Hey guys did a little search on the 338 federal round and didnt find much. Does anyone have any experience with this round and the pros/cons of it vs. 308 or 300win mag?
338 federal??
- Thread starter titus7
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Re: 338 federal??
Generally speaking, I think that it is underpowered. Most people find the 308 to be a "worst case" in terms of drop and wind compared to 260/284/6.5-284/300WM/338 Lapua/etc. I don't think you can fit enough powder in the case to drive the match bullets (either 250 or 300) fast enough to take advantage of the better bullets.
Just my $0.02.
Generally speaking, I think that it is underpowered. Most people find the 308 to be a "worst case" in terms of drop and wind compared to 260/284/6.5-284/300WM/338 Lapua/etc. I don't think you can fit enough powder in the case to drive the match bullets (either 250 or 300) fast enough to take advantage of the better bullets.
Just my $0.02.
Re: 338 federal??
338 Fed is a 338-308, the 308 is already underbore and underpowered IMO. The 338 fed is the way to stick a 338 bullet in an AR platform.
It is not really a viable long range round, it would make a great brush gun and up close "pig smacker", lots of knockdown and thump.
Compared to the 300 WM they aren't even in the same playground.
338 Fed is a 338-308, the 308 is already underbore and underpowered IMO. The 338 fed is the way to stick a 338 bullet in an AR platform.
It is not really a viable long range round, it would make a great brush gun and up close "pig smacker", lots of knockdown and thump.
Compared to the 300 WM they aren't even in the same playground.
Re: 338 federal??
.338 Federal is not in anyway shape or form designed to be a long range round. It's designed to use the .338 caliber bullets in a short action rifle, in other words it's designed to be a brush gun. It has amazing ballistics despite it's slower speed than everyother .338 cal available. Up here in Alaska I have seen several of the older guys picking them up in preferrence to the magnums that every young gun around here totes. My unlce used one to devasting effect on a 58" bull moose at 127 yards last September. One bullet in the boiler room (got both lungs and the heart), the moose traveled about 25yards into some brush and died.
.338 Federal is not in anyway shape or form designed to be a long range round. It's designed to use the .338 caliber bullets in a short action rifle, in other words it's designed to be a brush gun. It has amazing ballistics despite it's slower speed than everyother .338 cal available. Up here in Alaska I have seen several of the older guys picking them up in preferrence to the magnums that every young gun around here totes. My unlce used one to devasting effect on a 58" bull moose at 127 yards last September. One bullet in the boiler room (got both lungs and the heart), the moose traveled about 25yards into some brush and died.
Re: 338 federal??
ArticFun- Sounds like we're pretty much on the same page. The 1 thing that this round has going for it over the 358 Win (358 cal bullet in a 308 case) is that there's a lot of bullets out there available in 338 cal as opposed to 358 cal, where you're limited.
Otherwise, the applicability of the calibers is effectively identical.
ArticFun- Sounds like we're pretty much on the same page. The 1 thing that this round has going for it over the 358 Win (358 cal bullet in a 308 case) is that there's a lot of bullets out there available in 338 cal as opposed to 358 cal, where you're limited.
Otherwise, the applicability of the calibers is effectively identical.
Re: 338 federal??
I've done some loads with the 160 Barnes Tipped TSX. I can push it accuratly to 2950 fps out of a necked up Winchester 308 case in a 20" barrel. It's not the best long range caliber, but it has a fairly large diameter bullet to make a big hole when it hits. Not a bad short range (300 yards and in) caliber.
I've done some loads with the 160 Barnes Tipped TSX. I can push it accuratly to 2950 fps out of a necked up Winchester 308 case in a 20" barrel. It's not the best long range caliber, but it has a fairly large diameter bullet to make a big hole when it hits. Not a bad short range (300 yards and in) caliber.
Re: 338 federal??
Might be a decent subsonic gun too, I've thought about a 358 SS as well, but this could be a good compromise. and still be able to shoot fairly decent supersonic loads as well.
Might be a decent subsonic gun too, I've thought about a 358 SS as well, but this could be a good compromise. and still be able to shoot fairly decent supersonic loads as well.
Re: 338 federal??
I'll be building one this year as soon as all my parts come . Long range target / hunting .........no . Short to mid range hunting is what I'm looking at . Lots of energy in a short action .
I'll be building one this year as soon as all my parts come . Long range target / hunting .........no . Short to mid range hunting is what I'm looking at . Lots of energy in a short action .
