Any .338 Federal Shooters?

[M'bogo]

How many people here own or have shot a rifle in .338 Federal? Do you shoot factory ammo or roll your own?

A good friend of mine has just purchased a Kimber 84 in .338 Federal. Its a good looking rifle and handles well. I have been looking at the cartridge as well and I am toying with the idea of converting a Stevens 200 to .338 Federal.

The down side and the one thing stopping me is the lack of support for this round. The cheapest ammo is Federal Fusion @ $26 per box + shipping. The price of premium ammo goes way up from there $45 per box and higher. Its like ATK/Federal wants this round to die off. There is no source that I am aware of for new brass. I contacted ATK/Federal via e-mail and they replied back "We do not sell components" with nothing more in the reply.

Ammo in my part of the world for this round is just about order only. I have been looking and no one has .338 Federal on the shelf. Short ammo supply, no new brass and what looks to be one company making the ammo. How much longer wil the .338 Federal be around?

I know you can resize .308Win brass to .338Fed my friend is already doing this. It would be a lot better if you could buy new brass.

M'bogo

 

[Onmilo]

I am considering buying an Armalite AR10 rifle in .338 Federal.
The idea is on hold due to ecomomic uncertainty and because Armalite isn't building any right now.

 

[highorder]

Mention of the .338 Federal always wants me to go right to the .358 Winchester.

Just something about the 9mm

Ammo is probably even more scarce, with one factory load left that I know of.

 

[M'bogo]

The .358Win ammo is rare nowdays but you can buy brass for the thing.

http://www.grafs.com/metallic/828

The .338Fed should sue ATK/Federal for Non-support!!! No brass and they don't care... Its too bad that the .338-08 (Federal) was not brought to market by a company that tried and wanted their new round to suceed.

M'bogo

 

[Kentucky Windage]

I have a Ruger in 338 Fed and am quite fond of it. I shoot factory Fed 185 grain TSX out of it pretty much exclusively as that gun is my designated "California-legal" rifle. It shoots copper more accurately than four of my other rifles tested (to date). The 338 Fed has established a reputation for killing above its weight class. One fellow ink-stained type I know culled something like 50 head of kudu with it with no issues. You'll see some folks refer to it as 200-yard cartridge, but you can make it shoot "flatter" than that with the 185 grain TSX. In my rifle, zeroed 3 inches high at 100, rounds impact a bit less than 5 inches low at 300 with an initial advertised muzzle velocity of 2750 fps. Recoil is relatively mild. I believe the round is here to stay.