The .338 Federal has one of the best power-to-platform ratios of any cartridge you can put in a short-action bolt gun. Developed jointly by Federal Premium and Sako and introduced in 2006, it necks up the .308 Winchester case to accept .338-caliber bullets — and the result is a cartridge that drives 185-grain bullets at 2,750 fps and 210-grain bullets near 2,630 fps from a 22-inch barrel. That puts it squarely in elk and black bear territory, and it does it in a lighter, shorter, faster-cycling rifle than any magnum can offer.

For hunters in Oregon's wet west-side timber or the brushy draws of the Blue Mountains, those advantages are real. The problem is that factory ammunition selection has always been thin, and in recent years it's gotten thinner. That makes handloading not just an option for the .338 Federal shooter — it makes it a necessity if you want to shoot it regularly and develop accurate, consistent loads.

Brass and Case Prep

Starline and Sako are the most commonly available brass sources. Starline is excellent — consistent wall thickness, durable, and accepts multiple reloadings without significant case head separation issues. Because the .338 Federal is a necked-up .308, you can also form cases from quality .308 Winchester brass using a full-length .338 Federal sizing die, though this adds steps and Starline brass is inexpensive enough that it's rarely worth it.

Standard case prep applies: trim to 2.005 inches (maximum 2.015), deburr, and prime. Large rifle primers are standard. I've had good results with CCI 200 and Federal 210 primers across multiple powder charges. If you're loading maximum charges in cold weather, a magnum primer (CCI 250 or Federal 215) can help ignition consistency, but for most hunting loads the standard primers are fine.

Bullet Selection

The .338 bore diameter gives you outstanding options, and most were designed with heavier magnums in mind — which means they perform exceptionally well at .338 Federal velocities because you're not pushing them beyond their design parameters.

  • Nosler Partition 200 gr: The classic choice. Reliable expansion, controlled penetration, and a track record going back decades. Excellent for elk at woods distances out to 300 yards.
  • Hornady InterBond 185 gr: The lightest practical hunting bullet for this cartridge. Pushes near 2,750 fps with the right powder and opens fast — good for deer and black bear where a flatter trajectory helps.
  • Sierra GameKing 215 gr BTSP: A heavier option for deep penetration on big bulls. This bullet's BC is modest by modern standards but it performs well at the ranges most .338 Federal shots happen.
  • Hornady ELD-X 185 gr: A more modern option with better ballistic coefficient. Good for reaching past 300 yards, though the .338 Federal's case capacity starts to show its limits compared to the .338 Win Mag at those distances.
  • Nosler AccuBond 200 gr: Perhaps the best all-around choice for Oregon elk. Bonded construction, good BC, reliable expansion. Shoots accurately in most rifles.

Powder Selection and Load Data

The .338 Federal's case volume is nearly identical to the .308 Winchester, which means the same powders that work in .308 tend to work here — just with .338 bullets and appropriately adjusted charges. Burn rate falls in the IMR 4064 / Varget / H4350 zone.

185-Grain Bullets

  • Varget: 47.0–50.5 gr | ~2,680–2,760 fps | Excellent accuracy, moderate temperature sensitivity
  • IMR 4064: 46.0–49.5 gr | ~2,650–2,730 fps | Classic powder, readily available
  • H4350: 49.0–52.5 gr | ~2,700–2,780 fps | Best temperature stability of the three, slightly higher velocity ceiling

200-Grain Bullets

  • Varget: 44.5–47.5 gr | ~2,540–2,620 fps
  • IMR 4064: 44.0–47.0 gr | ~2,510–2,590 fps
  • H4350: 47.0–50.5 gr | ~2,560–2,640 fps

215-Grain Bullets

  • H4350: 45.5–49.0 gr | ~2,430–2,530 fps | Best choice for heavier bullets
  • IMR 4831: 46.0–49.5 gr | ~2,400–2,500 fps

Always start 10% below maximum and work up, monitoring for pressure signs. Data above is for reference only — consult a current published reloading manual before loading.

COAL and Seating Depth

Most .338 Federal rifles are built on short-action platforms. Check your specific magazine box length before setting COAL. A common starting point for 200-grain bullets is 2.820 inches, which feeds reliably in most Sako and Ruger-based actions. Work your seating depth toward the lands in 0.010-inch increments once you've identified an accurate powder charge — many .338 Federal rifles respond well to bullets seated 0.020–0.040 inches off the lands.

Field Performance

At 300 yards, a 200-grain AccuBond leaving at 2,620 fps has retained roughly 1,850 ft-lbs of energy — more than adequate for clean elk kills. Inside 200 yards, the cartridge hits like a freight train. It's not a magnum and it won't replace one for hunters who regularly shoot 400-yard-plus country, but for the close-to-medium range shots that define most Pacific Northwest elk hunting, the .338 Federal with quality handloads is all the cartridge you need — and it does it in a rifle that carries lighter than anything in the magnum class.