.338 Federal accuracy

onlybrowning · January 29, 2007, 10:25 PM

I recently read a Field and Stream catalog that tested a .338 federal. I do not recall the rifle manufacturer, but accuracy was very poor. IIRC, the average groups for 3 shots was like 2" or more! Is this a potentially accurate caliber? I understand it was with factory ammo, but still.

mikejonestkd · January 29, 2007, 10:29 PM

being based on the accurate .308 win case, i would guess that it was just a bad rifle barrel or mismatched ammo- wrong weight bulets for the twist or something like that.

the .338 fed should an accurate round, it may just take time to develop good loads.

onlybrowning · January 29, 2007, 10:44 PM

I hope so. It wasn't as good as I expected.

boltgun71 · January 29, 2007, 11:29 PM

I read the same article you did. In its defense I read another article on testing the .338 Fed., and in there report they had mentioned that the rifle they had reviewed arrived very dirty and with some parts on the rifle working lose. They said this was caused by very few models being available for testing and the rifle sent for review was passed around between several companies and gun testers. Each reviewer had a minimum amount of time to spend testing the rifle and in turn I assume also had no extra time to clean the rifle after review. The bad accuracy may be attributed to fouling in the barrel or someting working lose on the rifle from frequent handling and shipping of the rifle. Being based on the .308 Win. case and having good bullet availability with high B.C.'s I expect the .338 Fed. will shoot much better than the one tested in Field and Stream.

onlybrowning · January 29, 2007, 11:41 PM

Good call. I should have done better research. I new it was too bad to be true.

Varmint Eviscerator · January 30, 2007, 07:44 PM

Three other mag's commented similarly! I dont know, they messed too much with a good thing, if you know what I mean.
-Ve

January 29, 2007, 10:25 PM	#1
onlybrowning Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2005 Location: Saratoga Springs, NY Posts: 271	.338 Federal accuracy I recently read a Field and Stream catalog that tested a .338 federal. I do not recall the rifle manufacturer, but accuracy was very poor. IIRC, the average groups for 3 shots was like 2" or more! Is this a potentially accurate caliber? I understand it was with factory ammo, but still.

January 29, 2007, 10:29 PM	#2
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 2,649	being based on the accurate .308 win case, i would guess that it was just a bad rifle barrel or mismatched ammo- wrong weight bulets for the twist or something like that. the .338 fed should an accurate round, it may just take time to develop good loads. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

January 30, 2007, 07:44 PM	#6
Varmint Eviscerator Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2005 Location: about an hour north of the big apple Posts: 551	Three other mag's commented similarly! I dont know, they messed too much with a good thing, if you know what I mean. -Ve __________________ Ahh, a good old bolt action,a bolt is a remedy for time, afternoons with our fathers and their fathers, for the mighty olympic shooters, for the wanna be's,for the time of youth in the woods, for the young.......the old, it is timeless, classic, sleek-a piece of art forever to remain in our memories, our hearts, our future.

January 29, 2007, 10:44 PM	#3
onlybrowning Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2005 Location: Saratoga Springs, NY Posts: 271	I hope so. It wasn't as good as I expected.

January 29, 2007, 11:29 PM	#4
boltgun71 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 541	I read the same article you did. In its defense I read another article on testing the .338 Fed., and in there report they had mentioned that the rifle they had reviewed arrived very dirty and with some parts on the rifle working lose. They said this was caused by very few models being available for testing and the rifle sent for review was passed around between several companies and gun testers. Each reviewer had a minimum amount of time to spend testing the rifle and in turn I assume also had no extra time to clean the rifle after review. The bad accuracy may be attributed to fouling in the barrel or someting working lose on the rifle from frequent handling and shipping of the rifle. Being based on the .308 Win. case and having good bullet availability with high B.C.'s I expect the .338 Fed. will shoot much better than the one tested in Field and Stream.

January 29, 2007, 11:41 PM	#5
onlybrowning Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2005 Location: Saratoga Springs, NY Posts: 271	Good call. I should have done better research. I new it was too bad to be true.