.358 Winchester or .338 Federal?

American Made · October 2, 2011, 06:54 AM

I found a smokin' deal on this Ruger Hawkeye( blue/wood) in .358 Winchester yesterday. For some reason it's on sale for 549.00. Figure the price/lack of ammo would scare folks away( at least the ones that don't reload). The rifle is new and has wonderful fit and finish.

I had thought my mind was made up

Now this .358 Win walked into my life! My enjoyable Saturday night watching Alabama vs Florida was hindered by .338 fed vs .358 Win.

Haven't made the leap just yet....but, I'm really fighting to hold on. Should I stop my search for the .338 Fed and just buy the .358 Win? I really need to make my mind up today because that rifle will be gone very soon

Whatever rifle is chosen.. it'll be my spring bear gun.

mete · October 2, 2011, 07:00 AM

Grab it !!

The 338 federal is made with specially made primer and powder which you can't achieve with standard powder and primers !

Talk to people that have hunted with 30-30 and 35 Rem .They will all tell you that the 35 Rem is better even though the two are close on paper .
The 358 is just a 35 Rem on steroids ,bigger bore does make a difference .Since the 35 Rem works well on black bear the 358 will work even better. Though not so popular [don't know why] the 358 has been around for years . But the 338 Fed is already spoken as a soon to be discarded.

cornbush · October 2, 2011, 09:06 AM

My brother has the stainless synthetic Hawkeye in .358 win, I would grab it and run......
The recoil is very easy to take, accuracy is great and performance on game is great, it's just one of those that works much better than paper says it should.
The only time you might be disappointed is if you try some really long shots, but thats not what it was made for.
Keep it inside 400 yards and it will do anything you want.
Brass can be made by simply necking up .308, and correct brass can still be found easily and reasonably priced.

black mamba · October 2, 2011, 10:21 AM

Definitely grab it and run! I would work up loads with the 200 gr Hornady Interlock SP-- it will give you good velocity and trajectory, and is a tough bullet for larger game at the velocities you'll be getting. 2600+ fps is doable with IMR-3031.

taylorce1 · October 2, 2011, 10:31 AM

The .358 Win is an underrated cartridge that will do everything a .338 Federal will do. However after owning one it is definitely a hand loader only proposition. Luckily that is not a problem for me, and I like the cartridge so much that I'm considering another rifle in it.

The only down side to the .358 Win is the lack of bullet options for it, but there are enough bullets that you should find one that works for you. I'd say buy it and enjoy it and later on if you find a deal on a .338 Fed buy it as well. I own a .338-06 and .35 Whelen, I like the .338 a little better but the Whelen has a larger cool factor.

FrankenMauser · October 2, 2011, 02:44 PM

If you reload, buy the .358.

If you don't reload, don't buy either one. You'll be stuck in a world with no ammo.

Crankylove · October 2, 2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

If you don't reload, don't buy either one. You'll be stuck in a world with no ammo.

Yep. Midway will be your source for factory ammo.......and it will bleed your wallet dry pretty quick.

I can reload my .358 Winchester for not much more than .270 or '06, which is good, cause I have never seen a round of factory ammo in any of our local stores, and although they can order it for me, I can reload it for 1/4 of the price they want, or less.

My .358 will launch 200 gr bullets at 2,500-2,600 fps, and 250's at around 2,200-2,300 fps, and as Cornbush said, if you can't find factory brass, its easily formed from .308........with no trimming required.

Reloading for the .338 Federal can be done, but you can't duplicate the loads from the factory with powders available to the public. So, you may be stuck with factory ammo only if you go that route, unless you want reloads that fall a few hundred fps slower than the factory stuff.

taylorce1 · October 2, 2011, 05:35 PM

Quote:

The 338 federal is made with specially made primer and powder which you can't achieve with standard powder and primers !

and

Quote:

Reloading for the .338 Federal can be done, but you can't duplicate the loads from the factory with powders available to the public. So, you may be stuck with factory ammo only if you go that route, unless you want reloads that fall a few hundred fps slower than the factory stuff.

These statements are no longer true, there are loads out there that will get you within 50 FPS and in some cases exceed factory velocities. IMR 8028XBR, TAC, and 2000MR are just a few powders that if they prove to be accurate at max load will will exceed factory MV in the .338 Fed. Plus there is no reason that these powders wouldn't work just as well in the .358 Win to make it really shine.

Crankylove · October 2, 2011, 10:12 PM

Quote:

These statements are no longer true, there are loads out there that will get you within 50 FPS and in some cases exceed factory velocities.

I had no idea. Thats good new for the .338 Federal reloaders.

ligonierbill · October 3, 2011, 01:07 AM

Surprised no one has mentioned that you can put light loads using .357 pistol bullets through it. One advantage of the .35 bore. Both handloader cartridges, but then some of us think they all are. I'd go get it.

longranger · October 3, 2011, 05:23 PM

I would go with .338 Federal in a minute just for the outstanding bullet selection.35 Cal not so much. Near or at 338-06 performance,I use the .338-06 quite extensively and it is what the 30-06 should have been.

American Made · October 3, 2011, 07:12 PM

I'm happy to report that my new .358 Win is ready for her new scope

I'd like to thank everyone for the help!

And.....I'm also happy to report that my wife doesn't like it! That is some really good music to my ears.....because....it's all mine.

FrankenMauser · October 3, 2011, 09:53 PM

Excellent news. The last few I've brought home were greeted with good comments from the wife. I'm still wondering when she'll try to take one over.

GeauxTide · October 4, 2011, 11:54 AM

Now, get you some of those Hornady Interlocks mentioned earlier. In my 338-06, they shoot wonderfully.

October 2, 2011, 06:54 AM	#1
American Made Member Join Date: September 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 92	.358 Winchester or .338 Federal? I found a smokin' deal on this Ruger Hawkeye( blue/wood) in .358 Winchester yesterday. For some reason it's on sale for 549.00. Figure the price/lack of ammo would scare folks away( at least the ones that don't reload). The rifle is new and has wonderful fit and finish. I had thought my mind was made up Now this .358 Win walked into my life! My enjoyable Saturday night watching Alabama vs Florida was hindered by .338 fed vs .358 Win. Haven't made the leap just yet....but, I'm really fighting to hold on. Should I stop my search for the .338 Fed and just buy the .358 Win? I really need to make my mind up today because that rifle will be gone very soon Whatever rifle is chosen.. it'll be my spring bear gun.

October 2, 2011, 07:00 AM	#2
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Grab it !! The 338 federal is made with specially made primer and powder which you can't achieve with standard powder and primers ! Talk to people that have hunted with 30-30 and 35 Rem .They will all tell you that the 35 Rem is better even though the two are close on paper . The 358 is just a 35 Rem on steroids ,bigger bore does make a difference .Since the 35 Rem works well on black bear the 358 will work even better. Though not so popular [don't know why] the 358 has been around for years . But the 338 Fed is already spoken as a soon to be discarded. __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

October 2, 2011, 09:06 AM	#3
cornbush Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: The retarded place below Idaho Posts: 1,408	My brother has the stainless synthetic Hawkeye in .358 win, I would grab it and run...... The recoil is very easy to take, accuracy is great and performance on game is great, it's just one of those that works much better than paper says it should. The only time you might be disappointed is if you try some really long shots, but thats not what it was made for. Keep it inside 400 yards and it will do anything you want. Brass can be made by simply necking up .308, and correct brass can still be found easily and reasonably priced. __________________ The best shot I ever made was an accident

October 2, 2011, 10:31 AM	#5
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,273	The .358 Win is an underrated cartridge that will do everything a .338 Federal will do. However after owning one it is definitely a hand loader only proposition. Luckily that is not a problem for me, and I like the cartridge so much that I'm considering another rifle in it. The only down side to the .358 Win is the lack of bullet options for it, but there are enough bullets that you should find one that works for you. I'd say buy it and enjoy it and later on if you find a deal on a .338 Fed buy it as well. I own a .338-06 and .35 Whelen, I like the .338 a little better but the Whelen has a larger cool factor. __________________ NRA Life Member

October 2, 2011, 02:44 PM	#6
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,455	If you reload, buy the .358. If you don't reload, don't buy either one. You'll be stuck in a world with no ammo. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

October 2, 2011, 10:21 AM	#4
black mamba Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2011 Location: SW Florida Posts: 890	Definitely grab it and run! I would work up loads with the 200 gr Hornady Interlock SP-- it will give you good velocity and trajectory, and is a tough bullet for larger game at the velocities you'll be getting. 2600+ fps is doable with IMR-3031.

October 3, 2011, 01:07 AM	#10
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,470	Surprised no one has mentioned that you can put light loads using .357 pistol bullets through it. One advantage of the .35 bore. Both handloader cartridges, but then some of us think they all are. I'd go get it.

October 3, 2011, 05:23 PM	#11
longranger Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2008 Location: Buffalo WY Posts: 1,056	I would go with .338 Federal in a minute just for the outstanding bullet selection.35 Cal not so much. Near or at 338-06 performance,I use the .338-06 quite extensively and it is what the 30-06 should have been.

October 3, 2011, 07:12 PM	#12
American Made Member Join Date: September 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 92	I'm happy to report that my new .358 Win is ready for her new scope I'd like to thank everyone for the help! And.....I'm also happy to report that my wife doesn't like it! That is some really good music to my ears.....because....it's all mine.

October 3, 2011, 09:53 PM	#13
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,455	Excellent news. The last few I've brought home were greeted with good comments from the wife. I'm still wondering when she'll try to take one over. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

October 4, 2011, 11:54 AM	#14
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,427	Now, get you some of those Hornady Interlocks mentioned earlier. In my 338-06, they shoot wonderfully.