Maybe this is the rifle I need to use as I get older !

[Green Chile]

I have no experience with the 338 Federal round itself but the ballistics are sound. I will say the tang safety early Rugers are excellent rifles with very good lines and handling characteristics. I think they are great and my first DG rifle was an early tang safety 458 Lott.

 

[dgr416]

I just thought I do have a like new old fajen ruger tang safety ruger 77 short action laminated looks like African stock with black forend and nice checkering .Its besutiful probally just needs fitting to this short action soon to be 338 federal .I just saw a mannlicher stock too dang they are too nice to hunt with though .

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have a tang safety ruger with the beautiful Ruger sites that I really like but its a 243 win .I shot a few deer with it no problem but I want more out of this rifle .I love the tang safety I can pull the safety and trigger at the same time as I have for 40 years on my Ruger tang safety 338 win mag .I want a lighter rifle with a tang safety and real floor plate I hate these new plastic magazines or blind mags .I also wonder if there is a good light weight fiberglass stock for these old ruger tang rifles .
THE caliber I want to change it to is 338 federal i think the mag holds 5 rounds and the 338 federal with 225 grain or 200 grain is powerful enough for most game up to elk and interior grizzlies .I want to have this rifle rebored to 338 federal .Is Jes the best one for the job ? I have seen mark II stocks made into tang safety stocks .I this rifle has a 24 inch barrel also thats fine for balance .I dont see me carrying and shooting my 338 win mag I have used 40 years after the age of 70 .Has anyone fooled with the 338 federal? I got lured almost into a couple of 325 wsms but no brass and i dont want to start a new caliber .What do yall think ? Its just a smaller version of what i use now .I put a steel trigger guard and steel floorplate on this rifle already .IT WILL be a few more years before I am 70 but these heavy guns never get lighter to me .I think i can make a 6.5 pound 338 federal out of this rifle .

@dgr416
A wise man reboring the useless little 243.
I would go one step further and shorten the barrel to 22" and go 358. It's fine out 300yds when loaded properly and leaves noting to be desired.
But what would I know.
Bob

 

[bigrich]

i recently bought a ruger "tanger" in 270 . the rings were lapped and had a 2lb trigger done by the previous owner . to say it is a slick good handling rifle is a understatement . after a few tweaks it shot 130gn winchester "deer season" 270 ammo into a 1/2" horizontal group at 100. never had a factory rifle shoot factory ammo that well before .some would say i'm mad, but i'm having it rebarreled into a 7x57 for a classic cal comp at my local range . the original idea was 338-06 for group 1 big game , but i feel this rifle is too light for that cal . yes , i know bob, the whelen is good too . i've built a 358win on a 243 model 70 in the past , and 225 game kings can be devastating . regardless , the early rugers are a very fine under rated rifle

 

[dlmac]

I have a tang safety ruger with the beautiful Ruger sites that I really like but its a 243 win .I shot a few deer with it no problem but I want more out of this rifle .I love the tang safety I can pull the safety and trigger at the same time as I have for 40 years on my Ruger tang safety 338 win mag .I want a lighter rifle with a tang safety and real floor plate I hate these new plastic magazines or blind mags .I also wonder if there is a good light weight fiberglass stock for these old ruger tang rifles .
THE caliber I want to change it to is 338 federal i think the mag holds 5 rounds and the 338 federal with 225 grain or 200 grain is powerful enough for most game up to elk and interior grizzlies .I want to have this rifle rebored to 338 federal .Is Jes the best one for the job ? I have seen mark II stocks made into tang safety stocks .I this rifle has a 24 inch barrel also thats fine for balance .I dont see me carrying and shooting my 338 win mag I have used 40 years after the age of 70 .Has anyone fooled with the 338 federal? I got lured almost into a couple of 325 wsms but no brass and i dont want to start a new caliber .What do yall think ? Its just a smaller version of what i use now .I put a steel trigger guard and steel floorplate on this rifle already .IT WILL be a few more years before I am 70 but these heavy guns never get lighter to me .I think i can make a 6.5 pound 338 federal out of this rifle .

I shot a Russia Brown bear several years ago with a 338 Federal, wish it had been a 338 win mag. I haven't been able to get rid of that gun for years. Took it to many gun shows and now one was interested. I however agree that it would be a good elk rifle.

 

[Tex .416]

There is a ton of 338 federal on ammoseek and gunbroker .I am going to make my own.I have buckets full of 308 brass .I bet lake city brass would be awesome to use

Lake City brass is almost impossible to wear out with routine loads as it has thicker walls. fyi - It also may have crimped primer pockets. There are plenty of crimp removers on the market and it only needs to be done once and is easy to do.

 

[dgr416]

I shot a Russia Brown bear several years ago with a 338 Federal, wish it had been a 338 win mag. I haven't been able to get rid of that gun for years. Took it to many gun shows and now one was interested. I however agree that it would be a good elk rifle.

Yep i like bigger guns for big bears 338 win mag or better 416 rem mag .I just want this one for mostly deer and hogs just less kick than 338 win mag and lighter 3 pounds .

 

[bigrich]

while having never hunted elk or bear , they're hard to find in australia , i think the 338-06 is a nice compromise between 338 mag and federal . i can say that the 358win i built on a early 1970's winchester xtr was very accurate , and within it's optimum range , had devastating energy transfer with 225gn game kings . it was also interesting with 180gn xtp's on lighter game. i think 338 bore is better at penetration than 358 generally speaking . depends on the game intended to be hunted and projectile choice. my own big game experience is limited to water buffallo and feral horses and donkey in the northern territory of australia with a sako 85 "grizzly" in 9.3x62 . shot a lot of pigs, goats and very occasionally deer with varying calibres . i've played a lot over the years with handloading , and projectiles available and their game performance is sometimes overlooked with choosing a calibre . woodleigh bullets in australia make bullets specifically for the 338 federal and 338-06 if that's the way to go . i'm going to build a 338-06 in the near future , if it was good enough for elmer keith it'll do me . cheers

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

while having never hunted elk or bear , they're hard to find in australia , i think the 338-06 is a nice compromise between 338 mag and federal . i can say that the 358win i built on a early 1970's winchester xtr was very accurate , and within it's optimum range , had devastating energy transfer with 225gn game kings . it was also interesting with 180gn xtp's on lighter game. i think 338 bore is better at penetration than 358 generally speaking . depends on the game intended to be hunted and projectile choice. my own big game experience is limited to water buffallo and feral horses and donkey in the northern territory of australia with a sako 85 "grizzly" in 9.3x62 . shot a lot of pigs, goats and very occasionally deer with varying calibres . i've played a lot over the years with handloading , and projectiles available and their game performance is sometimes overlooked with choosing a calibre . woodleigh bullets in australia make bullets specifically for the 338 federal and 338-06 if that's the way to go . i'm going to build a 338-06 in the near future , if it was good enough for elmer keith it'll do me . cheers

@bigrich
Good ol Elmer also loved the 35 Whelen. Even better than the 338-06.
No flies in a 225gn Woodleigh PPSP out of the Whelen north of 2,850fps
Bob

 

[bigrich]

yeah the 35 whelens a great thing bob . but for my uses, cheap to run comp rifle in ssaa group 1 big game , as well as hunting medium game , 338-06 will do me . has more shoulder and less donut issues with reforming brass . also the supply of 358 225gn game kings in australia can be spotty, 338 cal has a lot more projectile choices for me . referring to dgr416 wondering about his ruger 243 rebarrel , mate i'd go 358 win over 338 fed. you can get partitions and game kings in 358 a lot easier in the usa i'd expect . you wouldn't believe the price of bullets in aus , especially nosler .
by the way bob, i have elmer's book, "hell i was there". interesting man and great life ,great book .

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

yeah the 35 whelens a great thing bob . but for my uses, cheap to run comp rifle in ssaa group 1 big game , as well as hunting medium game , 338-06 will do me . has more shoulder and less donut issues with reforming brass . also the supply of 358 225gn game kings in australia can be spotty, 338 cal has a lot more projectile choices for me . referring to dgr416 wondering about his ruger 243 rebarrel , mate i'd go 358 win over 338 fed. you can get partitions and game kings in 358 a lot easier in the usa i'd expect . you wouldn't believe the price of bullets in aus , especially nosler .
by the way bob, i have elmer's book, "hell i was there". interesting man and great life ,great book .

@bigrich
I know all about the prices in Australia mate.
Cameron at Atomic 29 does great projectiles you should check out.
Outer edge is also another good Australian company
And don't forget Woodleigh
With those 3 you have most bases covered for hunting and target.
Where is orstraya are you. As you know I'm in NSW
Bob

 

[bigrich]

i'm in logan , south east queensland bob . don't hold that against me though . the reference in prices was more for the benefit of our american friends . rebel gun works has 358 noslers 225gn accubonds and partitions, $190 aud for 50 bullets . not a big fan of solid copper bullets but bob , heard from a few smiths that these bullets have swaged up bore sizes in light barrels . i used 250 barnes in my sako 85 on buff and they worked well . but after shooting them accuracy seemed a little off in that rifle . for the light medium game i usually hunt i like speers and sst hornady's . we are getting a bit off topic , but i'm considering building a "old school" mauser 98 tribute rifle on 338-06 that mimics elmer's 333OKH that he used in africa . either that or a bolt gun in 444 marlin . oh decisions, decisions ! lol.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

i'm in logan , south east queensland bob . don't hold that against me though . the reference in prices was more for the benefit of our american friends . rebel gun works has 358 noslers 225gn accubonds and partitions, $190 aud for 50 bullets . not a big fan of solid copper bullets but bob , heard from a few smiths that these bullets have swaged up bore sizes in light barrels . i used 250 barnes in my sako 85 on buff and they worked well . but after shooting them accuracy seemed a little off in that rifle . for the light medium game i usually hunt i like speers and sst hornady's . we are getting a bit off topic , but i'm considering building a "old school" mauser 98 tribute rifle on 338-06 that mimics elmer's 333OKH that he used in africa . either that or a bolt gun in 444 marlin . oh decisions, decisions ! lol.

@bigrich
Lucky I bought my accubonds NOS at Tamworth firearms 66/50. They have none left or Hornady Round nose soft points 250gn as I bought all they had $66/100. Camerons atomic 29s are safe in any barrel and supremely accurate.
Woodleighs are cheaper than Speer and Sierra as well
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

i'm in logan , south east queensland bob . don't hold that against me though . the reference in prices was more for the benefit of our american friends . rebel gun works has 358 noslers 225gn accubonds and partitions, $190 aud for 50 bullets . not a big fan of solid copper bullets but bob , heard from a few smiths that these bullets have swaged up bore sizes in light barrels . i used 250 barnes in my sako 85 on buff and they worked well . but after shooting them accuracy seemed a little off in that rifle . for the light medium game i usually hunt i like speers and sst hornady's . we are getting a bit off topic , but i'm considering building a "old school" mauser 98 tribute rifle on 338-06 that mimics elmer's 333OKH that he used in africa . either that or a bolt gun in 444 marlin . oh decisions, decisions ! lol.

@bigrich
I'm sure man could whip you up a 444 on a No4 smle. 22" barrel 1:20 twist
Works well I know I did it.
Allan Swan could do it as well
Bob

 

[bigrich]

stop it bob, your "empowering" me to build a 444 , lol. i wouldn't touch swans with a barge pole mate . got some really dodgy work off them years ago . badly oversized chambers where the bolt closes with no resistance on a "no go" gauge are a complaint i've heard from others as well . my 358win on a model 70 i had built got taken to another smith and fixed at my expense . there's more to the story, but enough said . i'm thinking a parker hale no4 sporter wouldn't be a bad thing for a 444 project . cheers

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

stop it bob, your "empowering" me to build a 444 , lol. i wouldn't touch swans with a barge pole mate . got some really dodgy work off them years ago . badly oversized chambers where the bolt closes with no resistance on a "no go" gauge are a complaint i've heard from others as well . my 358win on a model 70 i had built got taken to another smith and fixed at my expense . there's more to the story, but enough said . i'm thinking a parker hale no4 sporter wouldn't be a bad thing for a 444 project . cheers

@bigrich
Contact Veronica at TSE/MAB Engineering in brisvagas mate they do first rat work
Chrome Molly barrel, chamber and fit around $700 and a bit of mag work and you have a 444 that can handle far more pressure than the marlin. If'n you work your loads up you can get a 280fn Woodleigh rnsp to 2,400+ fps and a 265ftz up near 2,600 fps
But hang on when you touch ol Betsy off
Bob
Bob

 

[dgr416]

I just handled a worked of custom 3040 krag it was the smoothest slickest action I ever felt .It has a casehardened action and beautiful stock .I think it can be rebored to 405 win.

 

[bigrich]

@bigrich
Contact Veronica at TSE/MAB Engineering in brisvagas mate they do first rat work
Chrome Molly barrel, chamber and fit around $700 and a bit of mag work and you have a 444 that can handle far more pressure than the marlin. If'n you work your loads up you can get a 280fn Woodleigh rnsp to 2,400+ fps and a 265ftz up near 2,600 fps
But hang on when you touch ol Betsy off
Bob
Bob

thanks for that bob . cheers