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. As with many of these classic cartridges, that means theyve proven themselves. Something about getting below 2400-2500fps leaves me a little cold. Hornady 338 Win Mnag 200 Grain SST $65.00. At 400 yards the load is carrying 2,027 ft.-lbs. The 338 Federal equals my 308 loads with a 200 grain bullet. Its lighter chamberings make it easy for recoil-shy shooters to field and makes it ideal for target work, too. My favorite bullet for the .300 Win. On that T&E, I learned a lot about stock design and distribution of rifle weight from muzzle to shoulderchoose wisely. Federal offers seven .338 Federal loads ranging from 185 grains to 210 grains. .338 Federal 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. If you have concerns, use a bullet like the 270-grain ELDX. Energy stays just above 1,500 ft/lbs at 355 yards, too. People knock it for rapid expansion, but the jacket is mechanically fastened to the core in two spots, and Ive had more pass-throughs than not. This list might not require you to go buy the latest rifle or booming cartridge, but its full of proven performers. Those, the old timers insist, put deer down nowhard. If theres anything Ive learned over the years of shooting and handling moose, its that choosing when and where to shoot them is much more important than the caliber stamped on your rifle barrel. But after a while, youll want to expand your horizons beyond the Pabst or Budweiser your dad first shared with you. The .280 AI can push a 120g round about 3,200 fps (about as fast as a typical 55g .223 Rem.) Mag. Theres nothing earth-shaking about this new cartridge. 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. In fact, I dont think Ive seen a box of .338 Win. The 338 Federal should be a great short to medium range big game round for deer, bear, elk and moose. I really like the slight bump in velocity of the 200-grain Trophy Bonded Tip, and my rifle shoots it well. Well, it has a couple of issues that turn many hunters off. The old .30/06, the .308 Winchester, or any of our many .300 magnums will handle any game stateside and most anything anywhere else on the globe. The .338 Federal is the best deer and elk cartridge you've probably never fired or maybe never heard of. I'm using the .225 gr. A 200 or 225 gr bullet at 2400-2600 MV should be more than adequate for elk or moose. Its based on the .280 Rem., which is itself an American adaption of the 764 Brenneke. 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. Based on a shortened .375 H&H case and capable of fitting into standard-length actions, the .338 Win. 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. This efficient short-action cartridge flattens game like the hammer of Thor without kicking you in the shoulder like a stubborn mule. Like any responsible hunter should, take good shots, hit both lungs, and get out the knives. But they also have a reputation for being relatively soft, quick to succumb after getting shot, particularly when compared to their smaller elk cousins. Beth Shimanski of Savage introduces their all new straight-pull rifle. I don't think it fares as well with heavier bullets, but that's up to you. In the midst of our current ammo shortage, the .308 is one of the few cartridges with a decent selection still on the shelf. This is also why the .338 Federal is capable of .30-06 velocities even though it's the .308 necked up. Maybe a .22LR, .223 Rem., or a .30-06. Once you insert bullets heavier than 210 grns in it the ballistics don't come near the 338-06 or Whelen. But the .338 Win. Given the weight retention and penetration potential of the Barnes TTSX, this relative lightweight should more than suffice for whitetails, mule deer, sheep, and mountain goats. This strikes me as a good option for whitetails, mule deer, sheep, and pronghorns. Send a 200- to 250-grain A-Frame, AccuBond or Nosler Partition from this round and youve got powerful moose medicine. Just $1 per month , Bigger isnt always better when it comes to picking a cartridge for moose hunting, By Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Mag. You'll get good performance from a 20" or 22" barrel, just like the shorter .308 rifles. Mag. Its one of those cartridges that fits the bill for someone who only wants one big-game rifle. .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. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. The little known Federal 338 cartridge is surprising for many surprising reasons, not the least of which are efficiency and efficacy. Even Ruger no longer chambers current production guns for it, although you can still find Guide Guns and Hawkeyes in .338 RCM on dealer shelves and online. Its often not a good idea to shoot moose at long distances because of the hellholes they might die in. In same-weight rifles of about 7 pounds, a 338 Win. buy from BV Outdoor Essentials. One-hundred-and-eighty AccuBond and Bear Claws are my choice, while other Alaskans prefer to send 200 grains. 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. 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. You might start your journey into the outdoors with something common, safe, and recognizable. for outstanding game stopping power with recoil below that of most other medium bore cartridges. Tactical Survivalist : Combat Gear : Survival Gear : Combat Equipment is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.com, SmallParts.com, or AmazonWireless.com. . Ive always seen great penetration at a variety of velocities and calibers with this bullet. I do know a guy whos killed them with his Barret M82 and a 647-grain Barnes TSX. 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. The 6.555 Swede has certainly done the legwork of establishing 6.5mm cartridges as viable moose killers but does it in a more efficient package. Ammo Choice: Federal Premium 200-grain Trophy Bonded Tip. Takes a variety of bullets form 160 up. The Win. interlock in my .338/06 wildcat with good results, it's leaving my muzzle at 2750 fps. Bullet energy doesnt drop below 1,000 ft/lbs until well past 500 yards. USA (Presidential) France . The 40-70 Sharps, 30-30 Winchester, 300 Savage, 222 Remington, 270 Weatherby, and even a 204 Ruger. buy from BV Outdoor Essentials. The 100-grain Nosler Partition is old reliable for the .243, and youll typically find it under the skin on the off-side of a broadside bull. 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. But there are more .338 Win. Bullet choice is especially important in small calibers like the .243. of energy to cleanly kill an elk, the .338 Federal is capable of doing so out to nearly 300 yards. Additionally, I have more than a few relatives and friends that can account for another centurys worth of punched tags and moose-killing wisdom. 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. At 300 yards a 10 mph right angle wind will bump it 9 inches. Wish you didnt have to carry a 10-pound rifle with a barrel longer than your leg? at the muzzle. I think the 338 federal is a fantastic cartridge, also highly underated. But not everyone wants or needs magnum performance. . Mag., but the recoil of a .270 Win. The .338 Federal is capable of firing bullets weighing between 180 and 225 grains at muzzle velocities ranging from 2,700 to 2,900 feet per second. If that doesnt impress you, look at it this way. Mag. The number of people who purchased all those boxes could be counted on one hand. Add the ability to be used with a SA and that's enough to consider it a viable chambering IMO. Zero both for their Maximum Point Blank Ranges (MBPR). However, if you do need to reach out there, either of those bullets will give you great penetration. Well, maybe you do. 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. The new Sako Finnlight II sports an innovative stock and Cerakote metal paired with the terrific 85 action. 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. Federal Simulator. Mag. When selecting ammunition for moose hunting, just make sure that youre using a bullet that will hold together at the velocity your cartridge is shooting. So am looking for help in the bullet selection area. USA (Presidential) France (Presidential) Montreal. Like the .338-06, its a reloaders dream: beaucoup bullet options, and .308 Win. Brass is affordable and widely available. Its a great choice for young or smaller-framed huntersor a hunter that has nothing to prove. 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. Believe it or not, a 180-grain bullet from the smaller 338 Federal cartridge will drop a half-inch less than a 180-grain from the 30-06 at 400 yards. It was a successful wildcat back in the 1970s. But why? This caliber was developed in the early 2010s for military applications. 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. Weatherby chambers many of their rifles in the .280 AI, and Federal offers a MeatEater version in their Trophy Copper line. 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. In fact, it is still the go-to rifle for many rural Alaska hunters. According to Federal ballistics data, the 338 Federal pushes a 180-grain Nosler AccuBond from the muzzle at 2,840 fps to produce 3,223 foot pounds energy. There are tons of great calibers for youth hunters, but a brief MeatEater survey landed on three. This cartridge is no longer a flashy new magnum, but it will still cut gravy. is the Hornady 212-grain ELDX, but its not offered in a factory loading that Ive been able to find. N/A. Its on this list because of the sheer volume of moose it continues to take every year. I figure if the magnum will kill like that at over 400 yards the federal should be great in less open country. Which Standard Length .375 Caliber Cartridge Is Right for You? The bullet wont drop 4 inches below point-of-aim until about 290 yards. Performance Differences (Are they enough to Matter? In compact, mild recoiling rifles, it produces performance equal to some of the most proven, popular big game cartridges in America. of muzzle energy while the .338 RCM is creating 3,850 ft.-lbs. Two years later it was Ruger's turn. 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. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. .35 WhelenThis round has a definite following in Alaska, and is one of friend and colleague Bryce Towsleys favorites. Its arguable that the .308 and .30-06 should be an either-or matter, but for me, they both belong here. If the .30/30 has piled up even half the venison its credited with, its one heck of a deer round. The cartridge uses the same case as the venerable old .308 Win., but necks it up to accept a .338-caliber projectile. With an Accu-Fit stock and left hand adjustable bolt, this rifle is a perfect choice for anyone! 338 fed/338-06/35W would all be good choices. Some you may find surprising. As ranges increase from there, so does the trajectory gap. So why, then, does the .338 Federal languish in obscurity? 6.5 Creedmoor - Best thing since sliced bread, or more of the same? But even if you handload to just 2,800 fps, this is the ultimate flat-shooter for the .338. Federal Premium 338 Win Mag 225 Grain Trophy copper $96.00. It may not display this or other websites correctly. It will handle not only whitetails, but black bears, elk, and moose as far away as anybody is likely to hit them. The truth is, most hunters will capitalize on every advantage they can buy. The .338 Fed is shooting almost right alongside the 338-06, which has a well developed reputation on big game. Handloader. Yes, its pretty much just the .308 necked up to take .338-inch bullets. TBT loads are within 0.3 inch of drop with 200-yard zeroes. 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? They are ultra-reliable, and once you get them broken in, the action is very smooth (I'm very attached to an M77 Alaskan in .375 Ruger that I'd already had). will knock the hell out of them. As I said in my cartridge intro for the 8th Edition of the Nosler Reload Guide, If I have to choose a single rifle, my shoot everything rifle, even if Ill be running into one of my angry neighbors that others call a coastal brown bear, itll be the .338-06 A-Square.. If anything, theyre a reminder that any good bullet, in a solid caliber, sent on its way with enough speed into the animals vitals can do an excellent job. was always easy to find ammo for here in Alaska, but thats no longer the case. 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. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Its the truth. Mag., and cooks along about 200 fps faster than the .308 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. For factory moose ammo, I find Winchesters 190-grain ABLR load to be tough to beat. There are now three certainties in life: death, taxes, and posterior inflammation from the 6.5 Creedmoor.
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