I was visiting my friendly neighborhood gun shop yesterday when what to my wondering eyes should appear but a shiney new Marlin in 338 (for deer?)

I caressed its clean lines, looked down its new bore, opened its lever, admit started to adore. And laying a finger aside of my wallet.... I paused, and wondered if I oughtta.

So I'm looking for knowledge (or a rich elf or two) just to help me decide what to do.

purdy rifle with good power in a lever gun, and the deer won't know what hit 'em
The only problem I see with it is limited ammo choices
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Kind of what I was thinking. They do make 200 grain in LeverRevolution.

What is that the blonde is holding? (No,I mean the gun)
Looks like about a 44, but hard to tell from the photo.

I do like the .... boots.

It's advertised as a 30-30 with the power of a 30-06.

Wondering if anyone has used one yet.

Nope, but good to see you posting.

I myself was thinking about this same rifle last year but never did go through with the deal. I have a .35 cal, 30-30, .444-Marlin and 45-70 Marlin both in 1895 models. The wife gave me the evil on the .338 lever gun so I just backed off gents!

I'm well familiar with the wife's 'if you buy one more gun I'm buying all new furnature' look. I try to explain that when the safe has a lever in 30 carbine, 44, 45, 444 and 450 Marlin it's financial detriment not to have levers in 22, and 30 cal (308, 338 or 35). So far it hasn't met with much succes, but I'm confident she'll see it my way (right after she gets her new iPad, and a new laptop).

Try here!

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/

The full set is much more valuable.

Bruce

Here's mine and I love it!



The Rifle and load are matched, which is great if you don't reload. If you do there are several Bullet companys that offer bullets you can use (Hawk offers FP and RN weights from 180 gr. to 250 gr. - Hornady's old 200 gr. FP are still floating around out there) plus Rem is scheduled to bring a 250gr. load on line this year. What more could you want.

A BUDDIE HAS ONE AN LOVE IT FOR DEER HE USES THE LEVER AMMO FROM HORNDYSHOT A DEER PUT DOWN FAST WITH IT

I have not used the Marlin on deer or anything else for that matter but I have used the 338 Win. extensively at long range where the balistics would be about the same as a 338 Marlin and never had any trouble killing anything with it..So I say get after it, its a dandy deer round..

I see no need to use any particular bullet but would stay with the 200 grain bullets and the 210 Nosler comes to mind in a hurry as it expands at any half decent velocity.

The Hornady may be an excellent bullet, but its not a second coming, its just another bullet and trying to make these lever guns into long range rifles is like making a silk purse from a sows ear IMO....:)

I have one too. Great gun. Shoots subMOA and I'm only ok. Recoil is less than a 30-06 shooting 180 gr bullets (About 70% of the recoil)

These are NOT a 30-30 with the ballistics of an 06. They are a huge step up in tube fed lever guns. A 400 yard rifle with typically MOA or even subMOA accuracy. And they're a lot of fun too cuz, well, it's a lever gun.

I have the MX with the 22 " barrel, not the 24" MXLR so my feedback is from that gun.

It's sightly heavier than a 30-30 but feels lighter because it's so well balanced. It's quick to bring up and get on target with. Friends handling it have said the same thing. People I've let shoot it at the range are darn well impressed by it.

So far, the hunting reports have been outstanding. Marlin owner members have reported things like

1 Dropping deer with one shot at 338 yards (hows that for a coincidence, they used a rangefinder to verify it.

2. neck shot on a coyote at 370 yards

3. Elk down at various ranges with one shot, couple people pumped 2 but said the 2nd was unnecessary.

4. Deer down at many ranges with one shot

5. Bison dropped with one shot
and so on.

So if you think the cartridge selection is limited . . . is that really a problem?

(I bought mine after hunting season, so can't give a personal report.)

There are now molds for cast lead boolits for the 338. Components are available. Remington has announced a 250 gr RN. But if you have to shoot past 200 yards the 200 gr Lever Evolution is the better choice.

People that have these luv 'em. Several people reporting their older levers are gathering dust because this has become their go to rifle.

Mine's outfitted with a Leupold 2.5x8 36mm scope, a Montana sling, and I'm playing with recoil pads to decide which one I want to have as a permanent one. So now its wearing a Pachmyr decelerator slip on. (the MXLR has a recoil pad, the MX has a solid rubber pad)

Here's the rifle


Here's a 5 shot group at 100 yards in gusts up to 35 or 40 mph. May not be enough to move the bullet, but it was blowing me around.

Still shot 0.8 inches horizontal and 1.2 inches vertical, center to center. The highest hole is actually from 2 bullets. That's where the 5th bullet went.



Now if you only want a deer gun, try the 308 Marlin Express. Even milder recoil, just as accurate, and just as fun.

Says someone who hasn't shot one of these yet.

See the comment about the neck shot on the coyote at 370 yards. Or better yet, take a look here
Dead coyote . . 370 yards with the 338MX