put a 1.5X5 VX3 in a set of QD rings and you would have a hell of a classy .338 federal hunting rig but I think i.d prefer a .358 win....tj3006

Great thread, I just ordered a 350 RM in a Ruger stainless, BUT if Winchester made a M70 with mannlicher stock-OR Ruger, 20" barrel in either 358 OR 338/308 I would buy one without question.

You ONLY NEED 1 or 2 bullets in the 338 Federal and 2 are already scheduled for projection of the 3. 185x and 210 partition. They BOTH will work and work well.

A 358 will do the same with a 225.

My 350 will do more at the cost of recoil and less magazine capacity. I KNOW from my 338/06 what a good medium bore will do, larger frontal area+plenty mass= DOA

I think within 250 or 300 yards, the 338/308, 338/06, 35 whelen, 358 win, and 350 RM will ALL kill with a good bullet. Whether Elk Deer or whatever, they should ALL work fine.

That is my opinion.

I hunted this afternoon with my mannlicher #1 in 243, just wishing it were a 358 or 338/08 because from ANY angle that I can hit a deer with, I can take the shot NOW and KNOW I don't have to wait for a better shot with a lighter caliber.

I have 7/08 bolts and others but that #1 mannlicher is SO short and dandy in a deer stand and with its Swarovski 6x36-a great set up so I grabbed it today.

That #1 in either 358, 338 Federal, OR 350 RM -IF mfg, I would be first in line to buy one.

Same goes for a M70 Win mannlicher but NOT at the price the custom shop charged when they were being made. Winchester could sell a LOT of mannlicher stocked M70's in my opinion like Ruger 77's version.

Typo, Federal's PRODUCTION run......not projection...

Three Premium load offerings will be available from Federal in the fall of 2006: 180-grain Nosler AccuBond at 2830 fps, 210-grain Nosler Partition at 2630 fps and 185-grain Barnes Triple-Shock at 2750 fps.

6.5BR.
Interesting read. Your debacal with your .243 #1 mannlicher is exactly why I rebored a Sako mannlicher carbine from .243 to .358 win.
It made that rifle sooo much more useful. I thought long and hard about the then wildcat .338/08 as a rebore canidate, but lack of reloading info and expensive dies turned me back to the .35 cal.
Thats all changed now. It should be a very efficient cartridge capable of most anything that needs to be done out to around 300 yards or so. It won't beat the shooter up like the belted magnums or the WSM's. It can be put up in nifty rigs like the Remington CDL, Win 70 feather weight, Ruger Mk11, Kimber 84 and a host of others.
This one will be interesting to watch. The high velocity guys will pass it by. It may be a bit too exotic for the average "buy a box of shells a year" shooters too. But for people that recognise its quiet efficient values, it should be a real hit. BT53

IF it makes it into production, I'll bet that it's dead within five years.

I think Federals desire to have a cartridge with their name on it blinded their good judgement.

I won't pass early judgement as to the success or failure of Federals new round. What I can say is I firmly believe that shooters who try it will find a mild mannered round whose killing power is out of proportion to its recoil and blast as I commonly read about the 358.

The pendulum swings and I was turned off the WSM's the first time I witnessed a guy sighting in a 270WSM at the range. He had shots ALL over the target at 50 yards. The recoil was beating this man up, had to be in his 60's of medium build. Whizbang marketing hype sold him a rifle he cannot shoot well.

AND it was REALLY loud, it MIGHT have had a brake/boss or something on it, but it was loud and recoiled sharply having a muzzle rise far higher than I anticipated and the recoil velocity looked high.

I think the WSM likely perform real well, but I for one have killed LOTS of deer with 6br thru 7/08. A few with 270, 1st deer 7mag, and a few with 338/06 which literally floored 2 of the 3 deer. It really slammed them and I took note of medium bores effectiveness. Up to 300 yards I believe the mass and frontal diameter will do its duty REGARDLESS if the velocity is less than from an '06 or WM case.

It is a balanced cartridge in my mind, TRUE not doing anything something else cannot already do that is currently made, but offering a sensible level of power at a moderate to mild level on the receiving end. I want ENOUGH killing power at the MINIMUM recoil, blast, etc. that I can find.

338 caliber makes it RELIABLE, 308 case makes it a milder recoiling and blasting round.

I think it will make owners happy who give it a try. Not a long range round, but worthy at the majority of real world distances most game is taken.

Well...I guess I just figured out what I am going to do with that unfired Remington M760 .308 pump that's been sitting in my safe all these years.

WN

6.5BR
Again, well said. I feel that any open minded shooters that uses' this new offering will be delighted at how user friendly it is and how well it kills game. Part of being a successful hunter is being a proficient shooter. Way too many folks today are simply over gunned and marketing hype has a lot to do with it. Everybody seems to believe that if they don't have a mag or WSM, they can't compete and won't be successful. After a half dozen bull elk, all under 100 yards it occured to me that I didn't "need" a .338 mag to do them in. I made up my .358 win and dumped the first bull that made a mistake. With a rifle that weighs less that 7 pounds and doesn't kick like a mule. It was fun.
The only reason it hasn't added to the toll is I've been packing my Hoyt Ultratec bow for the last 4 years - a 6x6 and a cow elk at 28 and 60 yards, respectively later.
The .358 win has a cult following because it works and works well. That it has failed as a marketing venture is the fault of the marketing people that didn't support it properly ( ammo and variety of arms). It was introduced during the magnum craze and kinda kicked behind the sofa. Marketing went with the gee-wizz stuff that made money.
The .338 Federal will do well if marketed properly and supported with both arms and ammo - cause not everybody wants to reload... If not, it will probably go the way of the .358 win. and become an insiders game.
I welcome it's arrival and will be watching with a great deal of interest. BT53

I do not think it will last.
American shooters/hunters are influenced by VELOCITY. Take a look at history. The 358 Win, 350 Rem Mag, 35 Whelen, and the 338/06.
Compare their entire sales to the Johnny come lately 300 WSM.
It is PITY. WE just do not "get" medium bores in the good ole USA. They just ain't SEXY enough for us.[The exception being AR people]
I had a 350 Rem Mag for a while and have been using a 9,3x74R for several years. I did not shoot a lot of game with the 350, but I have shot quite a bit with the 9,3.
Simply stated the "medium bores" kill game very good, with short, if any, blood trails, with very little recoil. My 350 Rem Mag was in the Remington Model 7 from the Custom Shop. It had a 20" bbl and was fairly light. Even with 250 grain bullets recoil was not bad.
I have taken game as far as 300 yards with my 9,3x74R. These other medium bore cartridges can do that as well.
My PH in Zim was VERY impressed with my 9,3x74R.

I see the NATURAL home of the 338 Federal in an 18 to 20 inch light weight bolt rifle.
Short, handy, with plenty of thump.... Whats not to like???

i can see the light in a 308 rem pump carbine gun using hornadys 411 dia (405 win) 300 gr spire points for a brush gun in fact i will claim it as the 411 boom sticker proprietary cartridge


the hornady 300 gr. spire pt. .411 dia

as well as the 35 and 375

the 375 win bullets as well as the 35 cal and 405 win bullets are designed for lower velocities so they will work great!

can anyone do a quickload for me on that with a 30 degree shoulder and std length

there should be just enough room

quote:

Originally posted by McCray:
IF it makes it into production, I'll bet that it's dead within five years.

I think Federals desire to have a cartridge with their name on it blinded their good judgement.

Kinda the same thing predicted with the 260 Rem... I don't know if it is dead or not.. I own 3 of them and being a handloader.. they and I are going to experience a long long relationship...

I could careless about store bought ammo....


cheers
seafire

I wish Federal would have just loaded sone 210, and 250 gr ammo for the .338-06 and been done with it.
Don't want to raise the dead here but the .338-06 is such a useful round with the .338 WM as it's big brother. Just can't understand why it's not offered by one of the big gun makers as a mainstream chambering.

FN in MT

Well said Frank, but I wouldn't mind having a true SA, 6.5# .338-08 for packing in the high country after elk. Who needs a shortmag?

Fred=Great idea, FN Montana- I LOVE the '06 version, just don't want to do another custom, rather plop down my $ on a M70 SS 338WM put a nice syn. stock (HS) and put up with 3 round mag and the kick, ONLY sighting in and hunting.

I would PREFER a 338/06 over the WM above, but if/when Win. makes a Stainless 338/08 OR 358, I will be first in line.

Yes seafire, 308 brass......ANY ctg. 260, 338/08 etc will always be easy to load for, and I buy FEW -almost NO factory ammo when I can help it.

Buddy shot a deer tonight with 243 PMC factory ammo Don't know if 80 or 100 gr, broadside about 100 yds and it went into the pine thickets here in the south, rain-wet ground, NO blood trail, blood at impact sight but NOT MUCH>

THAT is why I want a larger hole in and out here, I AM FED UP tracking, searching for HIT deer W/O a BIG blood trail.

I feel that a 338 or 358 bore should offer a larger blood trail consistently even not out of a magnum case.

Why a .338 Federal, a 8x57 Mauser is a better idea!

the 338-08 has been a wildcat for a long time and has always taken a back seat to the 338-06.
i think the 338-08 is going to flop like the 338-06 did .there just isn't much demand for anything bigger than 30 cal , plus there already is a bounch of fine mid bores between 30 and 40 cal .

for the hunting we do around here it would be a neat cartridge in a Model 7/ Mannlicher/ pump / semi auto / BLR / style rifle for close in shots in heavy cover.

Probably won't last long without "Magnum" in the name and that's a shame.

quote:

Originally posted by Rick R:
for the hunting we do around here it would be a neat cartridge in a Model 7/ Mannlicher/ pump / semi auto / BLR / style rifle for close in shots in heavy cover.

Probably won't last long without "Magnum" in the name and that's a shame.

That is why the offical name will be;
The Federal 338MLTM.....

The Federal 338, Medium Length, Thin Mag... 338/08 to the rest of we handloaders....

cheers
seafire

quote:

Originally posted by MajorCaliber:
Why a .338 Federal, a 8x57 Mauser is a better idea!

Sure, or maybe 9,3X57 or 8,5X57

Cheers
/JOHAN

As a fup, my friend found his deer this am that was shot last night with 243.

It went 175 yds, complete pass thru high lung shot.

I wonder how far it might have gone with 338 or 358 bore from any cartridge? And what the blood trail would have been?

Far better I suppose than the small caliber 243.

I have killed a few deer with 6mm ctg's and wish I had given him some 85 Gr. HPBT I have for mine. That deer would have died much sooner I believe.

None the less, his usual 280 KS custom shop was stolen, last year used Hornady light mag 139 SST with devastating results. Deer were DOA or very close.

If it is truly a 338-08 I am thrilled. I download my 338 Mag to the exact ballistics of the 338-08 and so will be happy to see the round "legitimized" and cheap dies become available. Have the 98 ready to convert!

Do we have to have such a round . . . Heck no, but then 2 or three of the existing rounds would take care of ANYTHING we every have to shoot, but then what fun is that I ask????

I'm having a 15" Heavy Encore barrel chambered in this round as soon as I can find some loaded rounds to measure for cutting the chamber.
I have many other calibers in the Encores and Contenders but I think this will fill my space that I was going to order a 338JDJ. I know it's not as big but I wanted a 338 Caliber round without all of the recoil for whitetail and hogs. I have the 309JDJ, 358JDJ and the 375JDJ so I don't need another big thumper.

Mike

If you compare the 338-06 and the 35 Whelen at max velocities with 250 grain bullets out of the same length barrels, the 338s have more velocity and energy from beyond a o100 yards on out. The same would be true of a 358, 338-08 comparison, and a 9.3 on the same case would beat both of them.

Out to 300 yds, the 338-08 will be a useful and deadly cartridge. Whether or not it will last and be a finantial success I don't know. But if it isn't a success, it won't be because it can't do the job...Rusty

I concur Rusty. McClura-I previously saw a niche as a handgun round too-you can only burn so much powder in 15" within reason.

TCLouis, What bullet and loads for deer in your 'down loaded' 338WM?

I believe John Wooters pick for all around use here in US was 308, 338 mag, and one other-either 22lr, 223, or 375. I am about sure the 3rd was one of the COMMON calibers-375 and up in my opinion is best used on big bears and African game, but I know it has dumped all sorts of game w/efficiency.

So again, Wooters '08 and 338 pick.....the bullet does the killing, and I believe the 338/08 is enough for me-at least to 300 yards.

I would have to run #'s but I have heard of elk being killed at very long ranges with 338WM's-not that I want or will try shots much more than 300-400. Just don't want to chance if I don't have to........

Great info guys-thanks for all the input. Lots of good knowledge and experience.

Well, I for one am looking forward to tee 338 federal. I've got my eyes peeled for a pre-64 FW in 243 or 308 for a re-barreling.

Will the 338 Federal be a success? No, probably not. But those in the know, and who hunt at sub-300 yard ranges, will find this round ideal for everything up to elk I expect...

I am not sure I believe Federal's factory ammo specs however. I'd like to run them over an impartial chronograph and see what it has to say. Next Fall I guess...

I called PAC-NOR to make the arrangements for rebarreling my ss short action Model 70 Classic .308 to the .338 Federal. They told me to hold on for a little bit until Federal made the formal case specification announcement at the Shot Show. The case “could be†a little different specification than the .338/.308 that is put up by many Wildcatters. CP.

CP has got that right the .338-06 A-Square chamber specs aren't the same as what the wildcat .338-06 are, as my gunsmith found out when he did my rechamber. A resized .270 or .30-06 case would chamber fine, but sized and trimmed .338-06 Weatherby brass wouldn't!!