.338 Federal in T3

[J.G.Terry]

Recently purchased a used T3 Lite in .338 Federal that came with Warne rings. The workmanship and accuracy is excellent. It appears this chambering has been dropped from the line. It was something of a hint when the RCBS dies came with an tapered expander ball that formed excellent brass. Looks like the future for this cartridge may not be good. Also was using a Foul Out III to find what had been fired in the rifle previously left heaving fouling in the barrel. Have been shooting 200 gr. Hornady spire points and 4064 at 2400 fps for starters with good results.

[anweis]

That is exactly what i wanted to purchase, in SS, but while shopping on-line i found a Sako 85 in stainless, .338 Fed, with the most amazing walnut stock ever. I could not resist.
The fact that .338 Fed is not overly popular matters little.  A 165 grain bullet at max speed will give you flat trajectory and elk killing confidence, and a 200-225 grainer will put down any moose or bear at 250 yards. Brass is easy to find, i have great success with .308 Brass from Remington (lots of work to sort, cull, ream, etc) and Nosler custom and Lapua (both amazing quality). I have used RL 15 and 200 grain bullets from Speeer and Hornady. RL 15 is perfect - it gives 100% load density with 200 grain bullets, actually 45 grains of RL 15 (about max load) is compressed.
The 200 grainers need not be too fast or premium controlled expansion bullets. They have enough energy to penetrate any game and enough mass to stay together, especially since they are not pushed too fast (2500 fps is perfect). 
If your Tikka kicks too much, you can replace the recoil pad, there is an aftermarket that fits.

[Harry Snippe]

First
Get a Limbsaver pad and it will recoil more like a 308 rather than a 300 WM.

Being in Canada, I reform 308 brass without any issues period . 338 brass is no where to be found unless you buy ammo in that cal.

I load Varget powder with federal primers  with the 200 gr. bullet with good results .
You could also try Hodgdon Leverevolution with the heavier bullets and get 26oo FPS.and change .

The 338 Federal as well as the 358 W-- never will lite the world on fire but they are to stay .The reloader is going to get the best out of these cartridges .
Tikka as well as Ruger seem willing to offer rifles so chambered and are no problem to purchase where I am from . It seems that any arm imported though are now being limbed to the old rounds like the 308 / 3006 type rounds -we have hunted with for years . Rounds like the 6.5 and 260 Rem. no are no longer imported by tikka .

Hope you get as much enjoyment out of this gun and cartridge as I have over the years .
So far the deer HATE the T3 and my 338 F reloads .

[dpe.ahoy]

I picked up one with the wood stock that I have not had time to play with much.  338 Fed. makes so much sense for 95% of most big game hunting in N.A., the problem is it's not a super whizz bang 800 yd cartridge.  It and the 358 Win. are solid performers that just get the job done.  DP

[pahuntr]

I bought some federal brass through midway a few months back. It has since gone out of stock. They may have received more in by now. Don't know for sure though. I tried seven different loads in three shot groups with the Barnes 185 TTSX's and two of them shot well under an inch in my rifle. Some others not so good. lol.

[dpe.ahoy]

Well, I took it out to play this weekend.  After the first 20 rounds, I pulled the factory pad off and slipped a Limbsaver pad on.  The damn thing sure snorts in the light T3!    My groups weren't great, did get better after dumping the factory brick (pad).  I was using Fed. Fusion factory ammo.  Will clean it out and try again later, didn't shoot anything real well, seemed to have the "can't hold stills" this time.    Still pretty good stress relief.  DP

[Harry Snippe]

Well you might not get the best of groups from the start . If you got punched at first and then had the can't hold it steady thing , then you might give it a rest and shoot something with lighter reciol for awhile . Then too you might have to run about a 100 rds through it before the barrel settles in . I was about to turn mine back in after going through the same steps , then the rifle started to cluster some groups
 
Then load some 200 gr bullets over 46/47 Grs (max) of Varget in reformed then neck sized 308 brass .Been a happy camper ever since.
 

[dpe.ahoy]

Yah, I was trading out with a 30-30, two 7-30 Waters and a 257 Weatherby Vanguard.  It was hot enough I had to let em rest between groups.  I've heard the Tikka's need some breaking in to start grouping.  I love the weight, smoooooth bolt and crisp trigger.  Why can't all the makers put a trigger like that in a rifle?  Not givein' up on it, just had one of those days that I wasn't shooting as well as normal.  Wish it didn't happen, but, OH WELL.  DP

[Harry Snippe]

Remember too Tikka suggests not to use a brush to clean the bore . Just use a patch .
Guess the idea is to polish the bore .
I tied a bit of JB polish which seemed to help .
 

[poncaguy]

My Tikka is a 22-250, but I have a Ruger Hawkeye in 228 Federal and I really love the round, recoil not bad at all in the Ruger(and I'm 70) Most groups are MOA........hope rhe round survives, though I can reload for it............