338 federal

[duncan61]

Has anyone have any information on.338 federal.I have a howa action in .243 that I could rebarrel and custom stock and have a buffalo gun.I already have a Brno .243 and the Howa barrel is pitted and the stock is plastic

[Tripod]

The Fed ain't no buffalo gun. It is however a very interesting round that just never seemed to catch on.

[duncan61]

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

[Tripod]

If you want a 338 for Buff then go for a 338WinMag, At least it is suitable for throwing heavy projectiles, Once you load the 338Fed with heavy projectiles the figures don't look so good.

[slickncghia]

If you want a 338 for Buff then go for a 338WinMag, At least it is suitable for throwing heavy projectiles, Once you load the 338Fed with heavy projectiles the figures don't look so good.

Or even possibly 338-06.... but being that you are working with an existing short action both of those are ruled out.

In my limited opinion I like around the 2700-2800 ft/sec velocity range as a nice compromise between flat shooting, not overly explosive bullet performance and heavier bullet weight.

in 338 Fed that puts you at 180gn projectiles (still around 150ft/sec more than 308win but worse BC). 200 grainers dip down to around 2600 ft/sec and 225gn down to 2400ft/sec as tripod said.

338-06 can sling a 210gn Partition around the 2750 range. 225gn around 2650ft/sec. 250g around 2540ft/sec

338 WM throws 225gns around 2800 and 250 around 2650ftsec

all give or take.

Still a cool interesting chamber and probably the most muzzle energy from any 308 parent case???

[duncan61]

I wish to stick with 308 parent case and what got me going was the claim it is similar to 7mm Rem Mag ballistics with the option of heavier bullets.Big game is shot at short ranges and if I build this rifle it will probably end up with battle sights.I have plenty of sporting rifles and it would be a lot less than buying a 416 Rigby.It would appear that the case being nearly sraight you can use faster powders than the magnum options.I would still go with ADI 2208 and 225gn projectiles.

[duncan61]

The fact ADI have a listed load for it won me over now how long should the barrel be???I would like 22 inch but may have to go longer or use ADI 2207 to get the burn.Any ideas would be cool

[slickncghia]

If going by the ADI load data max and scaling back to 22" can guestimate around 2350 ft/sec muzzle with the 225G/2208 thats under 2800ftlbs of muzzle energy
your 7mm rem mag would be closer to 3200ftlb with much better external ballistincs.

at 100m thats 2350ftlbs (assumbed bc 450) vs 2900ftlb for a 7mm rem mag load.

not quite rem mag ballistics, the only place I can see their ballistics being anywhere near comprable is at the muzzle if you go by the velocities on the Wikipedia page which seem to 150-200 ft/s off compared to reloading data ive seen. one of those must be off

[Tripod]

I am having trouble understanding why you want to use the 243 action when the cost of rebarreling will be a lot more expensive than buying a new Howa barreled action in a more suitable calibre like 338WM or the 375 Ruger. A rebarrel will probably start at $900 and a new Howa barreled action in 338WM or 375Ruger is $750 so if you sold the 243 you would be streets ahead dollar wise.
Is it that much of a problem getting/having another firearm in WA?

[Gamerancher]

I'll take energy over velocity any day when dealing with large game at short range.
Heavy bullets will carry that energy into game better than a faster, lightweight bullet.
This is one place where "fat and slow" beats "skinny and quick" every time.

P.S. Have you thought about going for a .358Win.? .308Win necked up bigger again.
250 grainers @ 2800f/lb M.E. or 300gr @ 3200ft/lb M.E.

[Daddybang]

I'll take energy over velocity any day when dealing with large game at short range.
Heavy bullets will carry that energy into game better than a faster, lightweight bullet.
This is one place where "fat and slow" beats "skinny and quick" every time.

P.S. Have you thought about going for a .358Win.? .308Win necked up bigger again.
250 grainers @ 2800f/lb M.E. or 300gr @ 3200ft/lb M.E.

Ya had me at ".308 necked up bigger"

[Gamerancher]

If big is good,... "bigger" is best!

[Tripod]

If big is good,... "bigger" is best!

Then you would love my 375-08 or the 40-08 that is at my smith atm.

[slickncghia]

May aswell go 45-08 straightwall... Hard cast 405 grain slugs

[duncan61]

This is the dialog I was looking for 45/08!!! that sounds even better.I need to share more details.I wish to have an open sight rifle I can stalk through heavy scrub.We have pigs occuring near the drain at the back of the farm.The doner rifle is a howa .243 with a 22 inch barrel and 5 shot Magazine that I was helping a shooter purchase but he dropped out the deal and I picked it up.It got damp in the bag and rusted out so bad I nearly destroyed it.My S/S Ruger .222 and Remington Sendero 7mm Rem Mag polished back up fine.We solved the damp problem.Now I have got my mates BRNO.243 back he does not need my HOWA .243.He is a bit of a .243 fan.So I have this action sitting on a plastic stock with a badly pitted barrel.I am not sure where the $900 came from a barrel fitted is $275 and I will have to licence it as a new firearm anyway to get ammunition.I am not sure if I will carve a stock or get a thumbhole stock fitted.I have done snap shooting in the bush with the 7mm with the scope on 3.5 but prefer it set up for 300m shots.Its zeroed for 250 metres now.So when I read about the 338 Federal I got the horn and started researching.I wish a short barrel for sure and a sling.gotta go google 358 Win

[duncan61]

The action did not rust at all only the barrel.The action is glossy black

[Tripod]

Where do you get a new barrel and fitting for $275? Fitting maybe but not including a new barrel. Most profiled barrel blanks are Around $600 depending on length and material (SS costs more) Having open sights fitted bumps the price more and if you want it blued or Ceracoted then that may be extra as well. And if you use an out of state Gunsmith then there will be dealer fees and postage.

[bladeracer]

Where do you get a new barrel and fitting for $275? Fitting maybe but not including a new barrel. Most profiled barrel blanks are Around $600 depending on length and material (SS costs more) Having open sights fitted bumps the price more and if you want it blued or Ceracoted then that may be extra as well. And if you use an out of state Gunsmith then there will be dealer fees and postage.

I want to know as well, that's a hell of a price!

[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