338 Marlin Express -- any thoughts or comments?

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OK, either there is not a lot mentioned on here about this reletively new caliber, or I do not know how to use the SEARCH function properly (which is always a definite possibility). ;)

Anyway, I am looking at expanding on a little collection of lever guns I am starting, and I have a few questions about the 338 Marlin Express. Anyone have one of these yet? If so, any comments?

They are supposed to be very close to a 30-06. But as I read it, they are only available in 200 gr. I mainly hunt deer out here in NB, and I currently use my Browning BPR in 30-06 with either 165 or 180 gr. Is the 338 with 200 gr. too much for deer? Or is the 308 Marlin Express a better option? I do like the idea of the 338 just because if the 'uniqueness'.:nest: But I would imagine that the 338 is a fantastic moose cartridge should I ever get my name drawn for a moose tag again -- 20+ years and counting without one. LOL

Any comments, thoughts or criticisms??
 
folks over on marlinowners.com are conflicted on this issue. those who have them seem to like them O.K., but i've also heard some very good arguments against them.
they do have good range, roughly .308 performance... but like you said a very limited range of bullets, expensive bullets to choose from.
i've heard things that suggest it may not be a life long caliber, and really i haven't bought one because for long range shooting i prefer bolt guns, for short range bush guns, there is the 1895 in 45/70 for the big stuff, or the 336 in 30-30 or 35 rem.
the 338ME is in my opinion, filling a gap that dosen't need to be filled. it will never match a 30-06, 270, 7mm etc.. bolt action's ballistics for long range stuff, and in close there are already proven and reliable calibers with a much, much more versatile list of loadings to choose from.

If you want a fantastic marlin for deer or moose get yourself a 336 in 35 remington and don't look back.
 
I think it will go the way of the 307 win and the 356 win, both great calibers, but they both died. I have a 356 and really enjoy it. 200 gr work great as an all around bullet. If you buy one, take up reloading, and buy lots of brass.
 
Have you sourced the availability of ammo and or reloading components?
I bought into the .308 Marlin Express in its first year. Given the choice now, I would go for the .338. Although I still haven't seen any ammo for sale yet.
 
Thanx to all for the comments so far -- some very valid points.

I haven't yet tried to source any ammo, I will do that this week.

Question -- how does the 356 trump this cartridge when you consider the following?? I'm a relative newbie when it comes to ballistics, so I might be missing something.

30-06 Sprg. 200 gr. MV 2,569 ft/s and 2,932 ft·lb

338 ME 200gr. MV 2,565 ft/s and 2,921 ft-lb

356 Win. 200gr. MV 2,469 ft/s and 2,688 ft-lb
 
Ft-lb are not everything with only 100 fps different not a major issue. Larger diameter / larer hole and impact effect. I haven't finished my loads yet but I am getting nice results using the new Hornady bullets for the 35 remington with the soft pointy tips. Better balistics etc.
 
You will have to excuse me, i may have been premature(not the first time) my understanding of those new marlin carts. was that they had less powder cap. then the .308/.307 family of carts. and if so, i stand by my earlier comments on the .356 Win, if the cap. in the new cases is more then there may be some gain.....IMHO
 
I've never been into reloading -- just don't shoot enough to be honest.

For awhile now I've been thinking about doing up a 338-06. I thought maybe this new 338 Marlin Express cartridge was a good compromise being as the it is almost a dead ringer for a 30-06 and I can get that performance in an absolutely gorgeous lever gun that I can get right away either online or walking into a gun shop. I realize the 338ME falls short of the 338-06, but for the hunting I do out here in NB, its more than enough. Hell, my 30-06 is more than enough out in these parts. But is it possibe the 338ME is too much gun for deer?? Any comments on this?

As I said in my earlier post, I want to expand on my lever gun collection, but having said that I am not a BLR fan. So me thinks a new 338 Marlin Express will be on the way shortly. :D

And thanx for the suggestion, the 35 Remington is another I will look at a little later on. Now, is there a 35 Whelen lever option out there?
 
Unless someone rebarrelled their BLR, no there aren't any .35 whelens in a lever rifle. But if you were willing to search and pay extra you could get a savage 99 or win 88 inn .358 winchester. Its in a similar nieghbourhood to the .35 whelen.
 
They won't be "too much" but really, anything bigger than a .270 or 30-06 is "overkill" for deer. Not that there is anything wrong wiht that.

If you are not a handloader, I'd look into ammo availability.
 
Been doing some price checking on rifles. Comparing Canada to the US, we are about $400 - $450 more expensive for the same rifle. That is rediculous.

I spoke with a lady from the CFC about purchasing and importing a new rifle from the US. There is a little extra work to do, but it is workable. She gave me a headsup on the paperwork required and a few phone numbers I will need. I might just look at this if there are no other huge fees to offset the savings.
 
Gatehouse said:
They won't be "too much" but really, anything bigger than a .270 or 30-06 is "overkill" for deer. Not that there is anything wrong wiht that.

If you are not a handloader, I'd look into ammo availability.
Click to expand...


Some people say a 30-06 is overkill for deer.Personally I think its a perfect cartridge if you want one gun to hunt moose and deer.Its all personal opinions...To me a 338 is overkill for deer but their nothing wrong with hunting with it.Whatever your comfortable with.
 
Just handled a few of these beauties yesterday at a local dealer, both the stainless MXLR and the blued MX --- suh-weeeeet!!!

I found the pricing to be VERY competitive, even compared to Cabela's which from what I've seen is one of the cheaper spots on the net. I can get a blued 338 MX for $719, or the stainless MXLR for $929. Now I just have to decide which one, and go get it.
 
Attention said:
Some people say a 30-06 is overkill for deer.Personally I think its a perfect cartridge if you want one gun to hunt moose and deer.
Click to expand...
The 30/06 is "overkill" for deer only.

Your reference to moose and deer hunting is where it does it's best work as a very flexible cartridge. The 338 Marlin would fall into this same category.

.
 
If you pick up a Marlin Express in .308 or .338, to get maximum performance you'll be limited to Hornady ammo. Their development of proprietary powders for the LeverEvolution led to these calibers, as well as the Ruger Compact magnums, and is now what's going into their Superperformance line of ammo. It's this special powder that wrings out the kind of ballistics possible from the Express. I've read that they have no intention of offering the powder for handloading. Each specific caliber, and even bullet weight, they use this powder in requires a special blending process. It's highly doubtful performance can be safely matched with any powders available to loaders.

To get the most out of them, a 24" barrel is important, and is why Marlin offers the Express in that length.

The .338 Express should make for a great elk rifle, and for moose, too, for those with a hankering for a traditional lever gun suitable to the task.

My son-in-law bought a .308 Express (22" blued version) almost as soon as they became available in Canada. Very sweet little rifle.

Two mods he made to it:

The trigger was awful, tons of creep, which made it pretty much a frustrating pain to shoot groups at the range. A Wild West trigger solved this, difference is night and day, breaks like glass. These are available from Brownells now, and can be shipped to Canada. Takes a smith about 20 minutes to install.

He also had a Decellorator recoil pad installed in place of the hard plastic butt plate. Big difference! The rifle had a surprisingly sharp bite to it that was enough to take the edge off of any fun target shooting. I think a good recoil pad is standard on the .338.

The .308 Express, in spite of it seemingly small brass size, comes within a hair of the performance from a .308 Win., and should be just as capable for moose and elk.
 
I would suggest that you look very carefully at the availability of ammunition. I spent a bunch of time last year looking for some for a friend of mine, it isn't very common. As far as I know it is only made by Hornady in their Leverevolution brand. As posted elsewhere - If you get one don't throw any brass away, you may need it.
 
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