The 338 Federal Really Shines and Should be More Popular!!

The advantages...

Here are the advantages over magnums:

  • Barrel life: assuming the same as a .308 - 5000+ rounds vs 1000-2000. HUGE COST SAVINGS!
  • Save on powder (45-50gn vs 65-80gn)
  • Recoil!!! With a VAIS muzzle brake, no sound increase either.
  • Lighter rifle (short action).
  • Far less expensive to handload and that means MORE SHOOTING :)

These are only off the top of my head. Almost...repeat almost, magnum performance with many advantages over magnums...unless you want to kill very large game at very long distances (i.e. 600+ yards away). :D
 
Well... I'd still probably want to take my .338WM for brown bears (I've never hunted them and probably never will) but for anything else in NA inside 300yds (for me... for others maybe even farther), the .338 Fed with 200/210gr (particularly copper bullets) should do just fine.

And yeah... if you already have a 300WM or WSM or whatever and are happy, there's no reason to run out and get anything else.
 
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barrel life???? 40+ years I fire 200+rnds per year and it still clover leafs at 100yds.

cheaper to reload (less powder) Yup, according to you, about 1/2 so......you save about $10 per 150 rounds.

lighter weight. yup......easier for you to carry, but less stable when shooting off the sholder. BTW shorter action dosnt necessarily mean less weight. Barrel diameter and length are the major weight factors. Oh and dont forget the stock. Some stocks are heavier than others.

recoil, yup again, but stock fit and shooting technique have a lot to do with "felt" recoil.

You forgot about trajectory. You can bring down some fairly large game at distance with a 45-70 if you know how to lob it in there.

One more item..... Lets not forget about bullet selection. You have a lot more choices in .30 than .338. You can tailor you ammo to the game you intend to hunt.
 
Best 300WM ever?

sc928, you must have the best made WM barrel in the world at 8000 rounds and still cloverleafs ;)
barrel life???? 40+ years I fire 200+rnds per year and it still clover leafs at 100yds.
Click to expand...
A cloverleafing .308 bullet is getting approximately .3 MOA...that's amazing for a 8000 round WM. (actually that would be amazing for a $5K custom rifle) Especially considering this:

Another tidbit to consider--take a 300 Win Mag that has a life expectancy of 1000 rounds.
Click to expand...
Taken from article: http://www.6mmbr.com/gailmcmbreakin.html [excerpt Gale McMillan, of McMillan Stocks fame, was one of the finest barrel-makers and benchrest shooters of all time.]

I think Mac's thread was addressing something that needs to get more attention...thanks Mac. I think the 338 Federal is an ideal hunting cartridge for the reasons mentioned earlier. :rolleyes:
 
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I'm with PK and Mapsjanhere, too. When you load the '06 to the pressure level of the Fed, then 180s are CHRONOGRAPHED at 2800 from 22". My 338-06 puts the Nosler 210 at 2810 in 22" because it's throated for 250s. I'm quite skeptical of a real world 200 Fed hitting 2750 in 22", since the 308 can barely hit 2600 with 180s.
 
Dual purpose vs strictly hunting

For dual purpose, target/hunting duty, I still prefer my .308.

As an alternative to those that don't want Magnum punishment for hunting and want to shoot more frequently, saving money, barrels and shoulder ;) the 338 Federal & 338-06AI seem like excellent options. Of course I do dream of owning a 338 Lapua one day...just because :D

btw, I'm not saying ged rid of a WM for a 338 Fed/338-06...only for those who haven't bought a WM. Those that are between .308/30-06 and 300/338 WM but that haven't bought yet, should consider the 338 Federal/338-06AI.

For about 40-50% more powder burn, you're only getting 200-300 fps more out of a 300WM/300WSM. The energy difference is almost made up by going to the 338 Federal/338-06. Is the magnum worth it? I think the 338 Lapua makes a great move up from the 308/30-06, 338Fed/338-06, considering your getting 1000ft/lbs more energy than a WinMag ;)
 
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I have seen some folks talking about getting 2700+fps for 200gr out of the 338Fed... right here on these boards ( http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=497762 )

Also saw a guy posting about killing a moose using the 200gr Trophy Copper (seems like it's just E-Tip).

Anyway... I don't think anybody here is saying everyone should throw their rifles away and go get one. If you don't have something in that performance range and want one, the 338Fed might be one to consider. I have a .30-06, .270Win, and others but I still thought the 338Fed would be cool to have.
 
I really expected the 338 Fed to take off like wild fire...i've been waiting for a affordable rifle to be chambered in this round...maybe the Ruger American may surprise us !!!
 
New guy here but pick up on this thread while doing a search for using the 338 fed for a moose hunt I'm planning in newfoundland in a couple of years. I've shot deer with the 338 fed with 200 sierra's and the results were 2 dropped and one did a 20 yard death run. 2 weeks ago ranges out to 250 yards, 3 caribou bulls fell to my rifle loaded with the barnes 160. the 1st was shot at what the guide said was 225-250 yards went about 20-30 yards. the next was shot at 130 yards or so and went down like a rock. The last shot was by the guide filling one of his tags. The shot was at about 225 and the results were drt. All were pass throughs, all exit wounds were about the size of a dime to a nickel, closer to a nickel I think. The barnes did very well and I'm very pleased with the results.
 
I can not wait for a different diameter bullet to hit the market so the .308 case can be necked up or down again. Maybe a .204-08 ? .338 Federal? Big deal.
 
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