So, what is your favourite 308-based cartridge, and why?
While I have used the 358 Win in a pre-81 BLR the most over the past 25 years, for hunting, and as a back up rifle for guiding, archery hunting, camp rifle, and saddle/ATV/UTV rifle, and is a cartridge and rifle I will always hold near and dear to my hunting heart, I would have to say that my favourite is the 338 Federal.
(I also currently own a 7mm-08, and have owned the 243 Win, 260 Rem, and 308 Win over the years.)
Years ago, I loved reading articles about people using and hunting with the 358 Win, and the 338-08 (predecessor to the 338 Federal). Having already acquired the 358 Win, the 338-08 intrigued me, and I vowed to someday have one. Today, I own 2 rifles in the newer 338 Federal! A LH bolt action (Sako 85) and a lever action (Model 88). (I also now have 2 in the 358 Win, as I finally have the LH bolt action, I have always said I would get!)
The 338 has a better selection of bullets, and bullet weights in factory ammo, can be driven a little faster, providing a little more reach than the 358, if and when needed. The 200 gr bullet gets approx. 200 fps more velocity in the 338, and retains enough velocity for reliable expansion out to about 400 yards, whereas the 358 runs out of velocity for reliable expansion at about 250 yards. Although my average shot distance on game over the past 38 years is just 132 yards, it is nice to have the additional capacity when needed where things have not gone as planned.
And for penetration the 338 has a SD of .250 with 200 gr bullets, where you need to step up to the 225 gr bullets in the 358 to get 0.251, for the recommended sectional density for reliable penetration on big game. I was disappointed when Hornady brought back the 358 Win ammo with the 200 gr bullet; felt they should have used the 225 gr! But as the 200 gr was the common historical weight in the cartridge, this was what people asked for, because it was what they knew.
The cartridge is fun to shoot and hunt with! It is too bad that it didn't catch on more with the general shooting public...but as most are deer hunters and don't really need the larger caliber and heavier bullet weights for deer (where the 243 up through the 308 are more popular), as are desired for moose, elk and larger bears, I can understand why.
To date I have taken caribou, moose and a stones sheep with the 338 Federal, from 25 to 158 yards, and it has worked very well. And I am still undecided as to whether or not I will be taking it to Africa next May for eland, (as I might take the 338-06 for its extra velocity and energy for that large antelope).
While I have used the 358 Win in a pre-81 BLR the most over the past 25 years, for hunting, and as a back up rifle for guiding, archery hunting, camp rifle, and saddle/ATV/UTV rifle, and is a cartridge and rifle I will always hold near and dear to my hunting heart, I would have to say that my favourite is the 338 Federal.
(I also currently own a 7mm-08, and have owned the 243 Win, 260 Rem, and 308 Win over the years.)
Years ago, I loved reading articles about people using and hunting with the 358 Win, and the 338-08 (predecessor to the 338 Federal). Having already acquired the 358 Win, the 338-08 intrigued me, and I vowed to someday have one. Today, I own 2 rifles in the newer 338 Federal! A LH bolt action (Sako 85) and a lever action (Model 88). (I also now have 2 in the 358 Win, as I finally have the LH bolt action, I have always said I would get!)
The 338 has a better selection of bullets, and bullet weights in factory ammo, can be driven a little faster, providing a little more reach than the 358, if and when needed. The 200 gr bullet gets approx. 200 fps more velocity in the 338, and retains enough velocity for reliable expansion out to about 400 yards, whereas the 358 runs out of velocity for reliable expansion at about 250 yards. Although my average shot distance on game over the past 38 years is just 132 yards, it is nice to have the additional capacity when needed where things have not gone as planned.
And for penetration the 338 has a SD of .250 with 200 gr bullets, where you need to step up to the 225 gr bullets in the 358 to get 0.251, for the recommended sectional density for reliable penetration on big game. I was disappointed when Hornady brought back the 358 Win ammo with the 200 gr bullet; felt they should have used the 225 gr! But as the 200 gr was the common historical weight in the cartridge, this was what people asked for, because it was what they knew.
The cartridge is fun to shoot and hunt with! It is too bad that it didn't catch on more with the general shooting public...but as most are deer hunters and don't really need the larger caliber and heavier bullet weights for deer (where the 243 up through the 308 are more popular), as are desired for moose, elk and larger bears, I can understand why.
To date I have taken caribou, moose and a stones sheep with the 338 Federal, from 25 to 158 yards, and it has worked very well. And I am still undecided as to whether or not I will be taking it to Africa next May for eland, (as I might take the 338-06 for its extra velocity and energy for that large antelope).
