Hmmmm
If an AR10 can handle the 338 Fed, then it can handle the far superior 358 Win. I would be interested in such a beast!

Dammit, now you tell me...and I JUST built a 338 Federal AR10 last month out of a Rock Creek barrel blank that laid around the shop too long... I did have the forsight to buy a couple bags of 338 Fed brass when it was available, but since I was able to neck up 308 brass to 358 for my BLR, I think I'll be OK doing the same to 338 Fed. BTW, the AR10 is too damded heavy, so I built an AR15 in 458 SOCOM...now THAT one is a neat little pig gun, just doesn't have the trajectory the 338 does.

The AR10's are heavy. My DPMS .338 Federal with a 1-4 Nikon scope weights 10.3 lb's with an empty mag, about the same as my M1A.

I bought a DPMS AR10 lower unit and planned on building a .358 Win upper because I have a BLR in .358 Win but I could not find a barrel so I order the .338 Federal upper from DPMS.

The .458 SOCOM is an awesome round. I have to get mine back from my brother who uses it in Indiana.

I see I'm not the only one that likes these rounds.

I always wonder about these unanswerable questions and WHY they are asked in the first place.

The other "I wonder why..." is about case capacity and necking up/down to make a totally neat "just for kicks" cartridge.

It is very easy to go negative on something "different" and very HARD to get positive many times.

AS anyone who wildcats can see, the 338 Fed case is VERY USEFUL on up to 375 cal. It might not fit YOUR expectations but it will fit SOME ONES.

By the by...I'm skeletonizing a Savage SA in 17 Rem...the only thing wrong is the receiver and 26" Shilen barrel alone weigh 10 lbs...adding in the aluminum frame and AR type stock and pistol grip and 6 rounds bring it up to 11.2 lbs...not very "skeletonized" weight wise. It's nothing but an aluminum bedding block, pistol grip/stock, a bipod and two flat sides for modesty. I'm doing a 375 JDJ and might give it the same treatment before I set the bedding block in a stock..."just for kicks".

Anyone for a 375/338 Fed????......on an AR platform!!! That would really be a whomper with 350 gr Woodleigh's.

If you want a 358 AR10 barrel, send me a blank and I'll make you one. I have the reamer and barrel extensions on hand I think I'll be taking this one apart and fluting the barrel pretty heavily and see if I can't alter the handling a bit...it'll still be heavy though.

quote:

Originally posted by Jgrabow6493:
The AR10's are heavy. My DPMS .338 Federal with a 1-4 Nikon scope weights 10.3 lb's with an empty mag, about the same as my M1A.

I bought a DPMS AR10 lower unit and planned on building a .358 Win upper because I have a BLR in .358 Win but I could not find a barrel so I order the .338 Federal upper from DPMS.

The .458 SOCOM is an awesome round. I have to get mine back from my brother who uses it in Indiana.

I see I'm not the only one that likes these rounds.

The 338 Federal was stillborn, never had a chance and sales are very low..

Why is that? Because the stupid bean counters the factory hires are out of touch with the American rifleman..

I would always chose a .338 Win. and if I needed .338 Fed performance, I would load my .338 down. but I would still have the option to hammer the biggest bear on the Pennensula.

Time will tell but dollars to donuts says its a total failure in the near feature, especially with the ammo crash that's going on and being blamed on panic buying by the ammo companies, but I have never seen panic buying last 3 years, there is something going on and the factorys are making money on it??

I'm going to rebarrel an old pre-81 steel frame BLR to 338 Federal. I think that will be a very handy lighter weight rifle for midwest deer hunting along with hogs. Hell, it'd make a nice rifle for timber elk that would be capable of a 300 yard shot if need be. Guess the 358 would be just as good. In that guise, the 338 Win Mag really isn't an option for the light handy lever action as the full-sized BLR's just don't have that same feel.

Matt,
Well they made the BLR in 358 win. Do you really think a 338 short would improve on that? you just re-invented the wheel. A 358 Win would be much more economical than a conversion IMO.

As to the AR, sorry but I dont' see those guns as viable hunting rifles, tin and plastic will never suit this old curmudgeon..

I do see the AR as a fighting weapon and a good one and prefer it in .223 for all the best reasons. I don't have one but if ever the times require me to have one, I'll probably shoot the first villain at 500 or so yards with my 300 H&H and go get his AR!

quote:

Is the 338 federal dead?

Better yet.....was it ever alive?.....

Ray, agreed on all points, but I just like the idea of the 338 Federal on the BLR...gonna bastardized another one that I bought from Biebs as a barreled action and make that one a 6.5 Creedmoore. I'll have three when done, a 358, 338, and the 6.5.... Yeah the 338 and 358 overlap but what the hell, everything doesn't have to make perfect sense.

And as for the AR stuff, to each his own. I like both steel/wood and a light handling AR too. Accuracy on an AR with a good barrel can be pretty amazing and hell on multiple called in coyotes, or a pack of feral hogs...hope to find out about the hogs at the end of the month.

I just checked mine again 2 weeks ago and it's still alive. I think I'll take it on my next hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
I just checked mine again 2 weeks ago and it's still alive. I think I'll take it on my next hunt.

Scott,
that is a very nice shooting rifle. Very nice and tight, already sighted in about perfectly. I've done a lot of hunting with that diameter and either 2700fps or 2800fps (though in heavier bullets).


It should be able to handle just about anything with that kind of accuracy. If I were offered two rifles, one with your accuracy above and something moving 300fps faster but with a 1.5" group, I'd grab your rifle in a heartbeat.

Just hope it wouldn't need to be used on a buffalo.

Thanks. Not hunting buffalo. I have a free range Axis hunt next week. I was playing around with a 6.5x55 trying to get it to shoot because I thought it would be perfect. Just couldn't get it to shoot in time. Took the 338 Federal out and it shot lights out. I figured I'd save myself any more aggravation and use the 338. I went down 2 clicks so that will put me 2" high at 100 yards and 9" low at 300 yards. Now, I just need to keep buck fever under control and do my part if I get a shot.