Poll--What should be the next Marlin caliber?

Thunder50 · Post by **Thunder50** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:23 pm

I figure they would pass on the 35 caliber, because of the 356Win, and they make the 35 Rem gun now. I am thinking along the lines of a 375 Marlin Express or a 411 Marlin Express. Was leaning towards making a 411 Marlin express, but the 375 ME looks pretty good. Only thing that would keep me from making one of these, is I have just had done an 1895 Browning in 38-72 that should do whatever I want in a 38 cal, but I could easily put a scope on the Marlin. Something like a 235gr Leverevolution bullet for the 375 ME and maybe a 275gr bullet for the 411ME.
You could shoot 41 mag bullets thru the 411ME for cheaper plinking or use a cast boolit.
Might have to have a reamer made for the 375ME and then turn another barrel down and just run a 41 mag reamer down the hole to open it up for the 411ME. See what happens when I get to thinking!!

338 ME --------------------- --------375ME ------------------------------ 411ME

Which one would YOU want if they made another?
Of Course, a 358 ME would be easy. Marlin makes the 35 Rem gun, so would be an easy chambering and Hornady make the 200gr 35 cal Leverevolution bullet already, so putting the two together would be easy. Push the 200gr bullet to about 2600fps or slightly higher. Make a NICE elk gun, but so would the 375 ME.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 2:17 pm

I guess I like the 'extremes' - so I'd either want a really large-bore round beginning with a "4" or better yet a "5" in a carbine-sized gun, or an action enabling something like a 6mm Remington long-pointy thing.

.475 Linebaugh or .500 S&W I'd really like.....

tman · Post by **tman** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 2:35 pm

i think between the .308,.338 and 450 marlins, they've just about got all the bases covered . anything bigger, won't have a broad enough appeal to make it profitable. modern 45-70's have aready sucessfully taken the world's most dangerous game. something in a .577 would be cool, though!

JohndeFresno · Post by **JohndeFresno** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 3:08 pm

tman wrote:i think between the .308,.338 and 450 marlins, they've just about got all the bases covered. Anything bigger, won't have a broad enough appeal to make it profitable. Modern 45-70's have aready sucessfully taken the world's most dangerous game. something in a .577 would be cool, though!

+1

If a truly tight shooting .223 or similar soft-tipped varmint caliber was introduced in a levergun, that might be a big hit. It would prove to be a more reliable and more easily toted ranch gun (for coyotes and lesser critters) than the current offerings, while being faster than a bolt gun.

Otherwise, it seems to me that Marlin and Hornady have pretty much covered the array of enhanced levergun cartridges that would garner enough interest from the general public to justify the R&D and productions costs.

But then again, I am reminded that in 1875, the director of the U.S. Patent Office resigned his position, claiming, "There is nothing left to invent."

Lastmohecken · Post by **Lastmohecken** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 3:11 pm

Maybe they should just concentrate on a really nice rifle in 30/30. They could call it a premium grade or whatever, but one that's a cut above the norm for Marlin.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 3:23 pm

I agree with the others. They will probably need to go smaller. A 260 Marlin Express might be interesting, as would a 240 ME.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 3:26 pm

.32-40, in a 26" octagon, FMTD 336 without the crossbolt safety... ok, so I'm dreaming.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 4:29 pm

.223 ME and I'm there

dawei · Post by **dawei** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 4:52 pm

A 7mm Express or a 7-30 Waters. I'd be all over that quicker than a hobo finding a dumpster!

gray1 · Post by **gray1** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 4:59 pm

I wish they would make a 348 winchester.

victor · Post by **victor** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:02 pm

I'd like to see the the MXLR chambered in a high stepping FTX .22 centerfire rd.How about the .204 Ruger loaded w/ the FTX bullet.That would be a real needle blower.
IMO the .338ME would handle just about any N.American game.

flatnose · Post by **flatnose** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:09 pm

See below

flatnose · Post by **flatnose** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:10 pm

307 brass reformed.

victor · Post by **victor** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:20 pm

flatnose wrote:
307 brass reformed.

thats what i'm talkin about,right there!
turn them yotes and fox inside out!

Lastmohecken · Post by **Lastmohecken** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:49 pm

gray1 wrote:I wish they would make a 348 winchester.

Now that would be my choice, and maybe if enough people would buy them, ammo would get cheaper and more plentiful for the .348.

I wonder why Marlin never chambered the .348? It looks like they would have offered it at least once, at some point.

Bogie35 · Post by **Bogie35** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:47 pm

Of the suggestions, I like the 375.

I would like to see them offer different bullet weights in the cartridges they currently have. Like a 220-225 grain FTX load for the 35 Rem.

But, the 338 MX is pretty near perfect for all-around big game on North America. I want one!

bogie

jd45 · Post by **jd45** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:56 pm

Anything that wouldn't stress the action past 45,000PSI. jd45

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:28 pm

Flatnose,
Do that in a .25 caliber, now your talking.
That would convince me to let a few moths out of the wallet.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:33 pm

They don't have enough choices yet?

BlueStateSaint · Post by **BlueStateSaint** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:40 pm

Guys, maybe I'm a purist, but I'd like to see a .32 Winchester Special again.

flatnose · Post by **flatnose** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:06 pm

mescalero1,
The form dies I use take them down to 250- 3000 before I size to 22-250. I prefer the 22 cal, as there seems a bit better selection of bullets to choose from.

mescalero1 · Post by **mescalero1** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 9:35 pm

Getting closer to a .25 cal. performer in a lever gun.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:31 pm

25-35

Duff L Bagg · Post by **Duff L Bagg** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:43 pm

I'd like to see a 25-35 in a 336 with slimmed down wood.
Or maybe a 25-20 and a 32-20 in a 1894 with a full mag tube, cressant but plate and a tapered oct barrel.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:27 am

I guess a .25-35 would be out of the question.

m.wun · Post by **m.wun** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:07 pm

Maybe somthing like a 243 or 257 ME so these western coyotes can taste some Marlin lead.

4t5 · Post by **4t5** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:49 pm

357 MAXIMUM

Wes · Post by **Wes** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:47 pm

.24,.25.,.26, or .27. I think you have big bores covered now. The 338 MX is about right for everything, and if you need more theres already the other big bores.
A smaller diameter deer cartrige would be fun and useful.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:48 pm

4t5 wrote:357 MAXIMUM

OH YEAH...

Thunder50 · Post by **Thunder50** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:50 am

Yeah, thinking of playing with a 7mm ME first as I have a 7mm barrel blank, but only have a 38-55 barrel blank, not a 375 one anywhere.

65bee · Post by **65bee** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:16 pm

How about a .33 WCF in a straight-grip 1895 with tapered 22" barrel and NO CHECKERING! I wish somebody at Marlin would wise up and drop that current checkering pattern they have used for what seems like forever. I know its a personal thing, but I just like the looks of smooth walnut on a traditional lever gun - like they have on their 1895 Cowboy model.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:10 pm

65bee wrote:How about a .33 WCF in a straight-grip 1895 with tapered 22" barrel and NO CHECKERING! I wish somebody at Marlin would wise up and drop that current checkering pattern they have used for what seems like forever. I know its a personal thing, but I just like the looks of smooth walnut on a traditional lever gun - like they have on their 1895 Cowboy model.

Sign me up!!!

86er · Post by **86er** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:58 pm

405 Marin Magnum with a 400 grain .410 bullet at 2050 fps.

the telegraphist · Post by **the telegraphist** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:03 am

Reckon I am just traditional, would like to see the 1894 back again in 44 WCF and 38 WCF

The Telegraphist

oldmax · Post by **oldmax** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 6:10 am

DITTO! 357MAX: Short throw lever, light and small like a Trapper...

And maybe a 414 Super mag or 460 S&W model...

homefront · Post by **homefront** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:14 am

We really need the .25-20 back, but and even BETTER option for us hand loaders is the Wincester .256 Magnum http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/256w.html. .357 mag brass is plentiful, cheap, and this can be loaded as a plinker or something pretty hot. The Marlin 1894 is a perfect platform for this cartridge.

Rexster · Post by **Rexster** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:29 pm

I am not so sure Marlin needs to bring another cartridge to market, so much as make a few more of what they catalog now. It took me forever to finally find an 1894 in .357 mag, that wasn't a Cowboy, and had the 18" barrel. They are snapped up as soon as they hit the dealer, usually, and the local dealers get precious few. I think the only reason I got mine was that everyone was spending all their money in the election panic, and ignoring lever rifles for a little bit. The local dealers are pressing Marlin for more, but the 18" .357 1894 is a rare bird. I wouldn't mind getting another, for my wife, and perhaps yet another, to have cut down to trapper size. Hmm, come to think of it, His-N-Hers .357 Trappers in .357; now that is what I would like to buy from Marlin!

Then, as telegraphist mentioned, a run of 1894s in .38 WCF and .44 WCF would get my attention, too.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 12:54 pm

homefront wrote:We really need the .25-20 back, but and even BETTER option for us hand loaders is the Wincester .256 Magnum http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/256w.html. .357 mag brass is plentiful, cheap, and this can be loaded as a plinker or something pretty hot. The Marlin 1894 is a perfect platform for this cartridge.

Wow - kind of a mini-.357 Bain & Davis...! A pair of 1894's in those would give you .357 Maximum performance in the bigger round, and the smaller round with 'punch' somewhere between the .25-20 and the 6mm PPC...!

Now, how about a 'special run' of these two in a matched configuration, like the 1894's in their 'father/son' pair of .44 Mag and .357 Mag sized guns.

Of course, a .224 Boz would be cool too... http://ammoguide.com/cgi-bin/ai.cgi?sn= ... &catid=130

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:06 pm

4t5 wrote:357 MAXIMUM

Too long for a 1894, and probably would give functioning fits in a 336.

Jason_W · Post by **Jason_W** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 2:37 pm

Would a .22 hornet in a levergun be doable?

I'd like to see them chamber a gun in some kind of small game/varmint/plinker centerfire. The .25-20 would be great for this. I could use an 1894c loaded with .38 spl, but it seems like kind of a waste to put a 158 grain, .35 cal chunk of lead into a small critter. Some kind of low pressure with a little more power than a .22 rimfire, but not so much that a small game animal would turn into a pink mist when hit would be nice. Unfortunately, most people are sold on bigger, better, faster, and don't see the value in cartridges that don't scream out of the barrel at 3,000+ ft/seconds.

stinkycat · Post by **stinkycat** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:17 pm

336 in 25-35 or a 94 25-20.

Jayhawker · Post by **Jayhawker** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 6:18 pm

I'd love to see a 25-35. I've necked down a grunch of 25-35 brass for my 22 High Power, but I've never once loaded a single piece as a 25.

winchester1886 · Post by **winchester1886** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 7:17 pm

Don't really care what Marlin do I don't buy them, I am a Winchester man would love to see Olin take Winchester back and bring the 86 out in 348, a good 40 cal, 45-70 and a big 50 cal, in traditional 26 inch barrel and full mag and a 71 style rifle to cater for all taste's, the option of shot gun or cresent but plate, and no tang or cross bolt safties or rebounding hammers, with the quality of the japchesters. Yeah that's what I would like to see.

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 7:31 pm

stinkycat wrote:336 in 25-35 or a 94 25-20.

+1 on the 25-35

!

colo native · Post by **colo native** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:24 pm

40--65

Bosco · Post by **Bosco** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:28 pm

416 Barnes- 400 Grain bullets.