358 Winchester vs 338 Federal

[banen]

I have recently become infatuated with both of these calibers.  One new, one old but before its time.  Wanted to see what you guys thought of them.   Particularly for Whitetail, Mulies, Elk, Black bear, Moose, Caribou and the like.  Obviously not ideally suited for Grizzly, or Antelope etc. 

I wish I could get them in a Ruger Ultralight (ideally a wood stocked Ultralight version of the new Hawkeye) or a Remington Model 7 (I think they have the 358 but with iron sights which I don't have any use for).  For the purpose of voting disregard ammo availability and assume everyone can handload and has all the brass they could ever want.   

[Rev Buck]

I am very intrigued with the .338 Federal.  If I ever manage to talk myself into another rifle it will probably be a Tikka T3 in .338 Fed.  From the looks of it I believe it will be splendid for all the game you mentioned and without the weight and recoil of the belted mags.  Rev

[Graybeard]

I'd chose the .358 Winchester any day. Larger bore for better expansion ratio so can push bullets of equal weight a wee bit faster at same pressures. Better selection of bullets and the bullets available are more suited to the velocity range it pushes them than the .338 Federal which has to push the same bullets designed for the .338 Win. Mag.

To the best of my knowledge Remington has never chambered for the .358 Win. unless it was done in their classic line. It is NOT available in the Model 7 not even from the Custom shop. If it was I'd own one.

[Rev Buck]

I believe the SD and BC of the 338 bullets are slightly better for equal weight bullets, but I could be mistaken.  The .338 bullet, particularly the TSX, seems to me an inherently great bullet.  Eiither way, we are in the class with the .35 whelen and other delightful cartridges.  I'm sure you would enjoy either one.  Rev 

[targshooter]

You'll get better sectional density from the .338. On the other hand, the .338 Federal may not be around long, whereas the .358 Winchester has held on (marginally) for the past 50 years or so. Also, the .358 makes a slightly bigger hole. So, unless you are hunting in heavy brush where sectional density becomes a key player, I would opt for the .358. The great factor with either round is the direct link to the .308 cartridge case, and .308 brass is plentiful. You really can't lose if you reload.

[Zachary]

I believe the SD and BC of the 338 bullets are slightly better for equal weight bullets, but I could be mistaken.  The .338 bullet, particularly the TSX, seems to me an inherently great bullet.  Eiither way, we are in the class with the .35 whelen and other delightful cartridges.  I'm sure you would enjoy either one.  Rev 

I have shot the original 225 gr. Barnes X bullet in a .338 Win Mag with great results on big wild boar.  However, such a bullet, even in a .338 Federal, is way too strong of a bullet for whitetails.  One would be better served with a soft-nose style bullet.  I'm not sure if anyone offers it, but I think that an excellent choice in a .338 Federal would be a Nosler Partition with no more than 210 grains.

Zachary  

[Cheesehead]

I will take the 358 in the Browning TI. Short action light bolt rifle with a heavy hitting larger caliber, short action round. I know it is not an option but it is what I want.

Cheese

[banen]

I was mistaken on the 358 in the model 7, I was thinking of the 350 Win Mag, also a good cartridge. 

[banen]

I would think that Nosler Partitions (Which I think are a great bullet at almost any hunting velocity), hornady interlocks, or Remington corelocs would expand well enough in the 338 Fed? 

[Zachary]

Yes, all three would expand reliably at velocities above 2,000 fps.  Although the partition is considered a premium bullet, the front half expands like a conventional bullet, while the partition will prevent the remaining potion for separating from the core, thus leaving a mini-solid to penetrate further.

Zachary

[poncaguy]

Ammo availability for the 338 will probably be better in the future, all you need for a whitetail deer.........Hoping for a 338 Handi rifle

[Don Dick]

I bought the 338 but not the Federal the old Winchester Mag.

[MSP Ret]

I am not much for magnums and prefer proper bullet placement over flinching and missing anyday.
The new .338 Federal seems like it has a lot going for it and the ballistics are impressive, however
I voted for the .358 because it is also a great cartridge, and I just like the .35's....<><....