338 Federal ??

[dmg308]

Whats the story on this? How are they getting 200 fps more then a comprable 308 if its just a necked up 308?? It seems to good to be true.

.338 FEDERAL BALLISTICS
FEDERAL FACTORY LOAD
Bullet Weight And Style MUZZLE 100 yds. 200 yds. 300 yds. 400 yds.
180-gr. Nosler AccuBond
Velocity (fps) 2,830 2,590 2,350 2,130 1,930
Energy (ft-lbs) 3,200 2,670 2,215 1,820 1,480
Trajectory (ins.) -1.5 +1.8 0 -8.2 -23.9
185-gr. Barnes Triple-Shock
Velocity (fps) 2,750 2,550 2,350 2,160 1,980
Energy (ft-lbs) 3,105 2,660 2,265 1,920 1,615
Trajectory (ins.) -1.5 +1.9 0 -8.3 -24.1
210-grain Nosler Partition
Velocity (fps) 2,630 2,590 2,200 2,010 1,820
Energy (ft-lbs) 3,225 2,710 2,265 1,880 1,545
Trajectory (ins.) -1.5 +2.3 0 -9.4 -27.3

 

[Buzzsaw]

Re: 338 Federal ??

I'd love to know more about this caliber too. What other calibers does it comapre to? Hows the recoil?

 

[Brians708]

Re: 338 Federal ??

Faster... Must be that whole larger bore- longer barrel-different powder, burn rate thing... Just saying.

I have nothing to back that up with.

 

[Buzzsaw]

Re: 338 Federal ??

I did some research on this last night. All the test articles I read really said it was a great cartrige, moderate recoil, But nobody said it was in anyway a long range caliber because if the broad frontal area of the .33 caliber bullet. 200yd deer, elk, black bear etc.

 

[30cal user]

Re: 338 Federal ??

its just a .338-08....

 

[dntfxr]

Re: 338 Federal ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dmg308</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> How are they getting 200 fps more then a comprable 308 if its just a necked up 308?? It seems to good to be true.
</div></div>
Same way a .30-06 with a 165g bullet gets more velocity than a .270 with a 165g bullet when loaded to similar pressures. It is because of the expansion rate/powder volume in relation to bore size.

 

[dmg308]

Re: 338 Federal ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dntfxr</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: dmg308</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> How are they getting 200 fps more then a comprable 308 if its just a necked up 308?? It seems to good to be true.
</div></div>
Same way a .30-06 with a 165g bullet gets more velocity than a .270 with a 165g bullet when loaded to similar pressures. It is because of the expansion rate/powder volume in relation to bore size. </div></div>

This makes sense...200 fps more just seems excessive.

 

[JamieD]

Re: 338 Federal ??

338-08 - I was on loaddata and found a wildcat load for the 338-08 and it was pushing the 200 gr at 2700+fps. Make sense, probably looks like a 6BR on steroids.

JamieD
Wolf Precision
All Hogs Go to Heaven



Side note - There was also a .338-284 that was pushing the 250's at 2600.

 

[blue_ridge]

Re: 338 Federal ??

I think bore size is key. More square area at base of bullet means more efficient use of energy, I think? Would like to know the physics to validate this. But for sure it is true across all the families of cartridges when comparing same bullet weight (243-260-7-08-308-338-358 etc) (6.5-06, 270, 280, 30-06, 338-06, 35 Whelen etc)

 

[blue_ridge]

Re: 338 Federal ??

I should add, the trade off is recoil. Pretty sure as bore diameter goes up, recoil does too, even for same weight bullet.

I've learned making my cartridge choices requires careful consideration of many things. I consider my intended use, then I think what specific bullets will perform that task best. Then I consider weight of the rifle, recoil, barrel life, cost of components, exterior ballistics, availability of components, any differences in the rifles being considered, twist rate, weight and a few other things I'm forgetting.

For hunting all manner of big game in North America, 338 federal would pretty hard to beat, all things considered, IMO. If recoil and barrel life weren't important, sure the big magnums would be better. But consider the lighter recoil, longer barrel life of a Federal and you still get kick ass balistics out to 400 yards. Hard to beat.

 

[blue_ridge]

Re: 338 Federal ??

found this -

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If the 44 magnum is compared with the 357 magnum, the effect of bore diameter is seen. The larger area of the 44 magnum creates more force with the same pressure, allowing the 44 magnum to produce more energy at the muzzle.</div></div>

So, keeping pressure and bullet weight the same, but increasing bullet diameter increases force applied.

 

[Chanonry]

Re: 338 Federal ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Buzzsaw</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I did some research on this last night. All the test articles I read really said it was a great cartrige, moderate recoil, But nobody said it was in anyway a long range caliber because if the broad frontal area of the .33 caliber bullet. 200yd deer, elk, black bear etc. </div></div>

If recoil akin to a 300WM is 'moderate'...

Interesting play though away from the worship of velocity. Looks like it would give anything a good hard whack out to 300yds

 

[fcordrey]

Re: 338 Federal ??

The .338 Fed. is not a long range job. It will how ever carry a massive amount of energy to the target within 400yds. More muzzle energy than a 7RM ! I'm sure one could streach it out much further but you'd have mega drop to compensate for with the big mass and low BC bullets . Short to med. range big game hunting is where this cartridge will excell I'm sure.

I plan on getting one in a switch barrel hunting rig . I'm thinking about a 7mm-08 / .338 Fed combo. The 7mm will handle anything from varmint to deer and I'll use the .338 from deer to bear or elk .

 

[shane45]

Re: 338 Federal ??

I would not think diameter has anything to do with recoil. If the projo weight is the same, the rifle weight is the same, the burn speed of the powder was the same, I would think the recoil would have to be the same. I think the only remote possibility of more recoil from a larger diameter would be the larger crown surface area which would create a bit more area for secondary recoil to act upon when the bullet leaves the barrel.

 

[blue_ridge]

Re: 338 Federal ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Frank Cordrey</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I plan on getting one in a switch barrel hunting rig . I'm thinking about a 7mm-08 / .338 Fed combo. The 7mm will handle anything from varmint to deer and I'll use the .338 from deer to bear or elk . </div></div>

I like that idea, but I'd go with 260 or 243 along with 338. I'd use 24-26" varmint contour 260 for a long range varmint/beanfield rifle and a 18-20" sporter barrel for the 338 as a big game brush gun.

I have a Tikka T3 338 Federal coming to me right now but I intend to use the T3 action for a custom rig. So the 338 barrel may be for sale in a week or two.

 

[blue_ridge]

Re: 338 Federal ??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shane45</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would not think diameter has anything to do with recoil. If the projo weight is the same, the rifle weight is the same, the burn speed of the powder was the same, I would think the recoil would have to be the same. I think the only remote possibility of more recoil from a larger diameter would be the larger crown surface area which would create a bit more area for secondary recoil to act upon when the bullet leaves the barrel. </div></div>

I think added recoil is caused by larger diameter because energy is higher if all things are equal. Compare muzzle energy of two loads (loaded to same PSI) like a 7mm-08 with 180 grain bullet vs. 358 with 180 gr. bullet. Pretty sure 358 will have more muzzle energy, thus more recoil. it's a double edged sword. You get a more efficient cartridge/more energy, but more recoil. So like everything else with guns, you try to strike the perfect balance for your intended use of the gun.

 

[USCG Flyer]

Re: 338 Federal ??

I have a Tikka T3 with the synthetic stock I picked up for $325 OTD, brand new. The shop couldn't sell it due to the caliber, but I reload so it was a simple matter for me. I stuck a little 2-7x on it and necked up some 308 brass with a 200gr Speer pill. The rifle is quite accurate even with just a thrown together load (only tried two). The recoil, even in that light rifle is quite managable, not much more than a 308 even. The problem I saw is that you can't get to the velocity that a facory round does judging by the published load data. For the weight of the package and keeping range limits in perspective, it's a great handy little rifle. I really LOVE that smooth Tikka action!

 

[Catywumpas]

Re: 338 Federal ??

I love the Armalite AR10 chambered in 338 federal, supersonic loads shoot well, but subsonic loads are amazing with this cartridge.

 

[sirhitalot]

Re: 338 Federal ??

i agree. this cartridge is great because its good at both super sonic and subsonic speed. just make sure to get a fast enough twist rate, so you can shoot the heaviest.