lefteyedom
Member
How would a 8X57 shot out of a 20" barrel compare with a 338 Federal if shot out of the same barrel length?
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8X57 ver 338 Federal
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tahoe2
Member
I think the 338 Fed is faster/stronger & a harder hitter. I believe the Federal was designed with the short barrels in mind.
That said, I have three 8x57 mausers and would never feel undergunned with any of them.
That said, I have three 8x57 mausers and would never feel undergunned with any of them.
22250Rem
Member
8x57 vs. 338 Federal
I have zero experience with the 338 Federal but shoot and reload the 8x57 Mauser. So the idea of comparing them made me look up case capacities, (in grains of water) on my load from a disc program. The 338 is listed as having 54.698 and the 8x57 with 62.732. So the 8x57 has about 8 gr. more case capacity so I'd have to vote 8x57. It's in the same ballpark as the 30-06 and has been used on enough stuff over the years to prove its worth. Not to put the 338 Federal down cause that seems to have done pretty good for itself but I would be leaning in the 8x57 direction because I already like it and it works well especially if you handload.
I have zero experience with the 338 Federal but shoot and reload the 8x57 Mauser. So the idea of comparing them made me look up case capacities, (in grains of water) on my load from a disc program. The 338 is listed as having 54.698 and the 8x57 with 62.732. So the 8x57 has about 8 gr. more case capacity so I'd have to vote 8x57. It's in the same ballpark as the 30-06 and has been used on enough stuff over the years to prove its worth. Not to put the 338 Federal down cause that seems to have done pretty good for itself but I would be leaning in the 8x57 direction because I already like it and it works well especially if you handload.
hardluk1
member
Biggest difference in the to cartridges is the 8mm is SAAMI of 50,000 cup ,the 338 fed is 62,000 cup. Because of that difference nothing is very compairable in powders and the 338 is simply a full step in power level up. The 8x57 being closer to a 308 in power. The 8x57 does with a 200gr bullet what the 338 fed does with a 225gr. 30-06 is closer to the 338 with a 200 gr than the 8mm.
Guess its like asking should i use a 308 or 30-06. Both work well. It should more about witch rifle is a better shooter between them.
Guess its like asking should i use a 308 or 30-06. Both work well. It should more about witch rifle is a better shooter between them.
morcey2
Member
The SAAMI pressure on 8x57 is actually 35,000 CUP, not 50,000. :banghead: The CIP standard is 57000 PSI. Loading both 338 Fed and 8x57 to their optimum will result in very little practical difference between them.
I'm firmly in the 8x57 camp, but I think the shorter barrel will give the edge to the 338 in this case.
Matt
I'm firmly in the 8x57 camp, but I think the shorter barrel will give the edge to the 338 in this case.
Matt
Scimmia
Member
You're getting confused between units. The limit for 338 Fed is 62000 PSI, not CUP (same limit as 308 Winchester, of course). SAAMI actually limits 8mm Mauser to 35000 PSI because of possible issues in older rifles, C.I.P limits it at 56500PSI, only half the difference you implied.
Edarnold
Member
For handloading, the SAMMI specs for the 8x57 are irrelevant. For modern ballistics, check out the Norma or VV loadings, which represent what the cartridge can do in modern rifles. The 8x57 also has the hunting advantage with most bullets designed for it's velocities. The 338 Federal has a problem since most existing bullets are intended for cartridges in the 338 Winchester class, so expansion could be compromised.
IMHO
IMHO
Shadow 7D
Member
and the capacity means that more of a slower powder can be loaded, which give an advantage with heavier bullets.
jason41987
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you cant compare these two on case capacities.. someone brought it up, the difference in pressures... 9mm and 45acp will produce the same amount of energy.. 9mm does it with significantly less case capacity, but significantly more pressure capabilities.. my vote would go for the 338 federal if youre looking for something that uses a bigger bullet than a .308 that would perform better in general out of nearly any barrel length
Float Pilot
Member
I own and hand-load for both.
My 8x57mm Sporter is a Vz-24 with a 22 inch Douglas barrel. It likes 200 grain Nosler partitions loaded up to 2,600 fps (53 grains of H-4350 and a Fed mag primer using old Norma brass.) It will shoot a 5 shot group under 1/2 MOA if I do my part.
The 338 federal was an impluse buy.... a Ruger Frontier Rifle with a 16 inch barrel....
It is one of the least accurate rifles I have ever owned..... the best group with a 200 grain bullet comes from using 49 grains of H-335, federal brass and a Standard match primer. It will push a 200 grain Speer spitzer (it hates partitions) at 2,550 fps from the short barrel. While impressive velocity from a carbine barrel, the two inch groups (the best this rifle can do) leave somethng to be desired....
So in theory the 338 fed might be a little more zippy from the same length barrel, BUT it has a couple of porblems. It is a short case /neck and you can't load the COL too long... And the short neck seems to be giving me fits in the accuracy dept.. Plus it seems like the loads the it likes are pretty hot and brass life is pretty short.
The 7.92x57mm is not quite as efficient, but the slightly longer neck helps with accuracy. And you do not have to hot-rod your loads in the pressure dept either...
The down side being bullet selection and a longer over-all case length which requires a longer action.
My 8x57mm Sporter is a Vz-24 with a 22 inch Douglas barrel. It likes 200 grain Nosler partitions loaded up to 2,600 fps (53 grains of H-4350 and a Fed mag primer using old Norma brass.) It will shoot a 5 shot group under 1/2 MOA if I do my part.
The 338 federal was an impluse buy.... a Ruger Frontier Rifle with a 16 inch barrel....
It is one of the least accurate rifles I have ever owned..... the best group with a 200 grain bullet comes from using 49 grains of H-335, federal brass and a Standard match primer. It will push a 200 grain Speer spitzer (it hates partitions) at 2,550 fps from the short barrel. While impressive velocity from a carbine barrel, the two inch groups (the best this rifle can do) leave somethng to be desired....
So in theory the 338 fed might be a little more zippy from the same length barrel, BUT it has a couple of porblems. It is a short case /neck and you can't load the COL too long... And the short neck seems to be giving me fits in the accuracy dept.. Plus it seems like the loads the it likes are pretty hot and brass life is pretty short.
The 7.92x57mm is not quite as efficient, but the slightly longer neck helps with accuracy. And you do not have to hot-rod your loads in the pressure dept either...
The down side being bullet selection and a longer over-all case length which requires a longer action.
lefteyedom
Member
Thanks for the responses. I figured that the two would be close, I given a choice always go with the old warhorses.
I have a 98 Mauser that has been Bubbad enough that making it in to a nicer sportier is the honorable thing to do.
Shortening the barrel to 20" and topping it with a 2X7 will make a nice year round truck gun.
I have a 98 Mauser that has been Bubbad enough that making it in to a nicer sportier is the honorable thing to do.
Shortening the barrel to 20" and topping it with a 2X7 will make a nice year round truck gun.
Kachok
Member
The 338 Fed can do anything the 8mm can and vise versa. I would opt for the 338 for no other reason then the better bullet selection for handloading.
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