338 Marlin Express on the way ! [Archive]

6pt-sika

01-19-2009, 08:36 PM

My dealer ordered this one last week , but I think he had them hold the order until he added some other items to save on his shipping costs .

Anyway I've not laid eyes on it yet !
Also haven't gotten any ammo yet !

As for cast bullets it's my intention to kill a deer with this rifle next season with the rubber tipped stuff before I send the first cast bullet down the pipe .

If all goes as planned I'll have a 338MXLR for rubber tipped only and then use this 338MX for cast only after it's killed a deer of course with the Hornady factory stuff :coffee:

6pt-sika

01-20-2009, 08:43 PM

Went in my dealers to check the status of my 338MX !

He had told me last week he would hold the order until he ordered some other stuff ! So I was expecting late this week or possibly early next week !

So today he told me he was expecting it this friday and at the latest next monday ! Which is fine with me either way !

xtimberman

01-22-2009, 05:30 PM

This new .338 looks like it could be a real winner with the new FTX bullet design.

I'm looking forward to trying some of those .338" rubber-tipped bullets in my 1886 .33WCF! Since Hornady quit making their 200 gr. FNs in .338, I've been looking for a substitute, and this one looks like it will add some life to the old .33 WCF.

I wonder if or when the bullets will ever be available as a component?

xtm

msp2640

01-22-2009, 08:04 PM

6pt-sika

01-22-2009, 08:46 PM

Is the 338 version, just the 308 Marlin Express opened up, or is there some other changes to the case? Shoulder, body taper, etc? I have 40 rds of once fired 308 MX that I was given with a trade, that I'm trying to find a new home for. I'm a fan of the 338 bore diameter and have a sweet Ruger 77 in 338 Win Mag that I just started casting for. Have some Lee cast, just not checked and sized yet, can't wait until spring. Best of luck with the new rifle - Bill

The 338 Marlin case was derived from the 376 Steyr case . They trmmied it down some and added a rim !

It holds I think 6 or 7 more grains of powder then a 308 Marlin Express case necked up to 338 !

Believe it or not the first 33 caliber rifle I ever owned (and still do) is my Marlin 1895 in 33 WCF of about 1912 manufacture. And I got it about 3 years ago ! Heck it was the first 33 caliber rifle I ever shot !

I also recently got a 338 Federal barrel for my Encore which is pretty much the same thing as this 338 Marlin round . This Encore barrel shoots jacketed bullets very well so far !

So hopefully this year I'll be able to afford a 338MX and a 338MXLR . Then after hunting season of 2009 I'll turn the 338MX into a cast bullet only rifle ;)

6pt-sika

01-22-2009, 08:51 PM

I'm looking forward to trying some of those .338" rubber-tipped bullets in my 1886 .33WCF! Since Hornady quit making their 200 gr. FNs in .338, I've been looking for a substitute, and this one looks like it will add some life to the old .33 WCF.

I got a 1912 vintage Marlin 1895 in 33 WCF about 3 years ago !

When I did I looked around for some of the Hornady 200 grain FP bullets and was lucky enough to find 4 boxes ! I also got my hands on a like new Lyman 338320 double cavity mold !

So as you can see I'm about set for my 33 WCF !

However with the advent of the 338 Marlin Express I wouldn't be surprised if Hornady brought the 200 grain FN bullet back into production !

Based on the amount of time it took for Hornady to make the rubber tipped bullets they use in the 30-30 to be made available to the reloader I would say 3-4 YEARS before the 338 rubber tipped bullets hit the market :groner:

Loudenboomer

01-24-2009, 08:49 AM

Hey 6 pt.
What's the twist rate of the 338 ME? Do you think it will handle a LFN Boolit of the 225 to 240 gr. range??..

xtimberman

01-24-2009, 10:16 AM

Hey 6pt,

I'm fascinated by .33s, too!

The cast bullet that I've been shooting in mine is Ideal 200gr. #338237, the original plain-base offering for the .33WCF. I don't have to search around for gas checks, but it presents a situation that bothers me!

In the case of .33WCF - if it's seated to the correct depth to roll crimp into the proper groove, the base of the bullet extends well past the neck area and into the case itself. I believe that the same thing would happen if used in the new Marlin case.

I've done this with jacketed bullets in many other cartridges, but wonder if this is a dangerous procedure - to seat a malleable cast lead bullet that far into the case? Also, I imagine that much or the lubricant would get burned off before it ever hits the rifling. To ease my mind, I have been ignoring this crimping groove, and have instead been seating it only to the base of the neck of the .33WCF and .338-'06 cases - no nice roll crimp, though, for the tubular mag of the Winchester.

I normally load this cast bullet to the 1500-1700 fps range with water-hardened bullets cast from wheelweights or #2 Alloy - because that is usually all I have on hand - and lube with a Javelina-type Alox goo. What cast bullet lube do you expect to use with #338320 and your new Marlin?

Any thoughts?

xtm

Bret4207

01-24-2009, 11:03 AM

The latest issue of The Rifleman has an article on the 338 ME. Personally, I'd rather see a 35 cal version to take advantage of all those lovely cast designs, but to each their own. Better buy a LOT of brass, I doubt this will be around in 10 or 15 years.

6pt-sika

01-24-2009, 12:36 PM

Better buy a LOT of brass, I doubt this will be around in 10 or 15 years.

Same could be said about the 375 WIN , 307 WIN and 356 WIN as none of these have been manufactured in over 20 years but brass and ammo are still available [smilie=1:

6pt-sika

01-24-2009, 12:41 PM

What cast bullet lube do you expect to use with #338320 and your new Marlin?

Any thoughts?

xtm

I use "Thompson's Blue Angel" on most everything now so I expect I'll use that !

Ranch Dog I think is planning on making a mold for the 338 Marlin so by the time I get around to casting for it maybe his mold will be out and I'll use that one instead !

xtimberman

01-24-2009, 01:01 PM

Thanks for your comments on my questions!

xtm

rockrat

01-24-2009, 03:30 PM

Hope Hornady makes gas checks again. Length of the round would allow a boolit, about .700" sticking out of the neck. Wondered about a custom MM at about 250gr as the gun has a 1-10" twist, or possibly the NEI boolit of this weight.
I would have preferred a .358" round, but that would be almost like the 356Win, so I suspect thats why they went with the .338.
Oh, heres a few pics of mine, I got yesterday. I need a better camera!!!
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d149/Bigdog337/003-2-1.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d149/Bigdog337/002-3.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d149/Bigdog337/001-3.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d149/Bigdog337/005-3.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d149/Bigdog337/007-3.jpg
Now I just need a mould, sizer , gas checks, and dies!! And a taller front sight!! Second group was with better bench technique. I knew I messed up on one shot, plus it was getting dark at the range. 10mph wind at 2 o'clock

Bret4207

01-24-2009, 05:31 PM

Same could be said about the 375 WIN , 307 WIN and 356 WIN as none of these have been manufactured in over 20 years but brass and ammo are still available [smilie=1:

Exactly my point. You won't walk into the local gunny shoppe and pick up a box of 356 ammo, or 22 HP or 9mm Federal or 8mm Rem Mag either. Heck, it's even getting hard to find 250 Savage brass these days, to say nothing of 338 GC's. Get it while you can cause if it fades, it'll be that much harder to get.

Marlin Junky

01-24-2009, 06:52 PM

What's the new .338's rim diameter?

MJ

rockrat

01-24-2009, 09:04 PM

In the dimensioned case in the AR, it was .553" dia.. Don't you just love the part on the box where the gun is made of "Stainless Steal"

6pt-sika

01-24-2009, 11:33 PM

Exactly my point. You won't walk into the local gunny shoppe and pick up a box of 356 ammo, or 22 HP or 9mm Federal or 8mm Rem Mag either. Heck, it's even getting hard to find 250 Savage brass these days, to say nothing of 338 GC's. Get it while you can cause if it fades, it'll be that much harder to get.

Well lets see in the case's of the 356 and 375 WIN cartridges I've laid in a couple hundred pieces of brass for both [smilie=1:

I've done the same for the 308 Marlin Express , 219 Zipper , 7-30 Waters , 7mm RSAUM , 300 RSAUM , 325 WSM , 270 WSM , 25 WSSM , 8mm REM MAG , 32 H&R MAG , 260 REM , 257 Roberts , 280 REM and a couple others I can't remmember off the top of my head !

Point being with the state of affairs in this country NOW regardless of what you load for you should get componenets NOW not later because there might not be a later .

For common stuff like 45-70 , 35 REM , 30-30 , 444 and 44 MAG I try to keep about a 1000 pieces of each at all times . DO i really need this much ? Certainly not , but if I have it I'll not ever be in need !

So with that being said I try to keep enough and then some for everything I load !

My plan with the 338 Marlin Express is to get 20 boxes of ammo ! And when thats all shot up I should have plenty brass for future use . As I plan on having a pair of the 338's . One for jacketed (338MXLR) and the 338MX for cast .

You may be very correct in the cartridge not staying around that long ! But if I have a couple hundred pieces of brass I'm not bothered .

6pt-sika

01-24-2009, 11:38 PM

Hope Hornady makes gas checks again. Oh, heres a few pics of mine, I got yesterday. I need a better camera!!!

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d149/Bigdog337/001-3.jpg

I like your 338MXLR Rockrat ! I have high hopes of getting one of those after I finished paying for the 338MX and my dealer can get his hands on one !

As for the 338 caliber gas checks , Hornady has them listed in the 2009 catalog !

I kinda expect Hornady to bring a jacketed 200 grain FN bullet out again for the 33's if this thing makes any kind of a sales showing !

Bret4207

01-25-2009, 10:51 AM

Well lets see in the case's of the 356 and 375 WIN cartridges I've laid in a couple hundred pieces of brass for both [smilie=1:

I've done the same for the 308 Marlin Express , 219 Zipper , 7-30 Waters , 7mm RSAUM , 300 RSAUM , 325 WSM , 270 WSM , 25 WSSM , 8mm REM MAG , 32 H&R MAG , 260 REM , 257 Roberts , 280 REM and a couple others I can't remmember off the top of my head !

Point being with the state of affairs in this country NOW regardless of what you load for you should get componenets NOW not later because there might not be a later .

For common stuff like 45-70 , 35 REM , 30-30 , 444 and 44 MAG I try to keep about a 1000 pieces of each at all times . DO i really need this much ? Certainly not , but if I have it I'll not ever be in need !

So with that being said I try to keep enough and then some for everything I load !

My plan with the 338 Marlin Express is to get 20 boxes of ammo ! And when thats all shot up I should have plenty brass for future use . As I plan on having a pair of the 338's . One for jacketed (338MXLR) and the 338MX for cast .

You may be very correct in the cartridge not staying around that long ! But if I have a couple hundred pieces of brass I'm not bothered .

I'm not bad mouthing the cartridge or your decision, just advising you do what you already knew enough to do. Good on you!

xtimberman

01-25-2009, 12:21 PM

No self-respecting gun crank wants to spend much time with a "common" cartridge and readily available components. :) The scarcer the better!

The most fun in getting a rifle chambered in an obsolete cartridge up and shooting again is whining about all the trouble you went through finding and/or forming brass and securing the proper mould and bullets! :mrgreen:

Before the internet, it was really difficult in some circumstances, but now we have a vast network to help us find access to some of these scarce components. Recently, I surprised myself at how quickly I found a couple of nice caches of .22 Jet and .225 Win cases.

xtm

6pt-sika

01-25-2009, 05:09 PM

No self-respecting gun crank wants to spend much time with a "common" cartridge and readily available components. :) The scarcer the better!

The most fun in getting a rifle chambered in an obsolete cartridge up and shooting again is whining about all the trouble you went through finding and/or forming brass and securing the proper mould and bullets! :mrgreen:
xtm

I got a taste of it when i started with my Marlin 1895's in 33 WCF , 38-56 , 40-65 and 40-82 !

But I got a real dose here recently when I started working on my friends 8.16x46R schuetzen rifle and even more recently his Remington Hepburn 40-70SS .

xtimberman

01-26-2009, 01:21 PM

More good news for fans of .33 cal rifles:

:wink: No attempt to Hi-Jack the thread here, but we are talking about .33s!

I can hardly believe it, but someone is now offering a rifle chambered in .33 WCF!!

I just received a flyer in the mail from Peabody Rifles, and they are now building a repro. version of the old "Kill Deer" stalking rifle, and one of the optional chamberings is in .33 WCF! You can knock me over with a feather, because I never thought I'd ever see it happen.

http://www.peabodyrifles.com/id5.html

xtm

6pt-sika

01-26-2009, 02:17 PM

I just received a flyer in the mail from Peabody Rifles, and they are now building a repro. version of the old "Kill Deer" stalking rifle, and one of the optional chamberings is in .33 WCF! You can knock me over with a feather, because I never thought I'd ever see it happen.

http://www.peabodyrifles.com/id5.html

xtm

I have a friend here in Virginia who recently acquired one of these in 38-56 ;-)

6pt-sika

01-26-2009, 06:54 PM

Got to the gun shop that ordered the 338MX for me today about 2PM and here's what I saw :wink:

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0535.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0536.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0538.jpg

Sorry the pictures aren't any better but I seem to have forgotten how to change the format in my digi cam :roll:

Oh yeah this one has no "Bullseye" on the stock :???:

xtimberman

01-26-2009, 08:01 PM

[smilie=w: but now I hate you! :mrgreen:

xtm

ammohead

01-26-2009, 08:53 PM

I wonder how the case capacity of the 338ME compares to a 284 win case. I always wanted to rebore a savage 99 in 284 win to 338/284. But I never found a 99 in 284 for sale, much less, one with a crappy bore. I wouldn't be able to bring myself to do it to one with a good bore.

ammohead

onceabull

01-26-2009, 10:03 PM

ammohead: Actually has my hands on one of those,and "for sale"..At the time,i decided it wouldn't sell quick at the tiny Gunsmith shop/store that had it, so put it on the roundtuit list..Back to pick up my rifle (trigger job on a win 88) a wk or so later,And IT"S GONE...:twisted: Can't (Or won't) recall a worse $450 mistake,even though it was about 12-15 years ago..had fancy laminated stock,Brockman peep and IER Mounts..clip gun,of course...:killingpc Close to the ultimate pole timber elk getter,especially if riding in a scabbard to get there.. Onceabull

tonybelding

01-31-2009, 01:43 PM

I've been hankering for a Marlin XLR rifle for a while now. I've been sort of waffling on the caliber, as I think 308 ME would be the more logical choice for my usage, but sentiment keeps pulling me toward the 338 ME. Years ago I fell in love with the Winchester 1886 rifle -- 33 WCF -- that came down to me from grandpa.

That great old rifle is overdue for retirement, due to its collector value and a rough bore. So, I'm thinking a new 33-cal levergun to replace it would be just about right. I could easily duplicate the ballistics of 33 WCF, or I could kick it up a notch.

The main thing that tilted me toward 308 was bullet availability, along with the knowledge that it should work well on anything I'd want to shoot around here (in central Texas). But. . . Grandpa had a 33! Why should I settle for less?