338 Federal

[deerkiller]

I'm considering the 338 Fed for a current project.
Looking around the site & following links doesn't look to promising for a barrel.
I'm guessing the cartridge is nearly dead as a commercial offering.

I'm not looking to spend big money for a full custom order from a premium barrel maker.
I'm looking for a barrel to shoot MOP. That's minute of pig.
Can anyone suggest where I should look or who to talk to?

DK


(typos)

[psharon97]

You might get an E R Shaw or Addams, Adams and Bennet. Those are going to be the most affordable. The accuracy should be what you're looking for as well. You should be able to get both of these for under $200

But the best question is how much are you willing to spend on the barrel itself?

[deerkiller]

I've seen prices anywhere from $125-$225.
I could live with that if I could find or make sense of how/where to order.
Midway is "out of stock, no back order".
I can't figure out the E.R. Shaw site, they may or might not make what I want.
Brownell's doesn't show a listing for it.
The classified vendors here don't have 338 Fed as an option as far as I can tell.

I figure somebody must make a chambered barrel I can swap onto one of my actions.
Maybe there's one just sitting around somewhere waiting for me to find it.

DK

(more typos)

[psharon97]

Another option is to buy a blank and have SSS finish the barrel.

[deerkiller]

That sounds well out of my price range.

DK

[KRP]

ER Shaw lists it, McGowen lists it, Pac-Nor lists it, and Shilen probably has a reamer though they don't list it.

[tammons]

The midwayusa site lists the 338 fed barrels expected in on 6-26-09.

[deerkiller]

ER Shaw lists it, McGowen lists it, Pac-Nor lists it, and Shilen probably has a reamer though they don't list it.

Shilen $392 + shipping
Pac-Nor $355 "
McGowen Their site doesn't work on my computer.
ER Shaw I think it said $165 plus shipping & the barrel isn't blued.

Not too appealing.


DK

[deerkiller]

The midwayusa site lists the 338 fed barrels expected in on 6-26-09.

I'll have to keep an eye on Midway, it looks like the best price option.
Won't be any different time wise than waiting for a custom barrel.

DK

(more dam typos)

[1Shot]

..There are a few A&B bbl'd .338's floating around on this site...Mine will shoot MOP easy...160gr TTSX's with H4895 or 200gr Nos. CT's...Worked out perfect with my duplex at 100yds...Cross hair for the 160's & Top of the bottom post for the 200's... ;)

[tammons]

What FPS are you getting out of the 160 TTSX ??

[1Shot]

What FPS are you getting out of the 160 TTSX ??


...Never chrono'd it...It's a mild load of 46.8grs of H4895 & 210M's..Now the 200's at that charge has a bark..lol...

[tammons]

Just curious.

I have a 338/284 I put together from a 338 fed barrel, reamed it and chopped off 5" to lighten it up, IE 19" barrel.

I always wondered if the 338 fed with a 5" longer barrel would make up the difference with 160 gr TTSX bullets.

My load is 59.8 of H4895 and I am getting 3050 +-.

The 210 gr TTSX is a real hog stomper. I am getting 2650 out of those.

I do think I will eventually ream it to 338 RCM, just so I can buy ammo if need be.
I also have 180 rounds of 338 RCM 1x brass.

[handirifle]

Just curious.

I have a 338/284 I put together from a 338 fed barrel, reamed it and chopped off 5" to lighten it up, IE 19" barrel.

I always wondered if the 338 fed with a 5" longer barrel would make up the difference with 160 gr TTSX bullets.

My load is 59.8 of H4895 and I am getting 3050 +-.

The 210 gr TTSX is a real hog stomper. I am getting 2650 out of those.

I do think I will eventually ream it to 338 RCM, just so I can buy ammo if need be.
I also have 180 rounds of 338 RCM 1x brass.




That seems counter porductive to me. going to a larger case, that NEEDS more barrel for effeciency, and cutting it short. did you chrono the 338 Fed with the short barrel? I bet there wouldn't be 100fps difference.

[handirifle]

I'm considering the 338 Fed for a current project.
Looking around the site & following links doesn't look to promising for a barrel.
I'm guessing the cartridge is nearly dead as a commercial offering.

I'm not looking to spend big money for a full custom order from a premium barrel maker.
I'm looking for a barrel to shoot MOP. That's minute of pig.
Can anyone suggest where I should look or who to talk to?

DK

(typos)


I do not see how you can assume the 338 fed is a dead cartridge when everything for it is sold out. Someone wanted it!

Also, since nothing else seems available, the $165 "in the white" sounds pretty good to me. Get a bottle of cold blue and have at it. This is a hunting rifle, not a showpiece. Beside, you can make them look pretty good with cold blue. Granted, it doesn't last quite as long, but touch ups are easy too. Just a thought.

[tammons]

338/284 is about like a 338/06 only with less powder and within 150 fps or so of a 338 winmag.

Fatter case does not really mean less efficient. Actually the 338 winmag is less efficient than the
338/284 or the 338RCM. Probably the 338 fed too.

The 338 RCM is even fatter and supposedly was designed to get 338 winmag speeds from a 20" barrel.

The difference between a 338 fed and a 338/284 with 210 gr tsx bullets is more like 150 fps with a short barrel.

I get 2650 from the 338/284 and thats with H4895 which is not ideal.
I could probably get another 40 or 50 out of it with a different powder.

A 338 RCM would spit them out at about 2750 with a 20" barrel.

The decision to chop the barrel was purely for handling and weight.
Turned a gun that was uncomfotable into a nice truck and bush gun.

Also turned up some nasty muzzle jump recoil.

I actually wish I would have left it a 338 fed at times, but 338 fed A+B barrels are cheap.

Well short barrel or not it really puts the hurtin on pigs.







That seems counter porductive to me. going to a larger case, that NEEDS more barrel for effeciency, and cutting it short. did you chrono the 338 Fed with the short barrel? I bet there wouldn't be 100fps difference.
[/quote]

[deerkiller]

I do not see how you can assume the 338 fed is a dead cartridge when everything for it is sold out. Someone wanted it!

Also, since nothing else seems available, the $165 "in the white" sounds pretty good to me. Get a bottle of cold blue and have at it. This is a hunting rifle, not a showpiece. Beside, you can make them look pretty good with cold blue. Granted, it doesn't last quite as long, but touch ups are easy too. Just a thought.

A lot of stuff is sold out or unavailable these days. Popular or not.
I was judging by the lack of listings with makers & retailers for 338 Fed related products.

$165 in the white didn't sound good to me & since I'm the prospective buyer it's my opinion that counts.
None of that matters now.
An unfired A&B barrel should be in hand by early next week.
Barrel, dies & some brass for just shy of $200.
I would have liked a lighter profile but, it fit my budget & will get the job done.

DK

[Monkeymaster]

Midway may not reorder the a @ b barrels anytime soon !
I inquired about a 338-06 and their reply was that they were not very good sellers,they had quit a few in stock "for years" their words, and don't want a lot of $ tied up in "stock".
I even posted it on this site somewhere.
That post referred me to brownells. Try them, they might have it.
Please e mail midway and ask them to stock these barrels.
I have a 250 savage a@b barrel that shoots 3/4 inch 100 yd groups and am very happy with it.
Will buy some more a@b barrels in the future.
Good luck!