Getting Started

[338 Bear Hunter]

I don't have my exact loads, but currently I'm loading the 160 grain ttsx. I don't concern myself too much with velocity ( I don't have a Chrono). I try to find an accurate load at 90-95 percent of max. My 338 is a 760 pump with 18" barrel.

Why so light? I'm used to 185 as the bottom for .338 Fed, although I know DoubleTap loads a 160 grain TTSX.

 

[hammertime]

They are solid copper and therefore are longer. A 200 grain solid copper bullets in 338 would be very long and therefore eat up case capacity. They shoot similar to a 200 grain lead core bullet. So you can push em faster and they hold together incredibly well. I shot my moose last year with a 300 wsm using a 165 grain ttsx. I found the bullet on the off shoulder, it weighed 164 grains. I am in no way pushing for solid copper bullets but they work. I am a old school cup and core guy, mostly Sierra gamekings, but I feel those will be outlawed sooner rather than later. So I've experimented with solids. They shoot well and kill like lightning.

 

[hammertime]

My favorite load for the 338 Fed is the 210 Nosler partition. I also like the 180 grain Woodleigh. I guess that's why I enjoy reloading. I can choose a gun and tailor a load for different game.

 

[338 Bear Hunter]

Do you think .338 Fed copper will work well at bait distances on black bear? I've got a bunch of 200-grain Trophy copper and am considering using them next week, but I am worried they might not open up. I do have three boxes of the 210 Noslers, but I haven't checked them for grouping yet. Last year I used the 200-grain Vital Shok, (mostly copper) and they worked well but I'm running out.

 

[hammertime]

Work well? Of course. At bait distance I would tend to go on the heavy side. 200-210 for the 338 Federal. I love the 338 Federal, but I think a 358 Winchester would be perfect for bear at that distance

 

[338 Bear Hunter]

Work well? Of course. At bait distance I would tend to go on the heavy side. 200-210 for the 338 Federal. I love the 338 Federal, but I think a 358 Winchester would be perfect for bear at that distance

At that distance, sure. A 45-70 or even 12 gauge slug would be great too. I chose .338 Federal as a blend of excellent over bait performance that could be extended out should I need to.

 

[hammertime]

It's a great caliber. Fits nicely between the 308 and 358.

 

[338 Bear Hunter]

It's a great caliber. Fits nicely between the 308 and 358.

By the ballistics stats I've seen, .338 Federal has more energy than .308 at close range and more than .358 at all ranges.

 

[hammertime]

I had a nice chart comparing the three. I can't seem to locate it now. I remember the recoil numbers of the 338 being significantly lower than 358 also

 

[hammertime]

338 Federal vs 308 Winchester vs 358 Winchester: What You Need To Know

Looking for hard hitting, short action cartridge? Here’s what you need to know about the 338 Federal vs 308 Winchester vs 358 Winchester. The best one is

thebiggamehuntingblog.com

 

[hammertime]

I have guns chambered in almost every cartridge in the 308 "family". Only missing the 260 Remington.

 

[groundtender]

I have guns chambered in almost every cartridge in the 308 "family". Only missing the 260 Remington.

That sounds good. Just curious, what is the entire list of the .308 family? Thank you

 

[338 Bear Hunter]

CDNN ran a sale on a Savage Lightweight Storm in 7mm-08 back in 2020. I needed to get my daughter a gun so she wouldn't steal my .308. I thought about getting the CDNN model, but as luck would have it, a local store had the same gun chambered in .308 Win and 6.5 Manbun.

I brought her back to the store to try it for fit, and she liked it. As it is light, I told her she could have my .308 and I'd take the new one if she didn't like it. She loves it, and it is her only bear gun now.

The 7mnm-08 was very tempting for its reduced recoil, but I really didn't want to add another caliber to my arsenal, so I'm glad she was ok with the .308. As it turned out, 7mm-08 was damn near impossible to find that year anyway.

For me, 2018 was a tough caliber year. I added .338 Federal and .380 ACP. I try to keep things minimized, though I knew 12 gauge was only a matter of time.

 

[hammertime]

243 Winchester
260 Remington
7MM-08
308 Winchester
338 Federal
358 Winchester

 

[hammertime]

My 338 Federal used to be a 243 Winchester

 

[NoDeerHere]

I don't reload but my buddy does and he reloads .280 for me. I went to the range with him a few years ago so he could sight in his .270. The primer went off but the bullet did not exit the barrel. He forgot to put powder in one of the shells. Now I take his reloads and put it up to my ear and shake it to see if there is powder in the shell.

 

[Flatlander]

I don't reload but my buddy does and he reloads .280 for me. I went to the range with him a few years ago so he could sight in his .270. The primer went off but the bullet did not exit the barrel. He forgot to put powder in one of the shells. Now I take his reloads and put it up to my ear and shake it to see if there is powder in the shell.

That's a good practice.

 

[Xbolt]

Right now trying to find powder and primers is a challenge ,with hogdon
Discontinuing the imr line of powders
And federal limiting primer production
To loaded ammo /military probably not the time to start reloading

 

[RememberBaker]

Right now trying to find powder and primers is a challenge ,with hogdon
Discontinuing the imr line of powders
And federal limiting primer production
To loaded ammo /military probably not the time to start reloading

Where’d you see that Hodgdon was discontinuing IMR powders? They recently announced that they were discontinuing the Enduron powders.

 

[338 Bear Hunter]

Right now trying to find powder and primers is a challenge ,with hogdon
Discontinuing the imr line of powders
And federal limiting primer production
To loaded ammo /military probably not the time to start reloading

Thanks for the info. Good to know.