What is the future of the .338 Federal?
- Thread starter TRanger
- Start date
chet15
Hawkeye
As of 2011, Ruger will no longer offer a firearm chambered for .338 Federal.
The RCM's are still listed by Ruger, but isn't it just a matter of time before these go by the wayside as well?
Better stock up on ammo!
I think it really boils down to the thought that the -06 calibers, the .270, 7mm, .308, .243 and other popular calibers like that just can't be replaced. Manufacturers bring out new calibers like the RCM's and others like it to help revitalize sales, because sales would be absolutely dismal if nothing new were ever introduced.
Remember the .22 Jet, .221 Fireball, .256 Win. Mag. and 5mm??? Most "new" calibers seem these days to be pre-ordained to certain death. There's just too many established "in-between" calibers for new "fad" calibers to be much of a threat. But the manufactures must continue to come out with these to survive.
Chet15
The RCM's are still listed by Ruger, but isn't it just a matter of time before these go by the wayside as well?
Better stock up on ammo!
I think it really boils down to the thought that the -06 calibers, the .270, 7mm, .308, .243 and other popular calibers like that just can't be replaced. Manufacturers bring out new calibers like the RCM's and others like it to help revitalize sales, because sales would be absolutely dismal if nothing new were ever introduced.
Remember the .22 Jet, .221 Fireball, .256 Win. Mag. and 5mm??? Most "new" calibers seem these days to be pre-ordained to certain death. There's just too many established "in-between" calibers for new "fad" calibers to be much of a threat. But the manufactures must continue to come out with these to survive.
Chet15
bearden
Bearcat
338 federal is a great cartridge, its failure will be the high cost of ammunation and the limited access to reloading brass and loading data, (yes i know you can reform 308 win cases).
To many new cartridges in the last 10 years, how many will catch on is anyones guess.
To many new cartridges in the last 10 years, how many will catch on is anyones guess.
Brad
Bearcat
The 338 Federal does absolutely nothing that the 308 Win does as well or better... the 338 Fed is strictly a rifle-nut's round for splitting ballistic atoms... nothing to base corporate success on.
Quattroclick
Single-Sixer
The 243, 260, 7-08, 308, 338 and 358 are all excellent cartridges. But, some are more popular than others and I wouldn't look for all of them to survive. The 358 has been on life support for years and the 260 and 338 aren't looking like long term investments either.
wunbe
Buckeye
Ruger's fling at its own .338 short mag was such a totally stupid idea that there was no way they could continue with a .338 Federal that has wider appeal in a market already over-saturated with magnums.
The .338 Federal vs. 308 argument is specious. The .338 Federal, just like the 338-06, does some things better than its parent round and it too is holding its own in that niche. Ask the users.
By trhe way, there is a new black rifle being offered in .338 Federal. Why? Users like it. And it is hard to bury a viable round with negatives from non-users.
wunbe
The .338 Federal vs. 308 argument is specious. The .338 Federal, just like the 338-06, does some things better than its parent round and it too is holding its own in that niche. Ask the users.
By trhe way, there is a new black rifle being offered in .338 Federal. Why? Users like it. And it is hard to bury a viable round with negatives from non-users.
wunbe
chet15
Hawkeye
wunbe said:
User's may like it....but I have to question how many users that really is. Sounds like the same "NEW" fad kinda thing we've been discussing in this thread. Might be a wonderful round...but so was the .256 Win Mag. So were a host of other has-beens.
Again, if all that were ever offered were guns in .30-06, there wouldn't be too many manufacturers out there. Its all about product development...and marketing the idea to the public so that those interested in such things "Are the first ones to have one on the block".
These days, product development costs are such that most manufactures take big gambles in the hope that they can just get their costs back.
Chet15
Black Frog
Single-Sixer
Unfortunately the larger dia calibers based off the 308 case just don't seem to catch on here. Too bad, I really like them.
The 358 is my favorite caliber, and I'm sad to see Ruger no longer is offering that caliber either, leaving only Browning's BLR as the lone carrier of the 358 torch. :cry:
Sako is discontinuing their 338Fed chamberings, and offering STEEP discounts on some rifles in that caliber. I picked up a new 338Fed Sako Grey Wolf for a steal.
As far as 'newer' calibers catching on, some make it and some don't. The 260 has a good following with reloaders and long-range shooters. But don't know if it can be saved as a "commercial success".
I think the 7mm-08 is here to stay. In fact I think it is slowly gaining popularity.
BUT, look at the 17HMR. That has seen decent sales for several years. And the 204 Ruger as well.
The 358 is my favorite caliber, and I'm sad to see Ruger no longer is offering that caliber either, leaving only Browning's BLR as the lone carrier of the 358 torch. :cry:
Sako is discontinuing their 338Fed chamberings, and offering STEEP discounts on some rifles in that caliber. I picked up a new 338Fed Sako Grey Wolf for a steal.
As far as 'newer' calibers catching on, some make it and some don't. The 260 has a good following with reloaders and long-range shooters. But don't know if it can be saved as a "commercial success".
I think the 7mm-08 is here to stay. In fact I think it is slowly gaining popularity.
BUT, look at the 17HMR. That has seen decent sales for several years. And the 204 Ruger as well.
marketing the idea to the public so that those interested in such things "Are the first ones to have one on the block".
You hit the pin on the primer, chet. Manufacturers are always trying to find the "chosen one" by heavily marketing the new "latest and greatest" cartridge that no one can live without. The vast majority of new calibers eventually fade away, but every once in a while a couple take the world by storm.
BUT, look at the 17HMR. That has seen decent sales for several years. And the 204 Ruger as well.
You hit the pin on the primer, chet. Manufacturers are always trying to find the "chosen one" by heavily marketing the new "latest and greatest" cartridge that no one can live without. The vast majority of new calibers eventually fade away, but every once in a while a couple take the world by storm.
BUT, look at the 17HMR. That has seen decent sales for several years. And the 204 Ruger as well.
chet15
Hawkeye
BloomR said:
Yes...agreed. Those two rounds also fill the gaps of something that had never occurred before. Sure, there were .17's, but not in a rim.
Chet15
358 Hawkeye
Bearcat
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2010
- Messages
- 48
I had the choice of a 338 Fed or the 358 Win, I happily took the grand old 358 in the new Hawkeye.
The 338 Fed is an answer to a question that was never asked.
The 338 Fed is an answer to a question that was never asked.
picketpin
Buckeye
The 204 actually filled a niche. Now for those of us that already owned and shot 17 Remingtons and other 17 caliber centerfires it didn't set the world on fire BUT it did a good job of marketing and earned a decent reputatuion.
Unless you can catch enough of a market that your cartridge is chambered by other manuifacturers your propriatory case is usually doomed for the long term.
Gee, even Weatherby had to expand oyt of just chambering Weatherby cartridges and start upgrading the non MKV line and chambering many/most of the commercially viable rounds.
The 17 Remington hasn't set the world on fire BUT it has a loyal following, is chmbered in several manufactures rifles and has been around long enough in it's very narrow niche that it'll still be around for years, even with pressure from the 204.
One or two of the WSMs will survive, one, maybe two of the Rugers MIGHT survive but ONLY if they get to the point that others are chambering them
Sure there are guys that love theirs, BUT there just aren't enough guys to make them truley successful. They may hang arounf for years but most are simply not a long term solution to a problem that wasn't already solved with something else.
RWt
Unless you can catch enough of a market that your cartridge is chambered by other manuifacturers your propriatory case is usually doomed for the long term.
Gee, even Weatherby had to expand oyt of just chambering Weatherby cartridges and start upgrading the non MKV line and chambering many/most of the commercially viable rounds.
The 17 Remington hasn't set the world on fire BUT it has a loyal following, is chmbered in several manufactures rifles and has been around long enough in it's very narrow niche that it'll still be around for years, even with pressure from the 204.
One or two of the WSMs will survive, one, maybe two of the Rugers MIGHT survive but ONLY if they get to the point that others are chambering them
Sure there are guys that love theirs, BUT there just aren't enough guys to make them truley successful. They may hang arounf for years but most are simply not a long term solution to a problem that wasn't already solved with something else.
RWt
DavidMc116
Single-Sixer
Maybe if we held our collective breath, Browning would bring out a Japanese Win 88 in 358? I'm in.
mattsbox99
Hunter
While its impossible to die from holding your breath, you would in that case!
DavidMc116
Single-Sixer
Mattsbox99, were you the midnight wrong number who called at a most inopportune moment last week????
sp
Single-Sixer
Not too good. It appears that folks like "paper ballistics" and the .338 Federal has not got those. There are many excellent cartridges that make sense like to 6mm Rem, .300 RSAUM and these are only moderately popular or just hanging on.
I have a .308 Win, a .30-06, and a .338-06. I almost never shoot the .338-06 because the .30-06 is just as effective. I don't plan to get a .338 Federal because I have a .308 Win. I have no plans to shoot a 225 -250 grain .338 bullet at some beast because I have a .375 that shoots 270 - 300 grain bullets just as fast as the .338-06 shoots 225's or 250's.
I have a .308 Win, a .30-06, and a .338-06. I almost never shoot the .338-06 because the .30-06 is just as effective. I don't plan to get a .338 Federal because I have a .308 Win. I have no plans to shoot a 225 -250 grain .338 bullet at some beast because I have a .375 that shoots 270 - 300 grain bullets just as fast as the .338-06 shoots 225's or 250's.
FergusonTO35
Hunter
I knew the RCM's were doomed from the time a bought-and-paid-for gun writer decided to "make the case" for them (his words). If anything, the RCM's are even more useless than others because they largely depend on proprietary powders which are not available to reloaders in order to perform the way they do. The writer who praised them admitted in the same article that reloaders could get little more out of them than most non-magnum cartridges.
The 7mm-08 is a wonderful little cartridge. The only thing I dislike about it is the odd name, a combination of metric and standard separated by the old blackpowder hyphen. :? In my mind its the 7X51.
The 7mm-08 is a wonderful little cartridge. The only thing I dislike about it is the odd name, a combination of metric and standard separated by the old blackpowder hyphen. :? In my mind its the 7X51.
smousefam5
Bearcat
Deleted...commented on wrong thread!
rugerdczr
Blackhawk
Maybe I should send the Ruger NO1AB in 338 Fed back that I just found. :P
DavidMc116
Single-Sixer
rugerdczr said:
You must spend all your time looking for Hen's teeth and white blackbirds!
rugerdczr
Blackhawk
I do look for limited Guns alot and I missed the NO1B in 7mm/08 the other day then I saw the AB in 338 Fed so I jumped on it. Hope it's the only one they make.
DavidMc116
Single-Sixer
I like to shoot my guns....
sp
Single-Sixer
Not too good. Not enough velocity for the newly arrived shooters.
I guess it will shoot a 160 gr. Barnes .338 bullet real fast but so will a .308 Win shoot a 150 grainer.
I guess it will shoot a 160 gr. Barnes .338 bullet real fast but so will a .308 Win shoot a 150 grainer.
I think that, at least, we should give Ruger credit for making a few rifles in 338 Federal. I have a Hawkeye in 338 Federal, as well as one in 358, 35 Whelen, and 264 WinMag. And since I'm a rifle looney, another in 35-284, rechambered from a 358. The problem with the 338 Federal is lack of other rifles chambered for it. Apparently, Browning, Remington, Savage, and Winchester didn't get the memo on its arrival. Since Federal is the only ammo producer, ammo was a problem at first, but not any more. They now have an American Eagle loading. I bought 10 boxes last year at around $14 a box. The 338 Federal provides the performance it advertises and any rifle that's been made in 308 can be one. Numbers bigger than 300 scare most buyers off. I think it fills a niche, although a very small one. Just my thoughts. Bob!! :)
picketpin
Buckeye
My point exactly. As noted it is not popular enough nor is it going to be that the other "majors" are going to pick it up. Without at least a few other makers jumping on the band wagon, iit's almost impossible for a cartridge to succeed long term.
The 204 Ruger is a niche cartridge. However nearly every major gun manufacturer and most of the semi custom guys chamber it. It's sales have slowed somewhat but it will be around for YEARS.
The 338 Federal will never be chambered in anything other than a few Rugers and that spells the beginning of the end as a viable cartridge.
Ross
The 204 Ruger is a niche cartridge. However nearly every major gun manufacturer and most of the semi custom guys chamber it. It's sales have slowed somewhat but it will be around for YEARS.
The 338 Federal will never be chambered in anything other than a few Rugers and that spells the beginning of the end as a viable cartridge.
Ross
DavidMc116
Single-Sixer
rangerbob said:
From what I've learned from 3 different "Ruger authorities”, the general concensus is that only 7 Ruger #1's were produced in this caliber, (338 Federal). This recent one may make it number 8.
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