.338 Marlin Express

[8Lander]

Any views or experience with the Marlin .338 Express

[Traps]

I don't have the 338 Marlin, but have the 338 Federal as of 60 rounds ago. All I can say from this point is that it is a lot easier on the shoulder then the 338 win mag.

I think you'll like the Marlin, great potential for bush and medium range, can even take it to 300 yard. With handloads you might be pushing the listed velocities a little lower than listed but am not quite sure on the powder they are using. Another thing to look at is cartridges, 338 ME uses its own cartridge, 338 uses the 308, so if the round doesn't catch on then you can still neck up a 308 case.

Just some thoughts, good luck choosing.

[8Lander]

The new Marlin .338 is based off the .376 Steyr case. 200gr. @2565fps. Every time I look at those MXLR's they go up by $100 but nobody's got them yet in .338

[416RP]

Prophet river firearms has the 338 marlin in stock,good prices too.Ask for Clayton.My step son has been using his 338 federal with great results.Similar performance to the marlin round.Reaches out to 300 yds no problem.More than a brush gun.To me a brush gun is a 44 mag in a 94 trapper.
good luck to ya.
416RP

Make no mistake about it, just 'cause it says .338 at the beginning of caliber designation, doesn't make it equal. .338 Marlin and .338 Lapua or .338 Edge (just as a minor slight example)...... Kinda like you're a MAN or a GIRLY MAN.....still a man.

[PoppaW]

Originally Posted by gitrdun

Make no mistake about it, just 'cause it says .338 at the beginning of caliber designation, doesn't make it equal. .338 Marlin and .338 Lapua or .338 Edge (just as a minor slight example)...... Kinda like you're a MAN or a GIRLY MAN.....still a man.

Is that like saying the Lapua and edge are MAN guns and the 338 Fed and ME are...

[Gunnsmith]

Gday all,

I tried for about a year to get the MX version but had to settle for the more expensive, glitzy, stainless steel version. No ammo yet.. so I had to make some cases out of 45-70. Fairly involved, necked down in various dies.. cut the rim both ways, diameter and thickness.. anneal a couple of times during the process and fireform with 8 grains of unique.. but I was determined to shoot my gun.

The hornady 200 and 225 grain bullets in 338 that Ive been using in my 338-06 are a bit too long for the marlin action so I had to file off the bullett nose to the jacket.. load data is available on the hornady website, I used 44 grains of ACC 2520.

Damn thing shot great !.. Hadnt expected that from bulletts with the nose filed off .. the 200 grainers are down to 188 gr.. figure the velocity is somewhere just over 2450 fps from the 24 inch barrel.

Oh, topped with a leupold V1 3 to 9.. always leave em on 6..

Yeah.. accounted for a real decent whitetail buck last week.. kind of a long shot.. somthing over 200 yds.. took out the top of the heart and lungs.. found him in the dark woods about 50 yards away.

Hoping to get some factory ammo somtime in the next month or two.. its a great gun and cartridge within its limitations.. hope to test it on a yukon moose next fall.. would like to see a 225 grain factory load.. but hey..

If I can get some tailor mades in 200 grains I wont complain...

Gunn