Rifle · SAAMI
.338 Federal
Short-action .338 for big game.
- Caliber
- 0.338″ · 8.585 mm
- Introduced
- 2006
- Case
- Rimless
- Parent
- .308 Winchester
- Primary use
- Hunting
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 2006
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- United States
- Inventor
- Federal / Sako
- Manufacturer
- Federal Premium
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Limited
- Case capacity
- 56 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:10
- Primer
- Large Rifle
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 62,000 psi, SAAMI transducer
- Eff. range
- 350 yd
- Max range
- 5800 yd
- Recoil
- 25–35 ft·lb
Introduced by Federal Premium
Ballistics
Published velocity/energy data isn't available for .338 Federal. Parent case: .308 Winchester.
Performance
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 8.59 | 0.338 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 9.40 | 0.370 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 11.53 | 0.454 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 20° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 11.96 | 0.471 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 12.01 | 0.473 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.37 | 0.054 | ~ |
| Neck length | 8.63 | 0.340 | ≈ |
| Case length | 51.18 | 2.015 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 71.63 | 2.820 | ~ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .338 Federal is highlighted below.
Factory loads
Being verified
Advertised FPS, energy, and BC are withheld until loads clear verification.
Suitable powders
1 reloading powder listed for .338 Federal, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .338 Federal
Lineage
Connected reference
History
Introduced 2006 by Federal and Sako. Goal was .338-caliber power in short-action rifles. Never gained widespread popularity despite excellent performance. Victim of poor marketing and limited rifle offerings.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .338 Federal use?
- .338 Federal typically uses a 1:10 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .338 Federal?
- .338 Federal uses a 0.338″ (8.585 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .338 Federal still in production?
- .338 Federal is active; typical availability is limited.
- What is .338 Federal used for?
- .338 Federal is primarily used for hunting.
- What is .338 Federal based on?
- .338 Federal is derived from the .308 Winchester case.
- What are the best powders for .338 Federal?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for .338 Federal include IMR 3031.
Sources & provenance
- Standard C.I.P. — C.I.P. TDCC — Tables of Dimensions of Cartridges and Chambers
- Standard SAAMI — ANSI/SAAMI Z299 — Cartridge & Chamber Drawings archived
- Standard SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute) — ANSI/SAAMI Z299.4 – 2015 (Centerfire Rifle) — Velocity & Pressure / Cartridge & Chamber Drawings · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Manufacturer Steinel Ammunition — 338 Federal 200gr Controlled Expansion Soft Point · representative_gun, grain_ballistics
- Manufacturer DoubleTap — 338 Federal 185gr DT Lead Free 20rds · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
- Manufacturer DoubleTap — 338 Federal 210gr Swift Scirocco II 20rds · representative_gun, grain_ballistics archived
- Manufacturer Federal Premium — Fusion Rifle 338 Federal, 200 Grain (F338FFS2) · grain_ballistics, representative_gun archived
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 39 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →
