Thread: 338 Federal? Who has one?

Originally Posted by kiwijames

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?

I have built a couple of 338 Feds for customers. I would say they are the best choice for an all round sub and medium range round. Good feeding out of just about any action set up for a 308win, easy for brass and loading, good case design, etc.

As far as ballistics and 'stick busting' ability goes, a long projectile will deflect less than a short fat one. The swedes at Norma figured that out in their tests years ago. I.e. A. 250 or 300gr .338 will be better than a 240gr .45cal .

The bullets out of the states that are dedicated for subsonic hunting loads are the best out there for .30cal or .338cal. Made be 'lee-high', or something like that.

I've been thinking about one for a while, a 185tsx barnes at 2700 would be an awesome medium range set up.

Originally Posted by 10-Ring

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.

That wouldn't have been Kelly would it???

(Kiwijames) dont take advice from experts that have never a shot deer with one ! D. Maisey built mine 5years ago and ive shot many deer since. It has a killability that ballistic charts dont show. Mine has a 16" barrel and i only get 2600fps with the 180gr AB but man does it put animals down

What does a 338fed have over a 308 with the heavier pills?


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[QUOTE=username;237723]What does a 338fed have over a 308 with the heavier pills?


Probably nothing if you load the 308 with 150 or 180g Nosler Partitions

Originally Posted by username

What does a 338fed have over a 308 with the heavier pills?


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EXPANSION

Originally Posted by username

What does a 338fed have over a 308 with the heavier pills?


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Same thing a 308 has over a 7mm08.

Originally Posted by Shearer

That wouldn't have been Kelly would it???

Yes, and as you're no doubt aware, he knows what he's talking about when it comes to hunting and rifles.

Originally Posted by username

What does a 338fed have over a 308 with the heavier pills?


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COOLNESS

Originally Posted by kiwijames

COOLNESS

Cheers that bit i already understood!


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Originally Posted by kiwijames

COOLNESS

This is the main thing. And its a perfect answer

Big holes let more light in, letting light in kills stuff.

Big bullets going slower than their effective opening velocity don't make big enough holes or cause enough internal damage to let in enough light.

Extremely under whelming, unless solid bone is hit

Originally Posted by Kiwi Greg

Big bullets going slower than their effective opening velocity don't make big enough holes or cause enough internal damage to let in enough light.

Extremely under whelming, unless solid bone is hit

Just did some expansion testing with the 450 BM into a 44 gallon nearly full of water, it certainly makes the drum jump.

I tested the Hornady 300 XTP, 225 & 250 FTX & the Sierra 230 JHP.

They all hit the bottom of the drum & dented it to a greater or lesser degree

They were all going around 950fps.

You can see that the 225 FTX pistol projectile really flew to bits

I decided to try the 250 FTXs that I have pulled from the Factory Hornady 450 Bushmaster rounds.

I'm glad I did as it really showed the typical lack of expansion I have seen from conventional jacketed rifle projectiles in the past at subsonic speeds.

You could literally load them & fire them again