Marlin .338 MX atricle in G&A

[Chuck 100 yd]

The Feb 2009 issue of Guns & Ammo has an article by Craig Boddington on the Marlin.338 MX . The lead picture is of him with a very nice 5 point bull and the rifle.
This may well be the next hunting rifle purchase for me!

[Bogie35]

Me too!

It should be very powerful up close, and more powerful than any levergun cartridge we know of "downrange". The FTX bullet has proven to be extremely accurate in other offerings. The 35 Remington FTX bullet penetrates and expands very well at 2200 fps and under. In fact, it performs very much like the Remington CoreLokt with regards to penetration and expansion, except even farther downrange. I hope the 338 MX bullet will perform as well relative to its velocities.

Hornady has Boddington on the 338 MX introduction video.
Go to:
http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=785
Look to the right under "2009 New Product Video", and click "338 Marlin Express".


bogie

[Chuck 100 yd]

Boddington said that there were only two rifles in existance at the time in .338MX and one had a reciever sight. He chose the scoped one for testing and the first 100yd. three shot group went into 1/4". He did say that was the best he ever did with it but normal groups were 1" or so.

200gr. @ 2565fps. lb.ft. energy @ 300yd.=1760
+3" @100yd....+1.5"@200yd.... -7.8@300yd....

[86er]

I am not bashing the cartridge, but I am a little disappointed with Mr. Boddington on this article. In his book American Rifles he definitively states that he advocates 2000 lbs energy for elk. Yet in the G&A article he says in substance that the Marlin rifle and 338 Marlin cartridge make a 300 yard elk rifle. He then points out the energy at 300 yards is 1760 lbs. In American Rifles he states that he doesn't like to sight in anymore than 3" high at 100 yds because he doesn't want any mid range trajectory to go more than 3" above line of aim. But in the G&A article he says "Sight in 3" high at 100 yds, and your drop at 300 yds is 7.8"..."On elk that's a center hold all the way to 300 yds". But Craig, then you are exceeding 3" variance from point of aim by as much as 2" with this cartridge. I thought you don't like to sight in so that you encounter that much deviation. In American Rifles you state in more than one chapter and discussion that elk are the hardiest animals pound for pound and in your opinion the most difficult to impress with a good hit. You take multiple opportunities to state your preference for heavier, harder hitting cartridges for elk within your words that grace your book. You call the 338 Winchester Magnum a "real elk cartridge". Within your book you call the 30-06 with 180 gr bullets "marginal" and "minimum" for use on elk and cite 300 yds as a maximum distance you would apply such a combination. In the G&A article you compare the 338 Marlin trajectory to a 30-06 with 180gr bullets and you compare the energy level ("very similar to..") the 338 Federal. How come in your book the bullet weight, velocity and trajectory of the 338 Marlin Express are considered minimum power for elk with 300 yards being a stretch, but in the recent article you dubbed it "Elk Express" and conclude with stating the 338 Marlin Express is a "all-purpose lever action elk rifle"? I'm guessing it is because Hornady is the one of the biggests advertisers for InterMedia Outdoors Inc, in print and on TV. Being Steve Hornady's personal friend probably doesn't influence you at all either.

Don't get me wrong - I like the specs on this cartridge and I favor the idea. However, read between the lines and make conclusions based on your own experiences. If you make comparisons, make fair comparisons based on fact. Oh and don't tell me a cartridge is as good as another but not as good as the same one too.

[Bogie35]

Boddington is a very smart and experienced rifleman, which is why it surprised me that he quoted "energy" as if it were a valid indicator of killing power. It simply is not.

For example:

A 350 grain 45-70 leaving the muzzle at 1750 fps will have a little over 1600 foot-lbs. of energy at 100 yards.
A 100 grain 243 Win. with a muzzle velocity of 2950 fps. will have a little over 1600 foot-lbs. of energy at 100 yards.
They both have the same energy at 100 yards. But, do they have the same killing power?
I think not.

If you can hit your target well at 300 yards, it would probably do the job.

bogie

[Chuck 100 yd]

I expect to use it for deer only. Should be a stomper for that!

[mescalero1]

never did warm up to him

[6pt-sika]

never did warm up to him

I met Boddington one time at a Outdoor Show in Fishersville Virginia about 10 years ago I think !

He seemed to be a nice enough fellow . But then he had a booth and was selling a book he had recently written . So one would expect him to be decent !

[6pt-sika]

"Don't get me wrong."

I had already decided I wanted one or two of the 338 Marlin Express rifles before I read anything on a web page or web site !

Much less before I read any product reviews in any of the publications !

[Bogie35]

never did warm up to him

He does seem to be more of a whizz-bang-magnum kinda guy instead of a levergunner. That might be why Hornady chose him to introduce the 338 MX; implies that it's some new dangerous-game magnum caliber. Good thinking Hornady!

I've always trusted John Taffin the most, but that's a different thread.

bogie

[Scott Young]

i think yall are over analyzing this thing some. he is human and has to put his opinion out there regularly for income. some things like opinions do change and are influenced. if he is known to be a magnum kind of guy, then i suspect no leveraction would really tickle his fancy save the blr. but he was asked to do a write up of a new rifle. allow him to be impressed with something out of his preference even if it doesn't measure up to his ideal.

i really don't like zippy imports that are souped up and just plain ugly. i don't think i would ever own one, but after having a church member that loved them and i spent some time helping i can see the fascination. also i was impressed when we took it to the track and aired it out. that little booger was fast and well....zippy. the comments i had after that experience was different than before when i was in the 68 camaro that had a monster big block that when it idled you could count the cylinders as they fired. it was sheer awesome, but i digress.


i thought the article was good overall and i was/am impressed with new cartridge.