338 Federal

03 September 2010, 06:02

mikethebear

338 Federal

Guy wants to sell me a ruger 338 federal. Is the ammo hard to get? Two boxes at the place I usually shop, and 40 bucks a box. Midway seems to have cheaper brand or loadings anyway. Anybody think it will stick around? How easy to make from 308 or 358 winchester?

03 September 2010, 06:53

Idaho Sharpshooter

IMHO, stock up on brass now if you do buy. Easiest to neck down, you don't run the risk of stretching the case mouth unevenly. Of course, making it from commonly available 7x57 might be preferable.

Rich

03 September 2010, 06:54

vapodog

quote:
Anybody think it will stick around?

Not I.....

As to ammo.....necking down .358 brass should be a cake walk.....necking up .308 brass ....same thing.....I wouldn't worry about ammo or it's cost.....it's just a easy thing to make!

03 September 2010, 11:53

Antelope Sniper

It may stick around in the oversized AR platform, but there are just too many better options for it to remain a significant player in the bolt market.

03 September 2010, 15:10

Geedubya

for what it's worth, not trying to be offensive, or start an argument, but if someone gave me anything in 338 federal, I'd sell it if I could and buy something worthwhile.
I reload for 55+ different chamberings. Two that I will never own again are the 338 federal and the 243 WSSM.
GWB

03 September 2010, 20:59

Captain Finlander

First let me just state how upset I am at how quickly the gun manufacturers adopted this cartridge. I have been waiting for decades for the 338-06 to become a factory option but it is still floundering in the shadows. That being said, I suppose that this cartridge will last because there is a growing market for this case length right now. It seems as though the AR crowd is using it in their platform which will give it a home for some time to come.

As far as it's effectiveness, it kills but I am not a fan. I am not a fan of any 308 case necked up. Necking this case down produces awesome stuff, IE: 243, 260, 7mm-08 etc... The only reason I see to go bigger is to gain more energy. Look at all the african stuff. Once they broke over the .375 they needed the magnum cases but that is just my opinion.

05 September 2010, 07:55

Tapper2

I like the.338 Fed. It's place is in the hands of someone who is somewhat recoil sensitive and wants a lightr gun that is capable of taking most N.A. game. The only N.A. game I wouldn't use it on is the large brown bears. I have built several, one was used by a women to take a 62" moose at 185 yrds., one shot. I was there when a client of Kalihari Hunting Safaris took a Gemsbuck at 505 yrds., one shot. I probably wouldn't have taken the shot but he was confident and made the shot. I have built one with a tight twist (1-9) to shoot the heavier .338 bullets. It shoots 225 and 250 grain bullets under MOA @ 100 yards. The 225 at 2400 fps. seems to be the best for speed and energy. It's not long range gun, but for normal hunting ranges it is just fine.....Tom

05 September 2010, 08:47

N E 450 No2

Well, the Gun Companies have been trying for YEARS to give hunters good medium bore cartridges...

Not in any particular order...
The 33 Win the 348 Win, the 35 Rem, the 35 Win, the 358Win, the 350 Rem Mag, the 35 Whelen, the 338/06, the 356 Win, and the 338 Federal, I have probably left a few out...

None have been a big commercial success.

It is a PITY, as some of them are GREAT hunters cartridges...

But they fall short in the "PERCEVED, NEED FOR SPEED".

I thought that the 338 Federal might make it, because it is loaded with light for calibre bullets that have the "speed"...

But IMHO, the beauty of a medium bore is a heavy for caliber bullet, that has "thump, whack, and deep penetration...

Baised on my use of the 9,3x74R [I did have a 350 Rem Mag once, and shot deer and turkeys with it, it is an excellent cartridge], I think that these non Magnum Medium Bore cartridges are great cartridges for the "hunter".

For a bolt rifle the 9,3x62 just might be the best of all.

With the right bullet I would not be afraid to hunt even the largest bears with a 338 Federal, 358 Win, 350 Rem Mag, or a 35 Whelen.

But it would be a heavy for calibre bullet.

05 September 2010, 17:20

<Mike McGuire>

quote:
Originally posted by Geedubya:
for what it's worth, not trying to be offensive, or start an argument, but if someone gave me anything in 338 federal, I'd sell it if I could and buy something worthwhile.
I reload for 55+ different chamberings. Two that I will never own again are the 338 federal and the 243 WSSM.
GWB

And if you could sell it to me you could claim the title of the world's greatest salesman

05 September 2010, 19:03

vapodog

quote:
Originally posted by Mike McGuire:
quote:
Originally posted by Geedubya:
for what it's worth, not trying to be offensive, or start an argument, but if someone gave me anything in 338 federal, I'd sell it if I could and buy something worthwhile.
I reload for 55+ different chamberings. Two that I will never own again are the 338 federal and the 243 WSSM.
GWB

And if you could sell it to me you could claim the title of the world's greatest salesman

Now go get those daggers back that you just threw at Scottfromdallas.....he's bleeding bad!

05 September 2010, 21:11

Geedubya

No malice intended towards others that like the chambering.
My opinion and three bucks will get you a "tall" coffee at Starbucks, or a couple at waffle house (better clientele as most of the waitress there have "Sommer teeth", some are there and some are not

).
GWB

06 September 2010, 00:49

Captain Finlander

quote:
Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
Well, the Gun Companies have been trying for YEARS to give hunters good medium bore cartridges...

Not in any particular order...
The 33 Win the 348 Win, the 35 Rem, the 35 Win, the 358Win, the 350 Rem Mag, the 35 Whelen, the 338/06, the 356 Win, and the 338 Federal, I have probably left a few out...

None have been a big commercial success.

It is a PITY, as some of them are GREAT hunters cartridges...

But they fall short in the "PERCEVED, NEED FOR SPEED".

I thought that the 338 Federal might make it, because it is loaded with light for calibre bullets that have the "speed"...

But IMHO, the beauty of a medium bore is a heavy for caliber bullet, that has "thump, whack, and deep penetration...

Baised on my use of the 9,3x74R [I did have a 350 Rem Mag once, and shot deer and turkeys with it, it is an excellent cartridge], I think that these non Magnum Medium Bore cartridges are great cartridges for the "hunter".

For a bolt rifle the 9,3x62 just might be the best of all.

With the right bullet I would not be afraid to hunt even the largest bears with a 338 Federal, 358 Win, 350 Rem Mag, or a 35 Whelen.

But it would be a heavy for calibre bullet.

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought it was only ammo MFGR's that provided the 338-06 but, as yet, has not ever had a factory chambering. A-Square & Weatherby both produced ammo but failed to see any logic in chamboring any of their rifles for it. When Remington introduced its new M700 it also introduced the 7mm rem mag to go along with it. What good would it have been if they just produced one without the other.

06 September 2010, 01:22

Grenadier

I once owned a BLR in .308 Win. I was very pleased with the rifle and how it shot but I thought it would be nice to have something with a little more punch. So, I purchased a BLR in .358 Win. To my dismay the .358 recoil in the BLR was intense. I decided to have the .308 rebored to .338 Fed. The result was a very good shooting rifle with a downrange thump similar to the .358 while producing just a little more recoil then the .308. It's a great cartridge. After a short time I sold the rifle. Limited ammo selection and lack of availability, even from internet and mail order, were the main issues.

06 September 2010, 05:54

DM

quote:
Originally posted by Captain Finlander:

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought it was only ammo MFGR's that provided the 338-06 but, as yet, has not ever had a factory chambering. A-Square & Weatherby both produced ammo but failed to see any logic in chamboring any of their rifles for it. When Remington introduced its new M700 it also introduced the 7mm rem mag to go along with it. What good would it have been if they just produced one without the other.

You are wrong, there WERE some factory rifles built and sold in .338-06 chambering.

DM

06 September 2010, 05:56

RobertD

One reason the 338-06 didn't fly like an eagle is A-Square and Weatherby brought it out - no major gun companies and no major ammo companies. If A-square got a major rifle company and ammo company involved. it would have been quite different.

The 338 Federal is great if you like light for caliber bullets; most bullet companies have told me that it pretty much runs out of steam at 200g. Seems to be right from what I have learned from loading it.

06 September 2010, 07:53

<Mike McGuire>

quote:
Originally posted by RobertD:
One reason the 338-06 didn't fly like an eagle is A-Square and Weatherby brought it out - no major gun companies and no major ammo companies. If A-square got a major rifle company and ammo company involved. it would have been quite different.

The 338 Federal is great if you like light for caliber bullets; most bullet companies have told me that it pretty much runs out of steam at 200g. Seems to be right from what I have learned from loading it.

But Remington did 35 Whelen and I think Ruger might have done a limited run.

A lot of shooters resist "more power" as in 300 RUM because ammo is not around like 300 Win. But here we have the "more power", that is, the 338 Win being the one that is readily available.

Why would the average shooter want less velocity than the 338 Winchester and also suffer inconvenience. A losing formula

07 September 2010, 03:40

dwheels

I don't think it will last. Maybe out of a tree stand or other short range situations. There is too much open country here to handicap myself with this caliber.

08 September 2010, 05:58

RobertD

I spoke with a gun shop proprietor a few weeks ago and he mentioned that the short action magnums are not selling. Folks are still buying the 300 Win Mag instead of the shorty 300's. I was surprised to hear this but I suppose it makes sense when you think about it.

09 September 2010, 04:16

scottfromdallas

quote:
Originally posted by vapodog:
quote:
Originally posted by Mike McGuire:
quote:
Originally posted by Geedubya:
for what it's worth, not trying to be offensive, or start an argument, but if someone gave me anything in 338 federal, I'd sell it if I could and buy something worthwhile.
I reload for 55+ different chamberings. Two that I will never own again are the 338 federal and the 243 WSSM.
GWB

And if you could sell it to me you could claim the title of the world's greatest salesman

Now go get those daggers back that you just threw at Scottfromdallas.....he's bleeding bad!

I'm digging the daggers out of my back! I happen to like it. I can get 2650 with all 200 grain bullets I've tested. I can get 2800 with 185 TTSX. Seems like good performance to me. I've necked up 338 Lapua brass with no issues and there is an abundance of 338 bullets out there. I don't think there is a whole lot not to like.

It's no 8mm Mauser. Right Vapodog?

09 September 2010, 05:30

fgulla

Is the 338 fed needed ? No, but who really NEEDS most of the cartridges out there????? For 99% of the hunting out there it will do, and do fine.

I think most people get caught up in numbers, Has anyone seen the artic grizz the guy shot with a 6.8 spc out of a mini? One shot, and one dead grizz, am i saying this is a dangerous game cartridge? No, but really hunting, instead of shooting animals at hundreds of yards, counts for a lot.

Whats this have to do with the .338fed? Well it will kill great out to 300yds thats about 150yds more than most will shoot their game animal.

I dont have a 338 fed but i wouldnt hesitate to buy one and hunt with utter confidence.....just my 2

09 September 2010, 05:36

vapodog

quote:
Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
I can get 2650 with all 200 grain bullets I've tested.
It's no 8mm Mauser. Right Vapodog?

I just came from the range where I fired my (this years) elk rifle.....a .35 Whelen.....I fired a 225 grain partition and was happy to achieve 2,700 FPS....and I consider it a full 250 yard rifle.....

The numbers you just posted are in fact right there with my Whelen.....I'd take it elk hunting any day..... Too bad it's not in a Winchester M-100!

09 September 2010, 05:51

22WRF

I don't think its so much the cartridge, as it is the ability to put it into a lightweight rifle using a short action.

That tiny little Kimber with the plastic stock in .338 Federal weighs about 5.5 pounds. Nice mountain type rifle!

10 September 2010, 04:50

scottfromdallas

quote:
Originally posted by vapodog:
quote:
Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
I can get 2650 with all 200 grain bullets I've tested.
It's no 8mm Mauser. Right Vapodog?

I just came from the range where I fired my (this years) elk rifle.....a .35 Whelen.....I fired a 225 grain partition and was happy to achieve 2,700 FPS....and I consider it a full 250 yard rifle.....

The numbers you just posted are in fact right there with my Whelen.....I'd take it elk hunting any day..... Too bad it's not in a Winchester M-100!

You'll be happy to know I'm actually purchasing a CZ 550 FS in 9.3x62.....just in case I need more juice. I swear, after this...I'm done.

10 September 2010, 15:30

Captain Finlander

quote:
I swear, after this...I'm done.

Famous last words!

10 September 2010, 15:51

vapodog

quote:
Originally posted by Captain Finlander:
quote:
I swear, after this...I'm done.

Famous last words!

Ain't that the truth.....I said that twenty guns ago!

10 September 2010, 17:14

Hot Core

It is a darn shame they didn't use a 0.020" wider Bullet in the 338Fed.