Y85 Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 Hunted black bear on Vancouver Island last week with Sean Lingl's Canadian Guide Outfitters near Port Alberni. Took this 6'11" bear with my DPMS Panther in 338Fed. Two shots at 250 yds. Ran about 15 yds into the woods and passed. First shot took both lungs and off shoulder; second shot connected (Texas heart) as he ran away. Great place to hunt (four of us took bears -- mine was the smallest: my daughter's was 7'7"; my son's was 7'3"; my buddy's was 7'2"). We saw dozens of bears -- all spot and stalk, baiting is illegal in BC. Had no trouble taking the AR into Canada (mags limited to 4 rounds). Great place to hunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planeflyer21 Posted June 3, 2013 Report Share Posted June 3, 2013 Excellent Y85! How are you liking that .338 Federal? Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sketch Posted June 4, 2013 Report Share Posted June 4, 2013 That's a healthy bear congrats!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y85 Posted June 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 Thanks, guys, it was a great hunt. PF21, Have had great luck with 338FED. My son (age 13) has a Kimber 84Montana in 338FED and I have the DPMS. Both have done good service. My son has taken animals up to eland and crocodile (in Africa) as well as assorted plains game. In North America, he's used it on black bear (obviously), whitetails, mule deer, pronghorn, and aoudad (and pigs). His rifle is much more accurate than mine (or, maybe, the shooter is more accurate?) and he has taken game out to 535 yds (aoudad) with it. We tend to use lead-free ammo (200g Trophy Copper Federal) although the deer and sheep were taken using 180g Accubond. I've read on some blogs about cycling issues with AR's in 338FED but I haven't had any using 200g Trophy Copper, 200g Trophy Bonded Tip, 180g Accubond, 185g TSX Federal Factory ammo or with 200g Federal Fusion ammo. For my son's rifle, we made some 210g TTSX handloads -- nice (on the eland, kudu, oryx, etc) but too long for the DPMS. I think the 338FED is one of the best all-around cartridges out there right now. My son has been shooting it since he was 10 (about 75 lbs) and my daughter (age 15) has used his rifle in Africa and in the Midwest on whitetails. Neither had trouble with recoil. For the AR platform, I like the 338FED for anything in North America, except the bigger bears (although, having said that, a 7'7" black bear is almost as big as an interior grizzly so, maybe I'm unduly cautious). I would not hesitate to use it on bison or moose. Anyway, hope that answers your question. Best, BR (Y85) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepp Posted June 5, 2013 Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 I've read the .338 fed shaves off a few pound from the .308 plate form notice a difference??! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planeflyer21 Posted June 5, 2013 Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 Thanks Y85! Yes it does...very much so! In previous years I'd thought a very cool rifle would be a M-14/M1A in .358 Winchester. It has a great reputation for being a heavy thumper out to 400 yards or so. Then they came out with the .338 Federal and I decided to sit back and watch. Glad to hear a good and running report! Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y85 Posted June 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2013 shepp, Sorry - I don't understand the question. If it's about rifle weight, my DPMS + scope (Trijicon 2.5-10 x 50) + bipod runs north of 10lbs. Not something I would want to carry on a Dall Sheep hunt but fine for moderate terrain. If I missed the point, let me know. Like I said, in the bigger AR platform, I think the 338Fed rocks almost everything. My only reservation is that my DPMS is an honest 1.5 MOA rifle (whereas my son's Kimber is 0.5MOA - at least with his young steady hands, and young eyes). I wish the DPMS was better and I was at the limit of what I would use it for (bear @ 250 yds) on this hunt. I've got/built a couple of other AR's on the smaller AR-15 platform (Blackout, Beowulf - really just toys & a couple of Grendels, which I love for coyotes and deer (really want to try antelope sometime with the 6.5G). I just got a 6.5CM that Dave Branson (shout out to the MEGA MATEN group buy) @ BB Enterprises helped me pull together. I am hopeful it will be a 1K rifle (targets, not hunting). Good barrel (JP, 22"); MEGA MATEN upper/lower, Timney trigger, CAA Sniper stock, SCS-10 buffer,, Swarovski Z6 5-30 x 50scope, Larue mount, etc). Just got some of the 127g Barnes LRX today and will start playing around w loads. I've got a long range course with my daughter and a couple buddies in August. Maybe I can learn to shoot all these nice toys...... BR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgecrusher Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 I just got a 6.5CM that Dave Branson (shout out to the MEGA MATEN group buy) @ BB Enterprises helped me pull together. I am hopeful it will be a 1K rifle (targets, not hunting). Good barrel (JP, 22"); MEGA MATEN upper/lower, Timney trigger, CAA Sniper stock, SCS-10 buffer,, Swarovski Z6 5-30 x 50scope, Larue mount, etc). Just got some of the 127g Barnes LRX today and will start playing around w loads. I've got a long range course with my daughter and a couple buddies in August. Maybe I can learn to shoot all these nice toys...... BR Very awesome! Dave is a great guy, glad he could help you out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepp Posted June 6, 2013 Report Share Posted June 6, 2013 shepp, Sorry - I don't understand the question. If it's about rifle weight, my DPMS + scope (Trijicon 2.5-10 x 50) + bipod runs north of 10lbs. Not something I would want to carry on a Dall Sheep hunt but fine for moderate terrain. If I missed the point, let me know. Like I said, in the bigger AR platform, I think the 338Fed rocks almost everything. My only reservation is that my DPMS is an honest 1.5 MOA rifle (whereas my son's Kimber is 0.5MOA - at least with his young steady hands, and young eyes). I wish the DPMS was better and I was at the limit of what I would use it for (bear @ 250 yds) on this hunt. I've got/built a couple of other AR's on the smaller AR-15 platform (Blackout, Beowulf - really just toys & a couple of Grendels, which I love for coyotes and deer (really want to try antelope sometime with the 6.5G). I just got a 6.5CM that Dave Branson (shout out to the MEGA MATEN group buy) @ BB Enterprises helped me pull together. I am hopeful it will be a 1K rifle (targets, not hunting). Good barrel (JP, 22"); MEGA MATEN upper/lower, Timney trigger, CAA Sniper stock, SCS-10 buffer,, Swarovski Z6 5-30 x 50scope, Larue mount, etc). Just got some of the 127g Barnes LRX today and will start playing around w loads. I've got a long range course with my daughter and a couple buddies in August. Maybe I can learn to shoot all these nice toys...... BR U hit it. I was watching a show on the out door channel about the different uppers you can use on a .308 lower, .338fed being one. And the advantage of doing so is that it shaves off a few pounds but it sounds like at 10# your still in the same ballpark. Congrats to you and your family on a successful hunt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magwa Posted June 7, 2013 Report Share Posted June 7, 2013 Nice bear congrats.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unforgiven Posted June 8, 2013 Report Share Posted June 8, 2013 Way to go brother Y85 great hunt.Way to get the family involved. <thumbsup> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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