The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles 338 Federal verdict???Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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| One of Us |
Well with hunting season winding down what are the verdicts on this cartridge? I know some of you were talking over the summer who had purchased it. Share your thoughts please. Perry | ||
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No first-hand experience, but spoke with an elk hunter how had to track a wounded cow quite a ways because he misjudged the distance and hit low. Not the cartridge's fault, but it isn't the flattest shooter to come down the pike. There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t. – John Green, author | |||
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the biggest part of his problem was misjudging the distance. Misjudge distance with a '06, and things go wrong. I for one hope the 338 fed is great... picking one up today......  Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum | |||
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One the rags on the stand right now has a featured cartridge article on it. Haven't read it yet. I have heard both yay and nay on it. On paper it looks good for what its intended for, short to medium range big game. Don't try to stretch it out and you'll be fine, just like the legendary 358 win. Try to make it a 338 win mag and you'll be dissapointed. I think people forget that its NOT a magnum, as its the only non mag released in a LONG time lol If you think every possible niche has been filled already, thank a wildcatter! | |||
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I built one before you could get ammo because the round interested me. It shot great,MOA or less. I didn't spend a lot of time developing loads for it. I had a customer that was taking his wife moose hunting (she drew the bull tag, not him) and she didn't like the recoil of the .338WM he wanted her to shoot. He bought the 338 Fed. and she loved it. She took a 62" bull @ 185 yards, one shot. The bull went less than a 100 yards. I think that is about the max. range you would want to shoot big game with it. It worked well for her. Light gun, low recoil makes for more accurate hunting shots....JMHO....Tom SCI lifer NRA Patron DRSS DSC | |||
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My next gun will be a kimber montana in .338 fed. Maybe even cut the barrel back to 20" and it will do a splendid job on anything I want it to when hunting the hardwoods. | |||
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I have one but haven't shot game with it. I'm still having some work done on mine..custom stock, trigger job, NEC sights, etc... I'm probably 12 weeks from completion. I did shoot the stock rifle when I first bought it. It was accurate and easy on the shoulder. I think it will gain popularity. Seems to be getting some interest in AR type rifles as well. | |||
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What does that cartridge do that a .358, or .308 for that matter, doesn't do? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If the 270 won't do it the .338 will, if the 338 won't I can't afford the hunt! | |||
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Shoot .338 diameter bullets  | |||
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I was just wondering what's the difference between the 338 Federal and the 338/308win? Is there any difference? An 8mm/308 would fill the gap between 308 and 358 seemingly well too. With the 325 WSM being introduced there has been alot of new 8mm bullets on the market. Just wondering. Paul. | |||
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33-308 is the wildcat that eventually spawned the factory 338 Federal. That's the only difference. I'm sure there are actually some case dimensions that would differ and not make them interchangable in a rifle, but same concept. If you think every possible niche has been filled already, thank a wildcatter! | |||
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I don't know anyone who has one. ________________________________________________ Maker of The Frankenstud Sling Keeper Proudly made in the USA Acepting all forms of payment | |||
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If 200grn 338's at 2600fps float your boat, it's a darn fine cart to have. I'm going to run some 160 TTSX in mine before long. Should be a dandy whitetail bullet if the accuracy is there. Reloader | |||
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like every cartridge introduced since the 7mm Remington Magnum, it fill no gaping void or offers anything special. That said, there is nothing wrong with it. I'd just as soon have a 358 Win, same concept with a .020" smaller diameter bullet. If purchases were based on real needs, we could probably do without about 2/3rds of the rounds out there today. We have freedom of choice here, if it suits your desires for an effective short range cartridge buy one. Rich | |||
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Great cartridge... 308 great cartridge 358 great cartdidge 338 in the middle great cartridge... If a 358 is a little too much for you and 308 doesn't quite have the umph you want perfect. Will any animal inside of 250 yards know the difference...nope Mike Legistine actu? Quid scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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How about killing things? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If the 270 won't do it the .338 will, if the 338 won't I can't afford the hunt! | |||
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I like the .338 Federal concept. As to how it compares with the .308 & .358, well if you put the bullet in the right place, they all kill things dead. No difference in the amount or degree of dead. Dead is dead. Sometimes, though, it may be that a bigger diameter hole reaches the "dead" goal just a tad quicker. Not always, but sometimes. Guess maybe it just occasionally lets the blood out quicker. Sure, a .358 Winchester will make an even bigger hole. But we can't force people to buy and use it, can we? So, IF people will buy the .338 Fed instead of not buying the .358 Win, then that's all to the good, I'd say. Ya think so too? (Personally, what I'd really like to see is a .40 on about an '08 capacity case for woods use, but that would NEVER sell....) My country gal's just a moonshiner's daughter, but I love her still. | |||
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Leaves smaller holes than the 358, bigger than the 308. John | |||
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Just picked up a TC Encore frame and have plans on picking up a 338 Federal barrel for it. Barrel is 15 inches long and plan on using 210 grain bullets in it. What type of velocity would you expect? Recoil? Are you folks forming brass from .308 or buying 338 Fed brass? My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost. | |||
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I started off using necked up Win 308 brass but I ran into neck tension problems (not enough) so that forced me into buying some factory rounds and haven't had a problem since. My rifle is a Ruger hawkeye and I'm using RCBS dies. I was given some Win 358 brass to use and that was fine necked down, no problems with tension. | |||
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Has anyone seen a source to buy new 338 Federal brass? Can't seem to find any at Grafs, Midway, or Cabelas. My biggest fear is when I die my wife will sell my guns for what I told her they cost. | |||
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Not yet but Federal is offering it as a component in 2010 so it should be available soon. | |||
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... and which animals require said .358 holes over .308 holes in order to die? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If the 270 won't do it the .338 will, if the 338 won't I can't afford the hunt! | |||
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If the 270 won't do it the .338 will, if the 338 won't I can't afford the hunt! | |||
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Who really cares? They are all great rounds. Buy the one you want. If you don't like the 338 Federal or think it's redundant, don't buy it. Just about every cartridge released in recent years is not needed. What I like about the 338 Federal, is it will shoot 200 grain bullets to the same trajectory as my beloved 308 will with 165. There are times where the extra 35 grains and bigger frontal area may make a difference. | |||
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I'll drink to that  But why the big discrepancy with this round between Federal's factory ammo and the reloading manuals? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If the 270 won't do it the .338 will, if the 338 won't I can't afford the hunt! | |||
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I'll stick with my trusty old 338/06.  Doug Humbarger NRA Life member Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73. Yankee Station Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo. | |||
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 Is there anyone who believes the .338 Fed is superior to the 8X57?  rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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Yes, if you want to shoot the Barnes bullets: 8mm: 180 gr, TSX 200 gr. TSX .338: 160 gr. TTSX 185 gr. TSX 210 gr. TTSX 225 gr. TTSX 250 gr. TSX The 338 Federal gives one the option of the 160 TTSX to greatly flatten trajectory. The 210 TTSX also has a much greater ballistic co-efficient and better long range expansion than the 200 gr. 8mm TSX. | |||
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Probably not much difference but you can't cram a 8x57 in a short action last time I checked. | |||
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 why would anyone want to do that?  rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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Some people prefer short actions especially if you can get the same terminal performance. I'm not knocking the 8x57 but I think the 338 Federal is a really nice little round. | |||
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Ones with less than optimal placement. I hunt moose once a year. I fly to another country. I get perhaps two shot opportunities in 3 years. The animal is huge (compared to our UK deer) and might be on the move. I'm not willing to pass on quartering shots or reasonable moving shots. In such situations I'm happier with my 9.3x62 which is why the lightweight supressed rifle I'm building is a 358winchester and not a 308. I want to use light pistol bullets for practice which I can't do with the 338. | |||
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You can still get the Sako 85 GreyWolf in .338 Fed for under $800. If your hunting dog is fat, then you aren't getting enough exercise.  | |||
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Not to equate the two but I would pick up a 338Fed if I didn't already have a perfectly sweet 9.3x62. | |||
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On the Short action Vs Long action thing? I think people fail to understand how little difference a 0.4" (10mm) slice of rifle through the bolt, receiver, mag box and stock really weighs.... Or more precisely does not weigh... From what I've seen over the years short actions are more prone to feeding issues than "long" actions. AD If I provoke you into thinking then I've done my good deed for the day! Those who manage to provoke themselves into other activities have only themselves to blame. *We Band of 45-70er's* 35 year Life Member of the NRA NRA Life Member since 1984 | |||
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I shoot a 338-06 & would love to build a 338fed. I see it as the same round, just 50yds shorter. For a woods gun that may have to reach to 250yds, it would be a great game getter from deer through elk & moose. LIFE IS NOT A SPECTATOR'S SPORT! | |||
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The .338 Federal is a fine round. But I already have 3 .308s and 1 .358 win so i don't think I need the .338 federal. I think frankly if i want to shoot .338 caliber bullets i would prefer a bigger case. My .358 win is a lever that I bought for thick woods hunting...tj3006 freedom1st | |||
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Not all short actions are created equally- Rem model seven is a smaller action than the 700 short action. I have a seven stainless/synthetic in 7mm saum and its a nice little package. I definately notice a big difference when cycling the action, and believe it or not, it cycles those short, fat, rounds with no problems. Is this really necessary? No but there is a difference, i picked the rifle for its fairly compact size(22" tube not a 20") and its stainless construction but im really liking it so far. A 338 saum would have been the cats meow.....HMMMMMM either that or a 35 saum......  | |||
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I like my 338 federal Nice gun, shoots well, low recoil, all around great round. Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles 338 Federal verdict???
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