6.5BR brought up a great point that I forgot about, and was my original argument on another gun board (even though the arguement fell on deaf bubba ears) on PAPER, given somewhat equal bullet weights, the 338 bullet will have a higher SD vs a 358 bullet.

Now, i'm NO naysayer as far as the .358's go, one of my long standing projects will be a 35 Sambar, or a 358 Yukon(300 RUM shortened to 2.5" case). With the quality bullets/powders available today, I think a short or medium action 35 magnum is the bee's knee's! I even have a lot of respect for the 350 Rem.

And as for the 338-06, I have a lot of respect. On my other shooting board, many of the 'smiths there prefer this round as their numero uno hunting choice. Its a GREAT cartridge....but I think the A-Square/Weatherby Mk V combo killed it. Expensive factory ammo, and very expensive ammo. Now had one of the big boys (Win, Rem, Fed or Hor) had picked up the loading, and Weatherby also offered the Vanguard (which also means Howa) in 338-06, it may have taken off as a great factory round. So many, MANY great rounds have/will fail simply on the ammo/gun combo available to 90% of shooters.

Bump this topic up to prime discussion of the recent article in Handloader about the 338 Federal and the 358 Winchester. What do you guys think about the 338 Federal? It looks like a real thumper with 200 grain bullets.

To the OP, I dropped a nice hog here in LA with none other than a 20" RSI #1 Ruger, 243, slinging the deadly little Barnes X in 85 grain. Had loaded about 8 a few years ago, so in the '06 season I was hunting one evening and having wondered but never used an 'X' bullet, I dropped one in the chamber and perhaps it brought luck, but my first hog ever seen deer hunting stepped out, 270 yds, threw the RSI out the stand window, as I settled the crosshairs and asked my then 9 year old son if he were watching, squeezed just as I settled the Swarovski 6x36 on the shoulder, broadside slightly facing me. From 0- DRT, shot cycle took maybe 3-5 seconds from time the hog stepped out and I dropped it, right there, and it never moved after it dropped.

The bullet went thru shoulder, lungs, clipped bottom edge of spine (they have about 4-5" high hair on top of neck so you have to make sure not to hold too high on this type of shot), and after passing thru off shoulder, stopped under skin, under hide, and my son noticed the bullet. I NEVER expected the bullet to have stayed in the animal. Weighs 100% of the original 85 grains. It surprised me, killing very quickly and I gained an immediate respect and appreciation for the barnes bullets that day.

Oh, load clocked only 3100 mv in that carbine.

SO, my point is for an occasional hunt, it'd be easier, cheaper to buy some premi bullets for any caliber you now shoot, and just place your shot well, and do check your POI as you know any change of bullet could affect sight in.

But, if you DO want something different.....it would be a neat excuse to the Misses to why you NEED to get something New!

I like my 338 Federal and I think it is at it's best with 200 grain bullets. Mine likes the least expensive ones you can buy, Hornady Interlocks and is a very potent combo on deer at practical hunting ranges.

Ok gentlemen what can a .338 Fed do that my 8x57 can’t?

quote:

Originally posted by ColeK:
Ok gentlemen what can a .338 Fed do that my 8x57 can’t?

Fit in a short action.

Big deal! My 8x57 is medium action. What is the dif, 2 or 3 oz?

quote:

Originally posted by sambar02:
I always wanted a358 win in a bolt action,liked the way this round in a BLR handled sambar hunting over hounds.hunted around found a BSA in 243 with a stuffed barrel ,heard bout the 338 federal thought why not.new stainless 338 fed barrel fitted and away i went .Using 200grn handloads what a dream if its within 250 metres its dead.easy to load easy to shoot.I have other rifles i use 30/06 308 303 epps 300win mag 338 win mag 375HH mag 45/70 on a siameese mauser .The 338 fed is the rifle that goes with me most days.

Pretty much why I got one. I'd been thinking about a 338/08 in a compact rifle for Deer. Then Federal and Ruger help me out by chambering it as a factory option.
Time will tell how well it does...

Just HAD to dig into my pocket for a coupla cents...

I see the same pattern in this discussion as .308 v. .30-06. This should be no surprise...

I've always wondered why the .338-06 didn't become more popular. The point about the gun availability and A-Square being the one whose name is on the cartridge I think is a valid point.
Another for sure is that there is the .338WM.
An analogy would be the 8mm-06: I have NEVER seen one. Then again, with the 8x64 and 8x68S on the market, why would I ever?

When the .338F came out I was most excited! Finally a sensible development with heavier bullets and not of the velociphile school.
Alas, this was not the case. The factory ammo seems to be loaded with not too heavy bullets, and velocity seems to be of essence, thus increasing the recoil. I see little reason for this (being of the other school).

However, I do see the cartridge's place for sure.
It's a modernized 8x57 that fits into the short action. This I see as a real benefit. The point was brought home to me by the Sako 75 which I handled in .30-06 and .308. The .30-06 felt heavy, long and cumbersome; like an oar. The .308, in turn, felt almost like a pistol. It was light, handy, well balanced. Later I read Bell's book and how he described his .256 Rigby was indeed reminiscent of my feelings about the .308.
Then again, one used to the longer action will probably not see this as any benefit, and also in the case of the factory .338 loads it's not necessarily a benefit as the recoil is greater in a lighter rifle.

The major benefit(s) of the .338-06 over the .338F is as far as I can see the same as that of the .30-06 over the .308: more range if needed, and heavier bullets can be used at more meaningful velocities. But no need to top up the case with powder, so a lightly recoiling .338-06 load is easy to make, no? And you still have capacity "in the back pocket" if needed. Less so with the .338F, I'm afraid.

What additionally speaks for the .338F is for sure better factory rifle availability as well as factory loads - the number of both is lower, though, than I would have expected by now.
Still, with the current choice I don't really believe it'll die out in 5 years!

I also second the opinions of bullet availability for the .338 which makes it a dandy choice, indeed.
Rather heavy bullets can be used in the .338F as has been witnessed by the 8x57, although they are of course not for long range use. The Sako load in these two is a very close match, and RWS's load of the 8x57 is an even closer match. This does verify the usefulness and versatility of the .338F. Just look at the track record of the 8x57! Now we have a more modern cartridge with excellent bullet choice that can be built into the short action.
Now, in Europe there is a wonderful choice of 8mm (.323) bullets, and availability is no problem. In the U.S. on basis of what I've understood it's not necessarily so. Therefore, in the U.S., my choice would be the .338F over the 8x57.

But anyone using bullets of less weight than 200grs in the .338F - why not then go .308? This I really don't understand at all.

Lastly I cannot help but to say that in my opinion, the .338F didn't really bring anything new to the table. I just see it as a modernized 8x57. And if someone asks me why it needed to be modernized, I have no response.