The new .338 Federal

Fat-Arrow · 12-20-2005, 01:14 PM

Just wondering what everyone thinks about this new load? It is nice to see a new round that is not a Short or Supershort Magnum load. I can't wait to see some ballistics on this round. Looks promising to me. I am also wondering who will be the first to jump on with Sako and offer a rifle in this caliber. What do you all think?

James B · 12-20-2005, 01:50 PM

Well the 358 Winchester was and still is a very good round. The fact that Federal is bringing this out will mean instant ammo. I think it will be a fine cartridge. I know people that have used it as a wildcat. Being a 308 case, almost everything has been tried. It will be interesting to see if it can compete in this Magnum crazy world that we now live in. They maybe should call it the 338-08 Magnum.

. People who always wanted a 338-06 will have the option of a factory rifle with factory ammo. It probably won't quite equal the 338-06 unless a new or good mix of powders is in the works. People who use the 338 caliber will want heavy bullets and the 308 case does not have a lot of powder space. Interesting anyway. I hope Savage jumps on it as well.

DM · 12-20-2005, 09:30 PM

Quote:

People who always wanted a 338-06 will have the option of a factory rifle with factory ammo.

People who wanted a .338-06ALREADY "had" an option of a "factory rifle" and "factory ammo" in that combo if they wanted it!!!

But, "before" a factory combo was ever offered, i builta 338-06for myself. I hunted with it forseveral years, harvesting 13 big game animials the first 3 years after i built it. It did quite well on the moose, caribou, brown bear and deer that i used it on!

Drilling Man

James B · 12-20-2005, 09:40 PM

Its true that the 338-06 has been available for quite a while but they are rare and in all the gun stores I have been in and gun shows I have been to, I have seen about two. I would guess in some areas they were more popular though. If this one goes over well and Federal has a good available ammo supply, it may be a good addition to the non Magnum market. It should make a good short to medium range moose, bear and Elk gun. I have a rifle right now that wants to be a 338-06. The gunsmith I talked to wants 350.00 out the door for the conversion. I am still thinking. It could be a Whelen as well. OR a 6.5-06. Its a tough choice.

DM · 12-21-2005, 09:17 AM

The reason i didn't build a Whelen when i built my 338-06, was because of such poor 35 cal bullet choises back then. I owned a couple 350 Rem mags, and i wasn't happy with the bullets on bigger game.

These days, there's some good 35 cal bullet choises, so maybe a Whelen wouldn't be so bad???

I have to admit, those 275 grain Speers in .338 at 2,300 fps really would give some penetration!!! I hit a woundedbrown bearat about 50 yards that was running full out, going straight away, just above the a-hole centered on the back bone. That bullettook out over a foot of back bone anchoring the bear on the spot! Itjust crushedit. That darn bullet looked to have held together, and even exited after that, so i never recovered it. The bear rolled to a stop and was dead when i got to it!

Drilling Man

James B · 12-21-2005, 01:03 PM

I was just looking today in the Hornady manual. I was a little suprised to see that they only show 100 FPS difference between the 338-06 and the 338 Win Mag. Thats both with 24 inch barrel. The Sierra shows the Win Mag at 150 FPS faster than the 338-06

Coyotestalker · 12-21-2005, 05:00 PM

I am excited about this new venture into the .338. I own a rifle chambered in .338 Lapua and I use the min. load I can, and I can hit those long distant targets and game no problem. But, i am not going to go and change because Hornady has made a new offering.