Since I purchased my .338 Federal TC Encore pistol last February, I finally had a chance to use it on some wild game. Had a last minute opportunity to hunt the afternoon at a freinds property in Northern CA (Sonoma County). I was able to stalk up on some hogs and put the smackdown on two of them.

I was shooting from a standing position with a Bog Pod Bi-pod. Both pigs were walking when I fired. The first shot landed on a 80# or so sow and the second shot hammered a Boar about 120 - 130# range. Both shots were about 50 yards or so.

The bullet passed completely through the sow, hitting behind the shoulder and exiting through the opposite shoulder and passing through the heart on the way through.

The boar was shot higher up and behind the shoulder, grazing the spine and I found the bullet in the hide on the opposite shoulder. Both were downhill shots.

The .338 Federal certainly is a hammer. I'll say that having a light trigger pull is very important to getting good shots when under pressure. There's no hesitation... I have the Bellm 3# spring installed in my trigger.

I don't post here much but I have learned a lot from the posts here so I thouhght I'd share my experience back to you all.

Erik

The .338 Federal is very close to a wildcat round called the .338JDJ#2. The JDJ round is a .444 Marlin necked to .338. I shoot this round from a Contender...and much like you...have found it to be AWESOME on game.

What bullets were you using?? For deer I like the 180gr NBT but they have been discontinued. I have a stash that should last a while though.

I'm using 200 grain Federal Fusion...

Did you keep the bullet you recovered?
I would like to see a photo.

I am bouncing between a 338 fed and a 8mm x 57

That's awesome. I'm a little surprised that the bullet didn't exit but they can be tough. I too would like to see a pic of the recovered bullet.

The 338 Federal did great! Awsome!

Nice Job and Congrats on the first harvest with your 338 fed.

I'll post a pic of the bullet later tonight.

NICE PIGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are two shots of the bullet (front and back). Shot was taken downhill with the pig quartering away. Entered high in the rib cage behind the shoulder, grazed the spine and fractured, leaving two exit paths in the opposite shoulder. The bullet was in the hide on the opposite shoulder along with another substantil sized fragment that I did not take home.

This is a 200 grain federal fusion bullet.

Wow that is not what I was expecting on bullet expansion.

That is awsome!

Considering the bullet hit spine and shoulder bone, it seems to held together fairly well. Great expansion! You didn't happen to weigh it, did you?

Should We Qualify That As Over-Expansion & Excess-Fragmentation? I'd Call It A Borderline Case. I'd Worry About That Happening In A Gigantic Deeply P***ed-Off Boar Like Our(Old Russian-Stock) 400 Pounders* * *

I didn't weigh the bullet... don't really have that capability.

When I looked inside the body cavity, you could clearly see how the bullet busted the spine, then deflected a bit as it went through the shoulder, and two fragments made exit holes from the inside of the body cavity through the shoulder. One was this peice, the other was a smaller fragment. Perhaps there were others but I didn't see any more.

The sow was shot in the heart... about half of the heart was left when I dressed her out. This, of course, led our feeble caveman brains to be stuck on the old Bon Jovi tune... "Shot through the heart... but you're too late..."

Good fun.

There is an IHMSA caliber that is very close to the 338 Federal; the .338 IHMSA (330 Savage blown out and necked up). Back when the targets were set differently you needed more thump to down them. The 338 sure did that. I have a set of dies but no reamer. I have been thinking of the caliber but when there is a commercial caliber that does the same thing....why??

Congrat's on the pigs.

Bill

CONGRATS on the harvest!!!

The spine on anything can absorb an incredible amount of lead. I've shot deer at 50 yards with a 350 gr. 50 cal at 1500 mv and it stopped the bullet.

Well I will tell you this may have sold me on the 338 Fed. I was looking at the 8x57 for the bullet selection. I like the 308 Case in the Encore and the 338 Fed fits that mold.

Now here is a real thought what if I use my 356 win brass and would have a 338 fed rimmed

My buddy shot a doe in the neck with a 80 pound compound and the spine stopped the carbon arrow. The had to play surgery on the joints to save the broad head.


MGM has told me that any 308 based round could be made to accept a rimmed case. I was looking at a 708 AI rimmed and Kerry’s comments were that it would aid in the fireforming. In a single shot shooter, I think it is the way to go. But that is JMHO.

Bug, I think you just found a winning combination. LOL

Duane

The 356 barss would work and also 307 brass. Just need the rim counter bore cut in the barrel.

"Worst Case Scenario"

http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/rifle/mrx-bullet/

These MRX Slugs Are Armor-Piercing To Say The Least...

TO THE MEMORY AND LEGACY OF FRED BARNES...A TOAST! ! !

It's a lot easier to get 444 brass for the 338 JDJ #2 than 307 or some other screwy case.

The nice thing about using the 356 Win brass Gary is even if they quit making it I just change to the 06 extractor and use 308 brass and the same dies. With every rim barrel I get from MGM I have them send me the extra extractor just in case. That is the nice thing about using the 308 base case. Dont know if you considered that.

Nice shooting, a nice pair of good eating hogs.

singleshot