338 Marlin Express

[Retired Sgt]

Has anyone hunted plains game with the 338 Marlin Express.

Thinking of bringing one along as an additional rifle for my upcoming cull hunt.

 

[meigsbucks]

No experience with it but I think it would be a great choice especially for thicker areas of Zim or Namibia.

 

[ActionBob]

The one animal I saw shot with mine was a whitetail doe at about 75 feet... That Hornady special tube mag soft tipped bullet exploded on her shoulder and only penetrated to one lung, which was totally blasted out. Deer ran about 30 yards and dropped.

Point being, it messed up a quarter of meat and I don't think it would be a good choice for tough skinned African game.

However it has tons of potential, with the right load and bullet.... just not sure what that is....

 

[Retired Sgt]

Just finished a 10 day safari in South Africa using a Marlin 338 MXLR. Took a nice Gemsbok at 190 yards.

 

[Von S.]

Sarge,

Did you like the way it performed?

 

[Retired Sgt]

I used a modified Hornady 185 grain GMX bullet that I cut down to 180 grains and loaded it to 2550 fps.

In addition to the Gemsbok, I took two black wildebeest with one bullet. The round went thru the cow and hit the bull standing behind it.

 

[Retired Sgt]

I’m now looking to go on another safari for a Fallow deer.

 

[Von S.]

Wow!

Impressive.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Has anyone hunted plains game with the 338 Marlin Express.

Thinking of bringing one along as an additional rifle for my upcoming cull hunt.

@Retired Sgt
It almost the equivalent of the 338 federal and is claimed to be a 300 yard elk cartridge with flex tip ammo. I would take it and have fun.
Bob

 

[ActionBob]

It was designed with that Hornady 200 grain flex top load, to mimic the trajectory or a 30-06 factory 180 grain load.

I'm interested in how you modified the GMX bullet? Sounds like a great option!

I think it has fantastic potential but not a fan of that explosive bullet Hornady loads their ammo with.

 

[Certus]

I used a modified Hornady 185 grain GMX bullet that I cut down to 180 grains and loaded it to 2550 fps.

In addition to the Gemsbok, I took two black wildebeest with one bullet. The round went thru the cow and hit the bull standing behind it.

View attachment 256105

This is my favourite pic I’ve seen of African hunting in a long time - happy Hunter, beautiful scenery/timing, rifle clearly in photo. It’s perfect and reeks of that happy memory and moment in time.

 

[CoElkHunter]

My buddy is looking for a Marlin rifle in this caliber. Nothing on Gunbroker. Seems fairly rare?

 

[Retired Sgt]

They only made around 5000 in the stainless version. Not sure how many were made in blue.

 

[CoElkHunter]

They only made around 5000 in the stainless version. Not sure how many were made in blue.

Yeah, for a “newer” (2009?) cartridge, the available rifles for sale on different sites are non existent and the reloading dies (Redding) are pricey. My buddy stated Marlin doesn’t even have the rifle in that cartridge in their current catalog. He’s a Browning BLR ‘06 guy, so I’m trying to convince him maybe a .338-06 or .35 Whelen would be better, since he has a bunch of ‘06 brass he could use to form the brass for those cartridges. But, he’s stubborn and wants to stick with a lever action. I told him he needs to think outside the “lever”! Ha! Ha!