quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
currently include

- Marlin 336's in .35 Rem

- Winchester 94's.38-55 Win

- BLR in .358 Win

Those are smoe neat old deer calibers in the first two, think I would rather mix it up though a 38-55 in a Marlin sounds interesting.

I think that the 358 is a step ahead of the other two though, a little better range and it is certainly capable of larger game.

Back on the 338-8, unfortunately the lever guns that would make this really a good combination, aren't made any more. How about the old Sako Finnbear, or the Winchester Model 88 in this, or even the old Savage 99? Guess the best hope for that today is Browning will pick it up and chamber it in a BLR. I got a feeling this is going to bolt guns for a while. I have visions of a couple of handy rifles that could put together on this, like a REmington Model 7, that RSI Ruger would be another, and the new Model 70 short action would be another.

There is some potentialaly interesting possibilities here, lets see if any of the manufacturers step up to the plate.

I also hope that this gets marketed better than Weatherby did the 338-06, if thats the case its DOA.

Hi Schromf -

I agree with you on pretty much all counts. I'd love to have a Marlin, preferably a Model 36 (predeccesor to the 336) with the "square" bolt, in .38-55. Just never came across one at a price I had the money and inclination to buy at that particular moment. The Model 94 rifle and 94 carbine in that caliber just came into view at the right time/circumstance.

As to the Savage M99, I'd prefer that over all the other lever-action repeating carbines ever made, for this new cartridge (.338/08)...with second place to the Winchester Model 88.

For bolt action carbines currently man'f'd, I'd prefer the Ruger M77-RSI or the Remington Model 7, but if I could really have ANY choice just by asking for it, I'd probably opt for a genuine M/S Model 1910, for this cartridge.

Best wishes...hope your snow has let up. It's gonna be a pretty darned good skiing winter in the Cascades this year......

P.S.- Glad to see you appreciate the Model 336 in .35 Remington. Mine is one of the early ones, NOT drilled or tapped for a scope, with the old Ballard-style rifling, not the newer Micro-Groove. I have a Lyman peep on it, and it is both quick and accurate.

quote:

I'd love to have a Marlin, preferably a Model 36

One of my friends thats his favorite deer rifle. I really like old Marlins, better design than the 94 in my opinion. Winchester got all the glory, Marlin got all the work.

If you get lucky and run across one of these old Marlins out of the custom shop, with engraving and some case hardening, simply exquisite rifles in my opinion. And yes finding one of these in a 38-55 would definately spark my interest, doesn't need engraving or upgrades just good working condition would make me happy.

I can't believe none of the many 338 WM owners haven't chimed in yet with their ever present,

"I can load down my 338 mag to the same yada, yada, yada..."

The 338/308 is just another attempt to stimulate sales. Do not get me wrong it will be a good cartridge, but what can it do [in the field not "on paper"] that the 358 Win cannot do?
Do not even ask me about the WSM's, The Rem 6.5 and the 350 already had most of that area covered.
I am a big fan of the medium bore cartridges [338 to 375].
I had a 350 Rem Mag for a while and I have had great results with my 9,3x74R double.

The 338/308, 338/06, 358, 35 Whelen, the 9,3's, are all great killers with minimal recoil.

Dave it is true that a 338 Win Mag or 375 H&H SHOOTER CAN DUPLICATE any of the above ballistics.
My favorite is the 375 H&H. With Hornady 220 FP, or 235 Speer, or a 250 gr [premium if necessary] bullet I can do anything those other medium bore rifles can do. I especially like my Blaser R 93 with the Tracker [19 3/4" bbl].
It is just as handy as my Remington Custom Shop 350 Mag Mod 7 was.
Still that takes nothing away from those other medium bores, they are still great hunting cartridges.

The gun industry must really be in dire straits if their best chance of selling new rifles is to re-invent a different caliber each model year.

Imagine a few decades down the line. They'll be touting the 337.6/308.4!!!!! I can see it now. Whole graduating classes of marketing majors learning how to put the 'spin' on it.

Ain't capitalism great?

I've currently got a 338/06 project underway with the 'smith. I wasn't interested in a 'magnum', but was quite happy to play with a wildcat (more or less). I almost went with a factory Rem 35 Whelan, and looked seriously at the 338/08 and the 358. All had a reason to be in the safe.

I guess I'd much rather see a few of the old wildcats made legit, than seeing a whole family of rounds (WSSM) appear that answer a question that nobody asked.

I think its good to see the 338/08 become a factory round and just hope that it does take off. It is so good to see that federal didnt go for the MAGNUM hype and bring out a supadopa magnum and chose a cartridge that really does desever to have a chance. Well thats just my opinion and i hope sako bring this cal out in the finnlight as i think i will be getting one

Interesting cartridge--but it's too late in coming.

This caliber would have been a NATURAL in the Savage 99 or Win 88. Bolt rifles are better served by the 338-'06, 35 Whelen, and 9.3 x 62. Of course, one of the Rising Sun Win 95's might become a 9.3 x 62 lever gun if I can keep such a thing under SWMBO's radar.

I still say this will be the next b est thing going in the AR platform,,short 18 to 20" bbl and it will go pig hunt'n with me for sure

I always thought a semi auto in a 7/08 or 260 would be neat, but this round would also be great, NOT that I advocate spraying lead, but it would give you a fast 2nd IF needed after making a good 1st shot.

Oh, I do hunt often with single shots. HOWEVER, the largest deer I ever TRIED to kill was missed several times LONG ago by trying to shoot thru brush, underestimated where the body was, and having too high a sight in-2.5"/100, shot I believe 4 or 5x with a 270 #1B Ruger,
Learned a lot that day, many hard lessons.....

quote:

Originally posted by HunterMontana:
Good point, the 338/308 already exists, it's called the 358 Win.

Ah, yes, but the mar-com guys at Federal think that the magic "338" in the name will bring home the $ ! I realy admire the creativity of these people, it must be tough to come up with "new" products when there are already existing products that already do the same thing as well or better and have an established following.

Can you say "280 REM"?