338 Federal 180 gr AB

[JD338]

Here is an interesting video clip on the terminal performance of the 338 Federal with the 180 gr AB. Pretty impressive.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/lin ... 1184861568

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

Thanx for the link Jim. ! :grin:

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

NICE.
That's why I want to get a .338 federal.....for my daughter.....

 

[6ppcar]

Every time i see something on the 338 Federal with a 180 gr. bullet i always ask the same question. How can the 338 Federal be that much better than the 308 Win with the same bullet weight? I know there's 30 thousand's more bullet dia. for the powder gases to push on , but is it really any better. To me the 338 cal. starts to shine when the bullets weigh 200 and above.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the .338 federal push a 180gr bullet at about the same velocity that a .308 throws a 150gr bullet?

 

[JD338]

Every time i see something on the 338 Federal with a 180 gr. bullet i always ask the same question. How can the 338 Federal be that much better than the 308 Win with the same bullet weight? I know there's 30 thousand's more bullet dia. for the powder gases to push on , but is it really any better. To me the 338 cal. starts to shine when the bullets weigh 200 and above.

I tend to agree with you, the .308 cal has a higher SD and BC than the .338 cal. The larger frontal area of the .338 cal is the only advantage but would be better utilized with more bullet weight.
The .338 really shines with the 225 gr and 250 gr bullets.

I posted the video clip for all of us terminal ballistic junkies to see an AccuBond in action. :lol:

JD338

 

[edh]

The 338 Federal will push a 180 at 30-06 velocities, ~100 fps faster than a 308.

You are correct in thinking that the real advantage of the 338 Federal lies in being able to use .338 diameter 200 and 225 grain bullets. The 225 has a better SD (.281) and roughly the same BC as a .308 diameter 180 grain.

Ed

 

[6ppcar]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the .338 federal push a 180gr bullet at about the same velocity that a .308 throws a 150gr bullet?

I don't think so, the top velocity for the 338 federal with the 180 gr. AccuBond is 2728 fps. with Tac. powder, this according to the load data on page 465 of the new Nosler #6.
Load data for the 308 150 gr. shows top vel. of 3001 fps. with Varget.
Top vel. from 308 and the 180 gr. bullet is 2718 fps with IMR. 4064.

 

[buckfever]

If all you want to shoot is 180 gr bullets the 338 Federal is not the cartride. the 308 would be better the 308 AB bc is 507 and the 338 is only 372. The 308 is going just as fast at 400 yards as the 338 is at 300. better stick with 200 grs or higher if your going to hunt withe the 338 federal.

 

[6ppcar]

If all you want to shoot is 180 gr bullets the 338 Federal is not the cartride. the 308 would be better the 308 AB bc is 507 and the 338 is only 372. The 308 is going just as fast at 400 yards as the 338 is at 300. better stick with 200 grs or higher if your going to hunt withe the 338 federal.

+1 very well said.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

6ppc: The .308 is a great cartrige. I own two of them. I've always considered 150gr bullet at 2750 to be the nominal load for a .308. As a matter of fact, that is Nato spec. My older Hornady book shows 2800 to be the top load with 150gr in a .308, and the velocities you quote as the top in a 30.06. As a long range competition shooter, I imagine you've loaded a whole lot more .308 then me, and and are probably much more up on the new powders for the .308 such as TAC. The .308 is a well established cartidge, and with it's maximum well rung out. I'm guessing there a whole lot more potential to discover in the .338 federal. Here's an example Barnes showes the top load for a 30.06 with 180 at 2799. The top load for a 185 in a .338.06 is 2898. You can do similar comparisons between the 22.250 and the .243. .243 and 7mm-08, 7mm.08 and .308, ect. Typically with similar bullets weights, there's something to be gained with the larger diameter caliber. Since I'm considering a DPMS rifle, all the reasons you quote make a good excuse to buy a second upper in .308, :? and maybe a third one in .260 :grin: and a 4th one in 7mm-08 8)

 

[FOTIS]

If all you want to shoot is 180 gr bullets the 338 Federal is not the cartride. the 308 would be better the 308 AB bc is 507 and the 338 is only 372. The 308 is going just as fast at 400 yards as the 338 is at 300. better stick with 200 grs or higher if your going to hunt withe the 338 federal.

I also agree. 200 grains plus. If you're gonna use 180 gr might as well go with 30 cal with better sectional density.

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

6ppcar, your earlier post got me thinking, and inspired me to order the new Nosler #6. Excluding my Barnes book (and barnes bullets are a little different) I didn't realize how long it had been since I had a new Manuel.
In the .308 it has 150 over 3000, 165 over 2900, and 180 over 2700, All very impressive. These are all listed fm a 24" bbl. I'll don't know if I'll be able to approach these in my L1A1, but i'd sure be interested to hear what you do with that new 26" tack driver of your.