.338 federal

Does anyone out there have a .338 federal? What combos are you having the best luck with? Also what brass are you using? I see that federal is making brass for them now.

I would start with 185 gr to 210 gr barnes bullets myself or maybe even 160 gr TTSX bullets if you want more speed.

Give me a bullet you want to use and I will look up a few loads on loaddata.

I have 225g interbonds and 200g SST's that I was going to start with. The are cosmetic blems that a gun shop had marked them waaay down so I thought they would at least be good for fireforming brass, and maybe getting a starting point.

Here is some 200 gr accubond info.
Its a tipped bullet so it should be fairly close.

For the 225 grainer I would try some RL17.

I prefer correct head stamped brass myself, but you can make it from 308.
The easiest way is to run it through an expandiron and neck turn it.

If you have a 30-06 or any other 06 variant, beware.
I am pretty sure a 338 fed will chamber and fire in an 06 chamber.


Wt. Bullet Powder Manufacturer Powder Charge Velocity (FPS)
200 Nosler Accurate AAC-2495 41.5 2413
Remarks: maximum load; compressed load; most accurate load tested
200 Nosler Accurate AAC-2495 39.5 2291
Remarks: compressed load
200 Nosler Accurate AAC-2495 37.5 2185
200 Nosler Hodgdon H-335 42.5 2431
Remarks: maximum load
200 Nosler Hodgdon H-335 40.5 2326
Remarks: most accurate load tested
200 Nosler Hodgdon H-335 38.5 2129
200 Nosler IMR IMR-3031 40.5 2441
Remarks: maximum load; compressed load
200 Nosler IMR IMR-3031 38.5 2329
200 Nosler IMR IMR-3031 36.5 2191
Remarks: most accurate load tested
200 Nosler Ramshot TAC 44.0 2447
Remarks: maximum load; compressed load
200 Nosler Ramshot TAC 42.0 2383
Remarks: most accurate load tested
200 Nosler Ramshot TAC 40.0 2303
200 Nosler Vihtavuori VV-N140 44.0 2450
Remarks: maximum load; compressed load; most accurate load tested
200 Nosler Vihtavuori VV-N140 42.0 2352
Remarks: compressed load
200 Nosler Vihtavuori VV-N140 40.0 2251
Remarks: compressed load
200 Nosler Hodgdon Benchmark 42.0 2452
Remarks: maximum load; compressed load
200 Nosler Hodgdon Benchmark 40.0 2345
200 Nosler Hodgdon Benchmark 38.0 2254
Remarks: most accurate load tested
200 Nosler IMR IMR-4895 44.5 2467
Remarks: maximum load; compressed load
200 Nosler IMR IMR-4895 42.5 2390
Remarks: compressed load; most accurate load tested
200 Nosler IMR IMR-4895 40.5 2239
200 Nosler Hodgdon Varget 45.0 2483
Remarks: maximum load; compressed load; most accurate load tested
200 Nosler Hodgdon Varget 43.0 2404
Remarks: compressed load
200 Nosler Hodgdon Varget 41.0 2281
200 Nosler Alliant RL-15 46.0 2513
Remarks: maximum load; compressed load
200 Nosler Alliant RL-15 44.0 2426
Remarks: compressed load; most accurate load tested
200 Nosler Alliant RL-15 42.0 2344
200 Nosler Winchester W-748 47.0 2529
Remarks: maximum load; compressed load; most accurate powder tested
200 Nosler Winchester W-748 45.0 2466
Remarks: compressed load; most accurate load tested; most accurate powder tested
200 Nosler Winchester W-748 43.0 2399
Remarks: compressed load; most accurate powder tested

225 gr loads for speer bullets. 225 gr is a bit heavy for the 338 fed.
210 gr would be better. That said the 160 gr TTSX probably hits as hard as a 200 gr jacketed bullet
and you can get over 3000 fps with the right powder.

Wt. Bullet Powder Manufacturer Powder Charge Velocity (FPS)
225 Speer BTSP Alliant RL-7 35.0 2256
225 Speer BTSP Alliant RL-10X 37.0 2299
225 Speer BTSP Alliant RL-15 44.0 2440
Remarks: compressed load

You could probably get about 2500 out of RL17 but I have never tried it

Be sure to work up from a minimum load

Thanks for all the info, and of course I will start low. I also prefer properly headstamped brass but haven't been able to find any in stock. I have lots of .308 brass so I necked up and prepped some over the winter and now that its nicer out, I was hoping to get some range time in. I agree with the 225's being too heavy but for what I paid for them, I thought they would fireform just fine. I was planning on trying the nosler 180's too, I will just have to do some more looking once I get some brass done.

..I use the Nos 200gr CT's, win .308 brs with H4895, 210M prs.. Kill any deer out there...