Hunting construction
Soft-point, bonded, partitioned, and monolithic expanding bullets are designed differently. Their intended impact-velocity ranges and use cases come from the bullet or ammunition manufacturer.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · SPORTING & MATCH RIFLE
.338 Federal
A short-action .338-caliber sporting cartridge based on the .308 case family. It is a non-magnum cartridge despite sharing bullet diameter with several .338 magnums.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 2.490–2.820 in
63.246–71.628 mm - Case length · max
- 2.015 in
51.181 mm - Bullet maximum
- 0.339 in
8.611 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.473 in
12.014 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Sporting & match rifle
- Bullet specification
- 0.3390 in / 8.611 mmBullet maximum
- Factory examples
- 4 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 185–200 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.338 Federal is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 338 Federal. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
.338 Federal, .338 Winchester Magnum, .338 RUM, and .338 Lapua Magnum are distinct cartridges.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is bullet maximum, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
Federal and Sako introduced the .338 Federal in 2006. It used the .308 Winchester case family with a larger .338-caliber bullet, joining a lineage that already included smaller-bore sporting descendants such as the .243 Winchester, .260 Remington and 7 mm-08.
The design pursued a different objective from the large .338 magnums. It aimed to place a relatively heavy hunting bullet in a compact, non-magnum, short-action cartridge. That combination appealed to hunters who wanted a medium-bore sporting rifle without adopting the case size and rifle package of the .338 Winchester Magnum or .338 Lapua Magnum. Its development is a useful example of an established case family being adapted to a new commercial role. The Federal name records the ammunition maker’s role in that effort, while Sako’s participation provided a corresponding factory-rifle platform.
Historical sources: Sierra: .338 Federal cartridge history ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Match construction
Open-tip match and tipped match bullets prioritize consistency and aerodynamics. A match designation does not by itself mean the projectile was designed for hunting expansion.
Specialty offerings
Lead-free, reduced-recoil, and premium long-range products are separate load designs when offered. Compare the exact SKU, bullet weight, test barrel, and intended role rather than relying on a cartridge-wide average.
In the cited .338 Federal examples, bullet weights are 185, 200 grains. These are the weights actually present in this source selection, not a claim that every possible loading is listed.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
From the factory catalog
185 grains
2,680 fps
FUSION
200 grains
2,700 fps
FUSION
Compare all 4 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FederalF338FMSR2 | 185 gr 11.99 g | FUSION | 2,680 fps 817 m/s | 20 in | Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗ |
| FederalF338FFS2 | 200 gr 12.96 g | FUSION | 2,700 fps 823 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗ |
| FederalP338FTC2 | 200 gr 12.96 g | TROPHY COPPER | 2,630 fps 802 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗ |
| FederalP338FTT2 | 200 gr 12.96 g | TROPHY BONDED TIP | 2,630 fps 802 m/s | 24 in | Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.338 Federal: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 185 gr Federal FUSION | Federal | 0: 2680; 100: 2447; 200: 2226; 300: 2016; 400: 1819; 500: 1636 |
| 200 gr Federal FUSION | Federal | 0: 2700; 100: 2487; 200: 2284; 300: 2090; 400: 1905; 500: 1733 |
| 200 gr Federal TROPHY COPPER | Federal | 0: 2630; 100: 2424; 200: 2228; 300: 2041; 400: 1863; 500: 1697 |
| 200 gr Federal TROPHY BONDED TIP | Federal | 0: 2630; 100: 2431; 200: 2241; 300: 2060; 400: 1887; 500: 1725 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .338 Federal?
A short-action .338-caliber sporting cartridge based on the .308 case family. It is a non-magnum cartridge despite sharing bullet diameter with several .338 magnums.
What diameter does .338 Federal use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.3390 inches (8.611 mm), bullet maximum. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
.338 Federal, .338 Winchester Magnum, .338 RUM, and .338 Lapua Magnum are distinct cartridges.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
The downrange view uses the exact manufacturer catalog records shown in the source table. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values use linear interpolation between the displayed source points. Calculated energy uses the listed bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 135 ↗
- Sierra: .338 Federal cartridge background ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 58–59 ↗
- Federal · PDF pp. 54–55 ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.