The 338 cartridge is nearly identical to the 30-06 in performance. If your worrying about the possibilities of running into a "hump". A larger cal may be in order.


Plus, I think your question could have been posed a little better. As in, " Is the 338 cartridge enough for large bears ? " May sound picky but when you read," 338 marlin enough gun", It`s not a gun.........it`s a cartridge. I know what you ment though.

 

Reloaded with a 250 or 275gr Hawk FP, I don't think I'd fear anything, but would put togthere some wet paper with a few 1/4 boards inside to test load for penetration and expansion, before I even considered facing down a griz, being that I have to know what any load is likely to do verses other choices. Had a black bear come after me once, that is not the time to find out your load sucks.

 

Be sure to wear a 44 or 45 caliber side arm just in case.........................

 

Or put some Snickers bars in your buddy's pockets.

 

:listen:I'd stay home and enjoy the hunt by looking at somebody's photos. Buy some moose meat at the store.

 

I think Bullet performance would be the question. You definitely want good penetration. That goes for performance on the Elk too. I would think the FTX gummies would be a no go in your case.

I really wish a partition gummy was available. If it were that would be the cats meow in my opinion.

JEB

 

The cartridge isn't so questionable but but as JEB pointed out, I wouldn't have any faith in the FTX on large brown bears. I hunt where you can run into them and have and right about then is when reality sets in. I would hunt with my 338MX in those areas but I would have loads with a bonded bullet at the very least.

I am developing just such a bullet, in various weights, for the 338ME cartridge. In my mind the bullet does all the work. Plus, weight kills and with large thick skin bears you need penetration. I'm in R&D stage so it will be awhile before I can ascertain any final conclusions. But with the velocity range of the 338ME cartridge, it wouldn't take much to eclipse "overall" performance range. You want a balance of penetration plus upset for terminal performance. Where that balance is I will find out through a lot of testing. But I suspect I wouldn't go over 250GR. I will be developing a wide range of bullets weights to find the sweet weight so to speak.

And yes, they will be premium bonded construction. Till then, Nosler accubond, 225GR, shave down the tip to a flat point and develop a load.

Good hunting,

Jack

 

+1

precisely why I am shooting the 200 grain Nosler Accubond at 2550fps in my 338mx. I am confident it will work fine on anything i run into in Idaho next month.

 

Yes

 

I just dumped a nice mature moose with one from 150 yards. Bullet mushroomed perfectly and stopped on the far side next to the skin. Jim

 

Right now my one brother is hunting moose up in northern BC using a Winchester model 88 chambered in 338 federal, which is similar to the 338 marlin
Even though I have a 450 marlin and 338 winmag for hunting moose in northern BC, I frequently just carry my 308

 

My .338 MX shoots the Remington 250 grain load in little bitty groups. that's what I would use. not the gummies.

 

If somebody wants to PM me, I'm getting to run another series of penetration tests on 35 (Whelen loads mostly) bullets next week, and will add to my bullet test post. Going to run another series in November, will be glad to run some 338s, just send me three or so bullets (one to chronograph, one to test, one for mistakes), will down load a 338 Mag.

 

Here is a picture of my moose, please ignore the old fart standing in the picture. Jim

 

Well, from one old fart to another Jim, congrats on that fine moose you got there. :top:

Not to mention, nice 338MX! Oh, how many yards was your shot?

Jack

 

I'd bring my 338MXLR along but only with my ruger Alaskan in one of those guide style holsters. The 338 will definitely be good enough for the elk.
I would feel more comfortable with my SBL and some stout 430gr hard casts. But I understand that it probably wouldn't be ideal for the ranges most people hunt elk.

 

At one time had one never shot it also had a 308 never shot it .. But now have had offers to go elk hunting but there are bears with humps living in them thar woods where have been invited to go.
So is a 338 Marlin enough gun to persuade a humped backed bear to go to sleep if needed?


Let the games begin ...

I suspect it is enough gun if you are enough man. Personally, I would not want to have to put down a charging grizzly unless I could call in air strikes! Guess I'll stick to picking on whitetails!

 

I wouldn't either RJY66 but he said their there and has run in with them before ,, just want it to go down before have to use the final shot elsewhere.

 

you could always take a hunting partner that can't run as fast (LOL)

 

I guess I am a sissy, if Grizzly encounters were possible, I would have to tote my .338 Winchester Magnum in order to curb my own fears of a charging grizzly

 

I'm screwed then and not just my hip n pelvis ,, on the running part that is ,, just getting the walking part under control now ..

Guess could pack my SBL or 444 then ,,,

 

and I'm getting to old to run, hence the Win Mag

 

Hunt with the .338ME. Don't worry about bears and such.
I've probably hunted where you are talking about. The Grizzly's of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho aren't the same critter as the Alaskan coatal browns. (Technically, they are Ursus horribilis, but the coastal browns run to upward of 1,000lbs. The grizzly of the lower 48 typically don't top 500-600lbs). We have black bears in Georgia (Ursus americanus) that go that big as well as feral pigs. The state record for the black bear in Georgia is 733lbs and was killed by a single shot from a .243 with 100gr Remington Corlokt. Folks are chasing them as I type this with bows and arrows......

The 200gr FTX will do fine on the elk. Why it "works" on a 700lb elk, but not on a 600lb bear at much, much closer range is another discussion for another day...

I hunted with confidence in Colorado last year with my .338MX. It was a relief as it's 3lbs lighter than my .300RUM. After the first day of lugging the .300RUM for over 10mi at 8-10,000', I really appreciated the Marlin on subsequent days. If surprised by a bear, I most likely could pump 5rds from the MX in the time I could get off 2 from the .300. I'm very confident with my MX. I've taken several deer with it and all have been bang-flops and bullet performance lacks for nothing.

I've worked up a load with the 250gr Hornady RN-Interlok. It will certainly do the job on the bears. I took 5 in case I had to hike back in to pack out meat, in case I ran into "smokey". Where I normally hunt in Wyoming, they have been known to claim carcasses. Yeah, if I KNEW I would face an irate bear, I'd take the .375Ruger with 300gr Nosler's, but I'd still strongly consider the "fire power" of the lever action Marlin. I don't think I'd take the .45/70 GuideGun with 400gr Hard-Cast slugs over the .338 with the 250's... But, I've recovered some of the 250's from an oak stump and "like" what I saw... I'm not sure the 220gr RNGC from the .338 at 2,100fps would stop in a 500lb bear. I've yet to recover one except from my berm, where they hold together very well.

I can't see how the handgun with a lead bullet would be preferable to the .338MX with a 250gr controlled expansion slug at 2,250fps (my loads).
Yes, I have a S&W 329PD and a New Model Ruger .45LC. And 300+gr bullet molds.
I'll take the .338 Marlin. (I have two of those too, btw a JM .338MX and Remlin .338MXLR).

 

Hunt with the .338ME. Don't worry about bears and such.
I've probably hunted where you are talking about. The Grizzly's of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho aren't the same critter as the Alaskan coatal browns. (Technically, they are Ursus horribilis, but the coastal browns run to upward of 1,000lbs. The grizzly of the lower 48 typically don't top 500-600lbs). s......



Black bears are not Grizzlys no matter where they live or how much they weigh.Its not the weight that matters its their attitudes.The big difference is most black bears are afraid of you and will avoid you.The exception might be a sow with cubs.A grizz has no fear of you and all you are is dinner.A 300 lb Griz will kill and eat a 500 lb.black bear.I have seen this happen.The fur on a Grizz is 3 times as dense as a black bear.They are not easy to kill,black bears are.All that said a 338ME is enough gun,because the majority of hunters attacked by a grizzly never get a shot off,but your chances of getting attacked are slim to none.

 

Good advice from Goose and Jack here. I carry my 338 MXLR where the Brown Bears roam and don't worry too much about it. Mule Crazy, looks like you might be a feller that would get asked to go hunting with. Even with a bad knee, I think I could out run ya.:biggrin: DP

 

The wife wanted to use the rifle on the horse , instead it went to the kill pen ,, Wouldn't of happened if I was riding my mule , of course they can hurt ya too ,,

 

I guess I'd take it.

I leave Wednesday to pack in for elk. A fella was just killed and ate part way right by my old camp. They're not sure if it was black or grizz.
I have seen some big bears of both kinds in there. Hate to disagree with gentleman from GA but I've seen grizzly bears in excess of 800# in here.
I think the 444 XLR is going with me instead of the 338 Marlin on this one.
Will carry my Win big bore 444 full of 335 Buffalo Bores when packing elk out.

 

I hear that Wes and I have seen some big ones. I read about the recent incidents, which, brings a tad bit of reality check. When a Griz is charging full speed it is a humbling and scary event. While the 444 is a good choice, I would have no problem carrying my 338MX with a heavy well constructed bullet. Either would be more than enough to take one down and always shoot until they're down and don't move.

Jack

 

One thing to consider (i remember if I mentioned it on this thread) If you are taking a rifle to use as a stopping rifle for dangerous game
99% reliability is NOT GOOD ENOUGH
Make sure your rifle is 100% reliable
My brother's Winchester 94 Timber in 450 Marlin used to jam occasionally with Hornady LE ammo, however my rifle was 100% reliable with the Hornady 350 grain FP
When he switched over ammo his rifle became 100% reliable

Grizzly can run at 50 feet per second for short distances, so bear spray on your hip as backup can be a good idea as well