Anyone shot the .338 Federal enough to have an opinion on it yet as far as accuracy potential?

i built one on a ruger number one in time for last years fall hunting season. he hasn't said anything except it is accurate. the state of south carolina is now light a half a dozen deer and two hogs by this gun.

Lets see, how many commercial cartridges are based on the 308 Winchester case; 243 Winchester, 7mm/08 and 358 Winchester. They're all known for being accurate so the 338 Federal should be as well. In my opinion, of the new cartridges, the 338 Federal and the 375 Ruger make the most sense.

I had one made on a REM 600 with a 21" Douglas #2 this spring. It is a shooter. I haven't got to use it on an animal yet but I will this year. Here is a group from the original load workups. It is with IMR4895 and Hornady 200gr SPs. Accurate? I'd say so.

I am thinking about building one on Remington's new Mauser 98 action.

Any thoughts on that?

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
I am thinking about building one on Remington's new Mauser 98 action.

Any thoughts on that?

May as well take advantage of the short case with a short action. I'd use an older tang safety short action Ruger or a Sako 57(9). You'll also have a nice stock when you get through. I haven't seen the Rem 98 action, but there are a lot of nice 98's out there that you don't have to buy a new rifle to get. If I wanted a 98 action, I'd find a good FN. But if you go there, you may as well go ahead & build a 338/06 which is also an excellent round. Well... you asked for thoughts .

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
I am thinking about building one on Remington's new Mauser 98 action.

Any thoughts on that?

Unless the short action is in hand, I'd sure be looking for the long action to make a 338-06.

The 338 Federal is definitely for the short action crowd and in particular the lever action bunch like the M99 Savage and 88 Winchester etc.

I'm building one on a 1910 Mex Mauser, seat bullets a little long, should be a nice little thumper.

I can buy a new Rem with there version of the M 98 action already chambered for .308 in a short action for less than $500.00. It has a laminated stock. Basically all I would have to do is re-chamber or re-barrrel it to .338 Fed.

I was planning on getting one of the Rem M-98's in .308 and going thru it with an accurising job and then rebarreling it with a Hart barrel in .338 Fed. I am a .308 Win fan and just wanted a .338 Fed to try. Want to take it to Africa to shoot Leopard and plains game in the brush country along the Zambezi.

Is this a stupid way to go???

Was trying to find a Winchester M-70 FW in one of the .308 based chamberings to build the rifle on but they are difficult to find. Would the M-70 action be better?

Well you've started it now! There are bound to be lot's of admonition that you should only take a CRF to Africa! Having said that, we'll see, but IME it isn't a big deal. The user of the rifle is the most important factor. I think a custom like you are pondering would be just fine for the hunt you described, although I would think something that shoots a little flatter could be desirable for some plains game, where shots can get long, but that is probably overthinking it.

For leopard hunting, which is basically sitting around until the leopard gets on the bait and your PH turns the light on and you pop him at about 100 yards, I think the 338 Federal is just about perfect.

The short action and simplicity of the job you are describing seem to make good sense to me. Also if this new Rem action is CRF, then you silence those issues in the same feel swoop. Good on you--I say go for it just like you described!

The M-98 action is a control fed action.

While on the subject, has anyone looked at these Rem M-98 actions?

There have been several comments, the metal work seems to be about the same as when Charles Daly sold the guns (these are the same guns made in the former Yugoslavia by Zastava and sold as Interarms, Whitworth and Charles Daly)but every post so far has suggested that the stockwork is horrible.

If you do a search by the Remington model number you'll see them for yourself.

Sounds like the long way around... Why not just buy a new Ruger Hawkeye in .338 Fed and be done with it. If I didn't already have a great .358 win, I'd be all over a Hawkeye.

I see no reason to worry about whether or not the .338 Fed is an inheritly accurate cartridge. All the other .308 based rounds do very well.

It will handly take any african game animal that it is legal to be used on. BT

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
While on the subject, has anyone looked at these Rem M-98 actions?

They are the same Zastava action thats been around for quite a while. The stocks apparently are not that nice. Instead of $500 for the new remington 98, I'd buy a used interarms Mark X with the old style floor plate release as the donor. You should be able to find a nice one for around $350.

Btw the interarms mk x and remington 98 short actions are just the standard length action with a spacer in the mag.

IMHO the old 8x57 is a better and more versitle medium bore round than newer .338 fed. but the .338 fed will fit in a true short action. Of course that is of no consequence when using a 98 or clone.

Weagle

The only real usefull platform (IMHO) for the .338 federal is in an ar-10. So we have a limited length action for a limited power cartridge. If you decide to build a bolt action then go with the .338-06.

I think anyone considering any rifle cartridge must first ask what is the application?

What game, what terrain, what max or normal ranges, and what is your acceptable limit, shooting skill and/or potential for the setup, including the shootability (fly weights are often harder to shoot at longer distances, esp. in field w/o rests if not available)., the ctg. but also the sight choices can affect how effective any firearm is in the field.

If I were building a rifle in a Interarms action, I'd likely just go with a 338/06, a great round, and if Ruger offered that round, it would be very logical to get it over the 338 federal in a std length/weight gun.

I see the 338 federal and 358 win as very efficient and effective rounds, in a compact carbine with barrel 19-21". Bolt, lever, even a single shot.

Now one idea for a cheap conversion if someone wants a 338/06, get a 338 Federal in a Ruger #1 A, then rechamber to the longer round. Simple, cost effective, and it will buy you some further range if you need it.

If one is shooting under 300 yds, either 338 or 358 cal on 308 case is entirely adequate in my opinion, the very largest animals i.e. larger bears or dangerous game, perhaps shortening the distance to 200-250. Shot placement and shooting ability will dictate effectivess more than adding horsepower.

I had been looking for a reasonable bolt action (cheap) to build a 358 win on .finally found a bsa 243 in mint condition have sent it of to be rebarreled in the 338 fed round in stead of the 358,soon as i get it back i will let you know how it goes.I chose the 338 over the 358 mainly because i already load for the 338 win mag and have plenty of lighter projectiles in hand.

What a coincidence! Ken Waters built one on the exact BSA gun.....in Oct. 1995 Handloader.

It did well.

What is a BSA?

I believe, as I had an airgun, they are Birmingham Small Arms, mfg in England. A bolt action. It's a short action that has a mag length close to or at 3.00 IIRC.

quote:

Originally posted by 6.5BR:
Now one idea for a cheap conversion if someone wants a 338/06, get a 338 Federal in a Ruger #1 A, then rechamber to the longer round. Simple, cost effective, and it will buy you some further range if you need it.

I've heard that is not possible, since the diameter at the shoulder on .308 is larger than the diameter the same distance from the bolt face in a 30-06 (or derivative) chamber.

Andy

I thought the Model 799 Remington was not true CRF as the 798 is. I am not saying that was one is better than the other, but ,according to the article I read, the short action version used an M-16 style rotating extractor. It looked like alot more of a difference than simply a spacer on the standard action. Is there someone that may be able to elaborate further on the differences between the 799 and 798 Remington (Zastava) action? As far as the 338 Federal goes, I really like the idea, but know would reach for a 358 Win. before I went the 338 route. That being said, I like the idea of still having streamlined 180gr projectiles for lighter game while being able to move up to 250gr pills with high sectional density, if you were wanting to push the enevelope of game pursued.

quote:

Originally posted by BigJakeJ1s:

quote:

Originally posted by 6.5BR:
Now one idea for a cheap conversion if someone wants a 338/06, get a 338 Federal in a Ruger #1 A, then rechamber to the longer round. Simple, cost effective, and it will buy you some further range if you need it.

I've heard that is not possible, since the diameter at the shoulder on .308 is larger than the diameter the same distance from the bolt face in a 30-06 (or derivative) chamber.

Andy

Andy, perhaps this is true, as I am no gunsmith, I would love to hear more from others on this, perhaps it is not an option. I may have made a mistake saying that......thanks for the info.

It's been a long while, but I think Andy is right. I recall rechambering a 308 to 06 some years back & had to back the barrel up to get the chamber to clean up. Memory isn't as good as it used to be. Should be able to just look at the chamber specs & see though.

If your heart is set on a 98 for a .338 Federal, I just happen to have a FN Supreme action in .243 in a fiberglass stock. It is for sale, if interested let me know: it will be cheaper and better than a new Remington 798.

Aaron

Just bought a Winchester M-70 FW in .22-.250 for the project.

If that is a 'claw' style, it will really be nice, love to have one in 260, 338F, and 358, stainless.....

I don't know if you ever seen one in a catalog, but a few years ago there were some 'Custom Shop' guns from Win, in Mannlicher 19" or so, NICE, but Close to 3k $$$$$, if you like that style, it would make a nice 338F, the factory did 260, 708, 308, and 358 IIRC, perhaps 243 as well.

One can build an identical much cheaper I believe. It would resemble a Rem M7 MS, but a better action in my opinion for a hunting rifle.

Not trying to start a rem fan war here mind you, just my tastes, let us know how the rifle turns out, post pics if you can.