338 Federal: The Best Deer Cartridge You’ve Never Tried

You want to hunt deer and are looking for a different cartridge to use? Look no further. There is one with a nice .33 caliber projectile, light recoil and deep penetration, the .338 Federal. Sure, it does not have the same popularity as the other .30 caliber cartridges, but that is not the fault of this little buddy. It is a very efficient short action round making it the best for elk and deer hunting notwithstanding that you probably have never used it and maybe not even heard of it. Where it hits, there is no game left standing.
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[@shaggy6594]

I love how he shows a box of .338 win mag box at 4:02 when he is talking about . 338 fed

[@kevincreech7345]

He was also comparing the two at that point in the respective wheight ranges

[@cardude1992]

Seems like a nearly perfect all around cartridge.

[@Lure-Benson]

To say the 338 Federal is a perfect all-around cartridge tell me you live in an Eastern state and have near to nothing hunting experiences. As a professional hunting guide since 1976 working from the Pacific NW to Alaska the 338 Federal is a pretty nice cartridge but using only the 338 Federal for all hunting would severely limit someone hunting

[@albertaoutdoors9220]

I shoot a 338 RCM I opt for 225 grain bonded This is a way of getting 338-06 performance but still using a 20” barrel in a light handy rifle. I wouldn’t hesitate to take anything in North America with 338win, 338RCM and 338-06. I do agree with you that 338 Federal is nice but will limit your distance , especially on bigger game. I view the 338 Federal as a very good wood’s gun, with the ability to reach across some fields and creek bottoms or flats. I see it as a choice specific to the areas you hunt. 200 grain fusion will take elk and moose out to 300yards no problem. If your style of hunt is longer , on the barrens or muskeg or in the mountains or on the big prairie… then there are better options.

[@raywells2858]

The more I look at this chambering the more I am feeling like I need a gun in this caliber despite owning a .308, 30-06, 300 Win Mag and 338 Win Mag! I love efficient cartridges with big performance and this one is showing a lot of promise. I am thinking that 160gr TTSX would be the cats meow for knock down power and velocity/trajectory out to about 300 yards.

[@Rushshooting67913]

The reason why the 338 federal failed miserably is because unannounced to federal hornady was releasing the 6.5 creedmor at the same time . The 6.5 got all the press and the 338 wasn’t even talked about. In my opinion one of the best cartridges out there. I can achieve 3000-3050 fps with a 160 gr bullet. Which gives it more energy or the same amount as the 7mm mag. I also can push a 200-215 at 2650fps. This is all from a 20” barrel.

[@hoffi9327]

6.5 Creedmor? 🤮

[@Rushshooting67913]

@@hoffi9327 👍

[@samulivainionpaa9338]

5:20, when you want all the bang for your buck and fire the casing as well

[@MrSavage170]

I have the Tikka and the Savage MSR I love this round I'm very surprised this round didn't get popular with the AR10 crowd

[@muttomaki1]

Well put together video. Take a look at the 338 Marlin Express.

[@johnpicarello1821]

I have 2 rifles built for 338 federal and love the cartridge and how it performs. Hear in the north east perfect rifle cartridge.

[@dwrutsgnt4225]

30/30 rounds are difficult to find here in my area (Texas)

[@rll9911]

That's what you get for living in Texas!

[@johnnorman7708]

Hang in there. .30-30 showing up in places slowly in small quantities.

[@joemarchinski914]

neck down 308 cases to accept 338 bullets ???? it really is a magic pill

[@shaggy6594]

This dude is always screwing up somehow. I don't if he is trolling or if he just doesn't know what the hell he is talking about.

[@joemarchinski914]

@@shaggy6594 I know, right...I mean,I need to buy a 338,cuz apparently it automaticly drops game where they stand instantly....I been doin it wrong all these years with my 270 win

[@justinpoore2938]

Necked up

[@julienpeninque8183]

​@@shaggy6594😅

[@glennrowan1331]

I'm fine with fed 338 not being popular, more for me!

[@me2ontube]

I don't reload - where do you find the ammo

[@CustomWeldingandFab]

That’s the only issue I see, is lack of popularity kills the market support, so no ammo commercially available. I reload but sometimes you just want to buy a box and go. Still a great caliber without commercial ammo

[@russellkeeling4387]

It's not a 308 necked down it's a 308 necked up.

[@chasen62]

Thank you, I thought I was crazy when I heard that...

[@PassivePortfolios]

Should have caught on in Alaska and Canada, especially for bears, moose, elk and caribou. Better knockdown power than the 308. For some reason the .338 and .358 calibers don't seem to get any traction in the US, except for the 350 Legend.

[@Rocky1765]

The problem is, can NEVER find ammo for it.

[@tommysmyth254]

I like the 338 Federal

[@airraptor]

A 5:42 is that scope moving around?

[@user-eg8hb8xt3j]

Necked down 😂😂😂😂

[@johnnorman7708]

The . 338 Federal seems like a very good cartridge for a hunter in heavily wooded areas. Plenty of range and knock down on the big heavy bodied animals. I have a lot of confidence in the over . 30 cal cartridges throwing 200 grain bullets.

[@tylertyler6418]

Why isn’t it more popular? Well its a small step up from 308. But not terribly more powerful. You could realistically do everything the 338 can with the 308. If you’re looking to hit bigger game and want more power, you can get a 300 win mag. It’s hard to justify the 338fed

[@harrypeterson9287]

From a 24 inch barrel the performance gap isn't drastic, but as you go shorter in barrel length the .308 starts losing a good bit more velocity. Anyone wanting a 16" AR-10 for example will see an arguably drastic improvement in muzzle energy with .338 Federal as opposed to the .308.

[@tylertyler6418]

@@harrypeterson9287 thank you for the info! I sometimes forget about the Ar’s. That makes a lot of sense.

[@darvinclement3250]

I'd like to build an AR-10 platform in this caliber.

[@bustersmith5569]

Anderson makes in a ar10 338 federal ....

[@ktl4539]

.338 and .270 have the best ballistic coefficients.

[@ashtonjanke3860]

How so?

[@kennardjohnson7875]

338 federal, it's pointless because there is cheaper. You started of with deer gun,222 Remington is what I shoot and if I'm going to shoot farther 243 Winchester. So after that I'm going to use a 3006 variants, necked down or up and blown out. 6.5 and 338,and some are just standard 06's.

[@codzilla73]

Everyone likes "cartridgers".

[@hoffi9327]

Are there Lever Action Rifles for the 338 federal?

[@Lure-Benson]

Browning did have the lever gun for the 338 Federal but good luck finding one.

[@me2ontube]

anyone have any idea where to find ammo

[@TheJonesn]

This is full of errors....its necked up not down and most of the rifles shown dont chamber this round.

[@yooper7753]

Wrong! I own, reload and shoot the 338 Federal cartridge. Inexpensive and easy to reload using 308 Winchester/7.62x51 Nato brass with 180, 200, 210 and 250 grain bullets. Paired with the Nosler 210 grain Partition bullet you have an excellent elk cartridge within ethical distances.

[@albertaoutdoors9220]

If I had a 338 Federal I think 210 nosler partitions would be a go to. Provided my gun shot them well.

[@yooper7753]

@@albertaoutdoors9220 The Nosler Partition is a great choice in any cartridge. Shoots great out if my Savage 16FCSS Weather Warrior in 338 Federal. Nosler 210 grain Partition bullets I use exclusively out of my Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight in 338-06 A-Square cartridge. At 2690 FPS equals 3375 ft-lbs of energy. Thor's hammer out of a 30-06 Springfield case.

[@backwoodsman4854]

I hate these videos that show misguiding pictures that are unrelated to the cartridge they are reviewing!

[@boomerrangerron]

Great video, and yes this is a superb cartridge! My friend and KZbin creator Dave agrees with you and has shot several deer all have dropped in their tracks with this round! I already have too many rifles of all kinds of calibers from .270 Weatherby to .375 H & H , along with 30'06 too, so not sure I'd buy one, but it would be excellent on hogs! kzbin.info/www/bejne/maabf6xordmDnqM

[@traceyevans2757]

Did this man say the 338 is a necked DOWN 308? 😂

[@keithprinn720]

simply too big not needed for deer

[@tonyjetton8352]

This man does not seem credible. He thinks a 338 Federal is a necked down 308 Winchester. He shows us a box of 338 Winchester Magnum ammo while he is discussing the 338 Federal. It has gone 2 months uncorrected.

[@buckaroobonsi555]

My problem with 338 Federal especialy for deer is that I can put a 190gr-220gr. bullet in a .308 Win and accomplish most of what the 338 Federal can do in term of effect on deer. In fact as long as your not shooting USA made ammo the 8x57 aka 8mm Mauser in 196gr. soft point will also do what the 338 Federal can do on deer in terms of dropping them hard and fast. The prob. with 308 Win is people insisting on stupid light bullet weights or bullets with great BC but not so great for hunting. Their is no place for 150gr. bullet in a 30Cal cartridge used to hunt deer sized game and larger that is WWI or WWII type of thinking. I never load anything lighter than 172gr. into a 308 and that is for short range target for I mostly load 180gr.+ for longe range target shooting and hunting. In my 30-06 and 300 Win mag I never load anything lighter than 180gr. and load mostly 190gr. to 220gr.! Hunting ammo you need a tough controlled expansion round the heck with BC that is the wrong spec to look at.

[@harrypeterson9287]

The .338 Federal is a particularly interesting choice vs .308 for people who want a short barrel, even more so if they handload and want to use the AR-10 platform. You get greater efficiency in shorter barrels with the wider bore to begin with and it can use a bit faster powder with more energy while not producing excessive pressures, it also tends to feed just fine from cheap and easy to find AR-10 .308 magazines.

[@russellkeeling4387]

Added additional diameter to the 308 increases ballistics from the 308 case just like the 30-06 case increases in ballistics when expanded to a 35 caliber. The standard 308 can not match the ballistics of the 338 federal.

[@backwoodsman4854]

You don’t need a 190+ grain bullet to kill a deer, come on

[@dougblaney-df1rd]

Crap. 338-06 is better

[@steffenrosmus9177]

Question: what would be the best Putin/Kadyrov/Lukashenko/Trump cartridge?

[@MisterBrewer]

7.62x39

[@lurebenson7722]

I would say a 50 BMG for you a Fascist communist woke gay democrat hell bent on the destruction of America for communism you glorify.

[@flintknapper6039]

So many mistakes. Do your homework

[@jaypee389]

Says it's trajectory is not flat??? Flatter then 175gr GMM or LR118. 225 gr SST @ 2550 FPS @ .515 b.c. That is flatter then 175gr .308. Need to do more research.

[@jeffbadry5187]

This guy has no use what he's talking about.

[@Oi_CLINT]

Got a Tikka t3 hunter stainless 338 Federal, drops red deer on the spot every time. Found it to be way too much gun for rabbits. I don't reload so it's not cheap.

[@Rushshooting67913]

All I use. The 338 federal is devastating on deer. I load mine with a max charge of h322 and a Barnes 160 ttsx at 3000 fps from a 20” savage hog hunter. Stock sucks on the gun but it shoots less than an inch at 100 yards

[@me2ontube]

what if you don't roll your own - I can't find it anywhere

[@Rushshooting67913]

@@me2ontube Trust me I know the feeling. I bought a 338 win mag last year I can’t find ammo components nothing arpund me or online. These times for gun owners really suck

[@me2ontube]

@@Rushshooting67913 after 10,000 years looking I finally found some but I had to search every nook n cranny of the universe - I went with 160 grain Barnes tsx n I think it should do the trick - no fancy stuff like ballistic jell or a chronograph so no idea what the stats will be but fingers crossed - as long as it'll drop a hog in his tracks I'm happy

[@Rushshooting67913]

@@me2ontube I tried probably ten different powders with the Barnes 160 tsx. H322 or H4895 were the best. H322 was giving me 3000-3050fps. And accuracy was 1”. H4895 was close but accuracy was just as good.

[@me2ontube]

@@Rushshooting67913 thanks a million - edit : that works for me