.338 marlin express
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Ridgerunner665
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GooseGestapo
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Guns are available on www.gunbroker.com, however Marlin doesn't have any and isn't shipping any at present....But prices on g-b are somewhat higher than my dealer has quoted me ($539 for MX(blue/walnut), not XLR-stainless/laminated).
Hornady dosen't have ammo, and isn't shipping any at present. However, this may change at some time in the future. (At present Hornady is the only ammo producer, but ammo is reportedly very good, but mostly suited for deer size game.) Also, Hornady is supposedly working on a flex-tip GMX for use in the .338MX.
I've got an order in for one at a local dealer, but don't anticipate him getting it through the normal channels (from Marlin, through his distributer) any time soon.
Hornady has published some loading data for the .338" 200gr FTX, though velocities and reported pressures are suspiciously low. And, unless you can get some old Hornady 200gr FN for the .33wcf, you're looking at either single loading the rifle if loaded with all other available component bullets, or casting and shooting cast bullets as no one presently has any of the .338" FTX bullets.
Also, only Hornady and Redding offer dies. Everyone is also out of the dies. However, Midsouth Shooters Supply did have some .338" Lee moulds, and a few boxes of .338"gaschecks.....
Hornady dosen't have ammo, and isn't shipping any at present. However, this may change at some time in the future. (At present Hornady is the only ammo producer, but ammo is reportedly very good, but mostly suited for deer size game.) Also, Hornady is supposedly working on a flex-tip GMX for use in the .338MX.
I've got an order in for one at a local dealer, but don't anticipate him getting it through the normal channels (from Marlin, through his distributer) any time soon.
Hornady has published some loading data for the .338" 200gr FTX, though velocities and reported pressures are suspiciously low. And, unless you can get some old Hornady 200gr FN for the .33wcf, you're looking at either single loading the rifle if loaded with all other available component bullets, or casting and shooting cast bullets as no one presently has any of the .338" FTX bullets.
Also, only Hornady and Redding offer dies. Everyone is also out of the dies. However, Midsouth Shooters Supply did have some .338" Lee moulds, and a few boxes of .338"gaschecks.....
Kernel
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Hornady states their factory load is good for a 2,565 fps mv with a 200 gr FTX bullet. They must be mixing in extra “secret sauce “ with their proprietary powder because that is smoking.
If that’s true, I think handloaders will be hard pressed to equal or even get near that. Based on a Powley analysis, it looks like you might be able to safely work up to 2,300-2,350 fps with powders in the speed range of 10x, 3031, and H335. A slightly slower powder might let you coax a few more fps out of it, but there‘s not a lot of case volume to work with.
It’s been stated the case has 10% less volume than the .338 Federal. That means the .338 ME holds 50 grains. COAL is limited to 2.55” to cycle thru the 336 action. Case length is 1.920” from what I’ve seen published. Peterson’s Rifle Shooter says the factory ammo is held to 46,500 psi, which is not real high, due to the 336’s action strength.
Even at a mild 2,170 fps starting load it’s still a pretty impressive round. The high ballistic coefficient bullets help a lot. Recoil is not bad at 12.5 ft-lbs. Equal to a typical .30-06. Effectiveness on large deer sized animals, according to the Mantunas Optimal Game Weight formula, should be assured out to 300 yds and beyond. A 8” kill zone would give a point-blank-range of about 240 yds.
If that’s true, I think handloaders will be hard pressed to equal or even get near that. Based on a Powley analysis, it looks like you might be able to safely work up to 2,300-2,350 fps with powders in the speed range of 10x, 3031, and H335. A slightly slower powder might let you coax a few more fps out of it, but there‘s not a lot of case volume to work with.
It’s been stated the case has 10% less volume than the .338 Federal. That means the .338 ME holds 50 grains. COAL is limited to 2.55” to cycle thru the 336 action. Case length is 1.920” from what I’ve seen published. Peterson’s Rifle Shooter says the factory ammo is held to 46,500 psi, which is not real high, due to the 336’s action strength.
Even at a mild 2,170 fps starting load it’s still a pretty impressive round. The high ballistic coefficient bullets help a lot. Recoil is not bad at 12.5 ft-lbs. Equal to a typical .30-06. Effectiveness on large deer sized animals, according to the Mantunas Optimal Game Weight formula, should be assured out to 300 yds and beyond. A 8” kill zone would give a point-blank-range of about 240 yds.
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