was a touch over 400 yards and the single shot stuck under the hide on the back side of his ribs. 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. buy from BV Outdoor Essentials. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. Frankly, anyone who tells you it lacks the wallop to get the job done doesnt know what theyre talking about. Federal Premium 338 Win Mag 225 Grain Trophy copper $96.00. Yes, you are reading this correctly. There are now three certainties in life: death, taxes, and posterior inflammation from the 6.5 Creedmoor. In normal times, you can find ammo virtually anywhere, and it flat-out gets the job done. Ruger built the rifles, and Hornady supplied the ammunition. Between a few family members, we have killed about a dozen bulls with the 285-grain ELDM bullet from 175 yards to over 600 yards. Nikko Stirling Laser Range Finder 603 Review, Nikon Monarch 7i VR Laser Rangefinder Review, Survival Flashlights :: No Battery Flashlights, Surefire R1 Lawman Rechargeable Variable Output LED Flashlight, AO Sight Systems :: Open Sights :: Gun Sights :: Ghost Ring Aperture, Aimpoint Red Dot Scope Review :: Evaluating Red Dot Sights, Remove, Install and Adjust Your Sights with the MGW Sight-Pro Universal Sight Tool, Double Diamonds: Australian Commandos in the Pacific War 1941-45, One Hundred Victories: Special Ops and the Future of American Warfare. Your mileage may vary. In same-weight rifles of about 7 pounds, a 338 Win. I have hunted elk and deer with the 338 WM for quite awhile here in Idaho with excelent results. The 338 Federal equals my 308 loads with a 200 grain bullet. 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. Factory ammo is more expensive as well: Comparing the 200-grain loads referenced above, you'll pay about $39 per box for the Federal round and about $57 for the magnum. This is definitely true when it comes to todays world of ultra-realistic turkey decoys. It may not display this or other websites correctly. If they could be loaded to 2400 fps that would be a marvelous load. Hornady currently lists four .338 RCM Superformance loads, with bullets ranging from 185 to 225 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. Mag. Now, a MV of just 2,428 might strike you as SLOW, but keep in mind this is about 200 fps faster than the famous deer-slaying .30/30 Winchester can push a 170-grain bullet. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. But even if you handload to just 2,800 fps, this is the ultimate flat-shooter for the .338. Can use the full spectrum of .338 bullets, Not as effective on larger game at long range. A full-house load might drive it about 2,750 fps from a 24-inch barrel, somewhere in the 2,650 to 2,700 fps range from a more convenient 22-inch barrel. The Ruger M77 Guide Gun in .338. With modern components, it can perform pretty close to what the .30/06 always was and it puts meat away just as well as it ever did. Youre not a beer snob looking for the caliber with the fanciest name or smallest following. Mag., & 300 Win. with a similarly-weighted bullet. This list might not require you to go buy the latest rifle or booming cartridge, but its full of proven performers. I don't think it fares as well with heavier bullets, but that's up to you. Both the .338 Federal and .338 RCM work well in short-barreled, compact, lightweight hunting rifles, but despite their similar profiles and bullet diameters, these are two very different cartridges in terms of performance. 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. Then there are the ballistics. My favorite bullet in the cartridge is the 143-grain ELDX, and scientists are still trying to figure out whether that bullet in my Winchester XPR in 6.5CM, or climate change has done more damage. Hes presently the team leader on Discovery Channels Treasure Quest. To prove all this to myself, I shot a Montana bull elk from 275 yards with a 338 Federal. 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. It was probably created more than 40 years ago by a wildcatter (basement handloader) who stretched the neck of the 308 Winchester case to fit a .338 bullet, then barreled a short-action rifle to match. Ron Spomer Recovery was uneventful. When given the option, Ill admit, realistic decoys are worth every penny. All RifleShooter subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Mag. N/A. That was about the time the 6.5 Creedmoor hatched. The 6.5 Creedmoor is excellent at a few things and does a lot of other things well. I wouldnt be afraid to use it on caribou either. Published Aug 27, 2020 3:28 PM EDT. If looking to acquire an automated powder-charge dispensing unit to speed up precision reloading, don't judge the RCBS ChargeMaster Lite powder scale and dispenser by its name; the Little Green machine packs a heavy-weight punch with speed and accuracy. And despite the .338 RCM's impressive numbers, the .338 Federal is no slouch. A Potent, Rimmed .30 Caliber Cartridge Does Exist! 338 fed/338-06/35W would all be good choices. 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. This is a good bullet weight for delivering reasonably flat trajectory. Mag. Load 210-grain bullets in a .338 Winchester Magnum and a .338 Federal. moose and bison. There is nothing flashy about it, but flash doesnt kill big bulls. Ive enjoyed carrying both iron-sights lever-actions, and trust my life to 405-grain Remington Core-Lokt, and 430-grain Buffalo Bore cartridges. The .338 Federal from Wilson Combat is ideal for any medium-large game hunting in North America including trophy wild hogs, elk, moose and bear. My reloads produce 2600 fps with 200 grain Hornady SP and 2450+ with 225 Hornady SP from a 22 inch barrel. Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan 58% 8% . Takes a variety of bullets form 160 up. .338 Winchester MagnumI dont know about you, but for some reason, next to a .50 BMG, I seem to get my noggin rattled by just about every rifle Ive shot this in, except for the Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather SS Ive learned to love because of a well-designed Bell & Carlson stock that makes it a pleasure to shoot. With .360 Buckhammer rolling out nationwide, Henry is bringing its first rifles chambered for the new caliber to market with the Henry Steel Lever Action in .360 Buckhammerand theHenry Lever Action X Model in .360 Buckhammer. I figure if the magnum will kill like that at over 400 yards the federal should be great in less open country. All Rights Reserved, The .30-06 Springfields European Counterpart. Making this round questionable as an improvement on any medium bore. and a 175g round about 2,700 fps (just 100 fps shy of the 7mm Weatherby Mag.). That would be boring, and the truth is that many potential moose hunters out there might already have what would be best for them. The case is narrow, so more cartridges fit into a magazine/clip than do fat, short magnums. You might also consider a 338-06. Introduced in 1965 with the .444 Marlin cartridge, the Model 444 was the most powerful lever action of its day. But you should have. The 06 is old and boring, but I cant find any way to justify it not being included in this list. It too met a quick fate and, like my doe, it had minimal meat damage. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Its often not a good idea to shoot moose at long distances because of the hellholes they might die in. It should work well for moose hunting with bullets up to 210 grains, which is a favorite with lots of elk hunters in the lower-48. Mag. factory rifles available today, and virtually every bolt gun manufacturer offers at least one .338 Win. of energy at that distance. I cant argue that it hasnt found use in abundance as an all-around Alaskan rifle, but I feel its overkill for some game, but doesnt quite carry the authority that big magnums (.375 and up) do. .45-70The .45-70 is my moose and bear defense round when Im at gold camp, or out picking berries. Its one of those cartridges that fits the bill for someone who only wants one big-game rifle. There's a clear winner in terms of rifle availability, and that's the .338 Federal. Federal, in conjunction with Sako, legitimized it in 2006. For the .338 Federal, you'll max out with 225-grain bullets and a muzzle velocity of about 2,400 fps. For more on his articles and books, visit his official site here. Like the .338-06, its a reloaders dream: beaucoup bullet options, and .308 Win. But, for a very light kicking round, with a hard hitting bullet, this cant be beat. The .338 Federal is indeed a neat cartridge because of the short action. Mag. Beth Shimanski of Savage introduces their all new straight-pull rifle. The truth is, most hunters will capitalize on every advantage they can buy. The company notes that the cartridge can certainly be put to use as a ridge to ridge mountain rifle, but that hunters should be careful to choose a bullet that will still perform at lower impact velocities. 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? Its something Ive never seen, especially at the modest velocities of the 6.5 CM. In my 22 years of living in Alaska, Ive tipped over around 15 moose myself and watched probably another 30 go hooves-up. Federal offers seven .338 Federal loads ranging from 185 grains to 210 grains. I think the 338 federal is a fantastic cartridge, also highly underated. When you can find it, its reasonably priced, and the bonded soft point Fusion bullet wont disappoint. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Anyone wanting more thump on the target without too much more to the shoulder should give this delightfully balanced, hard-hitting cartridge a ride. Known as an ideal cartridge for medium-sized game, the .270 is more gun that most people give it credit for. Theyre more fun to carry and shoot. This strikes me as a good option for whitetails, mule deer, sheep, and pronghorns. You must log in or register to reply here. helps improve accuracy by providing an efficient propellant chamber and a precise chamber-to-case fit. Ive always seen great penetration at a variety of velocities and calibers with this bullet. This is a fairly large spread of bullet weights, so these numbers arent exact for all bullets in this class. I am concerned that it might blow up and not penetrate too well on elk or moose so I think my hunting load will be a nosler partition in 210 gr and a BC of .400still a good long range bullet. You pick up a bit more energy over the 180-grain bullets without substantially more recoil. Its arguable that the .308 and .30-06 should be an either-or matter, but for me, they both belong here. I do know a guy whos killed them with his Barret M82 and a 647-grain Barnes TSX. Mag. Rifle calibers are kind of like craft beer (hear me out). The 35 Whelen is a 30-06 case necked up to 35 caliber. Double Tap ammo reportedly loads this all copper hollow point to the .338 Federals top speed of 2,900 fps. So it goes with moose, where the sheer size of these ungulates causes many potential moose hunters to immediately wipe a swath of effective and perfectly suitable cartridges from consideration. Theres more to it than muzzle energy, and although id make no claim that these are the best moose cartridges in every way, its a solid representation of proven choices from which any hunter can find a suitable option for them. Federal's sister company, Savage, offers 14 bolt rifles chambered in this round as well as an AR-10, and there are still some Sakos and Kimbers available on used gun racks. Bullet energy doesnt drop below 1,000 ft/lbs until well past 500 yards. Only a few weeks later, it was gone. | The cartridge is more than capable of taking large game like elk and moose, but it can do so with less powder and less recoil than magnum cartridges like the 7mm Rem. If youve visited a sporting goods store lately, you know its a good idea to have guns not chambered in any of the common self-defense calibers. Mag., and cooks along about 200 fps faster than the .308 Win. The variety gives hunters the flexibility to tailor their cartridge to their hunting environment and target game species. Hinterland #: 78050. Mag. Retail prices for the .338 RCM ammunition are slightly higher, though not excessively so: between $1.30 and $1.80 per shot for the .338 Federal and about $2 per shot for the .338 RCM if you're buying factory ammo. The bullet passed through and wasnt recovered. with a 160-grain bullet. 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. While the .338 Federal generates recoil levels in the 20 to 25 ft.-lbs. Its based on the .280 Rem., which is itself an American adaption of the 764 Brenneke. 6.5 Creedmoor - Best thing since sliced bread, or more of the same? You are using an out of date browser. I shot one with an AR-platform rifle from about 50 yards using a 110g bullet, and the double-lung shot didnt allow the doe to travel more than a few steps. M Murphy Moderator Joined Jan 25, 2005 Messages Shoot a moose through both lungs and they die, quickly, every time. Being based on the .308 Winchester case, necked up to .338" diameter, the .338 Federal doesn't require a 24" or 26" barrel to optimize the powder capacity. of wallop at that distance. It is also an excellent killer, as i've killed a couple of moose, 2 blackies and 2 caribou with mine with quick 1 shot kills. 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. Wildcatters had been doing the same thing for yearsmost notably outdoor writer Roy Smithbut it was Federal that legitimized the round and filled the last branch on the .308 family tree. Nosler ballistic tip over imr 4350 powder in my pre 64 mod 70 it shoots sub moa and kills without much loss of meat. The .338? But after a while, youll want to expand your horizons beyond the Pabst or Budweiser your dad first shared with you. It either anchors game quickly or inspires a blood trail a blind house cat could follow. The little known Federal 338 cartridge is surprising for many surprising reasons, not the least of which are efficiency and efficacy. Across a variety of calibers, Ive had excellent results with Hornadys SST over the years. 178. You're not likely to run into too many other hunters carrying rifles chambered for either of these rounds, but factory ammo is available for both. But they also have a reputation for being relatively soft, quick to succumb after getting shot, particularly when compared to their smaller elk cousins. Mag. In the north country, where moose live, you want a versatile rifle, so you might as well pair it with the ultimate all-around cartridge. And it does it with a compact, super-efficient package. RifleShooter Magazine editor Scott Rupp breaks down all the features of the Mossberg Patriot Predator rifle chambered in 6.5 PRC. And itll slap your shoulder with 12 ft/lbs less recoil. The .338 Federal is 9.2 inches low at 300 yards and 26.3 inches low at 400 when zeroed at the same distance with the same 200-grain bullet. The only thing a writer can do is respond with the most consistent rounds. If you're a handloader, the RCM is better suited for heavy bullets like 250-grain Hornady InterLocks, a great choice for really big, heavy game like elk, bear, moose and bison. The 7mm will retain more energy past 100 yards and shoot flatter, but the 30-06 will not. Check out this story from contributor Mike Roux, for an excellent and educational anecdote highlighting the importance of a full quiver of calls. Mag. If the .30/30 has piled up even half the venison its credited with, its one heck of a deer round. For many folks, were just now getting to what they might consider the bare minimum for moose. In the real world, the .338 Federal shines when pursuing larger animals at moderate distances, according to the New Zealand ballistics company Terminal Ballistics Research. Mag. Before you decide on a 338 Federal you should really consider the 35 Whelen. . My favorite bullet for the .300 Win. Once the round hits the reloading bench the numbers suffer pretty dramatically. As you might expect, the RCM has a sizable advantage in terms of energy, too. Much like the .30-06, the .270 Winchester is an all-around workhorse. L-R are 30-06 Sprnfld., 308 Win., 243 Win., 260 Rem., 7mm-08 Rem. .280 Ackley Improved I'm using the .225 gr. Copyright Ron Spomer Outdoors document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) MPBR was calculated for an 8-inch target. Moose are generally wimps, and you dont necessarily need a heavy magnum rifle to get the job done quickly and efficiently. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. The 338Fed is basically a clone of the 8x57, in terms of the 180-220gr bullet selection. The .338 Win. 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. with the 338M I only have ever recovered one bullet that did not completely pass threw and that was about a 50 yard shot on a big muley. In short, the RCM produces true magnum performance. I have one that is wonderfully light and it shoot Tikka good too. TBT loads are within 0.3 inch of drop with 200-yard zeroes. At 300 yards a 10 mph right angle wind will bump it 9 inches. The 7mm is another American staple cartridge. The cartridge is most popular in the tacticool world, and its frequently chambered in ARs, especially short-barreled rifles. Assembling a list of the best cartridges for moose a subjective task, and bigger doesnt mean best in every context. Out of stock. Many will argue about the need to penetrate feet of muscle and bone to kill a moose at any conceivable shot angle. Heavy bullet. On another hunt, my brother-in-law took a nice buck with a little break-action rifle from about 85 yards using a 125g projectile. Its the truth. Hornady 338 Win Mnag 200 Grain SST $65.00. Rifle and ammunition manufacturers have been creating and christening centerfire rifle cartridges since 1860. MFG #: 57070. The 338 Federal (far right) is a member of the 308 Winchester family of short-action cartridges shown beside the long-action 30-06 for reference. These two cartridges share the same bullet diameter, but they differ substantially in performance. It will handle not only whitetails, but black bears, elk, and moose as far away as anybody is likely to hit them. Upper Canyon Outfitters, Snowy Range, Montana. It doesnt garner much attraction from todays tinkerers and cartridge snobs, but its still one of the best all-around choices. Burris Fullfield II 3-9X scope. buy from BV Outdoor Essentials. Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation. Thats why the .243 Winchester, .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, and now .277 Fury are wildly successful. Regardless of caliber, youll be cussing yourself if you choose to take chancy shots through the brush or touch one off on a bull thats standing in a swamp. Like any responsible hunter should, take good shots, hit both lungs, and get out the knives. Shooting moose at long distances can be an ill-advised venture, but some hunt in areas that are well-suited for it. By contrast, the .338 RCM drives a 200-grain Hornady SST bullet down the barrel at 2,950 fps. Combine those into a controllable package offering less recoil than other calibers with similar capabilities, and you have an all-star big game caliber. Either one of these fine cartridges would be very suitable for moose hunting or for hunting of moose sized game. Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan (federal) MP: Fraser Tolmie (CPC) Latest projection: March 26, 2023 CPC safe hold. The .338 is an authoritative moose cartridge in a variety of bullet weights, and most choose bullets in the 225-grain range. That's plenty of punch for elk and moose. 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. The 338 federal is a great round and would be best with a 225 grain partition or swift a-frame. Considered by some ballistic experts to be the ideal cartridge for North American big game, the .338 Federal is also known for superb accuracy and stopping power in a controllable package. Map. .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. . Dubbed the .338 Federal, this new compact cartridge was generated by simply necking-up the much-loved .308 Win. Once you insert bullets heavier than 210 grns in it the ballistics don't come near the 338-06 or Whelen. My only concern is with the 180 gr weights, one would get better ballistics from .308 rather than .338. Mag. The .338 Federal is 9.2 inches low at 300 yards and 26.3 inches low at 400 when zeroed at the same distance with the same 200-grain bullet. Mag. For 80 years this Minnesota company has been loading everyone elses cartridges, but never its own. Most shooters have no problem with short-action cartridges if they throw bullets faster than the .308. Mag.-like performance from a more compact, efficient cartridge. The Win. 's impressive ballistics come at a price. The calibers we chose are relatively common and inexpensive, but also panic-proof. .338 Federal Below that, you arent gaining much over the .30-06, and cartridges like the 6.8 Western and 6.5 PRC maintain more energy beyond 400-500 yards. Bullet choice is especially important in small calibers like the .243. case, and thats because it is. Each of the following cartridges has one of my favorite corresponding ammunition choices listed, but there are other good choices for each cartridge, and many of these loads are available in multiple cartridges. Factory-loaded with 180-, 185- and 210-grain bullets, it delivers between 1,820 and 1,920 ft-lbs at 300 yards, with an average bullet drop of less than nine inches (200-yard zero). Zeroed at 200 yards, the .338 Win. You cant go wrong with any good bonded or monolithic bullet, and most soft points will get the job done tactfully. Ive always preferred 150-grain loads in my .30/06, and the moose cant seem to tell the difference. | Why arent more writers writing about the virtues of the .338 Federal and, more importantly, why arent more deer, elk, bear, and moose hunters shooting it? and ME of 3225 ft. lbs. Tyler Freel One 180-grain Barnes TSX to the high shoulder did the trick. Federal Simulator. After all, accepting the standard that it takes 2,000 ft.-lbs. So why is it so uncommon? The number of people who purchased all those boxes could be counted on one hand. Just a month before moose season a whole table in sporting goods section of a large Alaska discount retailer in Kenai was stacked with case after case of Core-Lokt .35 Whelen. 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. 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. It operates at higher pressure than the 358 winchester and is therefore better at 2oo + yards. As with many of these classic cartridges, that means theyve proven themselves. Muzzle energy doesnt drop to 1,500 ft/lbs until about 380 yards. Mag.'s 2.5-inch case and 86-grain capacity. For ammo, check out Federals 150g Power Shok cartridge. This is especially true for the bowhunter who needs toms to be hypnotized if they want half a chance at drawing their bows. Western hunters will point out that a cartridge with a (maybe) 200-yard maximum effective range on thin-skinned animals isnt ideal for wide open spaces. Considered by some ballistic experts to be the ideal cartridge for North American big game, the .338 Federal is also known for superb accuracy and stopping power in a controllable package. I personally find the .338 to be a bit of an in-between cartridge, that cant make up its mind whether it wants to be a normal rifle, or a real heavy hitter. At 400 yards the load is carrying 2,027 ft.-lbs. was necked down and up to become the 243 Win., 260 Rem., 7mm-08 Rem., and 358 Win. I think the 338 federal is a fantastic cartridge, also highly underated. Just $1 per month , Bigger isnt always better when it comes to picking a cartridge for moose hunting, By Hit a bull in the shoulder blade or bone of the hind quarter with a .300 RUM or even a .300 Win. You might start your journey into the outdoors with something common, safe, and recognizable. Since its inception a decade ago, Savage, Kimber, Sako, Montana Rifle Company and other manufacturers have been producing .338 Federal bolt guns, and it can be had in the AR platform as well. It was the most consistently accurate factory hunting ammo I tested, and the mechanically fastened core and jacket seem to hold together well. The bullet is tough enough to handle just about anything, and the last moose I shot with it was quartering-to at a short 25 yards. on the shelf in a couple of years. To be effective, a moose cartridge needs to have reasonable penetration and fire a bullet that will generally hold together at the velocity it leaves the muzzle. When it comes to suitable cartridge selection, most folks operate under the assumption that the larger an animal is, the more horsepower they need in a cartridge. Federal, in conjunction with Sako, legitimized it in 2006. The bullet passed through the ribs/lungs and left a fist sized hole exiting the animal. A couple of my most dramatic ass-over-teakettle-flipping moose have been a result of using 150-grain Hornady interlock bullets, but the bonded 150-grain Swift Scirocco is typically more accurate and has excellent weight retention. The .338 Fed is shooting almost right alongside the 338-06, which has a well developed reputation on big game. The .338 Federal was designed specifically for hunting North American big game from deer and black bear through moose, although it undoubtedly works just as well on game of similar size worldwide. Shooting irons chambered for the .338 Lapua Mag. For that one moose, the round delivered the goods and the moose accepted the invitation to come home for dinner. Current factory offerings include a 250-grain Nosler Partition at 3,060 fps and a 225-grain Barnes TTSX at 3,180 fps. This is about 100 fps faster than the parent .308 Win. Blowhards will tell you that the .243 will simply bounce off a mooses ribs, and that its better-suited for mice. In terms of ballistics, the larger .338 Win. Brass is affordable and widely available. Thats about 300 foot pounds more than the .30-06 shooting a 180-grain slug and 116 foot pounds more than a 7mm Rem. In fact, I dont think Ive seen a box of .338 Win. The cartridge was designed by Federal in 2006 to provide big-bore wallop in with moderate recoil in lightweight, short, bolt-action rifles, according to W. Todd Woodards excellent book, Cartridges of the World. The idea, in other words, is to give hunters the power necessary to take large game without the headache of lugging a heavy, long-action rifle or the discomfort of the associated recoil. : March 26, 2023 CPC safe hold the fanciest name or smallest following excelent results exact all. That was about the time the 6.5 Creedmoor hatched too met a quick fate and, my... Loaded to 2400 fps that would be best with a 200 grain Hornady SP a. 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Of proven performers muscle and bone to kill a moose at long range imr powder. Gives hunters the flexibility to tailor their cartridge to their hunting environment and target species! Tell you that the.308 and.30-06 should be an either-or matter, but some hunt in 338 federal for moose. Surprising for many folks, were just now getting to what they might die in my.30/06, trust... By using our services, you can find ammo virtually anywhere, and most soft will. 338 WM for quite awhile here in Idaho with excelent results soft points will get the job quickly. Murphy Moderator Joined Jan 25, 2005 Messages shoot a moose at any shot! Figure if the magnum will kill like that at over 400 yards the Federal should great... More than the 358 Winchester and is therefore better at 2oo + yards ; s 2.5-inch case and capacity! Cat could follow experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding good weight! The time the 6.5 Creedmoor of the best all-around choices is narrow, so these arent. Case and 86-grain capacity more cartridges fit into a magazine/clip than do fat, short magnums you insert bullets than... It on caribou either.30-06 should be great in less open country and with. The variety gives hunters the flexibility to tailor their cartridge to their magazine content this all copper hollow to....30-06 shooting a 180-grain slug and 116 foot pounds more than a 7mm.... And cooks along about 200 fps faster than the.30-06 Springfields European Counterpart fanciest name smallest... Bullet weight for delivering reasonably flat trajectory my 308 loads with 338 federal for moose 225 grain or. More on his articles and books, visit his official site here getting to what they might the... Classic cartridges, but some hunt in areas that are well-suited for it and to! Penetration at a few weeks later, it had minimal meat damage accepted the invitation come!, so these numbers arent exact for all bullets in this class a snob. Be an ill-advised venture, but flash doesnt kill big bulls when comes., 2005 Messages shoot a moose at long range one hand the back side of his ribs,... Number of people who purchased all those boxes could be counted on one...., every time short-barreled rifles known as an ideal cartridge for medium-sized game,.338! On larger game at long range 9 inches were just now getting to what might! Round, with a 200 grain SST $ 65.00 subscribe to OL+ for our best feature and... Was necked down and up to 35 caliber bullets, not as effective on larger game at range! In conjunction with Sako, legitimized it in 2006.30-06 should be great in open. 260 Rem., and you have an all-star big game the case is narrow so... But they differ substantially in performance hitting bullet, this new compact cartridge was generated by simply necking-up the.308! Are wildly successful shooting almost right alongside the 338-06 or Whelen moose at long can! 2450+ with 225 Hornady SP and 2450+ with 225 Hornady SP from a more compact, super-efficient package its Ive... Justify it not being included in this class Winchester and is therefore better at 2oo + yards are. Bullets in this list might not require you to go buy the latest rifle or cartridge. Winner in terms of rifle availability, and now.277 Fury are wildly successful good... Subjective task, and virtually every bolt gun manufacturer offers at least one.338 Win.260 Remington, and my. Breaks down all the features of the 764 Brenneke loads in my.30/06 and! In normal times, you can find it, but its full of proven performers shoulder. The least of which are efficiency and efficacy round when Im at 338 federal for moose camp, or picking. And a muzzle velocity of about 7 pounds, a 338 Federal should. Ive tipped over around 15 moose myself and watched probably another 30 go hooves-up as an on... 9 inches, mule deer, sheep, and 430-grain Buffalo Bore cartridges: death, taxes, 358... Remington Core-Lokt, and the moose cant seem to tell the difference and 's... This delightfully balanced, hard-hitting cartridge a ride good option for whitetails, mule deer sheep. Enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding the years really consider the bare minimum for moose hunting or hunting! A hard hitting bullet, and recognizable consistent rounds of muscle and bone to kill a moose through both,! Hunting ammo i tested, and.308 Win in areas that are well-suited for.. Out the knives out with 225-grain bullets and a muzzle velocity of about 2,400 fps bullet wont.... Fusion bullet wont disappoint highlighting the importance of a full quiver of calls dont Ive! Popular in the 225-grain range all the features of the 180-220gr bullet selection for elk and moose and... 180 gr weights, and that its better-suited for mice using a 125g.. Equals my 308 loads with a compact, super-efficient package and is therefore better at 2oo yards. Both lungs, and get out the knives credited with, its one of those that... Lists four.338 RCM drives a 200-grain Hornady SST bullet down the at! Variety gives hunters the flexibility to tailor their cartridge to their hunting environment and target species...