338 QUESTION

[seth30]

Looking at purchasing a 338, and was wondering what the difference is between the 338 Fed and the 338 win mag?  Any help in this would be great  

[MountainWalk]

The Fed is a 308 based cartridge.  7 mag energy levels.   In my opinion,  it's not terribly useful or niche full.
The win mag is the real deal Holyfield.

Don't forget the 338-06. It's good stuff.

[brew]

338 win mag is perfect for any large/dangerous game in North America.  There are a ton of factory loaded rounds for you to choose from.  338 Federal, like MountainWalk said is more of a "niche" round with few factory rounds loaded for it.  for some reason i always thought i wanted a 340 Weatherby Mag but once i started comparing it to the 338 win mag there is not enough difference in performance to justify spending the $ on buying Weatherby shells or reloading that round.  I shot my Washington moose with my buddies 338 win mag loaded with Nosler partitions and it dropped it in his tracks.  good enough for me.

[HvyHorn338]

 

[ndcasla]

If you want big knock down at semi long range I'd go the 338 Win Mag. For out to about 200 yds. +/- it's the 338-06. The 338-06 is doing 2600/2800 fps with a 225/250 gr. bullet. Less recoil then the 338 Win Mag.
After these two the 338 Fed would be my maybe 6th choice.

[Bob33]

IF you can handle the recoil, the 338 Win Mag is arguably a better choice. Many can't or won't admit it. A flinch can wipe out the additional energy in a hurry.

http://www.ronspomeroutdoors.com/shooting/ballistics/cartridges/338-federal/

[Bofire]

I think of the 338 Win as a 30/06 with BIG bullets.
Carl

[Bill W]

For those who haven't shot them the "felt recoil" of a .338 with a 250 grain bullet running a tad shy of 2800 fps is easier to handle than a .300 Win Mag with a 180 grain bullet at 3130 fps.

I speak from personal experience as at one time I owned both of them.

[yorketransport]

Wow, no love for the 338 Federal! Unless you're looking for a dedicated elk rifle I don't think the bigger 338s are as practical.

I happen to like it as an all round Washington chambering. Anything the 308 will do as a hunting cartridge the 338 federal will do better, and everybody seems to love the 308. Trajectories are close enough to be a non-issue out to real world hunting ranges. The 338 hits with more "umph" at any range; just try shooting both a 338 federal and a 308 win at a gong and listen to the difference. The larger bore diameter of the 338 federal makes it a more efficient design when shot from a shorter barrel (expansion ratio). The recoil from a 338 federal is significantly less than a 338 win mag which will typically lead to better shot placement and/or more practice time. Plus the 338 Federal has the cool factor!

You can't go wrong with any of the 338s honestly. I've played with most of the popular versions out there as well as some of the more obscure variants and I love all of them. This is my personal ranking of the 338s I have or had:

1) 338/375 Ruger
2) 338-06
3) 338/284 Win
4) 338 Federal
5) 330 Dakota
6) 338 Win Mag
7) 338 Edge
8 ) 338 WSM
9) 338 Lapua
10) 340 Weatherby
11) 8.59 Titan
12) 338/408 Improved (I love it but its increadibly specialized)
13) 338 whisper

[Bill W]

Wow, no love for the 338 Federal! Unless you're looking for a dedicated elk rifle I don't think the bigger 338s are as practical.

I happen to like it as an all round Washington chambering. Anything the 308 will do as a hunting cartridge the 338 federal will do better, and everybody seems to love the 308. Trajectories are close enough to be a non-issue out to real world hunting ranges. The 338 hits with more "umph" at any range; just try shooting both a 338 federal and a 308 win at a gong and listen to the difference. The larger bore diameter of the 338 federal makes it a more efficient design when shot from a shorter barrel (expansion ratio). The recoil from a 338 federal is significantly less than a 338 win mag which will typically lead to better shot placement and/or more practice time. Plus the 338 Federal has the cool factor!

You can't go wrong with any of the 338s honestly. I've played with most of the popular versions out there as well as some of the more obscure variants and I love all of them. This is my personal ranking of the 338s I have or had:

1) 338/375 Ruger
2) 338-06
3) 338/284 Win
4) 338 Federal
5) 330 Dakota
6) 338 Win Mag
7) 338 Edge
8 ) 338 WSM
9) 338 Lapua
10) 340 Weatherby
11) 8.59 Titan
12) 338/408 Improved (I love it but its increadibly specialized)
13) 338 whisper

I'm surprised Bwana Bob hasn't chimed in.  He has a .338-06 he had made up a number of years ago.

[JLS]

I built a .338-06 about 15 years ago.  Great rifle.  I think the .338 Federal would be worth a look.  I get pretty good MV with the 185 grain Barnes TXS bullets.  The benefit to the .338 Federal would be if you could get it on a short action rifle and save some weight.

Mine has a 22" barrel.  It has pretty decent recoil.  I've shot both .338 Win Magnums and .340 Weatherby Magnums.  You can have them.

[BNAElkhntr]

Looking at purchasing a 338, and was wondering what the difference is between the 338 Fed and the 338 win mag?  Any help in this would be great

What are you Hunting ?
I use 338 Rem Ultra knocks big animals down fast

[headshot5]

338 Federal would be my choice for a Western Washington brush gun.  It'd be perfect to get a Remington 760 or 7600 bored out to .338 FED.  I run a 338-06 as a medium range rifle for deer and elk, it's a bolt gun.   It's quite the dandy.  I also have a 338 Win mag that I use for longer range elk hunting out to 500 yards.   All have their place.  For all around you could pretty well do everything with a plain old 30-06, but don't let your wife know that.    

Side note:  If you ever plan on hunting Alaska etc, you can't go wrong with a good shooting 338 Win Mag. 

[theleo]

338 fed for a handy woods/timber thumper. 338 win mag for.... I actually have no application I want one for as I don't want to put up with the recoil or the noise from a break to get rid of the recoil. I'm like others on here, I use a 338-06 for close/medium range stuff.

[seth30]

Sorry should have clarified, I will be using this for bear.     Want something that will knock them down a little harder than my 308 caliber rounds I have used in the past.  Will be back to the united states next week and cant wait to get out in the woods   Was looking at this one, but it is currently out of stock.  http://www.hinterlandoutfitters.com/mossberg-patriot-rifle-27905-fluted-bolt-action-black-stock-matte-blued-finish-p-50476.html