Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: WA Redneck on August 25, 2008, 11:36:30 AM

Title: .338 Federal
Post by: WA Redneck on August 25, 2008, 11:36:30 AM: Anyone know anything about this caliber? I have a short action Remington I'm thinking about re-barreling. Anyone use one practical experience would be nice.
Title: Re: .338 Federal
Post by: jdb on August 25, 2008, 12:08:44 PM: hows about you build one work up a good load shooting the 225gr partion kill a couple critters the let me know so I can buy a barrel for my encore ;) JB
Title: Re: .338 Federal
Post by: KillBilly on August 25, 2008, 12:14:03 PM: I have never owned one but have heard good things from some folks that do use them. Supposedly a good bear & elk gun. I need one other barrel for my Encore before I get one.
Title: Re: .338 Federal
Post by: addicted on August 25, 2008, 12:30:10 PM: Daves got one. its an excellent caliber. it has great ballistics and minimal recoil. the one he has hold 5+1 i believe.

its one of those cartridges that can efficiently kill anything in north america. its on my dream sheet.
Title: Re: .338 Federal
Post by: addicted on August 25, 2008, 12:31:24 PM: http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,1242.0.html

if you get one this is how many people have one lol
Title: Re: .338 Federal
Post by: FOsteology on August 25, 2008, 02:44:06 PM: I've got a Kimber Montana chambered in .338 Federal. I have killed a few feral hogs with both 185gr. TSX and 210gr. NP. Like Raid.... kills 'em dead.

Having said that, don't think it does anything that the 'ol .308 Winchester can't do. :twocents:
Title: Re: .338 Federal
Post by: MountainWalk on August 25, 2008, 03:07:45 PM: IMHO, if a fellow wants a medium bore short action, he would be better served by a 350 rem mag.
Title: Re: .338 Federal
Post by: FOsteology on August 25, 2008, 03:41:37 PM: Quote from: MountainWalk338 on August 25, 2008, 03:07:45 PM
IMHO, if a fellow wants a medium bore short action, he would be better served by a 350 rem mag.

IMHO, the .358 Win would be the way to go.

However, if one is not a hand loader and is dependent on factory ammo.... neither of them would cut the mustard.
Title: Re: .338 Federal
Post by: bobcat on August 25, 2008, 08:15:43 PM: Quote from: FOsteology on August 25, 2008, 02:44:06 PM
Having said that, don't think it does anything that the 'ol .308 Winchester can't do. :twocents:

Same thing I was gonna say...
Title: Re: .338 Federal
Post by: PWN Kurt on August 28, 2008, 04:43:41 PM: I was looking at getting a .338 fed or the .358 win as they were both very similar...like the .338/06 and the 35 whelen.
I ended up with the .358 win.

I think the .338 fed or the .358 win are great medium range caliber rounds, shooting medium weight bullets at medium velocities. You could do pretty good on anything in WA. I'd go up to a 35 whelen or a .338 win mag for Alaska critters.

I saw one, maybe two, diffent factory loads on the shelf at Sportsmans for the .338 fed....which is 2 more than what I found for the .358 win! I think a guy would need to handload for it.
Title: Re: .338 Federal
Post by: shag on August 30, 2008, 02:56:01 PM: Heard some are running a 160gr TSX in the Fed. Getting 2900fps. That's pretty damn cool if ya ask me.
Title: Re: .338 Federal
Post by: FOsteology on August 30, 2008, 04:23:41 PM: I considered the 160gr. TTSX in the .338..... but honestly, isn't the reason for the Federal over the .308 is for the heavier bullets. :dunno:
Title: Re: .338 Federal
Post by: Bookworm on August 30, 2008, 06:07:32 PM: I'm shooting 200 grn, accubonds thru mine. According to the reloading data it's supposed to be generating about 2600 fps. One of these days I will have to break out the chrono and see what it does run.