.338 random questions

[snowplow]

I got a couple of random questions of the .338 cal. I wasn't sure exactly where to put them, but I have them in mind for a bolt action so I put them here.

I'm basically a noob learning about reloading so I have limited understanding but I'm trying to put it all together.

A .308 win can be loaded subsonic and many but not all seem to think it's adequate, so why is it so hard to load a .338 fed subsonic? I'm asking because that doesn't make sense to me with the facts l (think) l know.

1. Same basic case l believe
2. Can get up to 300 gr bullets
3. People complain of having way too much case capacity in .308. Doable but on the edge. My understanding is that's with the large trail boss powder.
4. The larger 2-300 gr .338 bullets should only help in that regard.

What am l missing? It seems like this would be the perfect cartridge for a short range super/sub gun.

Also with the same idea in mind

How good is an 8.6 blk supersonic? Is it anywhere near the 338 Federal? How about the 308 Win? I can't find much info on that. I thought I remember hearing that it was supposed to be good. Super and subsonic but maybe I remember wrong. Just a sub caliber?

 

[Hondo1]

You can absolutely load .338fed subsonic, what you will run into as far as limitations are C.O.L. while using heavy for caliber bullets in a short action. Trailboss is the answer if you can find it. The whole point of the 8.6 BLK is to fix the length issues.

 

[snowplow]

That's what l mean though. If C.O.L. is maxed, then presumably more bullet is in the chamber vs a .308. So if a .308 works ok, a .338 fed should only work better, no? I've read about people saying there's not enough room for trailboss, but pretty much everything else is smaller powder which would solve that problem right?