338 Federal

[N7XW]

I'm quickly becoming a 338 caliber fan after getting my new 338 WM.  So, of course, I'm now looking at other cartridges.  Anyone shoot the 338 Federal and if so, what do you like or dislike about it?

[yorketransport]

I had one for a little while and I loved it. If you have realistic expectations then it's a great caliber. I've know guys who weren't happy with the performance from 225gr + bullets and thought that the 338 Federal was a waste. It's really at it's best with the 180-200gr bullets and a short, light barrel. I shot the 200gr Nosler Accubonds and Ballistic Silver Tips at about 2600fps from a 20" barrel usingand it worked great. My father-in-law used the 200gr NAB load to smack a monster cow elk with it at a little over 200 yards and it worked perfect.

The only reason I got rid of it was because I was in love with the 358 Win and just had to have one. The 338 Federal was arguably better in almost every way but I just had to have the 358.

[Dan-o]

Kinda surprised yorke doesn't have one in a snub nose derringer.     

[yorketransport]

Kinda surprised yorke doesn't have one in a snub nose derringer.     

Did use a 19" 338/284 Winchester barrel on one of my pistols for a while, does that count?

[N7XW]

I had one for a little while and I loved it. If you have realistic expectations then it's a great caliber. I've know guys who weren't happy with the performance from 225gr + bullets and thought that the 338 Federal was a waste. It's really at it's best with the 180-200gr bullets and a short, light barrel. I shot the 200gr Nosler Accubonds and Ballistic Silver Tips at about 2600fps from a 20" barrel usingand it worked great. My father-in-law used the 200gr NAB load to smack a monster cow elk with it at a little over 200 yards and it worked perfect.

The only reason I got rid of it was because I was in love with the 358 Win and just had to have one. The 338 Federal was arguably better in almost every way but I just had to have the 358.

Good info.  Thanks!

[Dan-o]

Kinda surprised yorke doesn't have one in a snub nose derringer.     

Did use a 19" 338/284 Winchester barrel on one of my pistols for a while, does that count?

Close enough.       

[BigGoonTuna]

The only reason I got rid of it was because I was in love with the 358 Win and just had to have one. The 338 Federal was arguably better in almost every way but I just had to have the 358.

not to derail this topic too much, but what makes the .338 better than the .358?  just curious, as i've got an old hand me down beater .243 model 70 that never gets shot, that i've often kicked around the idea of reboring...

[Tjkride]

I love the short action .338s. I used a 338 federal a few times that a friend insisted I take on a few hunts. If you keep it within its limits its fantastic and a hammer. Im running a 338rcm now. A little better balistics than the federal bit same concept and it works

[yorketransport]

not to derail this topic too much, but what makes the .338 better than the .358?  just curious, as i've got an old hand me down beater .243 model 70 that never gets shot, that i've often kicked around the idea of reboring...
[/quote]

It's all about bullet selection. The 338 has excellent options in everything from 180gr up through 225 that work well in the little 338 Federal. Cheap plinkers like the 200gr HotCor or Hornady bullets work well for practice and then there's tons of great premium hunting bullets from Barnes, Nosler, Hammer etc. The 358 has the advantage of using pistol bullets for practice and there's still some great premium options, just not as many as the 338 has.

The big difference is when you want to run into a local shop to pick up component bullets. There's always a couple options in the 338 but 358s aren't a real hot item so you usually have to order them online.

[N7XW]

not to derail this topic too much, but what makes the .338 better than the .358?  just curious, as i've got an old hand me down beater .243 model 70 that never gets shot, that i've often kicked around the idea of reboring...

It's all about bullet selection. The 338 has excellent options in everything from 180gr up through 225 that work well in the little 338 Federal. Cheap plinkers like the 200gr HotCor or Hornady bullets work well for practice and then there's tons of great premium hunting bullets from Barnes, Nosler, Hammer etc. The 358 has the advantage of using pistol bullets for practice and there's still some great premium options, just not as many as the 338 has.

The big difference is when you want to run into a local shop to pick up component bullets. There's always a couple options in the 338 but 358s aren't a real hot item so you usually have to order them online.
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[addicted]

Loaded some 200 ballistic silver tips for smdave but I didn't have time to dial it in. Pressure signs earlier than expected but even though they are a bit slower than projected they have been straight murder on a few deer for him. Getting a more efficient load worked up for it is on my to do list. It was hard to do when I was only in town on leave for a week every other year lol.