Wildcatting the 338ME??

[rockrat]

If you wanted to have a larger caliber that .338" what would you do? There is always the 358ME, but we already have the 356Win. Hornady and Marlin could do this easily as Hornady has the 35cal bullet and Marlin already makes a 35 cal, so use the 338ME guns but have a 35cal barrel. Easy rechamber. Plus, lots of moulds available.
375ME would be harder as Marlin doesn't make a .375 right now and Hornady doesn't have the bullet. However, lots of moulds out there.
.411 even less so, but just something satisfying about throwing chunks of 40+cal boolits downrange.
Ballistics of a 358 cal should be close to the 338ME. Easily a 250yd elk gun. 375 might be the same, with a possible 235gr or so, Leverevolution bullet. Even a .411ME with say a 275gr Leverevolution bullet should be at least a 225yd elk gun.
338ME--------------------------375ME-----------------------411ME
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d149/Bigdog337/001-5-1.jpg

[6pt-sika]

That 411 you have there works for me although I'd have no problem with the 375 either !

[45r]

A 35 with a longer neck and shorter body would be great for handloaders.Components and molds are easy to get.35 cal boolits shoot well and Gas checks are cheaper than other sizes.The 33 is better past 300 yards but I never get a shot much farther than that.I like the case,with a .357 long neck and 30 degree shoulder it would be probably the best 35 ever put in a levergun.It would be a great cast boolit gun.

[bigdog454]

What is the length of the brass on that cartridge? Also what is the OAL??
Thanks

[jimkim]

What is the case capacity of the 338ME?

I have wanted someone to use the 348WCF case with the taper blown out so it resembles the 300WSSM with a rim. Then set the shoulder back so it has a 30WCF length neck. Then neck it up and load it with a 300gr 35 caliber bullet, but that's just me. The same case would also work with 375, 416, 44 and 45 calibers.

[rockrat]

I get about 50gr of water to the base of the neck. OAL of the 338 is 2.600" max. in 35 cal with a 200gr Hornady spire point it get a OAL 2.525", the 375 version is 2.603" with a 260 Nosler accubond, and the 411 version has a Barnes 325gr triple shock with an OAL of 2.537".

Don't have set of 7mm dies that I can neck it down, but that will be the first one I try. Will use a 35 degree shoulder on it like the 284win, and maybe blow out the shoulder a few thousandths.

Unfortunately, I read that 2.6" is about max for the Marlin action. I figure performance should be on par with the 7-08. Now if I had some of the powders Hornady has, performance, I would think, would be closer to 280 Rem performance.

Now, all I need are 4 barrels and a reamer!!

[6pt-sika]

Don't have set of 7mm dies that I can neck it down, but that will be the first one I try. Will use a 35 degree shoulder on it like the 284win, and maybe blow out the shoulder a few thousandths.


I'd like to see you do it with a 6.5mm [smilie=1:

[wellshoot!]

Each time the marketing gurus at Marlin (and Remington) and Hornady put their heads together to invent another instant success story, it's all about finding a cartridge that attains the goal of duplicating in a lever action the ballistics of a classic round such as the .308 or 30-06. So if[I]they continue to go bigger, ya just gotta figure they're gonna use the biggest action available to take a shot at the .375 H&H. If they're lookin' smaller for their next winner, a small game or varminter's lever gun, whaddaya think about a move into 6mil country?

[rockrat]

6.5 would be good also, its just that I have a bunch of 7mm 139gr FP bullets and a few 7mm moulds. Just waiting for a reply from different reamer makers.

[6pt-sika]

6.5 would be good also, its just that I have a bunch of 7mm 139gr FP bullets and a few 7mm moulds. Just waiting for a reply from different reamer makers.


I have about 4,000 jacketed flatpoint 7mm bullets :smile:

And they're still waiting for me to rebarrel a 336 to 7-30 Waters ;)

[bearcove]

When I get my lathe I'm going to rebarrel a marlin to 375 jdj or 375x444 marlin in other words. Marlin and winchester didn't sell enough 356's 375's to make money, so I don't think Marlin will try that again soon. Now its ultra mags, short mags...

:(:(