Fall bear rifle choice

[orchemo]

I used two different 338 Federal rifles for spring bear. This fall, going to use another 338......338 Marlin Express

 

[DrMike]

Never shot one; but they aren't all that different from the 338 Federal. I have no doubt the cartridge will deliver the goods when it comes time to tag a bear. Good luck to you.

 

[orchemo]

The rifle....

The cartiridges 338 Federal with 200gr E-tip, 338 Federal with 185 Barnes and on the right is a 338 Marlin Express with a 200 gr Flex Tip for use in a lever gun.

Marlin lever gun with a Leupold 2-7x33 scope.

 

[gerry]

Looking at the ballistics for the 338 Marlin Express it is a potent cartridge. Should be a lot of fun to use that gun on a bear or anything else for that matter.

 

[Guy Miner]

Craig Boddington used the .338 Marlin on a big ol' elk a few years back. Wrote that he was impressed with it's performance.

This year I think I'll be bear hunting with my .30-06, as I just don't have enough confidence in my neck repairs yet to risk the .375 H&H.

Guy

 

[Vince]

Craig Boddington used the .338 Marlin on a big ol' elk a few years back. Wrote that he was impressed with it's performance.

This year I think I'll be bear hunting with my .30-06, as I just don't have enough confidence in my neck repairs yet to risk the .375 H&H.

Guy

I'm using my 30-06 for moose, deer, and bear this year myself.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[JD338]

The end of the month we will know if we drew MI bear tags.
Sue would use her M48 280AI with a 140 gr PT and I would use my 45-70 with a 300 gr PT.

JD338

 

[sask boy]

Jim good luck to you and Sue on those bear tags. The way Sue is shooting that 280AI the bears might be real nervous :wink:. You using the 45/70 with a 300gr. pill will stop just about anything in NA .
Look forward to hearing on your draw.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[SJB358]

Good luck with the 338 Marlin. Pretty cool cartridge. Wished there were a couple more bullets for it..

 

[orchemo]

I have been trying to learn more about the Hornady FTX. There are a few cast bullet options also

Guess will just have to try it out the FTX. It shoots the factory loads pretty well, little better thanks reloading. Think it is a crimping thing on my reloads

 

[SJB358]

It would be cool to have a 200 grain PT FP.. That would be fairly sweet for the 338 ME.

 

[Dwh7271]

I wouldn't be afraid of maybe whacking the tip off the 200 Kodiaks(flattening for a lever) and seeing how they shoot. At the ranges you would probaby shoot that it really shouldn't make that big a difference. Of course I'd run a couple of the whacked slugs through the jugs first also. :grinjust found out they have the 200 in a flat nose, hmmmm)
Here it is just in case:

Cartridge : .338 Marlin Express
Bullet : .338, 200, AlaskaBulletWorks Kodiak SP SPFN
Useable Case Capaci: 54.557 grain H2O = 3.542 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.600 inch = 66.04 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 45000 psi, or 310 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

120 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 85%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
ReloadSwiss RS 60 102.8 54.2 3.51 2614 97.7 45001 7815 1.255 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-17 102.0 53.8 3.49 2604 96.7 45001 7657 1.258 ! Near Maximum !
Elcho 17 102.0 53.8 3.49 2604 96.7 45001 7657 1.258 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S365 110.0 55.0 3.57 2593 98.0 43995 7478 1.270 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 62 107.1 56.5 3.66 2590 94.2 45001 7548 1.265 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350 107.8 54.2 3.51 2583 95.0 45001 7400 1.274 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 52 97.4 50.6 3.28 2578 98.4 45001 7134 1.269 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550 103.8 53.3 3.46 2569 94.6 45001 7375 1.273 ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP 106.9 53.2 3.45 2565 94.7 45001 7296 1.269 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP19 ~approximation 107.0 53.2 3.45 2565 94.7 45001 7294 1.269 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon CFE223 90.7 50.8 3.29 2555 96.9 45001 7065 1.272 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 11 99.3 51.6 3.34 2555 96.3 45001 7112 1.271 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 3031 96.1 45.2 2.93 2553 100.0 45001 6494 1.278 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 511 103.5 55.4 3.59 2553 91.9 45001 7364 1.269 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter 106.9 55.5 3.60 2551 91.9 45001 7352 1.269 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760 101.1 53.8 3.48 2548 90.9 45001 7274 1.271 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414 101.1 53.8 3.48 2548 90.9 45001 7274 1.271 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Big Game 96.1 51.5 3.34 2548 96.2 45001 7030 1.272 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP3 99.0 50.3 3.26 2544 97.6 45001 7000 1.294 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203 old 99.0 50.3 3.26 2544 97.6 45001 7000 1.294 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon BL-C2 91.2 50.0 3.24 2543 97.8 45001 6975 1.286 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 748 88.5 47.9 3.10 2543 98.6 45001 6771 1.276 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4895 95.1 47.8 3.10 2541 96.7 45001 7019 1.288 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4064 99.0 48.7 3.16 2539 99.7 45001 6721 1.319 ! Near Maximum !
ReloadSwiss RS 70 108.7 58.2 3.77 2537 88.9 45001 7617 1.269 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V 109.6 53.3 3.46 2537 96.7 45001 6898 1.269 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R903 101.2 50.4 3.26 2536 97.3 45001 6916 1.295 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 203B 96.5 48.5 3.14 2532 96.6 45001 6937 1.289 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2495 93.2 45.8 2.97 2530 100.0 45001 6430 1.326 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 2520 91.5 48.5 3.14 2528 99.2 45001 6654 1.299 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex D073.6 93.6 48.5 3.14 2528 99.2 45001 6654 1.299 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA11 95.8 48.2 3.12 2527 95.9 45001 6926 1.290 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-15 95.8 48.2 3.12 2527 95.9 45001 6926 1.290 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP11 ~approximation 95.8 48.2 3.12 2527 95.9 45001 6926 1.290 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant AR-Comp 91.4 44.5 2.88 2525 100.0 45001 5960 1.280 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP11 TZ ~approximation 90.9 44.5 2.88 2524 100.0 45001 5960 1.280 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S355 100.3 49.4 3.20 2519 97.1 45001 6835 1.296 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4895 91.9 46.2 3.00 2514 97.2 45001 6760 1.294 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Wild Boar 90.7 48.7 3.16 2514 96.4 45001 6785 1.286 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H380 97.5 50.1 3.25 2511 94.2 45001 6905 1.295 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 NT ~approximation 106.7 54.5 3.53 2509 90.4 45001 6969 1.280 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4320 97.5 48.2 3.12 2508 96.2 45001 6672 1.275 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2206H 92.1 46.3 3.00 2506 96.5 45001 6739 1.296 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N540 95.3 48.4 3.14 2505 99.4 45001 6545 1.293 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S321 87.9 47.6 3.08 2503 98.1 45001 6651 1.298 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 9 93.0 48.3 3.13 2503 96.4 45001 6700 1.289 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 507 89.4 46.9 3.04 2502 97.8 45001 6600 1.291 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 202 92.8 45.9 2.98 2500 99.5 45001 6417 1.297 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S062 96.7 47.3 3.06 2498 97.9 45001 6585 1.303 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 516 93.4 50.1 3.24 2498 94.1 45001 6769 1.288 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N135 102.0 46.5 3.01 2496 100.0 45001 6075 1.296 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S070 105.2 52.3 3.39 2496 91.4 45001 6883 1.298 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N150 105.7 50.2 3.25 2496 98.3 45001 6518 1.290 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2209 109.6 54.8 3.55 2494 86.7 45001 7040 1.276 ! Near Maximum !

 

[SJB358]

I wouldn't be afraid of maybe whacking the tip off the 200 Kodiaks(flattening for a lever) and seeing how they shoot. At the ranges you would probaby shoot that it really shouldn't make that big a difference. Of course I'd run a couple of the whacked slugs through the jugs first also. :grin:

That would be a great idea. Wouldn't take much to sand them down either. Be a decently sized FP as well..

 

[Dwh7271]

Whoops.
Sorry Scotty, I edited while you posted.

 

[orchemo]

Found this bullet test on the Hornady gummy tip. Wonder what effect having side holding the jugs has upon the test?

Would like to find a few boxes of the Hornady 200 gr FP but there out out of production

http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... 41#p251141

 

[gerry]

Both of those bullets look very good, I would hunt bears (and a whole bunch of other stuff) with confidence.

I'm sure those sides for his bullet testing jig get blown apart on a regular basis.

 

[LD375]

I'll be using my 375 H&H loaded with 260gr accubonds, and my 300 win mag with 180gr scirocco's,most likely going to use the 300 winnie though.

The .375 H&H


and the 300 win mag


Good luck to all
Lou

 

[Elkman]

I am kind of partial to the 300 WM

 

[DrMike]

I am kind of partial to the 300 WM

I would never have guessed, Bill. :shock: Great cartridge and you've definitely made it into a winner.

 

[6mm Remington]

Nice looking rifles! Either one would be exceptional.