.338 Federal

[Carla Dee]

Anyone have one? Anyone shot one? Thinking about building one. Seems to be the perfect swamp caliber... recoil similar to the .30-06, more whacking power, less bullet deflection in the thicket, more blood on the ground, great ballistics out to 200yds, built off the .308 casing, 4 loads of Federal factory ammo available.

Issues... don't love the commercially available options... Ruger Hawkeye, Sako, T3. Hate to spend big money on a custom gun that will not demand .5 MOA accuracy based on the fact that I will only use it for swamp thangs and squealers (<150 yards).

[Saltydog235]

Marlin 336 in 35 Remington pretty much already does that.

[WoodieSC]

12 gauge rifled barrel with sabot slugs... good to go in the swamp out to 150-200 yds.

[Islandboy]

http://www.refugeforums.com/refuge/s...d.php?t=821031

[Hopkins-Goose-Slayer]

Dpms makes an AR in this cal too as another option. Kind of expensive, i think in the ball park of $1700. Would be my pick based on modularity.

[qlyrata]

No experience with the .338, but based on your description of intended use would highly suggest a Marlin 1895 in 45/70. Recoil isnt as bad as you think it will be, and it will flat put things on the ground. 1x4 power scope and you're good to go out to 100 yards.

[CWPINST]

Why not just go with the .308? It is all you would need and then some. Mucho factory ammo choices.

[Phone Man]

45/70's don't kick at all. My new rifle is a 375 H&H. its a hoss, but kickes like a pussycat for the power it has. I want another one.

[FLS]

Its the answer to a problem that didnt need solving....
It seems like a good idea, but like the 358, its almost too much in a rifle you would want to put it in. I was on fire for a 358 built on my Model 7, till I shot one. A gunsmith friend was building one and let me shoot it. Punchy on both ends. Its unpleasant with the 200 gr and up bullets and lighter bullets wont do anything a 308 cant do already. Plus Ive never actually seen a box of factory ammo.