338 Federal

[packmule]

How many on here shoot a 338 Federal? 

I've been using one for about 3 years now...been great on bear, deer, and elk.  I know that rifle makers no longer chamber the round but there are a few rifles to be found on the used markets.

Just curious to see how many use this round and what your favorite loads are. 

I've had great luck with 200 and 210 grain bullets.  The most accurate load I've found is 160 grain Barnes but the handload is rather slow for hunting (2400 fps).

[yorketransport]

I've been thinking of getting one since it was introduced. In fact, it was a toss up between the 338 federal and the 358 Winchester. If I hadn't found a deal on a 358 Winchester I would have grabbed the 338 Federal.

The 180 or 200 grain accubonds would be ideal in that case. I used to run the 200 grain Ballistic Tip in my 338-06 and it worked great. The 185 TTSX is another good bullet. I ran those in a 338-284 for a while. My father-in-law used it to take a beast of a cow elk a few years back and the results were pretty impressive!

Andrew

[CAMPMEAT]

I have one, but haven't shot anything with it. It's pretty neat caliber.

[addicted]

210 grain bullet out of a short action. Whats not to love?  There are some very cool loads out there.

It is a modernized 8x57. More brass available, more bullet options and wider variety of modern guns with hard steel actions to modern spec which can make for hotter load options. Just as the 7mm08 is to the 7x57.

It would be cool to see one built in a long action with a barrel throated for 225 grain bullets loaded way out there so you dont sacrifice case capacity. Or if you want sub sonic you dont even have to worry about case capacity.

Bullet Sierra Matchking 
Bullet Weight 300 grs  
Powder Vihtavuori N110 
Powder Weight 15.3 grs 
Primer CCI BR2 
Brass Make Lake City necked up 
Barrel Length 18 (inches)
C.O.L 2.98 (inches)
Velocity 1045 fps
Group 100 yds  2.0 (inches) 
Submitted By Roy
Gun Info  Savage 10FLP with PacNor barrel, 1 in 7 twist
Comment Subsonic for suppressed load, SD 11 fps, Clean burning, 53% fill.
 

[fly-by]

I have a couple and really like the round.  DPMS Lite Hunter and a Ruger M77.  The DPMS shhots under 0.5" with a 200 grain SST and 8208 XBR.  Still looking for the right load for the Ruger.  It's around an inch with 200 grain Interlocks and 8208 XBR.  Pretty mild recoil in both guns given the muzzle energy.  Really easy to make brass out of .308.  Just lube it well and one pass through the sizing die.

I like the 338 Fed in a large platform AR.  Gives you the thump of rounds like the 458 SOCOM, 450 Beowulf, or 450 Bushmaster but it shoots MUCH flatter.  The DPMS is under 8 pounds so a pretty negligible difference vs AR-15. 

I haven't shot anything with either one but will be hunting the Ruger this afternoon and hope to change that.

[packmule]

Hi Fly-By,

Mine is a Ruger as well.  It really likes 200 accubonds and LeverRevolution powder.  I also found that my groups didn't tighten up until I switched to target primers...I've been using the CCI BR-2 primers lately.  I also floated the barrel which has helped both of my Ruger rifles.

Good luck on your hunts.  That .338 caliber bullet makes a noticeable "smack" when it hits something =).

[packmule]

Hi addicted,
Neat load data you provided.  What are the advantages of using a sub-sonic load?  Interesting concept with such a big bullet and light powder load!

[addicted]

When a rifle is fired there are 2 notable noises. 1: The uncorking of the pressures provided by burning powder in the barrel and 2: the supersonic crack of the bullet breaking the sound barrier.

A suppressor can reduce the uncorking noise to hearing safe levels and the sub sonic ammo can take out the supersonic crack that although an inverted sound wave(sounds like it's coming from the other direction) is still 120 decibels that some still would like to negate.

[smdave]

I have mainly shot 210's don't have a real good hand load yet still shooting factory loads. Here is my Kimber 84 in 338 Federal 2011 deer shot at 275 yards.

[fly-by]

Just saw this pop up on slickguns and grabbed another one.  The upper alone is worth more than this. 

http://www.slickguns.com/product/dpms-panther-lr-338-rifle-338-fed-18in-19rd-black-75999-2999-sh