Lane’s converted M-38 Mauser (top) is chambered for the .338-08 wildcat cartridge, while his Ruger M77 Mark II Frontier model is chambered for the .338 Federal factory round, which is similar to but not interchangeable with the wildcat loading.

To answer the question of whether or not the .338 Federal will gain widespread popularity in the shooting community, let’s look at a few facts. First of all, the .338 Federal is derived from the venerable .308 Winchester, so along with several other cousins, its heritage is impeccable. Federal Cartridge has fielded four different factory loads, three topped with proven-performance premium bullets from Barnes and Nosler. Ballistic performance easily exceeds the .308/.30-06 standard for most big-game hunting situations. And since it debuted two years ago, at least five major arms makers are chambering rifles for the new cartridge.

It sounds like a pretty good start for a nonbelted, nonmagnum round in a recent market that’s seen a dozen new ultra-short- and super-short-magnum rounds.

Actually, the .338 Federal’s story is not uncharacteristic of several popular factory rounds. That’s because it’s another wildcat round that many shooters--including myself--experimented with long before one of the big munitions companies domesticated it.

Curry, Alabama, Gunsmith John Gallagher has built several custom rifles for me. Several years ago, he converted a World War II-vintage

M-38 Husqvarna carbine into a scout rifle. He chambered the 20-inch Lothar Walther barrel for the well-known .338-08 wildcat cartridge, which is simply a necked-up .308 Win. Because the Swedish Mauser’s magazine is longer than the typical short-action box, it accommodates handloads with 180- to 215-grain bullets without having to seat them into the case so deeply.

I recall our conversation a few days after I picked up the new rifle. Gallagher had asked me to provide some test ammo so he could check the rifle out at his range. “It was too dark to pull the targets last night when I finished shooting,” he remarked as he handed me the rifle and a sack of empty brass. “Just repeat these loads; a couple of them grouped really well.”

After loading and firing about 50 rounds that weekend, I had two excellent handloads that promised to serve me well during the upcoming deer season. I called Gallagher first thing the following Monday and, in mock seriousness, proclaimed, “I spent yesterday at the range shooting the new rifle. I’m not very happy!”

After a tentative moment, he asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Well,” I said, “this is the first wildcat project I’ve done for a while, and I was looking forward to spending the summer working up some good loads. I’ve only fired a few rounds and already found two that shoot like a house afire!”

I chuckled when he finally caught on and acknowledged my subtle gesture of satisfaction.

Actually, I was so impressed with the rifle’s performance that I tried to get one of the arms makers interested in the cartridge. I even asked a munitions house how much it would cost to develop and obtain SAAMI approval of the proposed round. My source commented, “If they’ll commit to making 5,000 rifles, we would probably develop the cartridge for free.”

Even though the short-action .338 wildcat was an excellent prospect as a new factory loading, it didn’t happen then. I concluded I was just a lousy salesman. The RUMs, WSMs, RSAUMs, and WSSMs were still the hottest items then. It would be a stretch to expect anyone to notice a rather mundane and conventional--i.e., nonmagnum--round.

The situation began to change a couple years later. Ruger introduced the short-barreled, blued Model 77 Mark II Frontier model, which featured a barrel rib to accommodate mounting an extended-eye-relief scope. The new Frontier was initially chambered in .243 and .308 Win., 7mm-08 Remington, and .300 WSM. I ordered one in .308 and began testing various factory loads and handloads. I recall thinking that it would make an excellent platform for the .338-08.

Ruger M77 Mark II Frontier Rifle
Model:	M77 Mark Frontier
Purpose:	Big game
Manufacturer:	Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc. 1 Lacey Place Southport, CT 06890 203-259-7843 www.ruger.com
Action Type:	Bolt-action repeater
Operation:	Turn-bolt
Magazine type and capacity:	Hinged floorplate; 4 rounds
Receiver material:	Chrome-moly or stainless steel
Caliber:	.338 Federal (tested) .243 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., .308 Win., .358 Win.
Barrel length:	16.5 inches
Rifling:	Six grooves, 1:10 RH twist (.338), 1:9 (.243), 1:9.5 (7mm-08), 1:10 (.308), 1:12 (.358
Sights:	None; rings included for scope mounting on foward barrel rib
Metal Finish:	Blued, stainless
Saftey:	Reciever-mounted, three-position manual
Trigger type:	LC6
Pull weight:	3.1 pounds
Stock material:	Black laminated wood, checkered
Stock finish:	Satin
Recoil pad:	Black rubber
Sling-swivel studs:	Fixed
Weight, empty:	6.75 pounds
Overall length:	35.5 inches
MSRP:	$799 (blued), $900 (stainless)