Anybody Shooting the 338 Federal?

.338 fed kinda seems like .35 Whelen's wimpy little brother. I wouldn't ditch a .30.06 or .45/70 for a .338 fed, much less both of them.

agreed.

I wouldn't trade a .30-06 or a .45-70 for a .338 federal. If you're looking for a new toy, sure get one....but don't trade in a workhorse for a show pony

Yeah, what they all said. A cartridge invented to get people to think they need a new gun.

I shoot lead bullets in my 338 Win Magnum with superb accuracy. I think the smaller case pushing the same bullet would be very effective. I would want the .338 Federal in a light rifle like the Remington Model Seven.

Pinetree;

If that .30-06 has the bolt on the proper, not right, side of the action & you're bound & determined to get rid of it, I'd like a shot at taking it off your hands.

Otherwise, IMHO, the world needs the .338 Federal like a fish needs a bicycle. There, that should get some flames coming from all the geriatric P.C.'s on site.

LOL, 900F

Pinetree,
I kind of like the idea myself. I think the 338 fed would make a great little elk thumper, better than an 06 in a handier package. The kimber would be sweet to carry but you will know it went off (at the range, you won't notice if you are shooting at an elk). Still, a lot less recoil than a 338 win. I just have trouble justifying it when I live in the east and seldon get to elk hunt. Can't bring myself to believe it isn't overkill for eastern whitetails. Good luck.

Crow, your comments make me think you haven't seen .338 fed ballistics, it is at the lower end of elk hunting power IMHO. Better than an 06? Not for me.

Trueblue,
I've read the ballistics and would take a 210 gr. partition from the 338 fed over a 180 gr. '06 load for elk. Not an elk on the planet that load wouldn't kill under 300 yards (which is the same limit I would put on the 180 gr. '06 load). Not to mention that the kimber in 338 fed would weigh a good pound less than just about any '06 for carrying up an elk mountain.

I've got a .338/06

The .338Fed is about 90fps slower with equivalent loads. Not enough to debate over. The .338Fed would be preferable if in a "mountain" type rifle, but only if said rifle is under 7.5lbs w/scope vs other options such as an '06.

The recoil is going to be a bit more than the '06, about like a .300mag. in equivalent firearms. The .338 is a level step up from the .30/06 and is on par or better than the .300mags for really big game. I would prefer it to any of my .30's for the large bears. I prefer it to the .338mag due to a 2rd larger magazine capacity 5+1, vs 3+1.

Trajectory is very similar to the .30 caliber weight equivalent. Not enough difference to be a handicap for the larger bore.

I really, really like my .338, but then it dosen't do anything that either the '06 or .45/70 won't do.

I have a 7mm-08 in a Remington Mod7 that gets far more use than the .257Roberts(very light M98 Sporter, .257WbyMag, .30/06, .338/06,.300RUM (too much of a good thing....)and .35Rem. Only the .45/70, .30/30 see equal use to the 7mm-08. Primarily due to handling qualities of the Mod7.

I wouldn't trade those two rifles (yours) for the .338Fed. That is unless you absolutely have to have the Kimber............. Keep the '06 !!!!

"The world needs the .338 Federal like a fish needs a bicycle", I wish I would have said that.
I had my Whelen at the range a few weeks back and a gent showed up with a .338 Federal.
I got the Whelen to shoot well under an inch at 100 yds while the .338 Fed never got got under 2 inches at the same distance.
The .338 WSM never came to be because the developers never got the velocity they were expecting, so I can't imagine the Fed getting more with such a smaller case.
The .338 Federal, the answer to a question that was never asked.