vs. .338 Federal vs. .45-70 Govt. Availability - A quick check at midwayusa.com shows 10 pages of .308 and 8 pages of 30-06 and only 1 page of .338 2. 338 Federal Bolt Action Rifles. As the guy above me stated, the .308 is sufficient to take any game you'll find in North America with proper shot placement, much cheaper to shoot and reload, and many more options available. I freely and readily admit to being a fan of the older cartridges. Again just my opinion, but the 338 and 358 are two of the same and are both sub 400 yard hunting rigs respectfully utilizing heavier bullets at or slightly above 30-06 power levels. David Fortier talks with Jeff Hoffman of Black Hills Ammunition about the evolution of the .308 Win. While the 150gr .308 Winchester load does have a somewhat flatter trajectory than the .338 Federal, the .338 Federal has virtually the same trajectory as the 180gr .308 Winchester load and has substantially more kinetic energy than both .308 loads from the muzzle out to 500 yards. It's more than enough firearm for any deer on the planet inside 300 yards. I would also be very interested to see how the cartridge performs on African plains game. Availability - A quick check at midwayusa.com shows 10 pages of .308 and 8 pages of 30-06 and only 1 page of .338 2. It is an impressive cartridge and fits quite nicely into the category of "using" cartridges with which I do most of my hunting. Consequently, it provides the potential for impressive power in a very manageable package. Because of probable differences in neck lengths and shoulder measurements, it is not a good idea to fire the new .338 Federal in these rifles. It would be the choice if you are favoring a bolt action or any other type of rifle that is made for 243, 260, 7-08, 308 or 358. If you want a tube feed lever action, the 338 Marlin Express is the way to go. The 338 Federal is a simply the 308 Win necked up. it worked great on a 300# wild boar. The .338 Federal is a rifle cartridge based on the .308 Winchester case necked up to .33 caliber. The .338 Federal, a necked-up .308, is just one year in circulation at this writing. One thing's for sure, the cartridge won't be belted. The .338 Federal was released in … Unlike short magnums, it doesn't require a wide magazine box, so it's ideally suited to slim, welter-weight rifles. One important word of caution is necessary with the new .338 Federal cartridge. Best 6.5mm Cartridges: 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser, Precision Reloading Guide Part 3: Priming, Powder Charging & Bullet Seating, Best Rimfire Cartridges — .22 Magnum vs .22 Long Rifle, Revolver vs. Semiauto Pistol: A Ballistic Oddity, .375 Ruger & .416 Ruger — Big Bore Cartridges, Black Hills Evolution of Rifle Cartridge: .308 Win. the.338 Federal fitsin short-action rifles. It will probably be chambered for one of the good old cartridges that I've mentioned previously. I recently took the 40X to a LR Sniper Class where we shot up … Also the M1-A that are both in 308/7.62X51. With more powder capacity because of a larger diameter and longer casing, as well, the.338 takes a larger diameter bullet, the.338 is capable of delivering a much heavier bullet with more energy at the target. The .338 Federal cartridge is based off of the .308 Winchester and uses the same receivers, bolt and magazines as its parent cartridge without any loss in capacity. The distance was approximately 80 yards. It's not that I'm against all of the new short magnums and other innovations; they are surely on the cutting edge of new technology and performance. The cartridge is simply the .308 Winchester necked up to hold .338-inch bullets, and will fit perfectly in a short-action receiver. I built a 338/308 other wise known as the 338 federal light bolt gun for a customer in about '82. 338 Federal Accuracy . Price - .308 seems to be slightly cheaper than 30-06, not a huge difference, but .338 is much more expensive. So please forgive me if I seem to live in the past when it comes to rifle cartridges. CBS News. All Rights Reserved. Once I got the green light from my guide, I touched the trigger of the Sako and watched the 185-grain .338 Federal load pile this buck in the dirt. The Express has a unique case and isn't popular at all. TVGuide.com. Battle of the Black Bear Cartridges: .308 Win. The 338 Federal for sure answers the bell in regards to taking its parent round to another level as does its stable mate the tried and true 358 Winchester(I put that in there for you Beartooth)! I think the real potential of the .338 Federal cartridge is going to be measured when it is matched against game animals the size of elk, black bear, and moose. In terms of ballistics, the larger.338 Win. In the shooting that I've done with the .338 Federal/Sako combination I found the felt recoil quite manageable. Oh, by the way, this impressive power and manageable package does not come at the cost of heavy recoil. Savage and Heym (Models SR21, SR 30)[4] offer bolt action rifles. It was created by Federal Cartridge and Sako in 2006 and intended as a big game cartridge with reasonable recoil for lightweight rifles. The ballistic coefficient is super important for long range shooting. The .338 Federal, a necked-up .308, is just one year in circulation at this writing. It should work real well on the local elk. The 338 Federal for sure answers the bell in regards to taking its parent round to another level as does its stable mate the tried and … The .338 Federal is a powerful cartridge, but it is overshadowed by the short-action magnums, and has yet to prove it is here to stay. The sighting-in session on the ranch had satisfied me on that point. SHot 1 elk with the 225 grain Interlock from a 338 and wished I had a stronger bullet, but she still died. Indeed, the.358 Winchester was one of the first cartridges designed using a modified.308 Winchester case while the.338 Federal is a relatively new SAAMI standardized rifle cartridge. Re: AR-10 Platform 308 winchester vs 338 Federal? In fact, you do what you want to, but I'm going to get one on order as quickly as I can. Next, we pit subsonic rivals against each other before stretching the legs of this CQB round out to 600 yards from a short 9-inch barrel. It doesn't bother me one whit that the .30-06 is celebrating its 100th birthday. For comparison, the 180-grain .338 Federal load is about 200 fps faster than a standard 180-grain .308 Winchester load. The .338 Federal fires a 210-grain bullet at 2600 fps, and 180- and 185-grain bullets at 150 to 200 fps faster. Mag. I think the exact same thing could be said of the 308 family. All Shooting Times subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. .338 Lapua Magnum: A Brief History. Initially, the .338 Federal will be offered in three loadings: the 180-grain Nosler AccuBond bullet (rated at 2840 fps with 3223 ft-lbs of muzzle energy), the 185-grain Barnes Triple-Shock bullet (rated at 2760 fps and 3129 ft-lbs), and the 210-grain Nosler Partition (rated at 2630 fps and 3225 ft-lbs). Being based on the .308 case means that the cartridge can be used in short-action rifles. Sako no longer offers rifles in .338 Federal. Sako 85 Gray Wolf in 338 Federal. In my view, this 33-bore cartridge makes a lot of sense. Re: 338 Federal or 338 RCM or 338 WSM We're building a "fun" project .338 Federal in a short barrel config. The .358 Winchester is the same concept, but there are more .338 bullets available than .358s and the .338 bullets have better sectional density and higher ballistic coefficients. Tech Republic. We figured to move a few hundred yards down the fence line and see if the deer in that particular neighborhood might be a little more inclined for a fight. And I especially feel that way when the subject under consideration has to do with hunting rifles. My opportunity to see the .338 Federal in action came early one morning as my guide and I were ensconced in some heavy brush doing some rattling. Chuck Hawks reviewed the .338 Federal in, This page was last edited on 27 January 2021, at 09:03. .308, although I don't have anything against 30-06. Mag. I think it's that good. Which one of these popular rounds will be named the best all-around black bear hunting cartridge By Ron Spomer CNET. 175 Gr. 4. The following ammunition cartridge ballistics information and chart can be used to approximately compare .308 Winchester vs .338 Lapua Magnum ammo rounds. The maximum cartridge overall length is supposed to be 2.86", rather than the 2.81" of the.308, but Federal factory loaded ammo is reportedly being loaded to a length not greater than 2.80". 6.5 creedmoor is generally the best long range round you mention. It was a buck that was on his way to our party. ST, 900 Ehlen Dr., Anoka, MN 55303; 800-322-2342; www.federalcartridge.com) points out that the new .338 Federal cartridge has increased velocity over the .308 cartridge and heavier bullet weights.In addition, it produces muzzle energy that is greater than a .30-06 and is right up there in … Latest News from. offers a decided advantage. The .338 Federal is a .308 caliber case necked up to hold a .33 caliber bullet. My 338 is a Sako 85S accuracy is acceptable but not what I have come to expect from a Sako. Match bullet. It carries more energy than a .308 and shoots about as flat. Federal's announcement that in the spring of 2006 they would release a new .338 caliber cartridge based on a necked-up .308 Winchester case was of great interest to me. The .338 Lapua Magnum was developed in the eighties specifically to provide Military snipers a round capable of delivering high powered impacts to targets at extended range. .308, although I don't have anything against 30-06. [8], http://www.nosler.com/nosler-load-data/338-federal/, "Take Aim at Rifle Reloading Data | Hodgdon Reloading", ".338 Federal: Federal's first proprietary cartridge makes real short-action sense", "First Look: The .338 Federal Rifle Cartridge", "The New .338 Federal Is Big News for Big Game", "Ruger M77 Frontier Rifle In .338 Federal Test Report", "ArmaLite AR-10(T) Match Grade .338 Federal Semi-Auto Rifle", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=.338_Federal&oldid=1003079209, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. The .338 Federal shows some very interesting potential. My guide had been jangling his set of antlers in a fine representation of an affair of honor (deer version) for quite a few minutes without much to show for his artistry. But in 2006 Federal teamed up with Sako and gave us the .338 Federal. The .338 Federal cartridge is based off of the .308 Winchester and uses the same receivers, bolt and magazines as its parent cartridge without any loss in capacity. 338 Federal doesn’t allow for this. ST, 900 Ehlen Dr., Anoka, MN 55303; 800-322-2342; www.federalcartridge.com) points out that the new .338 Federal cartridge has increased velocity over the .308 cartridge and heavier bullet weights. If you want a tube feed lever action, the 338 Marlin Express is the way to go. From there, the 8.6 Creedmoor continues to differentiate itself in a number of ways. As regular readers of Guns and Shooting Online know, for some time now I have been promoting a .338 wildcat cartridge based on the 7x57 Mauser case first proposed by Jack O'Connor. The virtues of the 338 federal are slightly better than 30-06 performance in a shorter lighter rifle. Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight, o It’s very easy to make a .338 Federal case of a .308 win case - all you need is a sinclair expander + .337 mandrel It ought to be just the medicine to use when putting the sneak on a big elk in the heavy timber. 3. As we moved through the trees, we spotted movement about 80 yards away. For the game and ranges you are discussing the .338 Federal and .338-06 are both excellent choices and both better than a 7mm-08. The primary purpose is subsonic suppressed shooting. (If you’re looking for the best .338 Lapua rifle, check out this guide). It should work real well on the local elk. Though they each have their limitations, both cartridges offer certain advantages when compared to their parent cartridge. ©2021 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Ok, so then the pressure maximum of the 338 should be the same as the 308 brass at 62,000 psi and 52,000 CUP. I'm talking about the .338 Federal cartridge. As soon as I get my 260 rem done, on a RRA lar8. In fact, it could be dangerous. But there are more.338 Win. The .338 Federal is the .308 Winchester case necked up to .338. In its product information sheet, Federal Cartridge Co. (Dept. According to the Sheriff, the .338 Federal 185-grain Triple-Shock loading really did a number on this nice buck. 338 Federal Rifle Manufacturers . I built a 338/308 other wise known as the 338 federal light bolt gun for a customer in about '82. ... 243. His appearance indicated that we'd quit our previous location too soon, so we really began to scan the surrounding brush for any more bucks that might be coming. 7mm Hunttalk, 308 and 7mm Rem mag. Subscriber Services. I have harvested several deer with the 338 federal and the 185 TSX and it handles them with aplomb. .338 federal was made to put more knockdown power in a .308 length case. 1. Price - .308 seems to be slightly cheaper than 30-06, not a huge difference, but .338 is much more expensive. I added a DPMS LR 308 … The fact it has the same large game range as the less powerful .308 surprised the author and belies the .338 Federal’s reputation as just a brush cartridge. It would be the choice if you are favoring a bolt action or any other type of rifle that is made for 243, 260, 7-08, 308 or 358. .260 a close second. In its product information sheet, Federal Cartridge Co. (Dept. The … This buck got away before we could get a good look at him, let alone a clear shot. The Barnes Triple-Shock is an all-copper bullet that is nontoxic and extremely accurate. My brother Eric shooting a deer one handed recording at the same time. Rifles Chambered In 338 Federal. They've served me well, and I was taught to "dance with who brung ya!". Since it is based on the.308 Win. Released in 2006 as a joint venture between Federal and Sako, the .338 Federal may be one of the wisest choices that the big-game hunter who likes a lightweight, sweet-shooting short-action rifle could make. Federal has partnered with Sako to bring out this new cartridge, and Sako is starting to chamber rifles for it. To qualify statements, the the .338 Federal was promoted as having more muzzle energy than the .30-06 and that the .338 generated 200fps more velocity than the parent .308 Winchester cartridge with bullets of equal weight. He says the new cartridge shows great potential for big-game hunters. In my view, this 33-bore cartridge makes a lot of sense. The .338 Federal was designed by Federal Ammunition and it is a SAAMI standardized cartridge that was released in 2006. Such as being optimized for a short barrel, fast twist rate for accurate subsonic loads, reliable feeding out of 308 magazines, etc… But you'll also have to forgive me if I choose to include the .338 Federal in that mix of good, "using" cartridges. It’s simply a .308 Winchester case necked out to hold .338 bullets. ST, 900 Ehlen Dr., Anoka, MN 55303; 800-322-2342; www.federalcartridge.com) points out that the new .338 Federal cartridge has increased velocity over the .308 cartridge and heavier bullet weights.In addition, it produces muzzle energy that is greater than a .30-06 and is right up there in competition with the 7mm Magnum. If you come across me in the woods, I'll probably be packing some sort of bolt action with a classic stock. Sure enough, over west of us was a nice 10-point whitetail that had been attracted to the sound of the rattled antlers. Recoil was supriselngy light. Savage 338 Lapua Magnum, Remington 40X Sniper Rifle that I actually used in the past. Opening day Michigan deer season, Ellsworth. You can run 300gr bullets at subsonic, or use a full power load, seems pretty versatile, and you just neck up 308 brass. That’s a smidgeon better than the .308’s 180-grain bullet can do. A recent Texas deer hunt, however, has caused me to give serious consideration to a new cartridge that is just being announced. … ZDNet. In its product information sheet, Federal Cartridge Co. (Dept. While the 150gr .308 Winchester load does have a somewhat flatter trajectory than the .338 Federal, the .338 Federal has virtually the same trajectory as the 180gr .308 Winchester load and has substantially more kinetic energy than both .308 loads from the muzzle out to 500 yards. Stuff : https://edwinsarkissian.comInsta : https://www.instagram.com/edwinsarkissian/ The new.338 Federal can be adapted to any rifle suitable for the.308 Winchester. But it’s also available in the often overlooked and extremely versatile .338 Federal, which is based on a standard .308 Winchester cartridge necked up to use available .338-inch bullets. Mag. 308 vs 338 Federal I’m a big fan of the 308. I found an unused DPMS .338 federal barrel and installed it on a SAA upper (couldn’t find a DPMS at the time plus the SSA is an immaculate piece of gunmetal). It drops faster than .308. Bigger bullet, heavier bullet, and similar trajectory to the highly respected (and deserved) .308 … I'm building a 338. James Tarr runs through the 3-Second Headshot drill. In the meantime, I had taken a position against a nearby mesquite tree and put the rifle's crosshairs on the deer's right shoulder. Frank and Tony from Gallery of Guns spice up the Glock test using their non-dominant hands. factory rifles available today, and virtually every bolt gun manufacturer offers at least one.338 Win. I think the exact same thing could be said of the 308 family. As regular readers of Guns and Shooting Online know, for some time now I have been promoting a .338 wildcat cartridge based on the 7x57 Mauser case first proposed by Jack O'Connor. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Unlike short magnums, it doesn't require a wide magazine box, so it's ideally suited to slim, welter-weight rifles. TV.com. As soon as I get my 260 rem done, on a RRA lar8. Federal's announcement that in the spring of 2006 they would release a new .338 caliber cartridge based on a necked-up .308 Winchester case was of great interest to me. Stopping power - all will stop practically anything. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Recoil was supriselngy light. Even though muzzle flash has more effect on an observer than a shooter, reducing flash is... Give a Gift   The caliber is capable of producing better than 3,000 foot-pounds of energy and, since it is based on the .308, brass is widely available. Many would also throw the 35 Whelen into that same argument. It carries more energy than a .308 and shoots about as flat. 1. The 338 Federal is a simply the 308 Win necked up. Brass is affordable and widely available. The guide checked him with his binoculars and pronounced him a worthy candidate. It's just that I still haven't learned all that I want to learn from the .30-06, the .308 Winchester, the 7x57, the .257 Roberts, and the .270 Winchester, just to name a few. (Ron Spomer/) Clearly, the .338 Federal is a strong contender as a black bear cartridge. 3. Federal Fusion vs. Hornady Interlock. 4. 338 Federal Vs 308 Winchester Ballistics . A 225-grain .338 Federal. Respectfully Terry IMHO. It was created by Federal Cartridge and Sako in 2006 and intended as a big game cartridge with reasonable recoil for lightweight rifles.[3]. My bet is that it can deliver the goods to just about any medium- or large-framed game animal. I'm building a 338. In fact, both the 180- and the 185-grain .338 Federal offerings generate more velocity than the standard 180-grain .30-06 loading. Respectfully Terry The .300 Blackout is here to stay, and we take some time to look at new technology surrounding this cartridge. Stopping power - all will stop practically anything. Here is some pictures of my present rifles that will shoot LR. I used this combination of .338 Federal ammo and a Sako bolt-action rifle on my Texas deer hunt. In the table below is a comparison between the .338 Federal and the older .358 Winchester, another cartridge based on the .308 Winchester. In reading one of my books, “Cartridges of the World”, 12th Edition, it notes that the 338 Federal is a necked up 308 case to accept a .338 bullet. These rifles utilize our lightweight, in-house machined BILLet-AR receivers and Wilson Combat Match-grade barrels. Its heavy recoil hurt its score in this test. Match. In addition, it produces muzzle energy that is greater than a .30-06 and is right up there in competition with the 7mm Magnum. The .338 Federal is a rifle cartridge based on the .308 Winchester case necked up to .33 caliber. |   I may send it to accuflight and re barrel to 260 AI on the fence about it. There are a number of rifles already in existence that are chambered for some sort of .338-308 wildcat cartridge. The 30-06 bullet diameter is.308 inches while the.338 … it worked great on a 300# wild boar. 338 Federal Rifle For Sale . 175 Gr. If you're wanting a .338 in an AR platform, take a look at the Bad News Lapua from onlylongrange.com. As Shooting Times reported last month, the .338 Federal is the first sporting rifle cartridge to carry Federal Cartridge Co.'s name. LMT,[5] DPMS Panther Arms,[6] and Wilson Combat,[7] offered semi-automatic rifles in .338 Federal as of May 2019. For this particular hunt, I was using the 185-grain Barnes Triple-Shock loading. Many would also throw the 35 Whelen into that same argument.