.338 Federal Should Be Here Shortly

[DrMike]

My .338 Federal should be finished shortly. I picked up a Leica 4.5-14X44 to set on the rifle when it gets here. I am in a serious predicament, however, as I have a Zeiss Diavari 3-9X36 that has no rifle to sit atop. There is also a Featherweight stock (long action) that is unused. I'm weighing a build for an 8X68S or a .257 Bob. If the latter, I could sell my CDL and the 3-9X40 Conquest to help pay for things, and to simplify matters. If the former, it would be a fun build, though it would essentially duplicate ballistics of the 325WSM. I have also weighed building a .284 Winchester. In the long action, I would be able to load it out to gain some pretty interesting ballistics. Regardless of what comes down the pike, I should have the .338 Federal to tag a black bear yet this spring. The first reports of bears moving around are coming in, so I need to get moving.

 

[JD338]

Mike,

Sounds like a nice rig, perfect for a nice black bear.
Are you going to try the 210 gr PT?

JD338

 

[6mm Remington]

Very nice Mike. Our spring bear season opens here on the 15th. I do believe I need to get out!

 

[DrMike]

The 210 grain Partition is one of the first bullets on my list to try. I'm working on some loads this coming week for several rifles, and that one will get my first attention. I'll post pictures as soon as I get the rifle home. It is being Teflon coated this week. The primary delay is the fact that the Dawson Creek gun show is going on this weekend, which slows down all such work.

 

[R Flowers]

Mike, you and I agree on most things as far as I can tell on this forum. However, I would not even consider putting a 4.5 X 14 power scope on a 338 Federal. Seems much to much power to me.

I have more 4.5 X 14 power scopes than I want to admit, but on a .338 Federal I would like a 2.5 X 8 Leupold, or maybe a 3.5 X 10 Leupold or even the new 3 X9 VXR, I don't know, but not a 4.5 X 14.

My own 338 Win Mag wears a 2.5 X 8 Leupold and I see no reason to change.

Again, I love 4.5 X 14 scopes, I have a bunch, but I like the 2.5 X 8 on my 7-08, my 338 Win Mag, my 375 H&H, you get the picture.

 

[DrMike]

It happens to be one of the two scopes I have free right now. Ergo, it will go on the rifle just so I can get going. The other reason is that I have not tried Leica scopes, and I want to use it. As I said, I may be doing another build shortly, and if so, there will likely be a dance of scopes as the rearrangement syndrome strikes. :grin:

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have a Kahles 3-9x42 on my .338 Federal, Sako 85. Proportionately, they seem made for each other and give me fine accuracy and scope clarity. DrMike, whatever you decide will work, I am sure for you just fine.

I am also sure that you will enjoy the caliber once you settle in with some good loads.

 

[IdahoCTD]

It doesn't take much to improve the 8x68 greatly. Although you lose some nostalgia it would equal the 8mm Rem mag. Just a idea.

 

[DrMike]

IdahoCTD, I'm way ahead of you on that score. As is, the 8X68 is nipping at the heels of the 8mm RM. I just think working with the cartridge will be fun.

Charlie, I need all the help I can get in optics. As I've often said, I'm hunting by braille now. :mrgreen:

 

[6mm Remington]

Mike I never even saw in your first post about the scope being a Leica! That is way cool. I got to look through one at a range day last fall and they are amazing optics. I hope they continue making them as we all know Leica makes some good stuff!
David

 

[IdahoCTD]

IdahoCTD, I'm way ahead of you on that score. As is, the 8X68 is nipping at the heels of the 8mm RM. I just think working with the cartridge will be fun.

Charlie, I need all the help I can get in optics. As I've often said, I'm hunting by braille now. :mrgreen:

It's hard to beat RWS brass too. The down side is the weird bolt face size, between a .308 size and a magnum.

 

[widgeon]

Very exciting DrMike.
It does seem that the magnification on your Leica might be better suited to a flatter shooting cartridge, but I certainly understand the marriage of a fine rifle with a brilliant optics.
Can't wait to see the finished product and follow your load development.

As for your next project, I vote for the .257 Bob, as that is on my short list.

 

[JD338]

Mike,

The 210 gr PT won't disappoint. It is somewhat mystical and will dirt nap the biggest of black bears pronto.
Good choice Mike.

JD338

 

[Oldtrader3]

Wow, my post did not make it on the board again.

DrMike, I am about as bad between my hearing, cataracts (which they mostly fixed to astigmatism) and shot lungs. My oldest son will feel sorry for me about once a year and take me hunting for one day. Son number two avoids the subject and tells me I am "done for and burned out", despite the fact that I can still outshoot him.

Being old is a boor! However, I still think that some day I will have at least one more elk hunt left in me before I sell my .340 Bee and give up. At least I have the .338 Federal for local brush hunting and the more I use this rifle, the better I like it.

Let me know how you are doing with it once you have some time enough to draw an opinion. Good luck with the scope issue. I hope that you find something that works well for you.

 

[DrMike]

I suspect that I won't witness a great deal of difference in effective killing power between the .338 Federal and my .358 Winchester. Shooting 200 grain TSX, the .358 does a surprisingly fine job of "thwacking" game. I'm reworking my load for this rifle, however, to use a heavier cup-and-core bullet (225 Sierra). If I ever lay hands on the 200 grain AccuBonds, I will likely see what I can do with them. I do not doubt that the 210 grain Partition will perform yeoman service in the Federal. I think it will be a fine black bear rifle. As to the future, I have a .257 Bob, but to build one might be nice. On the 8X68S, I agree about RWS brass. I have quite a bit of 9.3X64 Brenneke brass for that build, which I hope to have by this fall. The brass certainly has a good reputation, and I expect it will fulfill my expectations. The bolt face on the 8X68 is weird, but I don't anticipate any particular problems I move that direction. It is almost as much fun planning a build as actually using it.

 

[IdahoCTD]

It is almost as much fun planning a build as actually using it.

Sometimes more so.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have a Bob also that I have not shot yet, but soon. I put a Conquest 2.5-8x32 on it and it is ready to go with loads and all. Staph Aureus pnemonia is all that is stopping me now.

The .338 Federal should be the same as the .358 or nearly twins. My .338 Fed. shoots the 210 Partitions pretty well at about 2560 fps and will only lose about 100 yards to the .338 Win Mag. I am confident that it will suffice for local woods hunting.

 

[SJB358]

It happens to be one of the two scopes I have free right now. Ergo, it will go on the rifle just so I can get going. The other reason is that I have not tried Leica scopes, and I want to use it. As I said, I may be doing another build shortly, and if so, there will likely be a dance of scopes as the rearrangement syndrome strikes. :grin:

Mike, I have a great idea. I could "try" the Leica out for you on my 264 and you could put the Conquest on the 338F... See, that would kill two birds with one stone... I promise to give a full field report as well!

Oh and that 8x68 S sounds too cool Mike. That really kinda gets me a little giddy. I know we spoke of it before and man, that would be a super rifle.. Again, once you get it built, I would be more than willing to field test and "break in" anything for you. I know how your time is consumed these days! :twisted:

 

[BK]

Wow, what a giver!

 

[DrMike]

As I've mentioned before, such generosity simply overwhelms me. I get positively giddy, I get the vapors, I get ... oh, that's the flu. Scotty, it's not a Conquest that is free, it is a Diavari. In any case, I'll likely do some switching around. I have a VX-L on my 7WSM, and I may pull it off and put it up for sale and place the Leica on the 7WSM. Ah, yes, decisions. I think the 8X68S will be built; it is only a question of when. I hope to post some pictures this week of the 338 Federal.