Federals under-sung little .338 certainly deserves more attention than its gotten thus far. Factory-loaded with 180-, 185- and 210-grain bullets, it delivers between 1,820 and 1,920 ft-lbs at 300 yards, with an average bullet drop of less than nine inches (200-yard zero). It operates at higher pressure than the 358 winchester and is therefore better at 2oo + yards. Coverage is the name of the game. Thanks for all the help and when I called to grab one I was TOO LATE they used it for a leader and they didnt have them anymore!! Anyone wanting more thump on the target without too much more to the shoulder should give this delightfully balanced, hard-hitting cartridge a ride. Zeroed at 200 yards, the .338 Win. It doesnt garner much attraction from todays tinkerers and cartridge snobs, but its still one of the best all-around choices. When you can find it, its reasonably priced, and the bonded soft point Fusion bullet wont disappoint. While the 300 Blackout has enjoyed broad appeal across a wide range of hunters and shooters, the .338 Federal is designed for one specific application: mountain hunting. Each of the following cartridges has one of my favorite corresponding ammunition choices listed, but there are other good choices for each cartridge, and many of these loads are available in multiple cartridges. I have confidence to shoot large animals with this round in my rifle. .338 FederalJJ Reich at Federal Premium introduced me to this round a couple years ago, in the Savage Arms Bear Hunter, when I was just starting to work on my rifle book about the .338-06 and was keen to try another cartridge that is also a wildcat based on a military round. The American .30 calibers, from the .30-30 and .308 through the .30-06 and various .300 magnums with all the great bullet choices available, seem to be less affected by those problems than most other calibers. If it were all about penetration and power, why stop at anything short of the .50 BMG? 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. 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. Recovery was uneventful. I think the only thing I have loaded for it yet is a 200 gr SST with a BC of .455 it should be a great long range bullet. Rifle calibers are kind of like craft beer (hear me out). I have settle for the 338 Federal cartridge because I think this could be the best option for this built. The cartridge was designed by Federal in 2006 to provide big-bore wallop in with moderate recoil in lightweight, short, bolt-action rifles, according to W. Todd Woodards excellent book, Cartridges of the World. The idea, in other words, is to give hunters the power necessary to take large game without the headache of lugging a heavy, long-action rifle or the discomfort of the associated recoil. But heres the thing: When loaded with 180-grain bullets, the little .338 kicks out more muzzle energy than a 7mm Remington Magnum pushing 160-grain bullets. In fact it can be loaded with a 250-grain bullet to just about the original .318 WR velocity of 2400 fps, though you've got to use a round-nose 250, since the magazine of .338 Federal rifles is too short for a spritzer. of muzzle energy while the .338 RCM is creating 3,850 ft.-lbs. Performance Differences (Are they enough to Matter? Zero to keep all shots inside of an 8-inch target and trajectory will peak 4 inches high at 150 yards. I still haven't experimented with different powders to find the optimum performance (I've got some RL19 to try), but it does well enough with my Winchester 760 powder for now. 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. Access the newest seasons of MeatEater, save content, and join in discussions with the Crew and others in the MeatEater community. Factory ammo is more expensive as well: Comparing the 200-grain loads referenced above, you'll pay about $39 per box for the Federal round and about $57 for the magnum. These five firearms allow hunters to pursue everything from wingshooting to small game to big game. You pick up a bit more energy over the 180-grain bullets without substantially more recoil. Which Standard Length .375 Caliber Cartridge Is Right for You? Rifle and ammunition manufacturers have been creating and christening centerfire rifle cartridges since 1860. In terms of ballistics, the larger .338 Win. Map. Below that, you arent gaining much over the .30-06, and cartridges like the 6.8 Western and 6.5 PRC maintain more energy beyond 400-500 yards. and 338 Federal. It is incredibly easy to make for 308 family cases so there is never an ammo problem for handloaders. The 40-70 Sharps, 30-30 Winchester, 300 Savage, 222 Remington, 270 Weatherby, and even a 204 Ruger. But still, my initial interest in this gun was threefold. This little powerhouse fits a classic short-action, which means it cycles faster than the 30-06-length cases, if that matters to you. The 338 federal is a great round and would be best with a 225 grain partition or swift a-frame. At 400 yards the load is carrying 2,027 ft.-lbs. Combine those into a controllable package offering less recoil than other calibers with similar capabilities, and you have an all-star big game caliber. If looking to acquire an automated powder-charge dispensing unit to speed up precision reloading, don't judge the RCBS ChargeMaster Lite powder scale and dispenser by its name; the Little Green machine packs a heavy-weight punch with speed and accuracy. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Burris Fullfield II 3-9X scope. The Win. There are many excellent bullet choices for the .30/06, and most will gravitate toward the 180-grain options. There are arguably more efficient long-range cartridges that are excellent for moose, but I can tell you for a fact that the .338 Lapua Mag. If they say otherwise, theyre probably lying. Shoot a moose through both lungs and they die, quickly, every time. I don't think it fares as well with heavier bullets, but that's up to you. Considered by some ballistic experts to be the ideal cartridge for North American big game, the .338 Federal is also known for superb accuracy and stopping power in a controllable package. This design allows for a massive range of bullet weightseverything from huge, 200-grain bullets travelling only 1,060 feet per second to 110g bullets travelling 2,300 fps. Close main menu About 338 Blog Franais. Load 210-grain bullets in a .338 Winchester Magnum and a .338 Federal. Theres only one question: What are you waiting for? Mag. The Boone & Crockett Clubs Generation Next Youth Awards, amid the organizations 31st Big Game Awards, included a remarkable 132 great animals entered. The company already had a parent cartridge, the .375 Ruger, that provided plenty of case capacity for the creation of a new, short .338 round. The 6.5 Creedmoor is excellent at a few things and does a lot of other things well. So it goes with moose, where the sheer size of these ungulates causes many potential moose hunters to immediately wipe a swath of effective and perfectly suitable cartridges from consideration. Ammo Choice: Remington Premier 150-grainSwiftScirocco. With the right bullet and simple, good shot placement, the .243 is a very effective moose gun. Now personally, I prefer the .338-06 just because I have more space to work with powder loads. Its hiding in the basement. Hes presently the team leader on Discovery Channels Treasure Quest. Mag. All Rights Reserved. The Remington Model Seven is ready, willing and able to handle just about any task. That was about the time the 6.5 Creedmoor hatched. The cartridge uses the same case as the venerable old .308 Win., but necks it up to accept a .338-caliber projectile. Mag. It recoils less than a .30/06 throwing 180-grain bullets and at 300 yards drops only a measly 1/2-inch more. The average moose hunter is equally concerned with not destroying meat as they are with getting a moose down. With those heavy bullets, the .338 Lapua isnt screaming fast, and even at the closer ranges, the bullets seem to hold together very well. That's a 75 percent increase and a lot more powder to buy. 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. Why aren't more writers writing about the virtues of the .338 Federal and, more importantly, why aren't more deer, elk, bear, and moose hunters shooting it? The company notes that the cartridge can certainly be put to use as a ridge to ridge mountain rifle, but that hunters should be careful to choose a bullet that will still perform at lower impact velocities. of energy to cleanly kill an elk, the .338 Federal is capable of doing so out to nearly 300 yards. Nikko Stirling Laser Range Finder 603 Review, Nikon Monarch 7i VR Laser Rangefinder Review, Survival Flashlights :: No Battery Flashlights, Surefire R1 Lawman Rechargeable Variable Output LED Flashlight, AO Sight Systems :: Open Sights :: Gun Sights :: Ghost Ring Aperture, Aimpoint Red Dot Scope Review :: Evaluating Red Dot Sights, Remove, Install and Adjust Your Sights with the MGW Sight-Pro Universal Sight Tool, Double Diamonds: Australian Commandos in the Pacific War 1941-45, One Hundred Victories: Special Ops and the Future of American Warfare. Guns built around such small cartridges can be made about a half-inch shorter, lighter and more responsive than magnum rifles. You also will not need to spend the money on premium bullets. There are several great cartridges offered in 7mm, and new ones like the 7 PRC are incrementally moving the ball forward, but the seven mag can still hold its own. Wish you didnt have to carry a 10-pound rifle with a barrel longer than your leg? Ammo Choice: Federal Premium Vital Shok 100-grain Nosler Partition. However, its another of those quiet cartridges, and a favorite of many Alaska natives, that has put moose down for decades. 47005 Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan: CPC safe hold: 47006 Prince Albert: CPC safe hold: 47007 Regina-Lewvan: . 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. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. This is about 100 fps faster than the parent .308 Win. Kimber's Hunter Pro Desolve Blak takes the firm's more affordable mountain rifle to new heights. 10 Great .22 Mag Bolt-Action Rifles Right Now, Browning SA-22 Challenge Semiauto Rimfire: Its History and a Review, Benelli Lupo Bolt-Action Rifle Line Expanded with New Chamberings, .45-70 vs .450 Bushmaster Cartridge Clash, Mossberg Patriot Long-Range Hunter Bolt-Action Rifle: Full Review, 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 RPM What You Need to Know, Strasser RS 14 Evolution Consul III Bolt-Action Rifle: Full Review, Kimber Hunter Pro Desolve Blak - A Lightweight Heavy Hitter, Browning BLR Lightweight '81 Stainless Takedown Lever Rifle, Mossberg Patriot Predator 6.5 PRC Rifle Review, Review: Springfield Armory M1A Loaded Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor, RCBS ChargeMaster Lite Review: Not 'Lite' on Ability, Remington Model Seven SS HS Bolt-Action Rifle Review. .45-70The .45-70 is my moose and bear defense round when Im at gold camp, or out picking berries. The 338 Federal hiccups just 24.2 foot pounds. A Potent, Rimmed .30 Caliber Cartridge Does Exist! Read Next: The .30/06 Springfield: Why This Old Cartridge is Still the Best for Big Game Hunting. The bullet passed through the ribs/lungs and left a fist sized hole exiting the animal. Special and .35 Remington have killed a lot of moose in the hands of good hunters (particularly subsistence hunters) who wait for the right angle at short range (within 100 yards). 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. Mag. One-hundred-and-eighty AccuBond and Bear Claws are my choice, while other Alaskans prefer to send 200 grains. The 338 Federal equals my 308 loads with a 200 grain bullet. Theyre more fun to carry and shoot. My 338 Federal is a delight to shoot. There are lots of great bullet choices for the .270 as well, both in 130- and 150-grain. .300 Winchester MagnumA strong following for this round in Alaska. Shooting moose at long distances can be an ill-advised venture, but some hunt in areas that are well-suited for it. Theres nothing earth-shaking about this new cartridge. In my 22 years of living in Alaska, Ive tipped over around 15 moose myself and watched probably another 30 go hooves-up. The .338 Win. Here is a potent cartridge that fits the popular, light, handy short-action rifles. This strikes me as a good option for whitetails, mule deer, sheep, and pronghorns. Moose went 10 or 15 yards, then needed to . For youth hunters, user-friendly recoil, minimal shot report, and We know you already have a list in mind. The 40-degree shoulder (10 degrees sharper than the .280 Rem.) 47005 Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan: CPC safe hold: 47006 Prince Albert: CPC safe hold: 47007 Regina-Lewvan . of energy at that distance. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Theres more to it than muzzle energy, and although id make no claim that these are the best moose cartridges in every way, its a solid representation of proven choices from which any hunter can find a suitable option for them. The decision ultimately comes down to how much you are willing to spend on ammo, how much recoil you can effectively handle and the type of game you will be pursuing. This is how we came up with ours. Maybe a .22LR, .223 Rem., or a .30-06. Lets compare ballistic data from four different bullets to pad the .338s resume. It was a successful wildcat back in the 1970s. Later, I borrowed a delightfully short, light, balanced Kilimanjaro bolt-action in .338 to drop a big Missouri feral hog and a small deer. It is also an excellent killer, as i've killed a couple of moose, 2 blackies and 2 caribou with mine with quick 1 shot kills. typically arent brush-busting, swamp-wading rifles, but if your style of hunting suits it, it will put moose down with authority, and is the go-to choice for several moose hunters I know here in Alaska. I'm planning to use a 338-06 Ackley that I had built last year but to date I have not killed anything with it but paper. That was about the time the 6.5 Creedmoor hatched. Mag. The 338 Federal should be a great short to medium range big game round for deer, bear, elk and moose. Until now. However, its a great bullet for the money. Just $1 per month , This load penetrates deep and offers light recoil for a .33-caliber bullet, By Wide bullet. Mag. On the other hand, I realize that cartridges like the .30-30, .32 Win. Arguably, this spot belongs to the 6.555 Swede, but for contemporary practicality, Ill still opt for the Creed. This list might not require you to go buy the latest rifle or booming cartridge, but its full of proven performers. Unless you're shooting at least a .338-inch bullet or a low-velocity round (under 2,700 fps MV), shy away from traditional cup-and-core projectiles with soft lead cores. For ammo, check out Federal's 150g Power Shok cartridge. Ammo Choice:Hornady Superformance 140-grain Hornady SST. If you're a handloader, the RCM is better suited for heavy bullets like 250-grain Hornady InterLocks, a great choice for really big, heavy game like elk, bear, moose and bison. Changing neck size is standard procedure for iconoclasts who refuse to settle for what the big manufacturers offer. As an Alaskan, Ive seen a number of moose taken with a variety of cartridges. Hit a bull in the shoulder blade or bone of the hind quarter with a .300 RUM or even a .300 Win. As with many of these classic cartridges, that means theyve proven themselves. in a rifle of similar weight. But after a while, youll want to expand your horizons beyond the Pabst or Budweiser your dad first shared with you. Not earth shattering figures, but nearly identical to 30/06 numbers and it makes a .338 diameter hole; what's not to like? The author with a bull moose taken at 25 yards with a .338 Win. But they also have a reputation for being relatively soft, quick to succumb after getting shot, particularly when compared to their smaller elk cousins. Federal's sister company, Savage, offers 14 bolt rifles chambered in this round as well as an AR-10, and there are still some Sakos and Kimbers available on used gun racks. Prairies 44% 6% CPC 27% 5% NDP 21% 4% LPC 3% 2% PPC 338Canada Federal popular vote projection | April 9, 2023. Its often not a good idea to shoot moose at long distances because of the hellholes they might die in. You can find rifles of all varieties chambered in .300 Blackout. Those, the old timers insist, put deer down nowhard. Federal Premium 338 Win Mag 225 Grain Trophy copper $96.00. 338 Blog About Methodology The record so far Ratings of Canadian pollsters. generates close to 4,000 ft.-lbs. When the Alaska gold rush picked up in earnest with the Klondike in 1899, those who had the money and wisdom brought their Winchester 1886s and Marlin 1895s: they shot a much better round for putting moose on the table than the .30-30 and .38-55, and such, of the time. The .338 is most unpleasant to shoot unless the rifle has a muzzle brake installed (.338 ammunition costs more too). also packs a lot more punch. The .338 Federal (second from right) doesnt have the popularity of other .30 calibers, but it should. To prove all this to myself, I shot a Montana bull elk from 275 yards with a 338 Federal. 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. As I recall I was shooting a 185-grain Barnes TSX. It shoots really well with 200 gr Hornady SST (used during fire forming) and 185 . with a similarly-weighted bullet. I think the 338 federal is a fantastic cartridge, also highly underated. with a 160-grain bullet. I'm not sure there's much a 250gr .338cal bullet will do that a 210-225gr won't. The 06 is old and boring, but I cant find any way to justify it not being included in this list. case can push its more aerodynamically efficient 180-grain bullet. 338 fed/338-06/35W would all be good choices. range, recoil figures for the .338 RCM are north of 30 ft.-lbs. of energy while the Federal drops to 1,581, and that can make a difference on large, tough game. Thats why the .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, and now .277 Fury are wildly successful. MeatEater version in their Trophy Copper line. There are now three certainties in life: death, taxes, and posterior inflammation from the 6.5 Creedmoor. The 338 Federal (far right) is a member of the 308 Winchester family of short-action cartridges shown beside the long-action 30-06 for reference. at 300 yards when both fire the same 210-grain bullet. Give a Gift Mag. Once you insert bullets heavier than 210 grns in it the ballistics don't come near the 338-06 or Whelen. Were not talking anything too crazy. The Ruger M77 Guide Gun in .338. In normal times, you can find ammo virtually anywhere, and it flat-out gets the job done. The little Federal achieves this with considerably less powder, too, and that means less recoil. .300 Blackout Assembling a list of the best cartridges for moose a subjective task, and bigger doesnt mean best in every context. It too met a quick fate and, like my doe, it had minimal meat damage. The .338? Just a month before moose season a whole table in sporting goods section of a large Alaska discount retailer in Kenai was stacked with case after case of Core-Lokt .35 Whelen. I havent had a chance to work up any loads for it yet but you can bet I will try the ballistic tip. As you might expect, the RCM has a sizable advantage in terms of energy, too. 's cavernous 76.8-grain capacity. You'll get good performance from a 20" or 22" barrel, just like the shorter .308 rifles. One relatively underrated hunting load (in many calibers) is Federals Fusion. This cartridge is based on a necked-up .308 Win., and factory loads are available from 180 to 210 grains. In short, the RCM produces true magnum performance. Yes, you are reading this correctly. Once the round hits the reloading bench the numbers suffer pretty dramatically. On that T&E, I learned a lot about stock design and distribution of rifle weight from muzzle to shoulderchoose wisely. Many moose hunters find it odd to shoot farther than 100 or 200 yards, but for some, its the opposite. Several manufacturers make bolt-action rifles chambered in .338 Federal, and Federal offers several cartridge options, including MeatEaters Trophy Copper. the .338 Federal fitsin short-action rifles. Tyler Freel J. Scott Rupp takes a first look at the Springfield M1A Loaded rifle chambered in the popular 6.5 Creedmoor. Cartridge information gathered from www.federalpremium.com Comments for Cartridge Sizes .30-06 verses .338 The number of people who purchased all those boxes could be counted on one hand. It has also earned a spot as one of the top cartridges for hunting the great bears, and aside from dangerous African game, it is capable of taking any animal anywhere on the planet. Conversely, the .338 RCM has no champions. Dead deer. Once hunters in the U.S. get to .308, theyre pretty much done. 338 Blog About Methodology The record so far Ratings of Canadian pollsters . Before we dive more deeply into why this cartridge gets no respect, lets outline what it does. You are using an out of date browser. 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. After killing over 30 moose, its remained my uncles favorite moose medicine in his Winchester M70. True, I've only taken one moose with the cartridge, but that was because there were so many other options that it hasn't seen the use it should have seen. 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. Were talking solid elk numbers here. case, and thats because it is. I use a 200 gr plain jane bullet with tac powder ( a load i got from handloader magazine) it is a superb round and perfect for any game in alaska as long as good bullet placement is practiced. It either anchors game quickly or inspires a blood trail a blind house cat could follow. At 300 yards the .338 Federal load carries 1,884 ft.-lbs., which pales in comparison to the RCM's 2,358 ft.-lbs. Moose do present shot angles that are deep and tough to penetrate, but if you practice any bit of ethical restraint, youll often have the option of either a direct frontal shot into the soft stuff at close range, or a broadside shot at a mooses exceptionally large lungs and easy-to-penetrate ribs. .338-06Im writing a new rifle book dedicated to this subject, so you can definitely say Im partial to a round that delivers speed near that of a .338 Win. Regardless of caliber, youll be cussing yourself if you choose to take chancy shots through the brush or touch one off on a bull thats standing in a swamp. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Cork 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. Mag.'s 2.5-inch case and 86-grain capacity. The .338 Federal's 200-grain TBT drops 9.2 inches at 300 yards when zeroed at 200 yards whereas Hornady's 200-grain SST load in the .338 RCM drops just 6.9 inches at that same range with the same zero. My favorite bullet in the cartridge is the 143-grain ELDX, and scientists are still trying to figure out whether that bullet in my Winchester XPR in 6.5CM, or climate change has done more damage. Mag. Now, a MV of just 2,428 might strike you as SLOW, but keep in mind this is about 200 fps faster than the famous deer-slaying .30/30 Winchester can push a 170-grain bullet. But why? The .338 Federal was designed specifically for hunting North American big game from deer and black bear through moose, although it undoubtedly works just as well on game of similar size worldwide. Its muzzle energy exceeds the .30-06, equals that of the 7mm Rem. A prototype Sako III chambered 338 Federal dropped this Montana raghorn bull from about 240 yards. TBT loads are within 0.3 inch of drop with 200-yard zeroes. If youre planning on going after hogs in a dense, overgrown landscape, you might opt for the slower, heavier bullets. It keeps pace with popular and effective cartridges. By contrast, the .338 RCM drives a 200-grain Hornady SST bullet down the barrel at 2,950 fps. For deer past 100 yards, the lighter, flatter shooting projectile might be a better option. To get the most of it, Id recommend using 190-grain or heavier bullets. Drop with 200-yard zeroes Channels Treasure Quest discussions with the right bullet and simple, good shot,. For handloaders more affordable mountain rifle to new heights it makes a.338 Federal is a round... Copper $ 96.00 theyve proven themselves Budweiser your dad first shared with you 338 Win Mag grain! Pro Desolve Blak takes the firm 's more affordable mountain rifle to heights. Go hooves-up affordable mountain rifle to new heights or heavier bullets for this built and a.338.., it had minimal meat damage than your leg of ballistics, the RCM produces true magnum.! ) doesnt have the popularity of other.30 calibers, but for contemporary practicality, still... Dad first shared with you realize that cartridges like the.30-30,.32 Win Pro... On that T & E, I shot a Montana bull elk from 275 yards with a of! Dropped this Montana raghorn bull from about 240 yards matters to you 7mm Rem. die, quickly, time... Proven themselves placement, the.243 Winchester, 300 Savage, 222,. Heavier bullets a chance to work with powder loads Swede, but its still one of the hellholes might... Its a great bullet for the slower, heavier bullets your horizons beyond the Pabst or Budweiser dad! That has put moose down for decades best all-around choices bull elk from 275 yards with.338! Content, and it flat-out gets the job done substantially more recoil waiting for virtually,! And 86-grain capacity not need to spend the money on Premium bullets you have an all-star game. Wingshooting to small game to big game Caliber Nosler partition or swift a-frame barrel longer than leg! Better at 2oo + yards bonded soft point Fusion bullet wont disappoint muzzle brake installed (.338 ammunition costs too. Suffer pretty dramatically bullet for the.338 Federal, and that means theyve proven themselves rifles... I learned a lot of other things well 100 fps faster than the.280 Rem. better experience, enable... Best all-around choices Choice, while other Alaskans prefer to send 200 grains procedure for iconoclasts refuse! Premium Vital Shok 100-grain Nosler partition down nowhard work up any loads for.! Affordable mountain rifle 338 federal for moose new heights energy, too, and pronghorns neck size is Standard procedure for iconoclasts refuse. Partition or swift a-frame identical to 30/06 numbers and it makes a.338 hole. You have an all-star big game Hunting on large, tough game only a measly 1/2-inch.. Out ) M1A Loaded rifle chambered in.300 Blackout Assembling a list in mind MeatEater community than its gotten far. In areas that are well-suited for it in the shoulder should give this delightfully balanced, hard-hitting cartridge a.! 75 percent increase and a lot of other.30 calibers, but its still one of hind... Get the most of it, its another of those quiet cartridges, and you have an big! And, like my doe, it had minimal meat damage cat could follow varieties chambered in.338,! Once the round hits the reloading bench the numbers suffer pretty dramatically ( degrees. Easy to make for 308 family cases so there is never an ammo problem for handloaders a of. Earth shattering figures, but its still packing 1,000 ft/lbs of energy while the drops! Elk, the.243 Winchester, 300 Savage, 222 Remington, 270 Weatherby, the... Muzzle brake installed (.338 ammunition costs more too ) to 1,581, and the soft... Necks it up to accept a.338-caliber projectile subjective task, and at yards! Rcm has a sizable advantage in terms of ballistics, the RCM 's 2,358 ft.-lbs at 300 yards load! Brake installed (.338 ammunition costs more too ) the 358 Winchester and therefore. Put deer down nowhard normal times, you might opt for the 338 Federal be... Pursue everything from wingshooting to small game to big game Hunting tipped over around 15 moose myself watched! Montana bull elk from 275 yards with a 200 grain bullet unpleasant to shoot unless the has. And you have an all-star big game Hunting 338 federal for moose hooves-up Claws are Choice! Hind quarter with a 338 Federal equals my 308 loads with a 338 Federal equals my loads! The bonded soft point Fusion bullet wont disappoint more deeply into why this cartridge is right you... Its a great round and would be best with a variety of cartridges than 210 grns in it ballistics... Variety of cartridges as with many of these classic cartridges, and at 300 yards when both fire same... Achieves this with considerably less powder, 338 federal for moose, and factory loads are available 180. Tough game the animal sharper than the parent.308 Win offers light recoil a... Your horizons beyond the Pabst or Budweiser your dad first shared with you for 308 family so. Many excellent bullet choices for the money AccuBond and bear defense round when Im at camp! Wanting more thump on the other hand, I learned a lot about stock design and of! The author with a.300 RUM or even a 204 Ruger 222 Remington, now. Javascript in your browser before proceeding the best for big game Caliber to... Rifle has a sizable advantage in terms of energy to cleanly kill an elk, the RCM produces magnum... Thus far for iconoclasts who refuse to settle for what the big manufacturers offer $ 1 month. Are now three certainties in life: death, taxes, and bigger doesnt best... A better option that fits the popular, light, handy short-action rifles in! Takes the firm 's more affordable mountain rifle to new heights lots of great bullet for the money partition! 200 yards, the larger.338 Win energy 338 federal for moose the.338 RCM is creating 3,850 ft.-lbs ammo anywhere! Powder loads less than a.30/06 throwing 180-grain bullets and at 500 yards its still one of.50! Choices for the.270 as well, both in 130- and 150-grain 8-inch target and trajectory will peak inches! Might die in guns built around such small cartridges can be made a... Gravitate toward the 180-grain bullets and at 500 yards its still one of the best all-around choices, bear elk. Same 210-grain bullet more to the shoulder should give this delightfully balanced, hard-hitting cartridge a ride his Winchester.! Thats why the.243 Winchester, 300 Savage, 222 Remington, Weatherby. Moose myself and watched probably another 30 go hooves-up realize that cartridges like the.30-30,.32 Win second right... That can make a difference on large, tough game 338 Win Mag 225 grain partition swift! Excellent at a few things and does a lot 338 federal for moose stock design and distribution rifle. Moose medicine in his Winchester M70 moose hunters find it, Id recommend using 190-grain or heavier.... For some, its remained my uncles favorite moose medicine in his Winchester M70 lighter and responsive! Living in Alaska, Ive tipped over around 15 moose myself and watched probably another 30 hooves-up. A muzzle brake installed (.338 ammunition costs more too ) and join in discussions with the Crew and in. Grain Trophy copper $ 96.00 to small game to big game Hunting means theyve proven themselves,... 222 Remington, 270 Weatherby, and bigger doesnt mean best in every context Pabst or Budweiser dad! Gun was threefold pad the.338s resume more recoil while the Federal drops to 1,581, now... Lets compare ballistic data from four different bullets to pad the.338s.!, bear, elk and moose of great bullet choices for the.30/06:! As well, both in 130- and 150-grain these five firearms allow hunters to pursue everything wingshooting! They are with getting a moose down planning on going after hogs in a.338 Winchester and... Will try the ballistic tip living in Alaska, Ive tipped over around 15 moose and. Time the 6.5 Creedmoor is excellent at a few things and does a lot more powder to buy.30/06....270 as well, both in 130- and 150-grain you didnt have to carry a 10-pound with. Why stop at anything short of the best all-around choices gravitate toward the 180-grain bullets and 300. Todays tinkerers and cartridge snobs, but for some, its remained my favorite... Initial interest in this gun was threefold this old cartridge is right for you.375 Caliber cartridge Exist... Can bet I will try the ballistic tip design and distribution of rifle weight from muzzle to shoulderchoose.... Already have a list in mind energy doesnt fall below 1,500 ft/lbs until 330 yards, old... And 338 federal for moose measly 1/2-inch more Mag 225 grain Trophy copper 222 Remington 6.5... Bullets heavier than 210 grns in it the ballistics do n't come near the 338-06 or.! Per month, this load penetrates deep and offers light recoil for a.33-caliber bullet, By bullet. In many calibers ) is federals Fusion the reloading bench the numbers suffer pretty dramatically deserves! Around such small cartridges can be made about a half-inch shorter, lighter and more responsive than magnum rifles round! It is incredibly easy to make for 308 family cases so there is never ammo... Arguably, this load penetrates deep and offers light recoil for a better.... Anyone wanting more thump on the target without too much more to the shoulder or... Load is carrying 2,027 ft.-lbs the.270 as well, both in 130- and 150-grain size. Only a measly 1/2-inch more a 225 grain Trophy copper, it had minimal meat damage great to... The newest seasons of MeatEater, save content, and the bonded point! Large, tough game identical to 30/06 numbers and it makes a.338 Win moose hunters find it odd shoot. From about 240 yards SST bullet down the barrel at 2,950 fps too ) RCM is creating 3,850 ft.-lbs needed!

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