Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 338 Marlin Express

I have been really wanting a lever gun for moose and black bear, that would'nt jar my fillings loose with recoil. I thought about a BLR, but cant warm up to it. Always liked Marlins, but the 35 Rem is pretty limited in range on a large bull. So this 338 seems to fit the bill for me. The question I have is on bullet selection. Are we going to be stuck with just the flex tip bullet? or will Hornady bring out a 338 FP or RN designed for these velocities. Besides the 250 Hornady RN, I cant find any other bullets safe for a tube magazine in 338 diameter. I am doubtfull the 250 Hornady RN will expand at the Marlin velocities, am I correct in this assumption? Thoughts?

might want to call Hornady and ask for some insight as to their future plans.Sort of a niche cartridge so..............

The LeverEvolution ammo is what gives the 338 Express its downrange ballistics at 200 and 300 yds, almost matching it to a 30.06. You'll never get that out of a flat or round nose bullet...at least not without loading 'em hot.

I use 'em in my 30.30, and can't imagine any reason not to. They make everything else in the tube mag lever gun pretty much yesterday's ammo.

IMHO, the Marlin 338, if one is into lever actions, should be about as good as it gets for elk...at least so far.

My logic is....if I am going to be shooting anything farther than 200 yards, than I am going to be carrying a bolt gun of sufficient power. I cant see a 200-225 grain bullet out of the 338 not having the trajectory or energy for my purposes. I like this cartridge because it is a .358/.356/.348 in a Marlin. Just wish they would have made it in .35 with all the other great bullets available. Not saying the new flex tip isnt a great bullet, just my choices are usually conservative with bullets.

I did manage to find some hawk bullets. Wondering how these will expand at lower velocities. Most .338 bullets are constructed for the WM. I might just get a .35 Rem and be done with it.

Might want to try Hawk Precision Bullets, they produce a round point .338 bullet ranging from 200 to 300 grains. I don't know if these are blunt enough for a tube magazine but they can make custom arrangements. Hawk bullets are available with differing jacket thicknesses.

http://www.hawkbullets.com/

Also read about a gizmo for 22 ammo that would turn a round nose into a flat point. It was basically a hardened steel cylinder that fit around a 22 cartridge and allowed you to use a file to flatten the tip. You could always have a similar cylinder made and file a round nose to flat point for a .338 bullet.

Not sure why you don't consider the 45/70 or 450 Marlin. Both are very capable moose cartridges that come in Lever guns. The 45/70 can be reloaded up somewhat in the lever gun. Both are equal to if not better than the 338 Marlin.

hornady used to make a great 200 gr FP for the 33 winchester. they dropped the bullet from the line up years back.
the problem w/ bullet selection isnt only tube mag issues. the vast makority of 33 caliber bullets are designed for the reigning 33 champ the 338 mag. so at velocities like the 338 federals your going to have to be real close to expand the bullet.
IF hornady releases the flex tip AND the old FP i might be pushed to venture back into the 33 market myself.

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"........that would'nt jar my fillings loose with recoil. ".
That's why he doesn't want a 45-70.

I would go for the 35 Rem because of bullet availability. The 35 Rem can be loaded up to some serious power if needed. I shoot 200 gr. RN at 2200 FPS and it does a job on game. If that isn't enough it can be easily rechambered to 356 Win. for even more power.

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My take on the Marlin cartridges is that they are very good if you are willing to live with buying factory loads for the performance advertised.
As you hit on the 338ME suffers from a lack of tube friendly bullets besides the fact that most .338 bullets are heavier and designed with higher velocities in mind. At least with the 308ME there are a lot of bullets for the 30 30 that will work for the hand loader.
Remington offers a more traditional load for the 308ME and it would not surprise me if they follow suit with the 338ME as both have the same parent company I believe.
The downside is that it not much less expensive than the Hornady Leverevolution ammo so loses much of it's appeal.
The positive is that Hornady Marlin Express ammo is competitively priced compared to other ammo.
I think that basically you will be stuck with the Hornady tipped bullets. They aren't out yet that I'm aware of for the 338ME or 308ME. The 30 30 version is out and of the same weight as the 308ME version but of a lower B.C. It is priced with in a couple bucks of traditional FN bullet from Speer and such. Point being they aren't an expensive bullet and I'm pretty sure as soon as Hornady catches up with the demand of loaded ammo the 308ME and 338ME bullets will be available to the reloader. Hornady says as much as though fall short of giving a date.
I won't say a 338ME will hit harder than a 45 70/450 Marlin but it sure leaves them in the dust trajectory/impact velocity wise. If the 200 grain bullet is a good one a critter even of size and many hundreds of yards away is going to be in trouble.
Marlin and Hornady have done their homework and in my experience, and many others, the Marlin lever actions are very capable of the accuracy needed for performance/range these cartridges are touted for. FWIW.

Some very interesting points. Thanks. I think I will hold my hand on the 338 and see what happens. If the bullet market doesnt materialize, I'll grab a 35 Rem. Is a reamer all that is need for the 356 conversion? Anyone had one done? This sounds interesting. Source for brass?

I think the .338ME was an answer for a question that was never asked. You could just use the .45-70 and load it down a bit if you don't want to put up with the recoil of full-house loads.