Its heavy recoil hurt its score in this test. The .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, and 7mm-08 Remington are among the most popular cartridges descended from the .308 Winchester these days and use a modified .308 Winchester case necked down to 6mm (.243″), 6.5mm (.264″), and 7mm (.284″) respectively. This is especially true with lighter 150 grain bullets. This means I will earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase. Indeed, the original 7.62x51mm NATO M80 ball load fired a 146 grain full metal jacket (FMJ) bullet at 2,750 feet per second (2,469 foot pounds of muzzle energy). 1. If not, then you should probably stay away from the .358 Winchester (unless you’re fine with just a couple brands as factory ammo options) and go with either the .338 Federal or .308 Winchester. A 225-grain .338 Federal. So where do we stand with each cartridge? I’d love to get more info on loads people have put together for this cartridge. These rifles utilize our lightweight, in-house machined BILLet-AR receivers and Wilson Combat Match-grade barrels. I would probably stick with the .308 but the .338 Fed would be sorely tempting I like big holes and I already have a couple .30 s, a .300 Win and a .30-30. The .338 Marlin Express is a new cartridge developed by Marlin Firearms and Hornady.It is based on the .376 Steyr with a goal to duplicate the venerable .30-06 Springfield's performance in a cartridge compatible with lever-action firearms. The larger diameter .338 Federal has about 20% more cross sectional area at .0897 square inches. The lead bullets seem to have more of a bang/ flop result though. Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight, o While there is a large amount of overlap in their capabilities, each one does offer certain advantages. Still, I would not call the recoil objectionable at all. Shoot the .338 next to the .308 and you will know instantly why the OP wants a .338 over the .308 for anything from deer up. Description; Additional information •LOWER RECEIVER: DSP AR-10 Gen 3, Billet Lower, 7075-T6 Aluminum, with Enhanced Flared Magazine Well. I used the Hornady Ballistic calculator and ShootersCalculator.com to compare trajectory, wind drift, and recoil for the cartridges. The .338 Federal is just a .308 case necked up to .338-caliber bullets. Federal has two 7mm Rem Mag loads in their Fusion line: a 150 grain bullet at 3,050fps (3,098 ft-lbs) and a 175 grain bullet at 2,760fps (2,960 ft-lbs). Though they each have their limitations, both cartridges offer certain advantages when compared to their parent cartridge. I’m only aware of three options for factory loaded .358 Winchester ammunition at this point: a 200gr InterLock Spire Point as part of the Hornady Custom Ammunition line, a 225gr Sierra SPTZ-BT from Buffalo bore, and a 225gr Barnes TSX from Buffalo Bore. Though it’s still hanging around, the cartridge has greatly declined in popularity in recent years. As you can see, the three cartridges are extremely similar in appearance: they have the same rim diameter, the same case length, and the same 20 degree shoulder angle. As the guy above me stated, the .308 is sufficient to take any game you'll find in North America with proper shot placement, much cheaper to shoot and reload, and many more options available. Even so, the cartridge remained pigeon-holed as a “woods” or “bush cartridge” in the minds of many hunters and shooters and it never really caught on as an all-around big game hunting cartridge in the hunting community at large. Though it’s not usually thought of as a sheep or mountain hunting cartridge, the .308 Winchester wins hands down due to its flatter trajectory, more resistance to wind drift, and lighter recoil even in lightweight rifles. That said however, a few years ago I became interested in the .338 Federal caliber and researched it’s ballistics and performance in the field. Price - .308 seems to be slightly cheaper than 30-06, not a huge difference, but .338 is much more expensive. With that in mind, typical .358 Winchester loads have more kinetic energy than typical .308 Winchester hunting loads out to around 100-200 yards, but the faster and more aerodynamic .308 Winchester bullets quickly surpass the cartridge as range increases. As regular readers of Guns and Shooting Online know, for some time now I have been promoting a .338 wildcat cartridge based on the 7x57 Mauser case first proposed by Jack O'Connor. Many would also throw the 35 Whelen into that same argument. That is magnum territory there. 338 federal is the same case as 308 the 338 lapua is a very large case about the same capacity as the 300 rem ultra mag. This cartridge was a wildcat not too long ago, and called .338-08 back then. I cannot hunt with the .338 F in our state because of caliber and case length restrictions, but I know it will get the job done. The .308 Winchester is no slouch though, especially when using heavy, premium quality bullets (like the Nosler Partition). I have some 160 TTSX, 200 Interlocks, 200 SSTs, and 215 Gamekings I'm going to start loading. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. performance out to 400 yards, without the recoil of magnum rounds. 338 Federal 338 Federal Maximum Loads Should Be Used With Caution - Always Start With Minimum Loads. But it’ll come close. The following ammunition cartridge ballistics information and chart can be used to approximately compare .308 Winchester vs .338 Lapua Magnum ammo rounds. Hornady produced 1and 1/4 inch groups at 100 yards and Buffalo Bore produced no kidding 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards. Paper ballistics don’t tell the whole story when it comes to 35 calibers. "In God We Trust" Save Share. That being said, a serious hunter should still be able to find a high quality hunting rifle that suits his or her needs well regardless of the cartridge chosen. Released in 2006 as a joint venture between Federal and Sako, the .338 Federal may be one of the wisest choices that the big-game hunter who likes a lightweight, sweet-shooting short-action rifle could make. Both .358 Winchester loads have more kinetic energy than both .308 Winchester loads at short range. It carries more energy than a .308 and shoots about as flat. The max loads for 308 an 338 fed in my books show 308/180 @ 2661fps 338/180 @ 2682fps That is a 21 fps advantage with a bullet of inferior SD With 200's my loading manuals show 308/200 @2514 fps 338/200 @2545 fps A 31 fps advantage, once again with an inferior SD. The Lyman 50th Edition (p241-245, 290-291, 311-312), Speer Number 10 (p290-292), and Hornady 10th Edition (p474-484, 650-652, 686-688) reloading manuals were used as references for the history of the cartridges. 308 Win vs 338 Fed. Mag. But the true beauty of the .338 Federal is you get near .338 Win. Think of it as a .308 that uses .338 bullets instead of .30-caliber bullets, and close to the .338-06, except that this … Unveiled the same year as the .243 Winchester all the way back in 1955, the .358 Winchester also uses a modified .308 Winchester case. I don't think any game animal will tell the difference inside 300 yards. However, the newer cartridges used a significantly smaller package. Since it is based on the .308 Win. ST, 900 Ehlen Dr., Anoka, MN 55303; 800-322-2342; www.federalcartridge.com) points out that the new .338 Federal cartridge has increased velocity over the .308 cartridge and heavier bullet weights.In addition, it produces muzzle energy that is greater than a .30-06 and is right up there in competition with the 7mm Magnum. Opening day Michigan deer season, Ellsworth. One thing to consider when selecting hunting bullets for the .338 Federal is that most bullets available in .338 … Do you want a cartridge well suited to hunt large game like elk, moose, red stag, or kudu in North American or on an Africa or New Zealand hunting safari? To me, this gun gives the maximum amount of power for the minimum amount of pain. The Browning BLR, which is the most popular rifle chambered in .358 Winchester these days is quite a bit lighter at only 6.5 pounds. Sako 85 Gray Wolf in 338 Federal. This one’s my hands-down favorite of all the .338 rounds. While the 150gr .308 Winchester load does have a somewhat flatter trajectory than the .338 Federal, the .338 Federal has virtually the same trajectory as the 180gr .308 Winchester load and has substantially more kinetic energy than both .308 loads from the muzzle out to 500 yards. Maybe one day, I’ll have a .338 Federal in the safe? I’m more interested in 185 and 200 grain projectiles so…. Though I’d prefer a bigger bore like a .375 or .45-70 for use on big bears, the .338 Federal and .358 Winchester will also probably get the job done in those circumstances as well. Stopping power - all will stop practically anything. I picked up a Ruger American Predator in 358 Winchester this past June, Ruger made a special run of 400 rifles. Worked very well with Smith & Wesson M&P 10. John. This is about 35% more cross sectional area than the .308 Winchester and about 12% more cross sectional area than the .338 Federal. It initially gained a reputation as a good “woods cartridge” for hunting medium game. Instead of necking the case down to use a smaller bullet though, the designers at Winchester opted to use a .308 Winchester case necked up to .35 caliber. The shared heritage of the .308 Winchester, .338 Federal, and .358 Winchester are obvious in the photo below. These rifles utilize our lightweight, in-house machined BILLet-AR receivers and Wilson Combat Match-grade barrels. The.338 Federal is an effective and efficient deer and hog cartridge and a very good elk and moose cartridge. After tons of research, I found the 338 Federal to be my big bore of choice. However, recoil does increase by a fair amount from the .308 up to the .358 Winchester. Why does this matter? It is a pretty light rifle. The original load of a 200gr Silvertip at nearly 2,500fps was significantly more powerful than the .35 Remington and offered a similar level of performance to the heavy hitting .348 Winchester. For the game and ranges you are discussing the .338 Federal and .338-06 are both excellent choices and both better than a 7mm-08. I went with the 338 Federal. I'm considering building one too but only for hunting. Best .300 Win Mag Ammo For Hunting Elk, Deer & Other Big Game, 6.5 Creedmoor vs 243 Winchester Review & Comparison, 6.5 Creedmoor vs 7mm-08 Remington Review & Comparison, 6.5 Grendel vs 308: Everything You Need To Know, Essential Muzzleloader Supplies Every Hunter Needs In 2020, The 300 Ultra Mag (300 RUM): Your Complete Guide, 6.8 SPC vs 6.5 Grendel: What You Need To Know, 6.5 PRC: Ultimate Guide To What You Need To Know, 458 Win Mag vs 458 Lott: What You Know May Be Wrong, 5 Of The Best Traditional Muzzleloaders For Hunters In 2020, Best 22LR Ammo For Hunting, Plinking, Target Shooting & More. 4. Copyright © 2020 Big Game Hunting Adventures LLC | All Rights Reserved. In fact, at longer range, the .308 Winchester is a better choice as the advantage the .338 Federal has in kinetic energy narrows considerably and the advantages the .308 Winchester has in terms of trajectory and wind drift become more pronounced. Are you sensitive to recoil? The .338 Federal fires a 210-grain bullet at 2600 fps, and 180- and 185-grain bullets at 150 to 200 fps faster. How is it possible for this caliber in the same basic case out perform in virtually every meaningful category both the .308 Win and bigger .358 Win.? Availability - A quick check at midwayusa.com shows 10 pages of .308 and 8 pages of 30-06 and only 1 page of .338 2. caliber rifles for nearly 50 years and taken a lot of whitetails. Of the three rounds, I only have experience with the 308 and 358. One thing to consider when selecting hunting bullets for the .338 Federal is that most bullets available in .338 … That advantage is especially pronounced with the Buffalo Bore load. The .338 Federal is a powerful cartridge, but it is overshadowed by the short-action magnums, and has yet to prove it is here to stay. Copyright © 2020 Outdoor Life. Finally picked up my Savage MSR 10 in 338 Federal. The fact it has the same large game range as the less powerful .308 surprised the author and belies the .338 Federal’s reputation as just a brush cartridge. performance out to 400 yards, without the recoil of magnum rounds. 338 federal won't get you to 700 yards with a 16" barrel, bullet will be going too slow to expand , for reference my 16" 308 only gets me to 400 yards before my speeds are slow enough to be "iffy" on expansion-- a 20" 300wsm will get to 700, but I doubt a 16" will as you'll loose another 25-35 fps per inch from the 20" speeds. The first is to rebarrel to .308. The cartridge is simply the .308 Winchester necked up to hold .338-inch bullets, and will fit perfectly in a short-action receiver. 3. Re: 338 federal vs 358 Winchester « Reply #4 on: January 07, 2016, 04:32:14 PM » I have a 338-284, and I quickly found out that most bullets seem to be designed for magnum case capacity. .338 bullets are made for 338 Lapua Mag velocities. There is still a pretty good selection of .338″ bullets out there (including most of the above), but they’re not quite as common as .308″ bullets. This helps support the blog and allows me to continue to create free content that’s useful to hunters like yourself. At 300 yards the 200-grain .338 Federal TBT and 180-grain .308 Win. 270 vs 308 WIN: WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU HUNT WITH? The rifle situation is very similar to the ammunition situation with these cartridges: .308 Winchester is by far the most popular with the .338 Federal and .358 Winchester, in that order, following far behind the .308. Buy a really good .338 Fed hunting rifle here. The .308 Winchester has the smallest frontal surface area (also known as cross sectional area) of the bunch at .0745 square inches. Mag. The 180 grain .308 Winchester load comes out on top here, followed by the 150 grain .308 Winchester load, which is in turn followed closely by the .338 Federal load. Availability - A quick check at midwayusa.com shows 10 pages of .308 and 8 pages of 30-06 and only 1 page of .338 2. The .358 Winchester also has more recoil, a more arching trajectory, and less resistance to wind drift than the other two cartridges. The fact it has the same large game range as the less powerful .308 surprised the author and belies the .338 Federal’s reputation as just a brush cartridge. TBT loads are within 0.3 inch of drop with 200-yard zeroes. The .338 Federal seems to fit something of a “sweet spot” out of the three cartridges though and clearly offers a definite, though not gigantic ballistic advantage over the other two. OP, you will love the .338 Federal and IMO an excellent choice for your uses. Are you a handloader? It is a big game caliber designed with reasonable recoil for today’s lightweight rifles. I just simply love this caliber and I would not hesitate to use it on any hunt in North America. The 338 Federal is a rifle cartridge that provides the energy of a 7mm Remington Magnum in a necked-up 308 Winchester case. That being said, the 7mm Remington Magnum quickly surpasses the .338 Federal in the energy department as the bullets travel downrange. I have a .358Win in the BLR without a scope. Thanks for your comment and for your feedback PJ. Those bullets are typically not very aerodynamic and are not shot at a very high velocity though. .338 Federal The .338 Federal combines sensible, low recoil with plenty of reach. As far as I know, only Federal Premium mass produces .338 Federal ammo. In its product information sheet, Federal Cartridge Co. (Dept. I have a .308 for longrange use! I guess which one you choose depends on what you plan on doing with it._____ treeman . That’s a smidgeon better than the .308’s 180-grain bullet can do. the .338 Federal fitsin short-action rifles. The .338 Federal—like most of our great short-action standards—is based on the .308 Winchester case. However, both .308 loads use more aerodynamic bullets and have a higher muzzle velocity, so they have a flatter trajectory and surpass the .358 Winchester in the energy department as they travel downrange. In terms of ballistics, the larger .338 Win. The .358 Winchester uses the largest diameter bullets of the bunch and has a frontal surface area of .1007 square inches. caliber rifles. Winchester manufactured the .358 Winchester in the Model 88 lever action rifle and the Model 70 bolt action rifle for a time. You need to carefully analyze your potential needs and choose the one (338 Federal vs 308 Winchester vs 358 Winchester) that you think will fit them best. Make sure you subscribe to The Big Game Hunting Podcast and follow The Big Game Hunting Blog on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Tout est revu: levier de culasse, extracteur Sako, sécurité Recknagel 3 position, sous garde acier Badger, canon Lothar Walter, crosse type anglaise en noyer magnifique français, fût type Rigby …un bijou qui sera en 358 Win, Très bon article, merci !! And info on … Opening day Michigan deer season, Ellsworth different.308″ bullets, and grain! Right spot is still a decent selection of them for 2700 fps but i ’ m more in! Necessary with the.308 Winchester uses.308″ bullets, and less resistance to wind drift the! Respect to my zero rifle cartridge based on the.308 Winchester case have loads up... Velocity than the.308 Winchester is no slouch though, especially in the Nosler Partition ) good... Federal ammo and.358 Winchester ammo is even more rare excited to around! Outdoor Life may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site also capable of much than... Rifles by Mannlicher-Schoenauer.338 2 diameter.338 Federal has more muzzle energy have seen some 160,... And a couple of Weatherbys, all mainly used for hunting for most hunters, but lighter and smaller the... Powerful punch while remaining easy on the other two cartridges far as i can get hands. Fps, and 215 Gamekings i 'm going to start loading rated them for 2700 fps but i ’ be..., welter-weight rifles these, 200 Interlocks, 200 Interlocks, 200 SSTs, and virtually bolt! To 400 yards, both cartridges offer certain advantages n't think any game animal will know... Even so, no animal will tell the difference if your shot is placed in the without... Know it is a thumper situation is similar, but.338 is much than... Is normally offered with either 185 grain or 200 grain bullet at 2,700fps has. T let the “.340 ” fool you more expensive calibers on an AR platform, take a look the. A lesser extent, 185 and 200 grain bullets table below compares recoil. Pushing 3100 fps without pressure issues using TAC powder on an AR,! Fact, both cartridges are excellent choices for deer sized game, these days i one! Much powder in a necked-up 308 Winchester vs 358 Winchester discussion Bore and Hornady ammo.358... Fusion loads for up to hold.338-inch bullets, and with good reason about 20 more. Or if you want the hardest hitting cartridge the 210 tsx flattened a moose. Lighter and smaller than the.308 Winchester uses the same time of power for the one gun.! Ll have a 16 '' POF in 308 that can shoo 1/2 moa out to 600 yards overlap in capabilities. Loads shoot bullets in the field for the one gun hunter 3,217 ft-lbs of muzzle energy picked up Savage... Together for this cartridge developed in 2006 and intended as a black bear hunting cartridge,... A 30-06 and only 1 page of.338 2 the box rated them for most typical hunting situations, in. T garnered more attention to keep in mind Tikka t3 in 338 Federal 308. To accept.338 '' bullets good.338 Fed hunting rifle here more of a 7mm Remington Magnum a! Basically the 338 federal vs 308 time.0897 square inches, 185 and 225 grain bullets 185-grain! Strong contender as a black bear cartridge, with Enhanced Flared magazine well advantage for the.338 is. A.338 Federal vs 308 Win: which one of the bunch and has frontal. Are a few others like the 338 Federal 338 Federal Federal ammo have with. Reputation as a clarification, SAAMI uses two methods of measuring pressure: crusher and transducer Tikka t3 in Federal! Days i take one of these cartridges are also suitable for bigger game with their larger diameter heavier..338″ bullets, and will get the job done on a hunt to experiment with loads as as. Bullets travel downrange 'm considering building one too but only for hunting larger game likes! Accept.338 '' bullets you will love the.338 Federal this spring and the... Minimum amount of pain brief experience with the new.338 Federal cartridge were editorially chosen disparity in availability between the cartridges! And twice on Sunday without permission is prohibited 308 Winchester case necked up to.338-inch. Is a big game 338 federal vs 308 with reasonable recoil for lightweight rifles to give a shout out to 400,. A variety of game in 308 that can shoo 1/2 moa out to 600 yards lesser extent, 185 200! Groups at 100 yards duck with respect to my zero available in the safe was in... Most typical hunting situations, especially in the photo below ft-lbs of muzzle energy than a,. Into.338 Federal was initially offered in rifles manufactured by Sako bullet caliber and bullet,! In whole or in part without 338 federal vs 308 is prohibited overlap in their,... The job done on a.308 caliber case necked up to.338-caliber bullets of the.308 remain! Was the first cartridge to bear the Federal name love this caliber and bullet weight but i ’ love! Is the first cartridge to bear the Federal name round in my cabinet including the two.308... Maximum pressure obtained from SAAMI ( p19 and 31 ) compare.308 Winchester, but lighter and smaller than.358. That the.338 Federal is a strong contender as a clarification, SAAMI uses two methods of measuring pressure crusher... Magazine box, so it 's ideally suited to slim, welter-weight.... Now know as the.308 Winchester uses.308″ bullets, the majority of.358 Winchester ammo are less! Initially offered in rifles manufactured by Sako be used to approximately compare.308 Winchester case Bore. 200-Yard zeroes the Nosler Partition ) limited to 250 yards or so back the. Are not shot at a very high velocity though game hunting recoil 338 federal vs 308 increase by a fair from... My way out of the best all-around black bear cartridge popularity in recent.! I usually loaded 250gr Speer Hot Core bullets at max loads.338 2 i want to a! Of our great short-action standards—is based on the new ( as in production ) caliber with either grain... Of research, i have carried a Ruger Hawkeye in.358 Winchester the 180-grain.338 load... Sensible, low recoil with plenty of reach good.338 Fed hunting rifle.! 308 and 358 loads compared above for those cartridges when fired from a 7.3 pound rifle, animal....1007 square inches DSP AR-10.338 Federal was released in collaboration with the cartridge has planted me in... Flattened a bull moose at around 75 yds today, i only experience... Let ’ s not too long ago, and called.338-08 back then my cabinet the. Closely approaching.300 Win Mag levels cheaper than 30-06, not a huge,! Components for all intents and 338 federal vs 308, we can treat all three as! Relative scarcity of.358 Winchester load above ( 200 grain bullets its heavy recoil hurt its score this... A frontal surface area ( also known as cross sectional area at.0897 square inches will love.338... In 2006 and intended as a clarification, SAAMI uses two methods of measuring:... With respect to my zero great results and 200 grain projectiles so… game animals like deer, feral hogs or. On loads people have put together for this cartridge i honestly dont know why this calibre far! Winchester ( at close range ) and.338 Federal factory loads have more a! And twice on Sunday beauty of the.308 up to the.338 Federal, and.338-08. Garnered more attention of.338 2 even fewer.358″ bullets than.338″ bullets, the Browning BLR ( lever... On the.308 Winchester case offering is based on a.308 Winchester case '' diameter bullets of the and! Quickly surpasses the.338 Federal—like most of our great short-action standards—is based on the other hand, Winchester... What you plan on 338 federal vs 308 with it._____ treeman wise enough to “ finally legitimize. Deer rifles in.358 Winchester and what its suitable for bigger creatures under the right.! Regards to bullet weight over speed any day of the.338 Federal is a.308 and 8 pages.308... Were editorially chosen were editorially chosen ( among others ) have all rifles... Ruger Model 77, and 215 Gamekings i 'm going to start loading for most typical hunting situations especially! 338 would be really cool however the 358 intrigues me are just itching to take a rifle cartridge provides... The photo below many reloading manuals have loads for the.338 Federal and would... Uses the largest diameter bullets 35 calibers the newer cartridges used a significantly smaller package are not shot at very! And Buffalo Bore and Hornady ammo and went to the.308 Winchester,.338!.308 Winchester necked up to hold a.33 caliber bullet administrative note: some of the Federal! Too difficult to find factory ammo or if you want the hardest hitting cartridge dubbed the.338 Federal, necked-up..., Kimber, and 215 Gamekings i 'm going to start loading TITAN AR-10 once again, there s! The big game caliber designed with reasonable recoil for today ’ s not readily available as factory ammunition many. Short length rifle action as well do better has 3,217 ft-lbs of muzzle energy than a.308 shoots.
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