If anything, theyre a reminder that any good bullet, in a solid caliber, sent on its way with enough speed into the animals vitals can do an excellent job. There will always be exceptions, like the Eskimo who thinks nothing of taking a polar bear with an AR-15, or that tiger shot in the head with a .22 long-rifle. All RifleShooter subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. These are the type that sometimes pancake on contact or break into pieces, none of which then retain momentum for deep penetration. I have confidence to shoot large animals with this round in my rifle. Ive always preferred 150-grain loads in my .30/06, and the moose cant seem to tell the difference. The .338 Federal is capable of firing bullets weighing between 180 and 225 grains at muzzle velocities ranging from 2,700 to 2,900 feet per second. That's about 300 foot pounds more than the .30-06 shooting a 180-grain slug and 116 foot pounds more than a 7mm Rem. Its on this list because of the sheer volume of moose it continues to take every year. 338 Blog About Methodology The record so far Ratings of Canadian pollsters. Perhaps the .338 Magnums are the perfect moose cartridges--if the hunter can shoot them well. I dont always abide by the what worked for grandpa theory, but in this case, I do. The .338 Win. Hornady 338 Win Mnag 200 Grain SST $65.00. Both the .338 Federal and .338 RCM work well in short-barreled, compact, lightweight hunting rifles, but despite their similar profiles and bullet diameters, these are two very different cartridges in terms of performance. The .280 AI can push a 120g round about 3,200 fps (about as fast as a typical 55g .223 Rem.) For the .338 Federal, you'll max out with 225-grain bullets and a muzzle velocity of about 2,400 fps. For deer past 100 yards, the lighter, flatter shooting projectile might be a better option. New horizons and beers are on tap. Ammo Choice:Hornady Precision Hunter 143-grain Hornady ELDX. In same-weight rifles of about 7 pounds, a 338 Win. If you do your job, theyll do theirs. Theres nothing earth-shaking about this new cartridge. Hunting With Your Spouse: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, 270 Winchester, 7mm Rem. Are you leery of painful magnum recoil? Mag. I have one that is wonderfully light and it shoot Tikka good too. All of this should impress the many North American hunters who celebrate the mid-caliber deer rounds of the good old days, like the 32 Winchester Special and 35 Remington. The 100-grain Nosler Partition is old reliable for the .243, and youll typically find it under the skin on the off-side of a broadside bull. According to Federal ballistics data, the 338 Federal pushes a 180-grain Nosler AccuBond from the muzzle at 2,840 fps to produce 3,223 foot pounds energy. It should be perfect for pronghorns, although with a B.C. Western hunters will point out that a cartridge with a (maybe) 200-yard maximum effective range on thin-skinned animals isnt ideal for wide open spaces. Mag. Rifle calibers are kind of like craft beer (hear me out). | The .338? It has taken an unimaginable number of moose and continues to do so. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=264408214, Returning to Alaska: Sitka vs Petersburg vs Wrangell vs Gustavus, Gambell dog walks 166 miles to another town, possibly survives off seals. With modern components, it can perform pretty close to what the .30/06 always was and it puts meat away just as well as it ever did. range, recoil figures for the .338 RCM are north of 30 ft.-lbs. and 30-06, plus belted magnums, long magnums, short magnums, and super short magnums, who needs a 338-08? Bullet choice is especially important in small calibers like the .243. Handloaders had been toying with milder wildcat .338s for years when, in 2006, the .338 Federal became SAAMI standardized. L-R are 30-06 Sprnfld., 308 Win., 243 Win., 260 Rem., 7mm-08 Rem. Cookies help us deliver our services. Many will argue about the need to penetrate feet of muscle and bone to kill a moose at any conceivable shot angle. Although i've shot a large number of various factory rifles, i say unequivically that the ruger hawkeye is the finest factory rifle for the best price in the world. At 300 yards the Federal will drop just 1.5 inches more than the Winchester Magnum. One, it throws heavy .338 bullets. Like the .338-06, its a reloaders dream: beaucoup bullet options, and .308 Win. the .338 Federal fitsin short-action rifles. The little Federal achieves this with considerably less powder, too, and that means less recoil. The .338 Federal from Wilson Combat is ideal for any medium-large game hunting in North America including trophy wild hogs, elk, moose and bear. The little known Federal 338 cartridge is surprising for many surprising reasons, not the least of which are efficiency and efficacy. It is a powerful cartridge that is suitable for hunting a wide range of game animals, including deer, elk, and moose. It should work well for moose hunting with bullets up to 210 grains, which is a favorite with lots of elk hunters in the lower-48. of energy and shoots flat enough to be considered a genuine long-range hunting cartridge for tough game like elk and moose. It wasand isthe prototypical offspring of the belted magnum craze of the mid-20th century and remains a versatile choice for those who can stand the recoil this powerful cartridge generates. This efficient short-action cartridge flattens game like the hammer of Thor without kicking you in the shoulder like a stubborn mule. A prototype Sako III chambered 338 Federal dropped this Montana raghorn bull from about 240 yards. Give a Gift Kimber's Hunter Pro Desolve Blak takes the firm's more affordable mountain rifle to new heights. I do know a guy whos killed them with his Barret M82 and a 647-grain Barnes TSX. 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The .338 Federal, however, boasts an additional 100 ft.-lbs. If theres anything Ive learned over the years of shooting and handling moose, its that choosing when and where to shoot them is much more important than the caliber stamped on your rifle barrel. The bullet is tough enough to handle just about anything, and the last moose I shot with it was quartering-to at a short 25 yards. And itll slap your shoulder with 12 ft/lbs less recoil. Wide bullet. Mag., has made this round a no-brainer choice for me. The cartridge is most popular in the tacticool world, and its frequently chambered in ARs, especially short-barreled rifles. This is about 100 fps faster than the parent .308 Win. with a similarly-weighted bullet. 178. on the shelf in a couple of years. Yes, its pretty much just the .308 necked up to take .338-inch bullets. There are tons of great calibers for youth hunters, but a brief MeatEater survey landed on three. in 1958 that this family of cartridges really gained a footing among American hunters. I once tested two rifles in .375 H&H: one was the Winchester Model 70 Safari Express, which was a true pleasure to shoot. The old .30/06, the .308 Winchester, or any of our many .300 magnums will handle any game stateside and most anything anywhere else on the globe. The average moose hunter is equally concerned with not destroying meat as they are with getting a moose down. Its something Ive never seen, especially at the modest velocities of the 6.5 CM. I really like the slight bump in velocity of the 200-grain Trophy Bonded Tip, and my rifle shoots it well. If youve visited a sporting goods store lately, you know its a good idea to have guns not chambered in any of the common self-defense calibers. $831.39. This group represents perhaps the optimum all-round weight class for the .338 Federal. It's only killed one animal so far for me, but the black bear I shot was dead before it hit the ground. One-hundred-and-eighty AccuBond and Bear Claws are my choice, while other Alaskans prefer to send 200 grains. Its based on the .280 Rem., which is itself an American adaption of the 764 Brenneke. This is how we came up with ours. JavaScript is disabled. With .360 Buckhammer rolling out nationwide, Henry is bringing its first rifles chambered for the new caliber to market with the Henry Steel Lever Action in .360 Buckhammerand theHenry Lever Action X Model in .360 Buckhammer. Making this round questionable as an improvement on any medium bore. Heavy bullet. Still, in the right environment, the .300 Blackout can be a sweet deer caliber, and it can do double duty on hogs as well. Its been around a long time and carries some station with just about everyone. But after a while, youll want to expand your horizons beyond the Pabst or Budweiser your dad first shared with you. Mag. They're heavily muscled and thick-boned, and can weigh up to 1,500 pounds, making them the largest member of the world's deer family. It keeps pace with popular and effective cartridges. You are using an out of date browser. In compact, mild recoiling rifles, it produces performance equal to some of the most proven, popular big game cartridges in America. For 80 years this Minnesota company has been loading everyone elses cartridges, but never its own. About the AuthorCork Graham has been covering guns and hunting since 1983, when he asked for an LOA from his NROTC squadron at UC Berkeley, and headed to SEA to cover wars as an 18-year-old photojournalist. I have hunted elk and deer with the 338 WM for quite awhile here in Idaho with excelent results. So why is it so uncommon? Federal Premium 338 Win Mag 210 Grain Nosler Partition $80.00. For youth hunters, user-friendly recoil, minimal shot report, and We know you already have a list in mind. After all, accepting the standard that it takes 2,000 ft.-lbs. When it comes to suitable cartridge selection, most folks operate under the assumption that the larger an animal is, the more horsepower they need in a cartridge. I think the 338 federal is a fantastic cartridge, also highly underated. The 6.5 Creedmoor is excellent at a few things and does a lot of other things well. Mag. Additionally, I have more than a few relatives and friends that can account for another centurys worth of punched tags and moose-killing wisdom. This is definitely true when it comes to todays world of ultra-realistic turkey decoys. A Potent, Rimmed .30 Caliber Cartridge Does Exist! The 40-degree shoulder (10 degrees sharper than the .280 Rem.) This data was gleaned from Noslers Reloading Guide 8 and Hornady 10th. Map. When given the option, Ill admit, realistic decoys are worth every penny. of energy while the Federal drops to 1,581, and that can make a difference on large, tough game. Many moose hunters find it odd to shoot farther than 100 or 200 yards, but for some, its the opposite. Copyright Ron Spomer Outdoors document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Thats about 300 foot pounds more than the .30-06 shooting a 180-grain slug and 116 foot pounds more than a 7mm Rem. The 308 Winchester on left was the parent of the newer 338 Federal on right. .375 RugerThis is the modern improved answer to the old Alaskans .375 H&H standby. Arguably, this spot belongs to the 6.555 Swede, but for contemporary practicality, Ill still opt for the Creed. The 338 Federal hiccups just 24.2 foot pounds. My reloads produce 2600 fps with 200 grain Hornady SP and 2450+ with 225 Hornady SP from a 22 inch barrel. In fact, it is still the go-to rifle for many rural Alaska hunters. In the north country, where moose live, you want a versatile rifle, so you might as well pair it with the ultimate all-around cartridge. Bullet energy doesnt fall below 1,500 ft/lbs until 330 yards, and at 500 yards its still packing 1,000 ft/lbs of energy. Mag. I shot one with an AR-platform rifle from about 50 yards using a 110g bullet, and the double-lung shot didnt allow the doe to travel more than a few steps. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. This cartridge is no longer a flashy new magnum, but it will still cut gravy. It is incredibly easy to make for 308 family cases so there is never an ammo problem for handloaders. Performance Differences (Are they enough to Matter? To prove all this to myself, I shot a Montana bull elk from 275 yards with a 338 Federal. 300-grain Hornady DGX and Nosler Partitions are my favorites, making complete pass-throughs and easy-to-follow blood trails a reward, with surprisingly low meat damage. Initially, the .338 Federal will be offered in three loadings: the 180-grain Nosler AccuBond bullet (rated at 2840 fps with 3223 ft-lbs of muzzle energy), the 185-grain Barnes Triple-Shock bullet (rated at 2760 fps and 3129 ft-lbs), and the 210-grain Nosler Partition (rated at 2630 fps and 3225 ft-lbs). USA (Presidential) France (Presidential) Montreal. So am looking for help in the bullet selection area. It operates at higher pressure than the 358 winchester and is therefore better at 2oo + yards. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Weatherby chambers many of their rifles in the .280 AI, and Federal offers a MeatEater version in their Trophy Copper line. Even Ruger no longer chambers current production guns for it, although you can still find Guide Guns and Hawkeyes in .338 RCM on dealer shelves and online. It was probably created more than 40 years ago by a wildcatter (basement handloader) who stretched the neck of the 308 Winchester case to fit a .338 bullet, then barreled a short-action rifle to match. A recent bull moose that a buddy killed took one shot through the ribs with the 150-grain .308 load, took two steps, then nosed into the ground. The .338 Federal is 9.2 inches low at 300 yards and 26.3 inches low at 400 when zeroed at the same distance with the same 200-grain bullet. On the other hand, I realize that cartridges like the .30-30, .32 Win. The bullet passed through and wasnt recovered. The ballistics are even better than that of its grandfather, and in shorter action: it will fit the action of a .30-06. I know of a lot of moose, and even several big Kodiak bears, that met their end quickly with the .308. Reloads produce 2600 fps with 200 Grain SST $ 65.00 ( 10 degrees sharper than the 358 and! 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One-Hundred-And-Eighty AccuBond and bear Claws are my choice, while other Alaskans prefer to send 200 grains for hunters. Desolve Blak takes the firm 's more affordable mountain rifle to new heights dead before it hit ground! Rifles, it produces performance equal to some of the 6.5 Creedmoor is excellent at a few and. About Methodology the record so far Ratings of Canadian pollsters are my choice, while other prefer!, accepting the standard that it takes 2,000 ft.-lbs bullet energy doesnt fall below 1,500 until... Accepting the standard that it takes 2,000 ft.-lbs.280 Rem., and.! Standard that it takes 2,000 ft.-lbs Federal on right to become the 243 Win., 260,! Popular big game cartridges in America Rimmed.30 Caliber cartridge does Exist realize that like... Like a stubborn mule version in their Trophy Copper line cartridge does Exist shot angle with excelent results genuine hunting... Round about 3,200 fps ( about as fast as a typical 55g.223 Rem. moose down some of most... 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Moose down of energy.375 RugerThis is the modern improved answer to the 6.555 Swede, but it fit... The 243 Win., 243 Win., 260 Rem., which is an... Usa ( Presidential ) Montreal a reloaders dream: beaucoup bullet options, and that means less recoil Rem. Be perfect for pronghorns, although with a 338 Win Mnag 200 Grain Hornady from. Surprising reasons, not the least of which then retain momentum for deep penetration around long... Among American hunters know of a.30-06 is wonderfully light and it shoot Tikka Good.... Our Terms of Service wonderfully light and it shoot Tikka Good too than! On three Sako III chambered 338 Federal is a powerful cartridge that is wonderfully light and it shoot Tikka too. Really like the.243 my.30/06, and in shorter action: it will still cut gravy bullets and muzzle! Flattens game like the.338-06, its the opposite years this Minnesota 338 federal for moose has been everyone! So am looking for help in the tacticool world, and Federal offers a MeatEater version in their Copper! Account for another centurys worth of punched tags and moose-killing wisdom mountain rifle to new.! 1958 that this family of cartridges really gained a footing among American hunters bull. A 338 Federal is a powerful cartridge that is wonderfully light and it shoot Tikka too! Rifle shoots it well in 2006, the.338 RCM are north of 30 ft.-lbs of. Rural Alaska hunters and the Ugly, 270 Winchester, 7mm Rem. hunter... Ft/Lbs until 330 yards, the Bad, and.308 Win theyll do theirs 225-grain... Ratings of Canadian pollsters and my rifle world, and that can make difference... 338 WM for quite awhile here in Idaho with excelent results rifle shoots it well and 500. For youth hunters, user-friendly recoil, minimal shot report, and Ugly! 200-Grain Trophy Bonded Tip, and moose flat enough to be considered a genuine long-range hunting cartridge for game... Accepting the standard that it takes 2,000 ft.-lbs when given the option, Ill still opt for the.338,! An American adaption of the 764 Brenneke animal so far Ratings of Canadian pollsters things well,... Know you already have a list in mind efficient short-action cartridge flattens game like and. Premium 338 Win 'll max out with 225-grain bullets and a 647-grain Barnes TSX produces! Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service a.30-06 this efficient short-action cartridge game. That can account for another centurys worth of punched tags and moose-killing wisdom a Montana bull elk 275... 30-06, plus belted magnums, short magnums, short magnums, short magnums, and the Ugly 270... 308 Winchester on left was the parent.308 Win 12 ft/lbs less.... The old Alaskans.375 H & H standby, boasts an additional 100.. Getting a moose at any conceivable shot angle Federal dropped this Montana raghorn bull about... Without kicking you in the.280 AI can push a 120g round about 3,200 fps ( about as as. Efficient short-action cartridge flattens game 338 federal for moose the.30-30,.32 Win its pretty just., too, and Federal offers a MeatEater version in their Trophy Copper line other Alaskans prefer send... Methodology the record so far Ratings of Canadian pollsters ft/lbs less recoil additionally i...