The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles 338 Federal - how is it doing?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I've been reloading mine for about 4 months. I finally decided to chrony some loads. The newer ball powders really work great. I have no problems meeting factory ballistics. Lighter bullets did really well with 2230, heavy bullets really like the new Alliant MR powder. 200 Factory Fusions- 2695, 2698 185 TTSX, 48gr of 2230, Fed brass, 2.87 COL- 2801, 2836 210 Partition, 47 gr of TAC, Fed brass, 2.82 COL- 2583, 2568 180 NBT, 53 gr of MR2000, Lapua Brass, 2.87 COL- 2720, 2738 210 Partition, 52 gr of MR2000, Lapua Brass, 2.82 COL- 2649, 2663 200 SST, 52 gr of MR2000, Lapua Brass, 2.88 COL- 2641, 2663 200 Interlock, 52 gr of MR2000, Lapua Brass, 2.85 COL- 2632, 2663 180 NBT, 48 gr of 2230, Lapua Brass, 2.87 COL- 2774, 2810 160 TTSX, 52 gr of 2230, Lapua Brass, 2.85 COL- 3046, 3058 | |||
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The .338 Fed is a great cartridge for someone who is recoil sensitive but still wants to hunt big game. I have built three for people who have hunted with them and found them more than enough gun. One of my customers wanted a gun for his wife to hunt moose. She couldn't shoot the .338 WM well because of the recoil. She loved the .338 Fed. She took a 62" bull Moose at 185 yds., one shot, it went less than 60 yds. The others reported simular stories on deer. Last April in Namibia a hunter,using a .338 Fed, in the same camp we were in took gemsbuck and springbuck at ranges over 300 yds. without any problems. I like the little fellow. It's pleasent to shoot and quite accurate. Seems to kill better than you would think and is light to carry. What more can you ask for? ..........Tom SCI lifer NRA Patron DRSS DSC | |||
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I own a couple of .358 Winchesters, and a whole mob of .308s (a dozen roughly, but probably even more if I actually counted them). So, I like the .338 Federal. It is a nice saw-off between the two. Can use heavier bullets than the .308, but can fly flater than the .358 does. Same exact reason I would pick a .338/06 over a .35 Whelen these days. Already have a couple of 9.3s and a whole gaggle of '06s (9 at last count). The .338/06 fits very nicely in between. As for "doesn't supply anything new"...who cares? If that was the my main criterion, I'd probably not ever have become a rifle looney for the last almost 65 years that I've been reloading and shooting... Where's the fun in that? It is a nice little cartridge and will perform just fine at its moderate velocities. It will suit lots of NA locales and game. That's good enough reason to own one. | |||
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I don't quite know what the 338 Federal does that the 8mm Mauser doesn't do already. This is surely one case (unlike 8mm Remington Magnum vs 338 Winchester Magnum) where the 8mm option is decidedly superior to the 338" option? | |||
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How is the 8mm Mauser superior to the 338 Federal? Are less bullet choices better? Is less velocity better? Please explain. | |||
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With all due respect Scott.....the 8 X 57 IS somewhat superior. It's true that the .323 bullets are fewer but there's enough to get any job done...fewer is a problem only when none of the offerings are sufficient.....Swift makes two A-Frames in .323 and that's all I need! Many more from Nosler and Hornady and Speer..... If one is a handloader he can surpass the .338 Federal easily..... I'm in complete agreement that (at least for a handloader) the 8 X 57 is a better choice than a .338 Federal! /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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 I'd love to know what 200 grain loads will do significantly more than 2650fps. | |||
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Hodgdon lists only one load for the .338 Federal with 200 grain bullets at 2650...47 grains of IMR-8208 and 60,300 PSI...concurr....the .338 Federal will do this However at the same pressure the 8 X 57 will surpass this.....Hodgdon does not show loads for the 8 X 57 that hot but I'll bet anything someone will be along with the loads...the 8 X 57 has more capacity.....it's going to win this anyday and everyday! Maybe someone with quickload can chime in here... /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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Vectan lists quite comprehensive data for its own powders with various 200 grain bullets: Barnes X, Nosler Partition, Sierra Match King, Speer. Whilst most of the 200 grain loadings are around 2,500fps it does list 2,707fps for the Nosler Partition. Barrel length is given as 24". Normal pressure for the 8x57 is around 56,000 psi. In terms of bullet choice the range is from 125 grain (Hornady #3230) up to 250 grain (Hawk SP). Additionally in Europe the FMJ 7.92x33 Kurz 125grain bullet is available. Or its heavier brother the FMJ 196 grain schweres Spitzgeschoss bullet that - at a nominal 2,500fps muzzle velocity gave the 8x57 its 1,000 yard long range machine gun/sniper potential. I doubt any 338 Federal could achieve that distance performance with any bullet currently available? | |||
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I have QL but I don't load for 8x57. I've posted some of the loads from my 338 Fed in a 22" barrel. Nothing I have is from a book except the Barnes loads which are actually one grain less than max. I managed 2650 with MR2000 powder and the 210 partition. I'm not talking book loads (theory) but actual loads. I believe the 338 Fed and 8x57 are comparable for killing stuff but the 8x57 is not superior. You make it sound 8X57 is much better and that is clearly not the case. | |||
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The .338 Federal is the best cartridge for hunting the two legged Cheetah...  Other than that.....get something else.  /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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 .338 Federal-how is it doing? As far as performance it does just fine. It may not bring anthing to the table that's new****so what. It matters little wither the 8mmx57 is a better cartridge or not that isn't the question . Neither cartridge is going to set any highs in marketing performance in this country.  All though I'd venture to say that there are more 8mmx57s ,NOW, in this country than there will ever be .338 Feds.  Rifles in these calibers will offer fun to those who chose to buy them and play with them but these few only make a small dent in the potential market.  Over the long run I would guess that the popularity of the .338 Federal will fall off about the same as the .358 or faster.JMHO.  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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What centerfire cartridges are most popular with American hunters? I would say 223, 243, 30-30, 270, 308, 30-06, 7mm Remington mag, 300WinMag and .338WinMag, .375H&h, .458magnum for heavy game. The rest are far less popular. I like the 325WSM but none of four local shops had rifle chambered for this cartridge in stock. It would be special order item because none of the managers wanted to keep it on the shelf for "one year" or longer. | |||
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I own a 338 Federal in a Sako 85S. I didn't buy it, rather I won it in a raffle, along with a very nice scope. Consequently, I got what I got. I am planning on taking it to Africa in July 2011. I'll be using it for most of the smaller antelope and I will post how well it performed here. The ballistics clearly don't make it a long range piece, but for shorter ranges it should do well. The real problem the 338 Federal has is the small powder space for an optimum weight 338 bullet. It does really well with 160g and 185g slugs but the long, sleek, aerodynamic 200g and 225g slugs are just too long and there isn't enough powder room to really make them fly. Consequently, I have to wonder what real purpose any cartridge provides when it is limited to light for caliber bullets? Case in Point: The 338 barrel is not a light barrel in comparison to 30 cal or 8mm tube, so a short action cartridge based rifle will be heavier than the same cartridge in 30 cal bore. My Sako has a synthetic stock but that is one heavy rifle. My Mauser 98 in 7x57 has a 24 inch tube, scope, and a synthetic stock and it weighs a LOT less than my 338 Federal. The 338 Federal gun shoots well and two PH's have told me it kills them dead, but if I had to do it again, I would put the money into a 338-06 A-Square rifle. That one does duplicate ballistics of the 318 Westley Richards, which has a wonderful reputation over the past century. Granted, there are some new powders out there, TAC is one of them along with a couple of others that have the potential to really make the 338 Federal sing. Whether they can make it sing like the 318 Westley Richards is another story. RobertD I prefer my fish raw, my meat extra rare, and P.E.T.A on the BBQ. Any questions? (Pork Enhanced Through Alcohol) Endowment Life Member NRA, Life Member CRPA SCI Golden Gate Chapter www.woodpeckings.com | |||
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Hi Robert, The thing about short magnums is, is that all things are short by design - short actions, short magazines and short throats. And so it was actually designed for shorter and lighter bullets. Long bullets have to seated too deep, and so rob valuable powder space in a short case and that is not an ideal situation. So I can understand your point perfectly, especially if that is the only gun you are going to own like the majority of people do. We gun-nuts like to own more. That is why the 338 Fed cannot hold the candle to a .338-06 or the .318 WR. The grand old .318 Westley Richards had a bullet diameter of .330” rather than .318 as the title suggests - this comes of the old British habit of commonly (but by no means universally) naming the cartridge by bore rather than groove diameter. It launched a 250-grain bullet of .330-inch diameter at 2400 fps, won a reputation as one of the finest all-around cartridges for Africa’s medium game. The combo of shooting a high-SD bullet (SD = .328) at moderate velocity was the secret to its success; no other magic; just this plain and simple fact. It is the very same reason why the 7x57 mm and the 9,3x62 mm developed such a loyal following - its moderate velocity combined with high-SD bullets. Both calibers are long-throated and shooting short bullets in them are simply a mismatch. Bullet weight is favoured over velocity in our ballistic system. This recipe ensures slower bullet set-up, higher weight retention and thus more terminal momentum, and the resistance or drag that the bullet encounters in flesh is also lower (drag goes up to the square of velocity), and so this makes for good bullet performance. Warrior | |||
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The best thing to do with a 338 Fed is to make a 2.165" improved case to get close to the 338-06  That would make it on par with the 8x57 and 358 Win.Shooters ability is key here IMHO I think a lighter recoiling 30-06 power cart with a larger bullet diameter is great. If lighter recoil helps you shoot well, great! Is it better for the kill and more macho to ace your shot or shoot a larger cart and not do well. If 338 180's @ 2700 and 225's @ 2450 won't kill it you should step up to the 375 HH/Ruger. Accuracy kills. A well placed 225 grain 338 @ 2,450 kills better than a bad shot with a 338 Win mag. Better is is better does. Better depends on the shooter. If a shooter had a 338 win Mag and reloaded the 338 Fed would be quite desirable. How many of y'all have a 338 Wim Mag? How many would like to carry a 6.5 Lb gun instead of a 9.5 Lb gun? The recoil difference between 225 @ 2450 and 2800 is significant in similar weight gun. A tank recoil break on a light 338 Fed would be intriguing. Anyone want to chop up a 338 Lapua barrel with a tank break on it? Make it 24" long. Like most things when there is so many choices are avaliable it comes down to what floats your boat. Ain't freedom of choice great? Thank god for the 2A and the wisdom of our founders. Damn! Now I want a 338 Lapua tank break barrel attached to a light 338 Win Mag. 577 BME 3"500 KILL ALL 358 GREMLIN 404-375 *we band of 45-70ers* (Founder) Single Shot Shooters Society S.S.S.S. (Founder) | |||
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Actually it's best necked down to .308 caliber.....It shouldn't be hard to find dies and ammo for it then! /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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Now that's harsh.  | |||
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I had no idea that the .338 Federal could be so much fun! /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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Like RobertD, I obtained my 338 Federal by chance. Won a Sako 85S plus a nice scope in a drawing. I'm not usually that lucky. I really like this caliber as it fits a niche in my battery. I had no rifles in between my 264 Win Mag and 375 H&H. Since this 338 Federal is a ballistic twin to a 30/06, I have the gap nicely filled. Sure, the open country out where I live seems to call for something more like a 300 Win Mag, but it's worked fine so far. My 264 WM has for years been my go-to rifle for the Mule Deer out here. But, for Africa, I feel it is a bit light. For that reason, I'll take the 338 Fed and 375 H&H to the RSA next March to hunt Eastern Cape PG. I'm loading 180 gr Accubonds for the 338Fed and 260 gr Accubonds for the 375 H&H. Does this sound like a good plan? Jack Hood DRSS | |||
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I did a hell of allot of homework on the Fed before I had this rifle built up.    But I doubt I will get the chance to use it now. Too many other fingers in too many pies . So if ya live in Oz & are looking, I have this Pre-64.K.I.S.S. | |||
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That is one beautiful rifle. | |||
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No question about it....gorgeous! /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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+1.Luckly the action is long enough that a new buyer could easily have it rechambered to a 338-06.  Barstooler | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles 338 Federal - how is it doing?
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