.338 Federal Load Data

The .338 Federal is a rifle cartridge that was jointly developed by Federal Premium Ammunition and Sako in 2006. It was designed as a big game hunting cartridge that would offer the performance of larger cartridges like the .338 Winchester Magnum in a shorter, lighter rifle.<br><br>The cartridge is based on the .308 Winchester case, which was necked up to accept .338 caliber bullets. The resulting cartridge has a bullet diameter of .338 inches and a case length of 2 inches.<br><br>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. It is a powerful cartridge that is suitable for hunting a wide range of game animals, including deer, elk, and moose.<br><br>One of the main advantages of the .338 Federal is its compact size, which makes it ideal for use in lightweight, short-action rifles. It also has a relatively low recoil compared to larger cartridges like the .338 Winchester Magnum, which makes it more comfortable to shoot for some hunters and shooters.<br><br>The .338 Federal has gained a following among hunters and shooters who appreciate its combination of power, accuracy, and compact size. It is typically chambered in bolt-action rifles, but is also available in semi-automatic rifles, such as the AR-10 platform.<br><br>While the .338 Federal is not as widely available as some of the more established cartridges on the market, it has a dedicated following and is available from a number of firearms manufacturers. It is also relatively affordable compared to some of the larger, more specialized cartridges.<br><br>