.338 Federal

The .338 Federal is a rifle cartridge that was jointly developed by Federal Premium Ammunition and Sako in 2006. It was designed as a big game hunting cartridge that would offer the performance of larger cartridges like the .338 Winchester Magnum in a shorter, lighter rifle.

The cartridge is based on the .308 Winchester case, which was necked up to accept .338 caliber bullets. The resulting cartridge has a bullet diameter of .338 inches and a case length of 2 inches.

The .338 Federal is capable of firing bullets weighing between 180 and 225 grains at muzzle velocities ranging from 2,700 to 2,900 feet per second. It is a powerful cartridge that is suitable for hunting a wide range of game animals, including deer, elk, and moose.

One of the main advantages of the .338 Federal is its compact size, which makes it ideal for use in lightweight, short-action rifles. It also has a relatively low recoil compared to larger cartridges like the .338 Winchester Magnum, which makes it more comfortable to shoot for some hunters and shooters.

The .338 Federal has gained a following among hunters and shooters who appreciate its combination of power, accuracy, and compact size. It is typically chambered in bolt-action rifles, but is also available in semi-automatic rifles, such as the AR-10 platform.

While the .338 Federal is not as widely available as some of the more established cartridges on the market, it has a dedicated following and is available from a number of firearms manufacturers. It is also relatively affordable compared to some of the larger, more specialized cartridges.