338 day - 338 Fed V 338 ME

[orchemo]

Headed to the range tomorrow. Planning on trying out the Tikka 338 Fed that I recently picked up. I have about 4 1/2 boxes of factory ammo that came with it. Figure by the time I shoot that, I will decided if the rifle is a keeper. The ammo is 180 gr AB and 180 gr barnes

As I was thinking what else to shoot, it dawned on me to dig out my 338 Marlin Express.

Should be fairly equivalent cartridges. The Marlin I have had for years, not shot it much lately but, one of these 338s will get the nod for spring bear.
Should be a fun day. Will post some pics and opinions later this week.

 

[FOTIS]

Cool pictures and range report please.

 

[SJB358]

That 338ME is an interesting cartridge. Wished there were a few more bullets for it though.

 

[Oldtrader3]

There is actually is actually only about 150 fps difference between the .338 ME and the .338 Federal. Paper figures lie and I have not chrono'ed factory 200 grain loads for the .338 Federal, just my handloads. Obviously the other advantage to the .338 Federal is being able to load spritzer bullets but if shooting is within 100 yards, they are going to perform about the same unless 210 grain Partitions are used for penetration. Plus I can drive the 210 Partition about 100 fps faster than the .338 ME. That is about all there is to this tale!

 

[DrMike]

I find it fun and often instructive to shoot cartridges that enjoy overlapping ballistics. It will be great to see these rifles go head-to-head.

 

[JD338]

Every day is a 338 day.

JD338

 

[orchemo]

Good day at the range. It had been a couple years since I had shot the 338 Marlin Express. I bought this rifle soon after the caliber came out. Bought a bunch of brass and a few hundred bullets. Installed a Wild West trigger in the rifle which greatly improved the trigger pull. Scope is a Leupold lightweight.

The Tikka is new to me. I picked it up last month with 5 boxes of factory ammo (3 boxes of AB 180gr and 2 boxes of Barnes TSX 185 gr). It is just a plain jane blued Tikka, but my experience with Tikka's is that they shoot very well out of the box. This rifle had less than a box fired. Scope is a Bushnell 3200 3-10 that I had laying around.

The 338 Marlin Express is a 200 gr flex-tip bullet from Hornady. When I loaded these I chrono'd them and was getting 2400 FPS. Slightly slower than the factory.

Impressions - I like lever guns. The Wild West trigger is a great improvement for this rifle. Anything long range with a factory Marlin trigger is impossible for me. The Marlin carries well. Flat and light weight.

The Tikka - I shoot Tikka's well. Both factory loads meet the 1 inch promise from Tikka. The AB shot about 2 1/2 inches left of the Barnes. Same elevation, just left.

Recoil was very similar. The geometry of the Tikka stock for me, absorbed more recoil, but the 338 ME is pleasant to shoot also.

I think the 338 Fed will make the bear trip in two weeks. My 280 Rem will play back up fiddle or rainy day gun.

338 ME - 338 Fed 180 AB - 338 Fed 185 TSX - 338 WM 200 E-tip

 

[SJB358]

Very nice bunch of 338's! I love your Marlin, looks like a great rifle, and your right, they just feel right in your hands.

 

[DrMike]

All will get the job done when you do your part and remember the range. Great pictures for a fine stable of .338 calibre rifles.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Looks great, I am down to one .338 since I sold the .340 Weatherby but you can never have enough .338's of any size. The Tikka should be a shooter.

 

[Guy Miner]

I remember when Marlin came out with that .338 cartridge. It seemed to me like it just might have some of the same magic found in the old .348 Win and the under-appreciated .358 cartridges.

As I recall, Boddington did a good story of an elk hunt with the then-new .338 Marlin and was pleased.

I was wondering if the bullets are actually tough enough for the kind of duty to which it might be put; elk, moose, big bear. That sort of thing.

Guy

 

[Oldtrader3]

I wonder also, these bullets were designed originally for revolver up to and including .35 Remington which barely makes 2000 fps. Running them in 200 grain from at 2500 fps may be past the design limit for best performance, especially if the have to go through a shoulder on a moose or brown bear?