.338 federal

[woof]

CB900F, (I used to have a CB900F) - I think the explanation is that cartridges and calibers run through trends of popularity, dare I say, like fashions? The .338 Federal is enjoying a resurgence because it seems fashion is moving out of the smaller but faster Phase and into, or at least toward, a bigger hole phase. I personally love the entire .308 family and believe the .338 fills a gap that needed to be filled. The .35 Rem is also having a popularity resurgence and other larger calibers like the .450 Marlin and the old .45-70 are catching on. You would be hard-pressed to pick two calibers that would cover the entire centerfire range of need better than the .338 Federal and either the .260 or .243.

 

[jonboynumba1]

I think it's a keeper

Not everyone everywhere is going to "need" a .338 Fed any more than a .338 win mag....however for it's intended purposes and places like Alaska and NW in general for example the .338 win mag is certainly an aswome performer. I owned one briefly I got in a trade years ago and almost kept it as a "light heavy" gun should I ever venture up north or to the dark continent. Alas I needed cash more so I sold it. Truth be told I've also always wanted a .375 H&H and would probably rather have that being as that and a 7 mag can like cover most of the same area a .338 would for most people. If I shot a .300 it would be even more sure.

I wanted to think the .338 fed another fad round like the short magnums that have mostly dried up and withered followed by the "ultra magnums" another marketting ploy in my book...not for me anyway (but then again that is why they make more than just chevy trucks and Honda Accords for people to drive-LOL). Having explored it a bit I kinda do see the upsides the .338 Fed represents (lighter shorter action and some ballistic/reloading niceties) I think it will probably be nearly as popular and .338 win mag in 10 years...which is not to say popular but enough that it aint going anywhere. I'd probably keep it if I got one in trade today. As to the many deer hunters touting it's peformance in the gun rags right after it came out...well...they gotta sell magazines and adds...we've had plenty of fine cartridges for that for over 50 years....it doesn't do anything they don't on deer in my book. If I was moving out west and needed to add a rifle to do everything....I don't know if it would be it or not but itwould be in the run-off anyway. And it certainly could be loaded right for anything I'd need. (then again 7 mag could to) but if I was killing 800#+ animals on a regular basis I'd likely move up in caliber and that would be a choice of interest. There's really no need for anything bigger than a .270 or 06' in my neck of the woods...should those woods change I guess the .338 fed would get a good look from me.

 

[Kentucky Windage]

The 338 Fed is a fine cartridge that has rather quickly established a reputation for killing above its weight class. I feed my Ruger 77 in 338 Fed only factory Federal 185 grain TSX, as I have set up that particular rifle to be my "California-legal" rifle for hogs, etc. It shoots the copper more accurately than four other rifles tested (thus far). One fellow writer I know used the 338 Fed to cull something like 50 head of kudu, with no issues, using Fusions. Both he and I believe the 338 Fed is here to stay. You'll see some folks refer to it as 200 yard cartridge, but you can make it shoot "flatter" than that. With my rifle zeroed 3 inches high at 100, the 185 grain TSX impacts a bit less than 5 inches low at 300. Recoil is mild by my standards -- about 22 foot pounds, or a bit less than my 300 WSM using 150 grain bullets.