.338 Federal?

[massmanute]

Just out of curiosity, what do folks think of the .338 Federal?

Would it be feasible to re-chamber/re-bore a Savage 99, Winchester 88, or BLR to use this cartridge?

Is this cartridge headed to oblivion, or is it likely to survive?

[44WCF]

i rather like the .338 Fed, the large bore makes it a bit more efficent than the .308, modern loading makes it better than factory .358 loads. sadly i think it is having a tough go, not too many people are in the market for a non-magnum medium bore cartrige, i think this was also the downfall of the .358 win, the market is just too small.

any gun that will take the .308 should take the .338 Federal. i have a Win 88 with a well worn bore, when the .338 came along a lightbulb went on in my head. i have been reluctant to get prices on re-boring the barrel, affraid of what i will hear.

i am suprised that Browning didn't offer it in the BLR considering they do offer the .358

[0369]

I'm having a hard time figuring this cartridge out. Dimensions are identical to the 308W save the neck diameter to accomodate the larger bullet, so where does the velocity come from? I know the 308 about equaled the 30-06 due to slower burning powders, but the 338 Federal vs. 308W doesn't make sense to me. What am I missing?

[44WCF]

pressures are the same, volume the same or close to it. the increase in velocity is because the larger bore makes it more efficent, kind of like putting a larger diameter exhaust system on your truck.

[0369]

Good explanation. Kind of like getting so much out of 45 Colt VS. 44 magnum.

[Model 52]

Non magnum medium bore rounds tend not to fare well commercially. The list of not well accepted medium bore rounds is long and distinguished including the .348 Win, .356 Win, .358 Win, .35 Whelen and .375 Win. Even the .350 Remington Magnum struggled even though it offered 35 Whelen performance in a shorter action.

[Ranch Dog]

You might as well add the 35 Rem to this list. Marlin has kept it alive but who knows what Remington has in store for it. I know that when Marlin shut it's doors they where producing less than 500 a year.

[0369]

Ranch Dog, that would be a shame for the 35 Rem. I shot my first buck with a 336 in 35 Rem.

[Model 52]

That is pretty sad, I thought it was a lot more popular than that, and that Remington/Marlin pulling out would not be enough to kill it.

[dpe.ahoy]

I have a Tikka T3 chambered in 338 Fed and really like it, also have a 358 Win in a BLR and 3 Marlins and a T/C carbine in 35 Rem. All three are excellent cartridges that deserve to have more respect than they get. As to the increase in velocity, the larger the bore, the more surface area there is for the pressure to push. (And black magic helps ). I have not harvested game with the 338 Fed, but have with my 338 Marlin MXLR, which is one hundred fifty- two hundred FPS slower with the 200 gr bullet. It's performance has been outstanding with factory ammo on mule deer, have yet to take an Elk with it yet. I have no doubt that the 338 Fed will harvest any animal on this continent with the proper bullet. If the cartridge does not "take off", no problem, just neck up 308 brass and load it up. A re-bore could be done on any 243, 7mm-08 or 308 and shouldn't be too expensive. I think JES does 338 re-bores, might contact Jess to discuss it. DP