.338 Marlin Express

Tack Driver · 11-12-2009, 01:33 PM

Anyone have one of these? It's an interesting cartridge, but why send a levergun to do a bolt gun's job?

ArkansasHunter · 11-12-2009, 01:40 PM

If your not a leveraction fan you can by a nice boltaction rifle like a Ruger Hawkeye or a couple of Marlin XL-7's for what a .338 Marlin cost in the XLR model.
The Blued 22" barrel model may be cheaper to buy though...A.H

Tack Driver · 11-12-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

If your not a leveraction fan you can by a nice boltaction rifle like a Ruger Hawkeye or a couple of Marlin XL-7's for what a .338 Marlin cost in the XLR model.
The Blued 22" barrel model may be cheaper to buy though...A.H

I have a lever action .30-30 that I like to use in the thick stuff, but my bolt guns get the job if it's past 120 yards.

MRone · 11-12-2009, 09:32 PM

I agree.I think the 338 federal is way better anyways.Its a nice concept but not that great.Possibly a good short to medium range bear and pig gun,but so is the 444,45-70.

quietman · 11-16-2009, 10:42 AM

Why? There are those that like the leverguns because of the easy handling and quick follow up shot when needed. Plus they just look better than a bolt.

Then there are those that prefer leverguns because they shoot left handed.

And no, it's not the same as a 45/70 or 444. Try hitting something reliably with one of those at 300 yards. Yeah it can do the short to medium range shooting mentioned, but it can also put down elk, deer, and pronghorn at a range where the 444 and 45/70 become unusable. Ranges that are typically considered bolt action only shooting.

Number of hunting reports coming in that are really encouraging.

For improved accuracy, changes were made to the Marlin Express in the area of tube and barrel attachment. People are geting MOA and sub MOA groups with these guns after barrel break in.

I shoot lefty and the availability of a 400 yard levergun is a great addition in my book. Doubt if I'd ever need it for elk or deer at that range, but for pronghorn, shots of 250- 400 yds are not uncommon.

nathangdad · 11-16-2009, 02:24 PM

is just what Marlin likes to do - develop cartridges and hope that a market will grow for both gun and cartridge. It is consistent with the history of the firm.

The idea of a .338 bullet in a .308 case (or basically similar case) certainly did not originate with Marlin. Wildcatters went down this road decades ago.

Dryfli · 11-16-2009, 11:27 PM

Sounds like they are taking a page out of the ruger play book ( 480 ruger 375 ruger ect)

big shrek · 11-17-2009, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathangdad

is just what Marlin likes to do - develop cartridges and hope that a market will grow for both gun and cartridge. It is consistent with the history of the firm.

The idea of a .338 bullet in a .308 case (or basically similar case) certainly did not originate with Marlin. Wildcatters went down this road decades ago.

LOL, everyone of the major MFR's does it...
Winchester Rimfire Magnums...the .22WMR

the .223 Remington...now just called .223, and the .222 Remington...
the .338 Marlin Express...the .444 Marlin...the .450 Marlin...
Ruger, as mentioned above...
Even the .416 Rigby...comes from John Rigby & Co.

The .30-30 is a fine cartridge...everything in the .30 range pretty much sprang from it. It's still all you need for a deer/elk/other game animals in North America.

Bear in Mind, most of Ruger's designs are modifications of OTHER manufacturer's weapons. Ruger usually comes to the table LAST, but with some interesting ideas. Too bad in the last 20 years they've decided to follow the Microsoft business model and put out a lot of junk.

-----

One of the things Marlin does better than ANY manufacturer by far...make Lever-action rifles that are more precise and tougher with more calibers than anyone else.

Heck, they put Winchester outta biz. 'Nuff Said there.

Now, with the Marlin XL-7/XS-7 lines...they're making waves in the Bolt-action market as well because they're doing it better & less expensively than anyone else could ever hope to. Even the Remington 700 is taking a back seat to the Marlin bolts in New Rifle Sales.

11-12-2009, 01:33 PM	#1
Tack Driver Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Caswell County, NC Posts: 558	.338 Marlin Express Anyone have one of these? It's an interesting cartridge, but why send a levergun to do a bolt gun's job? __________________ If pro is the opposite of con, is Congress the opposite of progress?

11-12-2009, 01:40 PM	#2
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas. Posts: 18,321	If your not a leveraction fan you can by a nice boltaction rifle like a Ruger Hawkeye or a couple of Marlin XL-7's for what a .338 Marlin cost in the XLR model. The Blued 22" barrel model may be cheaper to buy though...A.H __________________ IN GOD WE TRUST NRA MEMBER

11-16-2009, 10:42 AM	#5
quietman Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 60	Why? There are those that like the leverguns because of the easy handling and quick follow up shot when needed. Plus they just look better than a bolt. Then there are those that prefer leverguns because they shoot left handed. And no, it's not the same as a 45/70 or 444. Try hitting something reliably with one of those at 300 yards. Yeah it can do the short to medium range shooting mentioned, but it can also put down elk, deer, and pronghorn at a range where the 444 and 45/70 become unusable. Ranges that are typically considered bolt action only shooting. Number of hunting reports coming in that are really encouraging. For improved accuracy, changes were made to the Marlin Express in the area of tube and barrel attachment. People are geting MOA and sub MOA groups with these guns after barrel break in. I shoot lefty and the availability of a 400 yard levergun is a great addition in my book. Doubt if I'd ever need it for elk or deer at that range, but for pronghorn, shots of 250- 400 yds are not uncommon. Last edited by quietman; 11-16-2009 at 10:45 AM.

11-16-2009, 02:24 PM	#6
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 6,006	This, is just what Marlin likes to do - develop cartridges and hope that a market will grow for both gun and cartridge. It is consistent with the history of the firm. The idea of a .338 bullet in a .308 case (or basically similar case) certainly did not originate with Marlin. Wildcatters went down this road decades ago.

11-16-2009, 11:27 PM	#7
Dryfli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 149	Sounds like they are taking a page out of the ruger play book ( 480 ruger 375 ruger ect) Last edited by Dryfli; 11-16-2009 at 11:29 PM.

11-12-2009, 09:32 PM	#4
MRone Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 72	I agree.I think the 338 federal is way better anyways.Its a nice concept but not that great.Possibly a good short to medium range bear and pig gun,but so is the 444,45-70.