The number of people who purchased all those boxes could be counted on one hand. Alaska Outdoors I havent had a chance to work up any loads for it yet but you can bet I will try the ballistic tip. .35 WhelenThis round has a definite following in Alaska, and is one of friend and colleague Bryce Towsley’s favorites. The bigger the animal, the more heated that debate tends to be. This is based off my extensive loss of bloodshot moose meat and core separation when I used a 200 grain interlock on a moose in a 358 winchester which would be similar. Bullet selection for the .338 ranges from 200 to 300 grains. The ballistics are even better than that of its grandfather, and in shorter action: it will fit the action of a .30-06. 30-06/180 LM, 375 H&H/300SBT, 338/185XLC. I am concerned that it might blow up and not penetrate too well on elk or moose so I think my hunting load will be a nosler partition in 210 gr and a BC of .400...still a good long range bullet. The .338 Fed is shooting almost right alongside the 338-06, which has a well developed reputation on big game. Privacy Policy   •   Contact Us   •   Warnings   •   FAQs   •  © 2020 National Rifle Association of America, 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. I have confidence to shoot large animals with this round in my rifle. The Alaska Moose Hunting Guidebook is now available for Apple devices and for Amazon Kindle. He’s presently the team leader on Discovery Channel’s, Remington Model 700 American Hunter Rifle Project, Women On Target® Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Ambassadors, NRA Outstanding Achievement Youth Award Presented by Brownells, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, Large Mountain Lion Spotted Outside Dallas, Head to Head: .308 Winchester vs. .30-06 Springfield, Head to Head: .444 Marlin vs. .45-70 Government, 2020 National Rifle Association of America. It shoots well with 160TTSX, 185TSX, 180NAB and the 200 Fusion. .375 H&HHunters do like to bring much bigger rounds to Alaska and Canada in their search for that wall-hanger Bullwinkle. 338 Federal Load Data; 338-06 A-Square Load Data; 338 Winchester Magnum Load Data; 330 Dakota Load Data; 340 Weatherby Magnum Load Data; 338 Remington Ultra Magnum Load Data; 338 Lapua Magnum Load Data; 338-378 Weatherby Magnum Load Data; 358 Winchester Load Data; 350 Remington Magnum Load Data; 35 Whelen Load Data; 358 Norma Magnum Load Data There will always be exceptions, like the Eskimo who thinks nothing of taking a polar bear with an AR-15, or that tiger shot in the head with a .22 long-rifle. It can easily kill large animals such as Bisons or Moose with one shot. Mag. The .308 Winchester is by far the most popular out of the bunch. It is incredibly easy to make for 308 family cases so there is never an ammo problem for handloaders. The thing that most will not agree on is my pet load is a 200 gr. That's plenty of punch for elk and moose. The other rifle, even though much heavier, clocked me so much I couldn’t get it shipped back to the manufacturer quickly enough. Bullet ws a 210 Nosler Partition, range was about 70 yards. The contents of the Alaska Outdoors Supersite Its only drawback is like that of my other favorite new offering moose-capable round, the .338 Federal: it’s hard to get in Anchorage, much less the bush—bring your ammo with you. On average, the .338 Win Mag delivers more energy to the target and penetrates deeper than the .300 Win Mag. This page was generated at 1 minute ago. 300-grain Hornady DGX and Nosler Partitions are my favorites, making complete pass-throughs and easy-to-follow blood trails a reward, with surprisingly low meat damage. Get the American Hunter Insider newsletter for at-a-glance access to industry news, gear, gun reviews, videos and more—delivered directly to your Inbox. He’s presently the team leader on Discovery Channel’s Treasure Quest. Elkmasterwyo Senior Member. by Cork Graham - Send a 200- to 250-grain A-Frame, AccuBond or Nosler Partition from this round and you’ve got powerful moose medicine. moose hunting rifle by: Lance I've only shot two moose one with a 300 wby and one with a 338 rcm the wby was 180 gr speer bullet and the 338 was a 250 barnes the 338 was much more impressive and my next moose will be with the 338 hands down Purchase and Download for $19.99 at the following links: Apple Devices. More Savage Arms rifles chambered in .338 Federal Wilson Combat has also recently released the Recon Tactical .338 Federal AR. There are very few other calibers where you can easily buy factory ammo with bullet weights that vary by a factor of two, from 110 to 220 grains. .338 Winchester MagnumI don’t know about you, but for some reason, next to a .50 BMG, I seem to get my noggin rattled by just about every rifle I’ve shot this in, except for the Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather SS I’ve learned to love because of a well-designed Bell & Carlson stock that makes it a pleasure to shoot. USA) I shoot a rebarreled win. Now personally, I prefer the .338-06 just because I have more space to work with powder loads. On the flip side, the .338 Federal produces just 23.9 foot-pounds of recoil, compared to a shoulder-smashing 36.1 for the Win. This beautiful rifle is an ideal choice for any big game hunting in North America including trophy wild hogs, elk, moose and bear. I'll be hunting moose in area 20A. Register My sons Idaho moose hunt using a 338 Edge. I’ve got one and find it a pleasure to shoot in Remington 700 Stainless Steel Synthetic that I switched the factory stock out for a recoil-dampening, H-S Precision Sporter, effectively taking it from shooting 1-MOA to half-MOA with the new stock, and a switch out of the trigger for a Timney Trigger at 2.75 pounds pull. Medium bore rifles should launch medium weight bullets, most 30 caliber rifles will launch a 210 grn bullet at 2500 FPS and the ballistics are repeatable from the reloading bench. If you handle it well, go for it! 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. I've booked my first trip to AK for next September. Mag. With the number of bullets available that dwarf the list of those for the .35 Whelen, and the fact that I can send 200 grain .338 only 200 fps slower than the same bullet in a .338 Win. Please use While the .338 Win. You also will not need to spend the money on premium bullets. I am not comfortable shooting game over about 800yds at this time. 3. All times are GMT-9. Somewhere along the way I have lost the ability to act politically correct. If you should find it, please feel free to keep it. My first moose was a 270 yard shot so I was glad my gun had that much range, I hunt moose with a Marlin 338 Express. Let`s put the 338 Federal in proper context or perspective. Only a few weeks later, it was gone. But the true beauty of the .338 Federal is you get near .338 Win. Takes a variety of bullets form 160 up. forums are viewable by anyone, and may be read by clicking the forum headings Making this round questionable as an improvement on any medium bore. for a free forum account |  Upgrade to a Supporting Forum Membership |. 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. About the AuthorCork 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. The world, as it is, is vexing enough..." Col. Stonehill. below. To qualify statements, the the .338 Federal was promoted as having more muzzle energy than the .30-06 and that the .338 generated 200fps more velocity than the parent .308 Winchester cartridge with bullets of equal weight. But, for a very light kicking round, with a hard hitting bullet, this can’t be beat. Are there any Alaskans using the 338 Federal for Bears or Moose ???? .338-06I’m writing a new rifle book dedicated to this subject, so you can definitely say I’m partial to a round that delivers speed near that of a .338 Win. 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. In the shooting that I've done with the .338 Federal/Sako combination I found the felt recoil quite manageable. cow moose with my 338 Federal. Examples are the .338 Marlin Express, .338 Federal, .338-06, .348 Winchester, .358 Winchester, .35 Whelen, .350 Rem. Due to it's large caliber and rough power, its only suitable for big game hunt. 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. Magnum, 9.3x62mm, 9.3x74R, .405 Winchester, .444 Marlin, .450 Marlin and .45-70 Government. by Mac (Washougal, Wa. "I do not deal in hypotheticals. trophy bonded tip. Jim Hammill from Crystal Falls, Michigan, used a 180-grain Nosler AccuBond bullet out of his .338 to collect his first bull in British Columbia during the fall of 2012, and he was extremely satisfied with their performance. The 338 federal is a great round and would be best with a 225 grain partition or swift a-frame. for a free forum account |  Upgrade to a Supporting Forum Membership | Manage Your Account/Update Password. Most .338 Federal factory loads have more kinetic energy than the .358 Winchester at all ranges. 200 grain at 2960 fps and 3892 ft-lbs. Supersite offers several membership levels. E-mail your comments/questions about this site to: EmediaHunter@nrahq.org, For questions/comments about American Hunter magazine, please e-mail:Publications@nrahq.org, You can contact the NRA via phone at: NRA Member Programs1-800-672-3888, To advertise on American Hunter, visit nramediakit.com for more information. I once tested two rifles in .375 H&H: one was the Winchester Model 70 Safari Express, which was a true pleasure to shoot. It is not a 338 Win Mag. .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. .300 Winchester MagnumA strong following for this round in Alaska. Mag., but the recoil of a .270 Win. That pretty much sums it up: a great moose round with a very defined following. As an Alaskan, I’ve seen a number of moose taken with a variety of cartridges. 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. Learn more! Any more bullet weight than that, you loose velocity big time, and you'd be better served to gravitate towards a 358 winchester if you intend to shoot 250 grain bullets or larger. Take your moose hunt to the next level! the same username and password for all areas. Cartridge information gathered from www.federalpremium.com Elk in none bear country maybe. As Federal's initial infomercial advises, "It gives big game hunters a larger diameter bullet for more weight and overall energy on target without magnum recoil . Let’s look at those assumptions a bit closer in the following table. I would use any of those loads to shoot elk out to 350yds or so. The men who wrote the Second Amendment didn't just finish a … The author is right about the 6.5 Creed I own two in AR10s and neither gets the nod for moose. Mag., has made this round a no-brainer choice for me. Mag. 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. 88 in .338 Federal with a 22" barrel. My 338 shoots 225gr Cutting Edge D62s at 2848fps avg. Where I hunt elk, my "average shot distance" has been 195yds. It operates at higher pressure than the 358 winchester and is therefore better at 2oo + yards. . I pulled the first shot and spined her, dropped where she stood. The 338-08, a 308 Winchester necked up to hold a .338 bullet was the cartridge the .338 Federal was modeled after and with some minor modifications it became what it is today. Though I personally wouldn`t try for a moose or bull elk at 300 yards with this cartridge and opt to get closer, that does not mean it couldn`t be done. The Rangemaster 338 rifle is the second most powerful rifle in the game. 200 grain interlock would be the last bullet i'd choose for hunting in Alaska. This round performs best as loaded from the factory where proprietary powders are used to make it acheive its higher velocities and pressures. I figure if the magnum will kill like that at over 400 yards the federal should be great in less open country. 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. (elk and moose). 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). Picking the 10 “best” or most favorable cartridges for hunting any animal is a highly subjective and challenging task. :think: I have a chance to buy one in a Ruger Hawkeye cheap and am thinging about it but cant really find jack on how people have accepted it on larger game like Moose Bears or Elk so thought I would post this as all I can find from gunwriters reviews is the standard junk of them shooting a pig or tame deer in Texas that weigh about 125lbs . Once the round hits the reloading bench the numbers suffer pretty dramatically. I have hunted elk and deer with the 338 WM for quite awhile here in Idaho with excelent results. Friday, February 17, 2017. received strong support, that backing came mostly from B.C. As for all rifles, two variants of its ammunition are available: A very powerful and durable weapon built for the most extreme conditions. I think the 338 federal is a fantastic cartridge, also highly underated. On that T&E, I learned a lot about stock design and distribution of rifle weight from muzzle to shoulder—choose wisely. your account management area, forums and University require login. 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. 14 year old takes his once in a life time Moose at 1258 yards. Mag. One-hundred-and-eighty AccuBond and Bear Claws are my choice, while other Alaskans prefer to send 200 grains. Like the .338-06, it’s a reloader’s dream: beaucoup bullet options, and .308 Win. It’s that easy. John, I took a ~600 lb. Yes, the .338 Lapua Magnum is A GOOD CHOICE for moose hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding bullet, and with correct shot placement. The .338 Federal was created by the engineering and ballistics staff at Federal in collaboration with Sako rifles. Performance is on a par with 30-06 but often in a lighter and handier rifle. In Outdoor Canada’s 2010 survey of 75 moose guides from across the country, 35 per cent listed the .300 Win. “Gird your loins,” is the warning given any writer attempting to list the best cartridges for any type of hunting. The only thing a writer can do is respond with the most consistent rounds. I only hunt with lever action rifles so the Marlin 338 Express is a good choice. 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. I'm using the .225 gr. Nosler ballistic tip over imr 4350 powder in my pre 64 mod 70 it shoots sub moa and kills without much loss of meat. The downfall of the .338 is recoil. I use Federal 200 gr. Some you may find surprising. The .338 Federal was released in collaboration with the Sako rifle company of Finland. I've taken grizzly and moose with the 338 Fed and Federal 210 NPs. It's only killed one animal so far for me, but the black bear I shot was dead before it hit the ground. .338 Federal for the thick stuff. Either one of these fine cartridges would be very suitable for moose hunting or for hunting of moose sized game. If anything, they’re a reminder that any good bullet, in a solid caliber, sent on its way with enough speed into the animal’s vitals can do an excellent job. . This 360-page book is a great resource for any Alaska moose hunter, regardless of experience level. performance out to 400 yards, without the recoil of magnum rounds. Ask most Alaskans about their favorite and the “.338 Win Mag” is the answer you get, next to .30-06 and .300 Win. Long range moose cartridges. Add the ability to be used with a SA and that's enough to consider it a viable chambering IMO. That’s not surprising given the largest-bodied moose tend to come from the country’s western and northern extremes, and that these areas also have grizzly bears sharing much of the same habitat. Another caliber that is an excellent choice for moose hunting is the .338 Federal with 180-grain bullets. The bullet passed through the ribs/lungs and left a fist sized hole exiting the animal. Wag more, bark less. I think the real potential of the .338 Federal cartridge is going to be measured when it is matched against game animals the size of elk, black bear, and moose. Wilson Combat Recon Tactical .338 Federal AR. and 338 Federal. For your security, 225 grain at 2850 fps and 4059 ft-lbs. Once you insert bullets heavier than 210 grns in it the ballistics don't come near the 338-06 or Whelen. Get magnum performance in a lightweight, short-action cartridge with the 338 Federal load from Federal Premium® Ammunition. Now, I have a little 22"bbl 338 Federal. It operates at higher pressure than the 358 winchester and is therefore better at 2oo + yards. 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 fast handling quick on target is ideal for the ultimate brush, deep woods, Elk rifle. I’ve even nicknamed it “Thor,” because I love carrying and shooting it so much. Think Tikka Lite in 338 Fed. as their top choice for the best moose cartridge, although several noted it was only their top choice if the hunter could handle the associated recoil. .45-70The .45-70 is my moose and bear defense round when I’m at gold camp, or out picking berries. Loosing almost all of a front quarter of a moose, there are better choices. It is a short to moderate to medium ranged big game cartridge. 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 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. 308 Winchester vs 358 Winchester vs 338 Federal Ammo . It does very well for what is was designed to do. Send a 200- to 250-grain A-Frame, AccuBond or Nosler Partition from this round and you’ve got powerful moose medicine. My reloads produce 2600 fps with 200 grain Hornady SP and 2450+ with 225 Hornady SP from a 22 inch barrel. For more on his articles and books, visit his official site here. Mag. .300 H&HMaster Alaska guide and longtime outdoor writer Phil Shoemaker, owner of Grizzly Skins of Alaska, has this to say, “There are no particularly bad cartridges but only improperly using them for unsuitable chores. Not earth shattering figures, but nearly identical to 30/06 numbers and it makes a .338 diameter hole; what's not to like? To post to our forums, please register. Fly-in hunt. I think the 338 federal is a fantastic cartridge, also highly underated. and Alberta. The cartridge is simply the .308 Winchester necked up to hold .338-inch bullets, and will fit perfectly in a short-action receiver. It’s flat shooting and with a 180-grain or 200-grain bullet it packs a punch. Built on the .308 case and “necked-up” to hold a .338-diameter bullet, the load offers hunters a faster muzzle velocity than traditional favorites like the .308 Win., with a heavier bullet to boot. with the 338M I only have ever recovered one bullet that did not completely pass threw and that was about a 50 yard shot on a big muley. of energy at the muzzle (perfect for deer). Joined Oct 21, 2012 Messages 479 Location Lyman, WY. It is incredibly easy to make for 308 family cases so there is never an ammo problem for handloaders. Apr 22, 2016 #8 OP . The Hornady 200 gr Interlock SP has an excellent reputation on game in the 338/06, so at 100-200 fps less it should really penetrate well, and costs less than half what their GMX bullet does. The .338 is most unpleasant to shoot unless the rifle has a muzzle brake installed (.338 ammunition costs more too). I’ve enjoyed carrying both iron-sights lever-actions, and trust my life to 405-grain Remington Core-Lokt, and 430-grain Buffalo Bore cartridges. Ask most Alaskans about their favorite and the “.338 Win Mag” is the answer you get, next to .30-06 and .300 Win. Welcome! 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. brass is everywhere—just run the .338 Federal resizing ball through it. I use the 200 grain FTX bullet, it has been very effective in both kills. 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. Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to picking a cartridge for moose hunting. interlock in my .338/06 wildcat with good results, it's leaving my muzzle at 2750 fps. Two-hundred grains out of this round will put a bear or moose on the ground efficiently. Takes a variety of bullets form 160 up. Here are some performance numbers. mod. .375 RugerThis is the modern improved answer to the old Alaskan’s .375 H&H standby. L-R are 30-06 Sprnfld., 308 Win., 243 Win., 260 Rem., 7mm-08 Rem. I am trying to decide if I will carry a 338 Win Mag or a 300 Win Mag. I have taken 3 6 point bulls with this round all one shot kills and two of them at extended range. Their favorite and the “.338 Win Mag” is the answer you get near.338 Win Mag delivers more energy the! 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