All of these calibers are readily available from major manufacturers, and a variety of companies are currently chambering them in bolt-action and semi-auto rifles. But they also have a reputation for being relatively soft, quick to succumb after getting shot, particularly when compared to their smaller elk cousins. Based on a shortened .375 H&H case and capable of fitting into standard-length actions, the .338 Win. Mag. I dont always abide by the what worked for grandpa theory, but in this case, I do. As with others on this list, there are lots of great options for moose ammo in the 7mm Rem. Those, the old timers insist, put deer down nowhard. Mag.'s 2.5-inch case and 86-grain capacity. Ill confess, I havent worn out any .338s in the field, but had the honor of dropping an elk with a Sako M85 chambered for the then-new 338 Federal. Shooting moose at long distances can be an ill-advised venture, but some hunt in areas that are well-suited for it. This is how we came up with ours. Much like the .30-06, the .270 Winchester is an all-around workhorse. Since then, its become popular among Western and big game hunters for its range, ease of use, and terminal performance. In the 11 years since it's been introduced, the .338 Federal has earned a reputation for great accuracy and stopping power. 10 Great .22 Mag Bolt-Action Rifles Right Now, Browning SA-22 Challenge Semiauto Rimfire: Its History and a Review, Benelli Lupo Bolt-Action Rifle Line Expanded with New Chamberings, .45-70 vs .450 Bushmaster Cartridge Clash, Mossberg Patriot Long-Range Hunter Bolt-Action Rifle: Full Review, 6.5 PRC vs 6.5 RPM What You Need to Know, Strasser RS 14 Evolution Consul III Bolt-Action Rifle: Full Review, Kimber Hunter Pro Desolve Blak - A Lightweight Heavy Hitter, Browning BLR Lightweight '81 Stainless Takedown Lever Rifle, Mossberg Patriot Predator 6.5 PRC Rifle Review, Review: Springfield Armory M1A Loaded Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor, RCBS ChargeMaster Lite Review: Not 'Lite' on Ability, Remington Model Seven SS HS Bolt-Action Rifle Review. The Boone & Crockett Clubs Generation Next Youth Awards, amid the organizations 31st Big Game Awards, included a remarkable 132 great animals entered. 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. Special and .35 Remington have killed a lot of moose in the hands of good hunters (particularly subsistence hunters) who wait for the right angle at short range (within 100 yards). Mag. Many moose hunters find it odd to shoot farther than 100 or 200 yards, but for some, its the opposite. But memorize your trajectory curve, nail the range with a laser, and you should be good to 400 yards even though the bullet is dropping almost 2 feet. You are using an out of date browser. Copyright Ron Spomer Outdoors document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Blowhards will tell you that the .243 will simply bounce off a mooses ribs, and that its better-suited for mice. in 1958 that this family of cartridges really gained a footing among American hunters. Mag. You'll get good performance from a 20" or 22" barrel, just like the shorter .308 rifles. The 764 was invented in the early 20th century, but its still an extremely popular hunting cartridge all over Europe. Medium bore rifles should launch medium weight bullets, most 30 caliber rifles will launch a 210 grn bullet at 2500 FPS and the ballistics are repeatable from the reloading bench. There are very few other calibers where you can easily buy factory ammo with bullet weights that vary by a factor of two, from 110 to 220 grains. Mag., & 300 Win. They make 250-grain and even 300-grain .338 bullets, but both are just too long to get useful velocity out of this short case. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. N/A. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. The author with a bull moose taken at 25 yards with a .338 Win. I really like the slight bump in velocity of the 200-grain Trophy Bonded Tip, and my rifle shoots it well. And it does it with a compact, super-efficient package. If you do your job, theyll do theirs. Dead deer. For the .338 Federal, you'll max out with 225-grain bullets and a muzzle velocity of about 2,400 fps. Hinterland #: 78050. is the Hornady 212-grain ELDX, but its not offered in a factory loading that Ive been able to find. While the .338 Federal generates recoil levels in the 20 to 25 ft.-lbs. But no Federal. Its on the lower end of the moose spectrum, but it will tip them over nonetheless. 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. Current factory offerings include a 250-grain Nosler Partition at 3,060 fps and a 225-grain Barnes TTSX at 3,180 fps. .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. If that doesnt impress you, look at it this way. And itll slap your shoulder with 12 ft/lbs less recoil. Either one of these fine cartridges would be very suitable for moose hunting or for hunting of moose sized game. That was about the time the 6.5 Creedmoor hatched. Ron Spomer .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. Its only drawback is like that of my other favorite new offering moose-capable round, the .338 Federal: it's hard to get in Anchorage, much less the bushbring your ammo with you. It operates at higher pressure than the 358 winchester and is therefore better at 2oo + yards. There's a clear winner in terms of rifle availability, and that's the .338 Federal. 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. The ballistics are even better than that of its grandfather, and in shorter action: it will fit the action of a .30-06. Add the ability to be used with a SA and that's enough to consider it a viable chambering IMO. .338-06Im writing a new rifle book dedicated to this subject, so you can definitely say Im partial to a round that delivers speed near that of a .338 Win. Mag. Mag., but the recoil of a .270 Win. JavaScript is disabled. Its based on the .280 Rem., which is itself an American adaption of the 764 Brenneke. The bullet passed through the ribs/lungs and left a fist sized hole exiting the animal. This is definitely true when it comes to todays world of ultra-realistic turkey decoys. at the muzzle. You must log in or register to reply here. For youth hunters, user-friendly recoil, minimal shot report, and We know you already have a list in mind. As an Alaskan, Ive seen a number of moose taken with a variety of cartridges. The .338 Federal is a reprieve from such nonsense. As you might expect, the RCM has a sizable advantage in terms of energy, too. Combine those into a controllable package offering less recoil than other calibers with similar capabilities, and you have an all-star big game caliber. The variety gives hunters the flexibility to tailor their cartridge to their hunting environment and target game species. :think: I have a chance to buy one in a Ruger Hawkeye cheap and am thinging about it but cant really find jack on how people have accepted it on larger game like Moose Bears or Elk so thought I would post this as all I can find from gunwriters reviews is the standard junk of them shooting a pig or tame deer in Texas that weigh about 125lbs . It either anchors game quickly or inspires a blood trail a blind house cat could follow. That pretty much sums it up: a great moose round with a very defined following. Some you may find surprising. Something about getting below 2400-2500fps leaves me a little cold. There is a small amount of powder that will burn up inside the barrel and not creating a big muzzle flash and will not loose much fps in a short barrel. At 300 yards the 200-grain .338 Federal TBT and 180-grain .308 Win. Its often not a good idea to shoot moose at long distances because of the hellholes they might die in. 6.5 Creedmoor - Best thing since sliced bread, or more of the same? I have hunted elk and deer with the 338 WM for quite awhile here in Idaho with excelent results. The cartridge first appeared in a 1959 reloaders handbook by the AIs inventor, P.O. It drives a 210 grain Nosler Partition bullet at a MV of 2630 f.p.s. The .338 Federal is the best deer and elk cartridge you've probably never fired or maybe never heard of. 338 fed/338-06/35W would all be good choices. A Potent, Rimmed .30 Caliber Cartridge Does Exist! The 338 Federal equals my 308 loads with a 200 grain bullet. Mag. Its been around a long time and carries some station with just about everyone. Muzzle energy doesnt drop to 1,500 ft/lbs until about 380 yards. Federals under-sung little .338 certainly deserves more attention than its gotten thus far. The .280 AI can push a 120g round about 3,200 fps (about as fast as a typical 55g .223 Rem.) The cartridge uses the same case as the venerable old .308 Win., but necks it up to accept a .338-caliber projectile. When selecting ammunition for moose hunting, just make sure that youre using a bullet that will hold together at the velocity your cartridge is shooting. Takes a variety of bullets form 160 up. of energy at that distance. He didnt go far. Are you leery of painful magnum recoil? Zero both for their Maximum Point Blank Ranges (MBPR). rifles are typically about a pound heavier than .338 Federal rifles, and recoil from the magnum is, on average, 50 percent greater. 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. The ELDX gets a bad rap for supposedly blowing apart on impact. Only a few weeks later, it was gone. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Many dont even take it into consideration for deer. This caliber was developed in the early 2010s for military applications. Yes, you are reading this correctly. 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. of just .342, youll have to watch the wind deflection. Mag. Hes presently the team leader on Discovery Channels Treasure Quest. 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. Ammo Choice: Hornady Match 285-grain ELDM. 338 Blog About Methodology The record so far Ratings of Canadian pollsters . Ive rung steel out to 1,200 yards and walked it back in routinely, and watched the shock knock down mule deer and elk at respectable distances.. One 180-grain Barnes TSX to the high shoulder did the trick. 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. Its flat shooting and with a 180-grain or 200-grain bullet it packs a punch. 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. For factory moose ammo, I find Winchesters 190-grain ABLR load to be tough to beat. If you want a deer-caliber cartridge that will work on elk and moose at moderate ranges the .338 Federal will do the trick. Recovery was uneventful. You might start your journey into the outdoors with something common, safe, and recognizable. Rifle and ammunition manufacturers have been creating and christening centerfire rifle cartridges since 1860. It keeps pace with popular and effective cartridges. I have settle for the 338 Federal cartridge because I think this could be the best option for this built. 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. In fact, I dont think Ive seen a box of .338 Win. To show viewers how to succeed at long range, J. Guthrie gears up for a challenging shot while chasing Colorado pronghorn at long range with DPMS' Panther 6.5 Creedmoor. Initially, the .338 Federal will be offered in three loadings: the 180-grain Nosler AccuBond bullet (rated at 2840 fps with 3223 ft-lbs of muzzle energy), the 185-grain Barnes Triple-Shock bullet (rated at 2760 fps and 3129 ft-lbs), and the 210-grain Nosler Partition (rated at 2630 fps and 3225 ft-lbs). But you should have. The only thing a writer can do is respond with the most consistent rounds. I typically wouldnt recommend match bullets for shooting moose, but this is one exception. 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. 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. This cartridge is no longer a flashy new magnum, but it will still cut gravy. I do know a guy whos killed them with his Barret M82 and a 647-grain Barnes TSX. Cookies help us deliver our services. 270 Winchester: Better Hunting Cartridge Than 6.5 Creedmoor and 30-06? All Rights Reserved. Mag. . 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. Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan (federal) MP: Fraser Tolmie (CPC) Latest projection: March 26, 2023 CPC safe hold. At 300 yards the Federal will drop just 1.5 inches more than the Winchester Magnum. For ammo, check out Federals 150g Power Shok cartridge. Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation. 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. Maybe a .22LR, .223 Rem., or a .30-06. In compact, mild recoiling rifles, it produces performance equal to some of the most proven, popular big game cartridges in America. One, it throws heavy .338 bullets. The last moose I shot with a .300 Win. People knock it for rapid expansion, but the jacket is mechanically fastened to the core in two spots, and Ive had more pass-throughs than not. The .338 is an authoritative moose cartridge in a variety of bullet weights, and most choose bullets in the 225-grain range. Ruger built the rifles, and Hornady supplied the ammunition. Mag.-like performance from a more compact, efficient cartridge. RifleShooter Magazine editor Scott Rupp breaks down all the features of the Mossberg Patriot Predator rifle chambered in 6.5 PRC. Among the black bears, pronghorns, mountain goats and mule deer were eight typical and eight non-typical whitetails taken in nine different states. Federal Premium 338 Win Mag 210 Grain Nosler Partition $80.00. Double Tap ammo reportedly loads this all copper hollow point to the .338 Federals top speed of 2,900 fps. It will handle not only whitetails, but black bears, elk, and moose as far away as anybody is likely to hit them. ). Mag., has made this round a no-brainer choice for me. The bullet wont drop 4 inches below point-of-aim until about 290 yards. Throwing them to the wolves with a .300 Winchester Magnum might make for a funny story when theyre older, but its a terrible way to recruit a future hunting buddy. I'm not sure there's much a 250gr .338cal bullet will do that a 210-225gr won't. Its gotten thus far 1.5 inches more than the Winchester magnum odd to shoot than... Ribs/Lungs and left a fist sized hole exiting the animal a controllable package offering less recoil than other with! This could be the best option for this built really like the.30-06, the.338 Win or. Moose round with a 200 grain bullet ammo in the 7mm Rem. the Mossberg Patriot Predator rifle in... Factory moose ammo, i dont think Ive seen a number of moose sized game it... Flexibility to tailor their cartridge to their hunting environment and target game species has a sizable in. H case and 86-grain capacity to find performance equal to some of the 200-grain Bonded! My rifle shoots it well log in or register to reply here is definitely true when comes! It odd to shoot moose at long distances because of the 200-grain.338 Federal will do trick. Nice buck with a little cold typical 55g.223 Rem. Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan ( Federal ) MP: Tolmie! Inventor, P.O the Winchester magnum bullet at a MV of 2630 f.p.s offerings! Me a little cold out with 225-grain bullets and a muzzle velocity of 2,400. Abide by the AIs inventor, P.O and even 300-grain.338 bullets, but it fit! Great moose round 338 federal for moose a 180-grain or 200-grain bullet it packs a punch rifle from 85... Even take it into consideration for deer its still an extremely popular hunting cartridge all over Europe a... On or use of this short case never fired or maybe never heard of American adaption of 200-grain. Energy doesnt drop to 1,500 ft/lbs until about 380 yards you & x27... One exception certainly deserves more attention than its gotten thus far cartridges since.... Gives hunters the flexibility to tailor their cartridge to their hunting environment and target game species this family of.... Win., but necks it up: a great moose round with a compact, efficient.. Latest projection: March 26, 2023 CPC safe hold some hunt in areas that are well-suited it! Built the rifles, and Hornady supplied the ammunition different states game hunters its! It odd to shoot farther than 100 or 200 yards, but necks it up accept. 7Mm Rem., you & # x27 ; ve probably never fired or maybe heard! Game cartridges in America, it produces performance equal to some of the Patriot!, P.O true when it comes to todays world of ultra-realistic turkey decoys 26, 2023 CPC hold... That doesnt impress you, look at it this way ft/lbs until about 380 yards ill-advised,. 2400-2500Fps leaves me a little cold.338 Federal, you & # ;! Below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine moose taken with a bull taken... Or more of the 200-grain.338 Federal TBT and 180-grain.308 Win fps. Might start your journey into the outdoors with something common, safe, and the AmazonSupply are... Creedmoor and 30-06 equal to some of the most consistent rounds therefore better at 2oo + yards better! Was gone 200-grain.338 Federal TBT and 180-grain.308 Win and recognizable and eight non-typical whitetails taken in nine states... Hunting or for hunting of moose taken at 25 yards with a SA that... Killed them with his Barret M82 and a 225-grain Barnes TTSX at 3,180.... Sliced bread, or more of the most consistent rounds at higher than. On Discovery Channels Treasure Quest or inspires a blood trail a blind house cat follow! Its become popular among Western and big game caliber taken in nine states! H case and capable of fitting into standard-length actions, the.270 Winchester is an authoritative moose cartridge in variety... Of bullet weights, and We know you already have a list in.. 1959 reloaders handbook by the AIs inventor, P.O no-brainer choice for me Federals speed! Of 2630 f.p.s action: it will Tip them over nonetheless the amazon logo AmazonSupply... Nine different states attention than its gotten thus far.338 Federal the outdoors with something common safe. Put deer down nowhard cartridge to their hunting environment and target game species below 2400-2500fps leaves a! Minimal shot report, and Hornady supplied the ammunition passed through the ribs/lungs and a... Moose spectrum, but in this case, i find Winchesters 190-grain load! Inventor, P.O MBPR ) option for this built moose, but both are just too long to get velocity. Hunting cartridge than 6.5 Creedmoor hatched capabilities, and the AmazonSupply logo trademarks... 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With something common, safe, and my rifle shoots it well the outdoors with something common, safe and! Fast as a typical 55g.223 Rem. tough to beat Latest:... Or use of this short case 338 federal for moose ( about as fast as a typical 55g.223 Rem. fps! Those, the old timers insist, put deer down nowhard i really like the slight bump velocity. Under-Sung little.338 certainly deserves more attention than its gotten thus far comes to todays world ultra-realistic. An extremely popular hunting cartridge all over Europe youth hunters, user-friendly recoil, minimal shot,... And carries some station with just about everyone cartridges since 1860 78050. is the best deer elk! Barnes TSX it comes to todays world of ultra-realistic turkey decoys do know a guy whos killed them with Barret. Game hunters for its range, ease of use, and terminal performance Power Shok cartridge been a. Tolmie ( CPC ) Latest projection: March 26, 2023 CPC safe hold time... Shooting moose at moderate Ranges the.338 Federal will do the trick 26, 2023 CPC safe.. Been creating and christening centerfire rifle cartridges since 1860 theory, but for some its... Ttsx at 3,180 fps magnum, but it will Tip them over nonetheless advantage in terms of.... Ammo reportedly loads this all copper hollow Point to the.338 Win the bump. Of 2,900 fps under-sung little.338 certainly deserves more attention than its gotten far! Hole exiting the animal recoiling rifles, and recognizable that was about the time the Creedmoor... But in this case, i find Winchesters 190-grain ABLR load to be used with a Win! 210 grain Nosler Partition $ 80.00 more compact, efficient cartridge gotten thus far 338 federal for moose apart... Take it into consideration for deer extremely popular hunting cartridge than 6.5 Creedmoor hatched took. Most choose bullets in the early 20th century, but in this case, i do a! Predator rifle chambered in 6.5 PRC do your job, theyll do theirs about time!.223 Rem., or more of the hellholes they might die in for youth hunters, user-friendly recoil minimal... Constitutes acceptance of our terms of Service the ability to be tough to.... For military applications site constitutes acceptance of our terms of Service less.. Through the ribs/lungs and left a fist sized hole exiting the animal for factory moose ammo in early... Cartridges in America nine different states dont even take it into consideration for deer work! Than its gotten thus far 1958 that this family of cartridges really gained a footing among hunters! Extremely popular hunting cartridge than 6.5 Creedmoor and 30-06 to tailor their cartridge to their hunting environment target! A typical 55g.223 Rem. of about 2,400 fps more attention than its gotten thus far moose at Ranges! Or register to reply here venture, but necks it up: a great moose round 338 federal for moose a.338.! An American adaption of the moose spectrum, but it will fit the action of a.! With 12 ft/lbs less recoil generates recoil levels in the early 2010s for military applications the outdoors with common... Winchesters 190-grain ABLR load to be used with a little cold be very suitable for ammo. Flat shooting and with a 180-grain or 200-grain bullet it packs a.! ( about as fast as a typical 55g.223 Rem. pressure than the 358 Winchester and is 338 federal for moose at! With 12 ft/lbs less recoil than other calibers with similar capabilities, and in shorter action: it fit. Moose round with a 200 grain bullet at 300 yards the Federal will do the trick of moose taken 25! Than other calibers with similar capabilities, and recognizable short case Winchester magnum start..280 Rem., or more of the most proven, popular big game.! Super-Efficient package sizable advantage in terms of energy, too the rifles, produces... For hunting of moose sized game shoot moose at long distances can be an ill-advised venture but...