338 Federal Ammunition

[KeezParrot]

Hello;

I've been reading the forums here for a while and enjoying them. By way of introduction I have been hunting for 43 years now and the sport has given me much satisfaction and enjoyment over the years.

I have something to throw out on this new 338 Federal he cartridge that I would like some feedback on. I wrote the product support people at Federal and told them that I had been hearing from various sources that the 338 Federal was using 338 caliber bullets designed for the velocities of the 338 magnum and thus proper bullet performance couldn't be expected from the 338 Federal with these same bullets. The response was pretty interesting:

"I'm not sure where they get that idea?

The bullets are actually custom made to work for this caliber. The
Nosler and Barnes bullets are tested at 50 yds to 300 yds. In various
ballistic media to ensure proper expansion and penetration at the
various distances and velocities.

Various writers and employees have taken game at point blank ranges and
there have been multiple elk taken at 350-400+ yards."

This would seem to indicate that both Nosler and Barnes have redesigned 338 bullets specifically for the 338 Federal. Am I reading this wrong or has Nosler designed a 338 Partition specifically for the 338 Federal? if so, how does this change opinions on this caliber?

Thanks for any feedback.

KeezParrot

 

[edh]

Let's take a look at the numbers.

Nosler recommends a minimum velocity for reliable expansion of 1800 fps for the Partitions and 1600 fps for Accubonds.

The 338 Federal with the 210 Partition delivers 1820 fps/1545 ft lbs at 400 yards and 1648 fps/1266 ft lbs at 500 yards.

The 338 Federal with the 180 AccuBond delivers 1926 fps/1482 ft lbs at 400 yards and 1732 fps/1199 ft lbs at 500 yards.

Using remaining energy, remaining velocity, and the commonly used figures of 1500 ft lbs minimum for elk and 1000 ft lbs minimum for deer the 338 Federal is a 400 yard elk/deer cartridge using Partitions and a 400 yard elk/500 yard deer cartridge using Accubonds.

The 338 Winchester Magnum with a 210 AccuBond(Federal Premium load) delivers 1980 fps/1827 at 400 yards and 1794 fps/1500 ft lbs at 500 yards. The 338 Magum is a 500 yard elk cartridge.

For a real eye opener, lets toss in the Remington 8mm Magnum as loaded by Remington with a 200 gr A-Frame (1800 fps min. per Swift). The 8mm Mag delivers 1885 fps/1577 ft lbs at 400 yards and 1672 fps/1241 ft lbs at 500 yards. The 8mm Mag is, as factory loaded, a 400 yard elk cartridge.

I have a Sako 85 in 338 Federal topped with a Leupold 6X42 FXIII. I'll be working up a load this spring and summer based on the 200 gr AccuBond. The main use will be elk hunting in northwestern Washington.

I think there are a lot of shooters out there seeking "male enhancement" through their magums that are afraid to admit how capable the 'little' 338 Federal really is. :wink:

Ed Hackett

 

[edh]

I just talked to the good folks at Nosler and confirmed that there is no difference in bullet construction for the 338 Federal. The bullets are supplied with a cannelure, so it is true that the bullets are custom supplied to Federal. The difference is to faclitate manufacturing at Federal and nothing to do with performance.

I also see that in rereading my first post, that my last comment could be taken as a slam to those who shoot and enjoy magnum calibers. That was not my intention at all. If anyone was put off by my comment, I am sorry.

I am quite sensitive to recoil, especially muzzle blast. Efficiency is the fisrt thing that I look for in a cartridge (my other hunting rifle is a 7mm-08). The 338 Federal was a gift from heaven for me as I limit my shots to 300 yards. It still kicks more than a 7mm Mag.

Ed Hackett

 

[FOTIS]

ED:

I agree on pretty much everything except for this statement:

The 338 Magum is a 500 yard elk cartridge.

Ed Hackett

As far as numbers go I guess...... yeah........... ok.......
However in real life this is really stretching things. If I only had a 500 yard shot on an elk and had to take it (I do not know why I had to--just hypothetical) I would definately use some other cartridge. Not the 338 Win.

 

[su35]

For 500 yard plus shots on elk.....Thats the reason I own a 338 and shoot
250 Partitions. Anything past 400 yards turrets are needed and I use them.

I wouldnt want any other cartridge to do the job. Sure don't need anything bigger and don't not want anything smaller.

The 338 will punish and finish the job 500 and more.

 

[Jeff Olsen]

I am quite sensitive to recoil, especially muzzle blast. Efficiency is the fisrt thing that I look for in a cartridge (my other hunting rifle is a 7mm-08). The 338 Federal was a gift from heaven for me as I limit my shots to 300 yards. It still kicks more than a 7mm Mag.

Ed Hackett

Us .358 guys have known this for a while now!

I can't imagine how the 338 Fed could kick more than the .358 and I wouldn't say my .358 kicks more than a 7-mag... but that would all be very rifle-dependant, I suppose. The heavier bullet of the .358 kicks differently than a 7-mag, but not more.

-jeff

 

[JD338]

edh,

You are spot on. No worries with bullet performance if you are within the designed impact velocity range.

The 338 Win Mag can handle elk at 500 yds, but the 338 RUM does it with authority. :wink:

JD338

 

[edh]

Jeff, you know that the 358 Winchester is an old cartridge. It can't possibly be of any use today. :wink:

Here are some recoil numbers that I pulled off of chuckhawks.com

338 Federal 210gr@2630 8 lb. rifle: 24.0 ft. lbs.
358 Winchester 200gr@2600 8 lb rifle: 22.8 ft. lbs.
7mm Rem Mag 150gr@3110 8.5 lb. rifle: 21.7 ft. lbs.

My Sako with the 6X42 is 7.75 lbs. and has the typical somewhat hard, european style recoil pad. At any rate, a Kimber 84 Montana would not be my first choice for ths cartridge!

Ed