I have come to find I have a severe affinity for two things: Rifles (Mainly Model 70's and their clones :grin: ) and the 308 family of rounds. I have a 7mm08 already, and I love the rifle; but I have been reading up on the 338 Federal and it has got me itching for another MRC 1999. What can be said about the 338 Federal? Is it a short-action thumper capable of taking big-game such as bears, elk, and moose? Especially hogs in the thick brush...
The 338 Federal?
- Thread starter ajvigs
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A
Anonymous
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What little I've messed with it left me wanting one eventually. I was waiting on a Kimber Montana, but since it didn't make the catalog this year I guess I'll keep looking.
It's much more than a brush gun and comes pretty close to 338/06 performance with the lighter end of the .338 bullets. Not so much with the heavy end.
I'd use it on about anything in N. America.
It's much more than a brush gun and comes pretty close to 338/06 performance with the lighter end of the .338 bullets. Not so much with the heavy end.
I'd use it on about anything in N. America.
G
Guest
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The 338Fed is basically a clone of the 8x57, in terms of the 180-220gr bullet selection. I don't think it fares as well with heavier bullets, but that's up to you. Something about getting below 2400-2500fps leaves me a little cold. I'm not sure there's much a 250gr .338cal bullet will do that a 210-225gr won't. All that taken into consideration, the 8x57 (and thus the 338Fed by extension) is a capable round out to about 300yds on deer and I suspect also on elk. I'd have no qualms about punching a moose, hog or black bear with a 180gr Nosler BT or 200gr Nosler AB out of my 8x57, and I'd feel equally well-equipped with anything in the 180-210gr range from the 338Fed.
I'm not much of a fan, as I believe the little .338 answered a question nobody was asking, but it's certainly a viable round for the tasks you've outlined.
I'm not much of a fan, as I believe the little .338 answered a question nobody was asking, but it's certainly a viable round for the tasks you've outlined.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
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ajvigs":187eb32q said:
The 338 Federal ruined my hunt this past fall. It was about fifteen minutes after first light when this young moose stepped out into a cut block. One shot with a 180 grain Copper Trophy and my moose hunting was ended for the year.
It works as well as my 358. Yeah, I'd use it on moose again.
Oh, yeah, it is a Model 70.
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- #5
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Anonymous
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Dying cartridge....is kind of a misnomer these days. Ammo is still manufactured as are rifles.
Did it get the commericial attention it deserved? No. That could be said of a lot of other rounds as well. The economics of ammunition manufacture have dramatically changed and you can still feed a number of obscure beasts from decades ago with ease. My guess is the Federal will keep it alive for years to come and failing that, some boutique maker like Quality or Buffalo Bore will.
Since the 338Fed is based on the .308WIN case there will be supplies of brass for eons. Light .338 slugs aren't going anywhere either.
I still have hope that people will "discover" the .338 Fed but I'm afraid it was an answer to a question that no one asked.
Did it get the commericial attention it deserved? No. That could be said of a lot of other rounds as well. The economics of ammunition manufacture have dramatically changed and you can still feed a number of obscure beasts from decades ago with ease. My guess is the Federal will keep it alive for years to come and failing that, some boutique maker like Quality or Buffalo Bore will.
Since the 338Fed is based on the .308WIN case there will be supplies of brass for eons. Light .338 slugs aren't going anywhere either.
I still have hope that people will "discover" the .338 Fed but I'm afraid it was an answer to a question that no one asked.
- Thread starter
- #9
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
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ajvigs":3i01mhwg said:
One is a .338 bullet in a short case; the other is a .358 bullet in a standard case. Either will accomplish the task of taking game.
wildgene
Handloader
- Jul 4, 2011
- 1,597
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ajvigs":267do1gd said:
...playing w/ different bullets will give you slightly different numbers, but...
.35 Whelen/ 225gr./ 2550fps MV/ 400yds. 1870fps/ 1744ft.lbs/ -27.7" (200yd. zero)
.338 Fed/ 225gr./ / 2500fps MV/ 400yds. 2004fps/ 2006ft.lbs/ -26.5"
...big difference seems to be the .338 Fed, like the .338 RCM, doesn't loose much MV in a shorter barrel, so, shorter action, shorter barrel, higher psi, generally better BC's...
G
Guest
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If you're just dying for this type of round, there are some pretty nice Rem700 Classics out there in 8x57, at prices from $450-1000, depending on the amount of crack the seller is smoking. These wear a 24" barrel, and tend to shoot reasonably well (~1MOA or so) and achieve good velocity. I'm getting 2725 with a 180gr bullet, and could imagine easily achieving 2600fps with a 200gr, though I deem it unnecessary. The 180gr BT is rated for elk and smaller, leaving only the great bears as out of reach for this round. It's been around since 1888 (1905 in current .323cal configuration) and brass is readily available. This 8x57 is, in fact, the 30-06 of Europe, so component availability is likely to carry on for many years without much interruption.
You might even find a good deal on a well preserved military 8x57, that you could sporterize. Or you could simply have any standard length action (-06 case) round rebarreled to 8x57.
You might even find a good deal on a well preserved military 8x57, that you could sporterize. Or you could simply have any standard length action (-06 case) round rebarreled to 8x57.
Dr. Vette
Handloader
- Apr 16, 2012
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I think it's a neat round. Charlie shoots one, and if I wanted an "elk brush gun" that would shoot 300 yards with ease but still do well at 40 yards when stalking this would be on the short list. In fact, I was looking for one recently but rifles in this chambering are quite scarce. So, I don't own one.
I honestly think a 338-06 would be a better all-around rifle as it has a bit more oomph, but there are times when a shorter action and shorter barrel would be more important than 100-200 fps.
I honestly think a 338-06 would be a better all-around rifle as it has a bit more oomph, but there are times when a shorter action and shorter barrel would be more important than 100-200 fps.
- Oct 30, 2004
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I figure 338/358 same difference. Nice brush guns...and not only!
Mine is a BLR in 358
Mine is a BLR in 358
gerry
Ammo Smith
- Mar 1, 2007
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wildgene":1j1cgh81 said:
The 35 Whelen can get 2750 fps pretty easy which would make your comparison quite a bit different.
Oldtrader3
Ammo Smith
- Nov 6, 2009
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Since you can now buy uppers for the AR16 in .338 Federal, I do not think that it will die. Sako walked away from their arrangement with Federal to supply rifles in .338 Federal. As a result, I bought a Sako 85 for $750 in .338 Federal.
I shoot mostly 210 Partitions in this rifle loaded to nearly 2600 fps. This is a potent elk load out to 300 yards which is why I bought the rifle in the first place. Plus, the short action and .308 Match cases make a very accurate short rifle out of the .338 Federal. You can even buy Federal cases now for the .338 Federal which is handy if you own a .308 and want separate headstamps. If Winchester had brought out a .338 WSM, I would have bought it but I am happy with the .338 Federal just as it is.
I shoot mostly 210 Partitions in this rifle loaded to nearly 2600 fps. This is a potent elk load out to 300 yards which is why I bought the rifle in the first place. Plus, the short action and .308 Match cases make a very accurate short rifle out of the .338 Federal. You can even buy Federal cases now for the .338 Federal which is handy if you own a .308 and want separate headstamps. If Winchester had brought out a .338 WSM, I would have bought it but I am happy with the .338 Federal just as it is.
- Thread starter
- #18
So, I am going to go out on a limb with this one. The 338 Federal, couldnt one say it is a direct comparison to say, the 338-06? The 338-06 is a 30-06 necked to 338, while the 338 Fed is the 308 necked to 338; basically what I am trying to imply is its a short action 338-06?
Oldtrader3
Ammo Smith
- Nov 6, 2009
- 8,406
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Close enough for government work but the .338-06 is about 20% more powerful than the .338 Federal, especially with bullets over 200 grains.
