338 Federal

[realsamthompson]

I’m considering rebarreling a Tikka into 338 Federal with a 16-20” barrel. I have no experience in the calibre but like the look of the terminal performance.

My idea would be to shoot 180-250g monolithic bullets (Barnes TTSX, Virtus, NorthFork) predominately for red deer inside 300m but also as a potential plainsgame rifle.

Interested to hear anyone’s experience of their cartridge, especially with a short barrel!

Thanks

 

[45-70guy]

180,200,225 grain are popular bullet weights
A short barrel might be slow but would make a good medium range setup, 300 maybe would be fine.
Of course having dope or a dialing scope you really can dial in your bullet and velocity to the exact range of effective mushrooming.

 

[Borderer]

I don't know if this helps at all, but I had the same thought process as you a few years ago but when I applied for a variation, my FEO told me that it would only be granted on the condition it was not to be used in the UK, as my local police force have a rule that they will not allow anything larger than a 30-06 (preferably a 308) to be used in the UK or zeroed on private land. In any event, the variation was refused, as whilst I had booked a plains game hunt, the dates had not been confirmed at the time, so the police would not accept it as good reason.

I do know several people who have been granted a .300 Win Mag in Scotland though.

I have seen a Sako (I think) .338 Federal advertised very cheaply in the UK. If you PM me, I can send you the details.

 

[AckleyHunter]

A short barrel will really hamstring that cartridge's velocity. If you handload, you could neck up some 277 fury bimetal cases and push the pressure envelope. Might be interesting.

 

[45-70guy]

I noticed that if you run like the “old days” a 26” barrel it can be pretty good. Course now no one wants anything that long

 

[Mekaniks]

I have one i had custom built on a Mod 70 action (post 64) with a 20 in Douglas barrel.
I took it to SA in 2016 and killed kudu, wildebeest (black & blue) Impala and springbok with it.
And I took a Kodiak bear with it in 2018.
I hand load 210g partitions with 45g of Varget at 2450 fps.
I think it’s a great little cartridge that punches above its weight class in small (short action short barrel) package.

 

[analog_peninsula]

So, no approvals for very sensible deer cartridges like the .35 Remington, .38-55, or .45-70? Is that really the situation on the ground?

 

[gbflyer]

Great cartridge. I have done exactly what you are proposing. Mine is a lefty, 20" barrel. I had a reamer made to seat the 210gr Nosler Partition and use the factory M+ magazine. I would not use a bullet heavier than 210, the heavy ones are made for the magnums. The Barnes 160 TTSX is the way for monos. They kill very well. I haven't noticed much velocity loss at 20", really not an issue at 300 meters.

 

[45-70guy]

I have one i had custom built on a Mod 70 action (post 64) with a 20 in Douglas barrel.
I took it to SA in 2016 and killed kudu, wildebeest (black & blue) Impala and springbok with it.
And I took a Kodiak bear with it in 2018.
I hand load 210g partitions with 45g of Varget at 2450 fps.
I think it’s a great little cartridge that punches above its weight class in small (short action short barrel) package.

With a 26” which is not as handy as your 20” we were getting about 2650 with 225’s.
The larger diameter bullets really do a number even at a modest fps no doubt.

 

[realsamthompson]

I don't know if this helps at all, but I had the same thought process as you a few years ago but when I applied for a variation, my FEO told me that it would only be granted on the condition it was not to be used in the UK, as my local police force have a rule that they will not allow anything larger than a 30-06 (preferably a 308) to be used in the UK or zeroed on private land. In any event, the variation was refused, as whilst I had booked a plains game hunt, the dates had not been confirmed at the time, so the police would not accept it as good reason.

I do know several people who have been granted a .300 Win Mag in Scotland though.

I have seen a Sako (I think) .338 Federal advertised very cheaply in the UK. If you PM me, I can send you the details.

Certainly not the case with Inverness, they are very practical, we are probably quite lucky in that regard.

I have one i had custom built on a Mod 70 action (post 64) with a 20 in Douglas barrel.
I took it to SA in 2016 and killed kudu, wildebeest (black & blue) Impala and springbok with it.
And I took a Kodiak bear with it in 2018.
I hand load 210g partitions with 45g of Varget at 2450 fps.
I think it’s a great little cartridge that punches above its weight class in small (short action short barrel) package.

That’s exactly the sort of information I’m looking for thank you!

 

[Hedge774]

I fell in love with the concept of this rifle / cartridge a couple of years ago. It took me up until last month to find one I really liked. A Sako Finnlight with a 24"? barrel. It is very handy and I really don't notice the "full sized" Barrel. I think a 20" would be the ticket for hunting/stalking in the thick stuff, though.

 

[Tbitty]

My biggest concern would be that the 338 Federal is now, essentially, a "dead" cartridge. My brother got one in an NRA Raffle drawing many years ago, and I always thought I'd get around to picking one up. However, I believe they may now be all but discontinued in new, mass production offerings and ammo supply is very low. But for handloaders, it's fortunately fairly easy to produce.

 

[Mekaniks]

I built mine with the idea that it would be a reasonably light weight (but heavy enough) and small enough and durable enough to carry on a 4 wheeler, in an small airplane, in a boat on the salt water, in a tree stand, in thick brush, or carry on my frame pack.
But, still be able to realistically shoot 300 yards, and hit hard.
I liked it so much that I started using it for everything for several years.
Mine has black cerakote for rust protection. An HS Precision Kevlar stock for weight reduction and durability with a 3-9x40 Leupold and Talley rings. The magazine hold 5 + 1 in the chamber. Ready to hunt it weighs 7 1/4 lbs.

 

[Hedge774]

My biggest concern would be that the 338 Federal is now, essentially, a "dead" cartridge. My brother got one in an NRA Raffle drawing many years ago, and I always thought I'd get around to picking one up. However, I believe they may now be all but discontinued in new, mass production offerings and ammo supply is very low. But for handloaders, it's fortunately fairly easy to produce.

I agree, even though I love mine. I still can occasionally find a few boxes of factory ammo for sale on line, but I will reload the majority of my ammo. All good though! We can still buy brass and make what we can't buy from all the 308 brass we have. .338 projectiles are still available by the gallon. This is part of what makes it so interesting to me!

 

[Safari Dave]

What is the use case for the rifle?

I think some of short-action cartridges, just lack something vs. true magnums.



I have a .338 Win Mag and .340 WBY Mag. They are both heavy hitters, and I would gladly hunt the biggest game in NA with either.

(I'd even hunt anything in Africa with them if they were legal, provided I had proper bullets)

 

[Hedge774]

For me, the use for this rifle is moving a 210 gr bullet at 2600+ ft/sec and delivering 3200+ ft/lbs of energy without me getting bludgeoned for no reason. I can also obtain better accuracy without a nose bleed. Of course, this is not a do all cartridge. The .338 WM and up will obviously do things that this one can't. Thanks for all the insight!

 

[Wyatt Smith]

I always thought the 358 Winchester and 338 federal were neat cartridges. I would think either one would be fine in a 20” barrel. Unless international travel is in the plans you can always neck up 308 brass for either caliber. Given the choice between the two I would probably opt for the 358.

 

[gbflyer]

My biggest concern would be that the 338 Federal is now, essentially, a "dead" cartridge. My brother got one in an NRA Raffle drawing many years ago, and I always thought I'd get around to picking one up. However, I believe they may now be all but discontinued in new, mass production offerings and ammo supply is very low. But for handloaders, it's fortunately fairly easy to produce.

Agree. I built mine partially because I got a screaming deal (free) on a case of Federal Fusion ammo my store owner buddy ordered by mistake.

 

[analog_peninsula]

I always thought the 358 Winchester and 338 federal were neat cartridges. I would think either one would be fine in a 20” barrel. Unless international travel is in the plans you can always neck up 308 brass for either caliber. Given the choice between the two I would probably opt for the 358.

It’s hard not to like everything about the Wilson NULA .358 except the price.

 

[mauser98]

Pretty much a modern 8x57 in a short action. The 8x57 does the same thing but with more support from European manufacturers. Bullet selection has gotten pretty good as well.