Thread: 338 Federal? Who has one?

Thinking of getting a 338Fed for some close up stuff. The 338 looks like it has good(ish) projectile selection, cheap 308 based brass and dies plus some real KO power with the heavy pills.
I intend for it to be a handy bush rifle. Light, short and sturdy. Suppressed with a minimum of barrel. Hoping to get down to <6lb all up including scope. Sccope being something low power and compact.
I have one mate with a Tikka and he rates it. Does anyone run a 338Fed?

Something just arrived today that you may want two play with next time your down

@BRADS Wrong forum bro

Originally Posted by BRADS

Something just arrived today that you may want two play with next time your down

450 Bushmaster?

I had a 338 Fed a while ago now.
Gave up with it, never shot an animal, but it was quite a heavy Model 7.
It was supposed to shoot subs, it did but not that well.
It shot supers pretty well, but recoil was getting up there a bit.
I decided the projectiles wouldn't be particularly great on Fallow (my main bush use) as they would tend to be pretty hard for Fed speeds.
The 450 Bushmaster makes the 338 Fed look pretty average

Mate of mine is running a .338 rcm suppressed built on a kimber with a can on it have witnessed it in action using the 185 Gmx it's the best bush sledgehammer I have seen so far

Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

I had a 338 Fed a while ago now.
Gave up with it, never shot an animal, but it was quite a heavy Model 7.
It was supposed to shoot subs, it did but not that well.
It shot supers pretty well, but recoil was getting up there a bit.
I decided the projectiles wouldn't be particularly great on Fallow (my main bush use) as they would tend to be pretty hard for Fed speeds.
The 450 Bushmaster makes the 338 Fed look pretty average

I can anchor a Red stag with a 243 so really the difference between 338 and 45 is only going to be a paper problem. The larger bore makes me assume I can gain greater volume over a shorter length. I have toiled all my life with crowbar barrels. Time for a change or at least a short option in the safe. Realistically I think a 308 would do it but they're too common and would make VCs head swell up

What pills were you using @Kiwi Greg at super speeds in the 338? Obviously bigger pill = more recoil regardless. the 200g BT/AB was my first thought.
The 450BM looks OK. Whats it like on gear as in dies, brass pills etc. It's a straight walled 284? Does it feed well from a mag? How many rounds do you get in a mag like you did for BRADS?

Originally Posted by kiwijames

I can anchor a Red stag with a 243 so really the difference between 338 and 45 is only going to be a paper problem. The larger bore makes me assume I can gain greater volume over a shorter length. I have toiled all my life with crowbar barrels. Time for a change or at least a short option in the safe. Realistically I think a 308 would do it but they're too common and would make VCs head swell up

What pills were you using @Kiwi Greg at super speeds in the 338? Obviously bigger pill = more recoil regardless. the 200g BT/AB was my first thought.
The 450BM looks OK. Whats it like on gear as in dies, brass pills etc. It's a straight walled 284? Does it feed well from a mag? How many rounds do you get in a mag like you did for BRADS?

You can anchor a Red stag with a 22 sub if it looks at you & you are close enough

I was using 200 SSTs or something, I got some 160 TTSX Barnes but never used them, I got 2500fps with the 200s.

The T3 Tikka takes three in the mag & feeds flawlessly, the Rem 700 takes three & feeds fine after some slight mods.

I have plenty of brass, factory rounds & Hornady Dies.

The Factory rounds go 2000-2025fps out of the 12" barrel, reloading should lead to more velocity, as they are an AR15 round so won't be going flat out, I haven't tried yet though.

The Factory supers are rifle 250s, I use pistol 225 FTXs for subs, I have some 300 XTPs but settled on the 225s.

The brass should last forever until you lose it, they use small rifle primers.

funny you say that greg I just smoked a 120 pound pig with a subbie tonight. who needs fancy high powered rifles......

What did you shoot it with?
Friwi

A friend of mine shot a huge 16 point red stag in a forestry block about two weeks ago with his suppressed Tikka .338 Federal. Pole axed it. Weighed one of the back steaks and it went over 11lbs.

Originally Posted by Friwi

What did you shoot it with?
Friwi

My brno model 2
Throwing a 42gr subsonic

Do it @kiwijames you know you need a 450 BM

Bill ,

Shit man , you must be made of MONEY , to be able to afford Winchesters 22 subsonic ammo , me , I could never jsutify or afford IT , not at $120 a brick , too use to paying $40 a brick for 22 ammo .

Later Chris

go talk to your local reagional council 84 for the last brick
still cheeper than feeding anything else in my safe, and in all reality there is piss all rabbits around here
i walked close to 10km and saw two