338 federal

[Oldbloke]

Gee at $600 just for a barrel. Just buy a new rifle and sell the old one.

[duncan61]

I will know by Tuesday the quote to do the conversion.I have boxes of once fired .243 brass my Buddy saved and gave to me.I will order dies and take it from there.Its just something I wish to do.Thank you all for the feedback

[Rikta]

I shot a large water buffalo bull with my 7mm rem mag and apparently the 338 federal is similar ballistics with a heavier pill.I just wish to have a custom rifle that I can show off and its a recognised chambering.I like the idea of having a 8.6 rifle

not even remotely close, the 338 edge might be like a 7mm rem mag, not the fed... the fed is a slower than a slow ass 308win and due to lower muzzle velocity not as hard hitting as people would try and assert, perhaps you are mistaking it with a 338-06 or some other wildcat/cartridge?

[Tripod]

I will know by Tuesday the quote to do the conversion.I have boxes of once fired .243 brass my Buddy saved and gave to me.I will order dies and take it from there.Its just something I wish to do.Thank you all for the feedback

You may end up with thin necks if you expand 243 up to 338, The good news is 243 are worth more than once fired 308 so swap them or sell them. I would swap you a couple of hundred if you want.

[duncan61]

I agree with you Rikta how can a case much smaller perform like a magnum however a lot of gun forums are making this claim.I called my closest gun shop today and they knew the chambering and have a smith who does all their work.I am leaning towards 338 because of the projectile selection.They have a bit in stock and can order anything.The moderate recoil is a factor as well I see the ADI load data for 338 Fed is more than .243 and you can use faster powder like 2207 which I have used before for hornet and in my early days with .222.some blokes wish to have a 350 chevy some want a WRX subaru its the way it is.I wish to do this cos I can

[Rikta]

I agree with you Rikta how can a case much smaller perform like a magnum however a lot of gun forums are making this claim.I called my closest gun shop today and they knew the chambering and have a smith who does all their work.I am leaning towards 338 because of the projectile selection.They have a bit in stock and can order anything.The moderate recoil is a factor as well I see the ADI load data for 338 Fed is more than .243 and you can use faster powder like 2207 which I have used before for hornet and in my early days with .222.some blokes wish to have a 350 chevy some want a WRX subaru its the way it is.I wish to do this cos I can

dont get me wrong, I nearly bought one too but the selection of rifles in the country at the time didn't appeal to me, too much money for something i will eventually scratch up....

I have a 270 so nothing under that speed wise is appealing to me... that is pushing 3000fps with my slowest loads... so if I personally go 338 it will be a much bigger case/parent case than a 308.... However after a yarn with my cousin I have been tempted to look into a wildcat... making 338-06 rounds myself... given availability of 30-06 brass i thought it a good move... and if I buy in bulk i can size down for my 270 aswell

its all about what you have and what you want in the future and if you reload or not and or if you wish to have things slightly cross compatible and all that s**t....

i reckon the 338 federal is a neat unique round to have as far as factory loads go, but then, anything between 7.62x39 and 450 bushmaster would probably do the same or more depending on the round/rifle and whatever application you are thinking of using it in.

[Tripod]

I will know by Tuesday the quote to do the conversion.I have boxes of once fired .243 brass my Buddy saved and gave to me.I will order dies and take it from there.Its just something I wish to do.Thank you all for the feedback

So what did they quote you for a barrel and fitting?

[duncan61]

still working on it

[Rikta]

I still consider a lot of old hype around this cartridge/caliber to be BS.... so many comparisons to far more capable and powerful cartridges like 7mm rem mag, 300 win mag and hot loaded 30-06... just not convinced... there is no way a 308 loaded up in any way matches a 7mm rem mag... so a 308 with a fatter and heavier pill isnt going to come anywhere near it. closest comparisons might be 308 and 303 but even then, no gain really, might aswell just get a 308 if thats your thing. personally i think that bigger rounds need bigger charges... unless your aim is to have a short range caliber..... 338 belong in the magnum territory... anything less and there are already perfectly functional rounds out there... i dont see a 338fed doing anything a 7.62x39 cant

[sungazer]

Plenty of dedicated highly accurate short range rounds that you could not compete with ether. There are several in the 6 mm. The 308 is not far behind the 7mm Rem Mag it is far more efficient. You need about 20grn more powder to get the same velocity. for example a 175 gr bullet 308 40 gr for 2500 in 7 mm 175 gr 51 gr for 2500.
Anyway its all up to the individual to choose what they want there are so many other decision factors than straight ballistics.

[Rikta]

Plenty of dedicated highly accurate short range rounds that you could not compete with ether. There are several in the 6 mm. The 308 is not far behind the 7mm Rem Mag it is far more efficient. You need about 20grn more powder to get the same velocity. for example a 175 gr bullet 308 40 gr for 2500 in 7 mm 175 gr 51 gr for 2500.
Anyway its all up to the individual to choose what they want there are so many other decision factors than straight ballistics.

7mm still has a better BC, to get back up there in 30cal you have to go well over 180gr. again same with 6.5mm rounds. if the rem mag had no advantage there would be no 300winmag or 300rum.

so whilst the 308 might push itself a few hundred fps below the rem mag whilst being efficient.. it doesnt have that reach out performance unless you load much heavier therefore much more than a few hundred fps difference. same goes for 270 and 25-06 vs 30-06.... you could (if you source the projectiles) push a heavier pill out of a 7mm rem at the slower speed of a 308 using a lighter pill therefore matching the 308 on speed, but exceeding it in both energy and BC... whereas in the original context, a 308 case trying to push an even heavier pill again at a greater bore (therefore shorter projectile) would not farm the same result, at least not in that cartridge, a lot more initial energy would be needed than what a 308 case can provide to match big magnum performance with a 338 pill, hence 338 winmag, 338 rum, 338 edge and 338 lapua and so on... I do see as mentioned before potential in the 338fed as a shorter range cal but then like i said before i dont really see the advantages it would have over other much more popular and therefore cheaper rounds/rifles, if it was purely for the sake of having something a bit different then hey go right ahead but if someone is genuinely looking to it as a practicality and feasibility type thing i would look at other things instead

[duncan61]

I agree with the logic I am reading yet American hunting sites are all extolling the virtues of a necked up 308.I need to have the rifle to take to the gunshop and it is a way across town I will see what the cost rounds out too then make a decision.It will be open sights to hunt pigs at close range in thick cover

[Rikta]

I agree with the logic I am reading yet American hunting sites are all extolling the virtues of a necked up 308.I need to have the rifle to take to the gunshop and it is a way across town I will see what the cost rounds out too then make a decision.It will be open sights to hunt pigs at close range in thick cover

if thats ya aim, just use a 44 or 45/70 lever gun lol

[duncan61]

The inspiration for this exercise is that the $700 HOWA I have got damp and it is blued steel and the barrel is pitted externaly and looks awfull.The other guys that come down the farm have immaculate rifles like my .222 and 7mm Rem Mag are.My best mate used the Howa as he likes .243 and his gear was at the shop in storage over a nonsense restraining order.Now he has his gear back I wish to do something with this equipment.The action is not corroded at all and the stock is cheap ass plastic.I need to stay with the 308 parent case.I am not interested in changing anything else.I may even consider 308 as I wish to have a new barrel regardless and it could be more practical.It will be used for daytime walking and the ammo will be seperate from the .243 stuff and Rikta I have always wished for a 45/70 lever who doesnt.Call me and we can organise a hunt for next weekend

[Rikta]

The inspiration for this exercise is that the $700 HOWA I have got damp and it is blued steel and the barrel is pitted externaly and looks awfull.The other guys that come down the farm have immaculate rifles like my .222 and 7mm Rem Mag are.My best mate used the Howa as he likes .243 and his gear was at the shop in storage over a nonsense restraining order.Now he has his gear back I wish to do something with this equipment.The action is not corroded at all and the stock is cheap ass plastic.I need to stay with the 308 parent case.I am not interested in changing anything else.I may even consider 308 as I wish to have a new barrel regardless and it could be more practical.It will be used for daytime walking and the ammo will be seperate from the .243 stuff and Rikta I have always wished for a 45/70 lever who doesnt.Call me and we can organise a hunt for next weekend

would love to man but will be homebound with the kids next weekend, keen tho

also seriously considering a 338 lapua now i know ppu do ammo for 95 a pack lol

[duncan61]

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PART # USE CALIBER BULLET WEIGHT
GRAINS
MUZZLE VELOCITY BULLET STYLE BALLISTIC COEFFICIENT BRAND REVIEWS
F338FFS2
Medium Game 338 Federal 200 2700 Fusion® Soft Point 0.416 Fusion® Rifle The more I read about this case the more I like it

[duncan61]

Final call on the .338 Federal.It will cost $1500 and the chambering is not that great.It seemed like a reasonable excersize at first but a bit of sanding and a coat of camo paint and I will have a nice .243 for walking up the pigs