338 Federal

[DrMike]

I continue to work at break-in with my 338 Federal I had built. Yesterday, I was at the range working with a couple of 300 Weatherbys and a 300 WSM. Between shots, I continued to throw a few shots downrange. This is what the rifle is doing with Factory ammunition (200 grain Federal Fusions). It's about good enough to hunt. Hopefully, I'll be able to get on track for some load development this coming week.

 

[SJB358]

WOW! Very nice Mike. I would say it is ready for the big time right there! Great shooting, I know that rifle has to make you smile!

 

[CatskillCrawler]

It's about good enough to hunt.

I think you're selling this combo a bit short! Nice shooting DM.

I'm very interested to see more examples of what the Fusions will do on heavy boned game. Federal keeps touting them as a deer bullet but the elk cow taken by a 225gr Fusion from a 338WM was a complete pass-thru catching the back of the far shoulder blade. Maybe you can add more to this data with some real world results?? :wink:

 

[DrMike]

I'll likely be loading PTs for this. However, if there are any Fusions left over when moose opens in August or when elk opens in September, I may take a poke at one with this rifle.

 

[DrMike]

I measured 0.64 inches, which isn't bad for factory ammunition in a rifle with less than twenty rounds through it. Velocity wasn't bad--~2660 fps.

 

[Oldtrader3]

DrMike, your .338 Federal groups look about like mine with the Fusion 200 grain factory loads. For 3-shot groups I am running 3/4's MOA or better. Velocity is 2680 in my 22 inch Sako. I get about 2700+ from the 200 Hornady interbond handloads and 2570 from the 210 Partitions with IMR 4064. I am going to do some more work on the 225 Partitions because then I will have one bullet for both it and the .340 Bee. Hopefully, I can get close to 2500 fps with the 225 gr PT's. That would be a good woods load.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

DM - that barrel has potential. A lot of it considering it's going to be spitting out your loads soon.

OT3 - all those loads exemplify just what I think this cartridge was designed to do. Great on-game performance with little expense or pain. I'm stuck on the 358Win but I don't see much difference between the two where the rubber meets the road.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Actually, I use a .358 Win body die to size some loaded rounds which bulged because of soft annealed cases. This sizing with a .358 die of .338 Federal loaded rounds worked great and fed correctly through my Sako.

 

[DrMike]

My Ruger Hawkeye chambered in 358 gives me very tight groups and good velocities with 200 grain TSX. This rifle mirrors what I see with the .358. I'll be focusing on 225 grain bullets in the .358 and lighter bullets in this .338 Federal. I believe it will work well. Hopefully, it will draw blood this fall. Truthfully, I'm tempted to focus my limited time on some other cartridges and just buy a couple of boxes of the Federal Fusion ammunition (something I've not done for many years) for the Fall hunt.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I bought (4) boxes of the Fusion 200's because I was bedding both the .340 Bee and the .257 Bob at the same time. A good utility load for the .338 Federal is the 210 PT bullet, 47.0 grains of IMR 4064 with CCI BR2 primers. Not too hot, plus, 2560-2570 fps, good accuracy and PT performance.

 

[DrMike]

That's great intel. Thanks. It will undoubtedly get a look-see. The 210 PT ranks high on my list of bullets to try.

 

[JD338]

Mike,

Plug and play buddy! That is some fine accuracy right there with factory loads.
And to think that its only going to get better. :wink:

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Thanks, Jim. I'm pleased at this point. I pushed again to have my 9.3 Brenneke finished this fall, and I believe it will happen. In the interim, I'll have this sweet little 338 ready to go. I do want to work on the 210 PT shortly, however.

 

[SJB358]

That 210 in the little 338 should be pretty sweet Mike. Should make for a nice carrying rifle as well! Great shooting!

Not sure about this factory ammo talk, but I will chalk it up to age!

 

[sask boy]

Mike, as usual you have a great shooting rifle.
Look forward to your load development it should only get better

Blessings,
Dan

 

[DrMike]

Yeah, Scotty, the brain is being replaced by mush. I can't believe there is factory ammunition in my house! I had a rebate coupon from Federal, and bought the requisite four boxes of ammunition. Since I was anticipating a 338 Federal at the time, that is the ammunition I bought. Wouldn't you know, it shot decently. Age will do that to a person.

Dan, I will work up a load shortly, as soon as I move a couple of more rifles out.

 

[gerry]

DrMike hunting with factory ammo, may it never be :shock: next thing you know Scotty is going to buy another Winchester, oh hang on scratch that last line :lol:

 

[sask boy]

gerry your day will come when you start to do a few unusual things :wink: I just chalk it up to maturity :mrgreen:
Mike will somewhat agree with that, I think :lol:

Blessings,
Dan

 

[SJB358]

Yeah, Scotty, the brain is being replaced by mush. I can't believe there is factory ammunition in my house! I had a rebate coupon from Federal, and bought the requisite four boxes of ammunition. Since I was anticipating a 338 Federal at the time, that is the ammunition I bought. Wouldn't you know, it shot decently. Age will do that to a person.

Dan, I will work up a load shortly, as soon as I move a couple of more rifles out.

Well, I guess you had a rebate.. That makes it okay! Can't let a good rebate go to waste I guess.

 

[Tnhunter]

Very nice! Your experience with the Fusions mirrors my own with my SS Hawkeye in .338F. I have also harvested one Ky buck with the fusions and they worked as good as one would expect, full penetration and 1.5" exit hole. limited testing with the 180gr Accubonds did not show me quite as good accuracy. I've not tried the 210s as yet and will be interested in hearing (seeing) how they do.