[2shotal]

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D WINNER ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Well reckoning day finally arrived. From now on I’ll be able to go to sleep w/o having nightmares about bullet drooping …..err barrel drooping, hitting the dirt 20 yards in front, not being able to raise POI, lost fingers from barrel rupture, etc., etc., etc.

Arrived at the range at 6:38am (range usually opens around 7:30am and shooting is scheduled to start at 8:00) and there were already 3 shooters waiting. By the time the range opened up, there were 28 shooters inside the check-in area which eventually grew up to be about 39 shooters by the time I left. Start temperature was a nice 62 and 69 by the time I finished and wind was about 5-7 mph. As always is the case when I bring my Chrony, I ended up with two M1As, one on each side of me. The problem with loud/strong noise rifles is that they created vibrations that produce Chrony errors and then I have to turn it off/on again. It is also disturbing in that I have to time my shots in between the other shooters and rush.

Now for the good stuff.

First set (out of the box – not shot b4) was 6 shots at 50 yards using the kitchen table bore sighting adjustment.
Avg FPS = 2641, avg FPS @ muzzle (formula adjusting for 10 feet which is the distance from muzzle tip to Chrony ) = 2648, energy ft/lbs = 3099 and SD = 16.81

Second set was also 6 shots at 50 yards after making scope adjustments and using the bottom 1A and 1B targets.
Avg FPS = 2643, avg FPS @ muzzle (formula adjusting for 10 feet which is the distance from muzzle tip to Chrony ) = 2649, energy ft/lbs = 3103 and SD = 19.35. Notice how close the numbers are to the first set.

Third set was at 100 yards using the 2A and 2B targets w/o making any scope adjustments.
Avg FPS = 2649, avg FPS @ muzzle (formula adjusting for 10 feet which is the distance from muzzle tip to Chrony ) = 2656, energy ft/lbs = 3117 and SD = 9.82. Again notice how close the numbers are to the first set and that FPS and ft/lbs is going up as the barrel is opening up.

Fourth set was at 100 yards using the 2C and 2D targets with some scope adjustments.
Avg FPS = 2659, avg FPS @ muzzle (formula adjusting for 10 feet which is the distance from muzzle tip to Chrony ) = 2666, energy ft/lbs = 3141 and SD = 17.25. Notice that we continue to pick speed, and that the numbers are still very close.

Fifth set was also at 100 yards using the 3A and 3B targets w/no scope adjustments.
Avg FPS = 2647, avg FPS @ muzzle (formula adjusting for 10 feet which is the distance from muzzle tip to Chrony ) = 2653, energy ft/lbs = 3111 and SD = 14.21. Again speed and energy are very close other sets. Hornady claims 2566 FPS on their boxes and I think that is with a 24”, so based on above tests with a 22” I believe them. By this time, my shoulder is sore and I’m tired and the targets start reflect it.

I read in the forum that the 338MX does not kick. Well maybe as I’m approaching my 67 bd, I’m turning into a soft cry baby, but after 40 rounds this morning and as I’m typing this report, my shoulder is very sore. I know I’ll be hurting tomorrow. Cycling was fairly smooth, only on 2 or 3 occasions was extraction somewhat hard but it only happened when the rifle was hot after 5-6 rounds. BTW, I took my air pump and the small cooler with ice and a towel to cool the barrel down. It works fast and is great. This 338MX is a keeper for sure. The only other negative I see is that the trigger must be at least 8 pounds if not more. But I’ll fix that I no time (WWT here I come).

Well that is the end of my report, I hope you enjoyed. I conclude by saying that I’m very, very happy and impressed by how accurate this rifle shoots. I thank the Lord for allowing me to find one that shoots straight and I pray that Remlin repairs the rifles of those members not as fortunate, so that they can enjoy it as much as I did this morning. I’m now waiting for my FCD from Lee to start loading with AA2520 and TAC from Ramshot. Stay tuned for future reloading reports.

 

[1895Gunner]

Good going Wildman! Good range report and happy to hear ya got a winner.

 

[Halwg]

Mine is extremely accurate, but again, I'm getting much lower velocity numbers than most folks on this forum and much lower than you are showing. This makes me think more and more that my Chrony is slow. I'm going to trade in on a Beta Master, so when I get the new one I'm going to re-run all the numbers on all of my loads and see how they compare.

This is 6 shots of Factory LE from my 338 MX at 50 yards.

And of course this is what it does to deer at 150 yards:

I still don't think the gun has a lot of recoil. Far less than a 180 gr load out of a 30-06, and about on par with my 2oo gr loads out of my 35 Remington.

 

[CalvinMD]

Man O' man...I'm glad they finally squared you away Al...I know your gun was originally deadly on dirt..which is ok if you eat dirt, but, I have had no luck at all scaring up a recipe to cook that stuff up ;D

 

[2shotal]

I'm glad they finally squared you away Al...I know your gun was originally deadly on dirt..

Calvin I think you got me confused with another member's posting. This is a NIB rifle and this is the first time this rifle is shot. I bought it from a MT store because it was a 2008, and I was hoping that I would get one that worked. I didn't have the drooping problem shooting into dirt ..... in my opening paragraph I was referring to having nightmares after reading about all the problems other members had. I was/am one of the fortunate few.

 

[CalvinMD]

my apologies ..you're right...I thought even after getting an 08 model you still had an issue that went back to Marlin ,,..darn glad that was not the case!!

 

[Halwg]

How can you be getting 260 fps more velocity than me? I got 2390 fps with the same lot of ammo that you are shooting.

 

[jnicol6600]

Man you guys are makin me want one of these real bad :'(

 

[Lonnie]

Al, I'm glad you found a shooter. I know you were nervous about buying it but it all worked out. Get a recoil pad if you want one. Of course when hunting you hopefully won't be shooting as many rounds as you did when sighting in .

 

[1895Gunner]

How can you be getting 260 fps more velocity than me? I got 2390 fps with the same lot of ammo that you are shooting.

I've seen Al shoot before, he leans forward when he pulls the trigger. ;D

 

[CalvinMD]

Are you sure hes not flinching and jerkin' the gun forwards ;D ..sorry Al I cant resist a chuckle at somebody elses expense...my bad :-\

 

[2shotal]

How can you be getting 260 fps more velocity than me? I got 2390 fps with the same lot of ammo that you are shooting.

Are you sure that you are shooting factory rounds from lot # 3110213? If you are, then the difference has to be (a) the rifles (yours vs. mine) or (b) your Chrony (slow) vs. mine (fast - which I don't mind as it gives me an additional safety margin). Before you make a decision to replace the Chrony consider the following:
(1) remove a bullet and weigh the powder - I'll do the same but probably not until Mon/Tue next week as I have a wedding to attend tomorrow. If we both get the same weigh then your next option is for you is to send the Chrony back [which you were planning to do to have the screen panel removed and made into a remote one]. Do that and at the same time tell them that you compared your readings to a couple of other Chrony the same day at the range and that you believe yours is wrong. To please check it re-calibrate it.

1895gunner, you should tell them how well I'm shooting my bow. ;D

 

[stykbow57]

Really glad You got a good one All! Probably a big relief and you are going to have lots of fun with it. I didn't think that they had that much recoil but then I remembered sighting in my 308 MX I was on a lead sled but then the next tine I went out I used my sand bags and after 50 shots threw the 308 and 30-30 and 336 44 mag I was flinching because of the pain, the first 20 aren't bad but after that it starts to hurt, I'm looking into a recoil pad for the 308 for sure. Dennis

 

[2shotal]

Are you sure hes not flinching and jerkin' the gun forwards ;D ..sorry Al I cant resist a chuckle at somebody elses expense...my bad :-\

Actually after about the 30th round I do believe I was doing just that ;D

 

[dpe.ahoy]

Glad it's a straight shooter, Al. Mine is an MXLR and the pad on them works quite well, don't know why they can't put a decent pad on the others. DP

 

[Sidespin]

I don't care what kind of pad is on the rifle, 40 rounds would beat me to death without a wimpy pad or towel or something. I'm seriously thinking of putting a limb saver on mine.
Ss

 

[CalvinMD]

I must be a bit sick ..I enjoy the kick

 

[Leadnut]

OK... so far there are 2 sick people here cause I like the kick too:=))

Glad you got a good one!!

Someone here knows or talked to an employee at Marlin and said to make sure the screw on the end of the magazine is not too tight. Should be snugged and then loosened 1/2 turn and lock tited and the groups should tighten up a bit. Might help the flyer's??

 

[2shotal]

Hal: I had a few minutes b4 church this am and I took out one of the bullets from a factory round & here are the figures:
powder (whatever it is) = 51.3
bullet = 199.6 grains,
case w/o primer = 197.5.
The powder was compressed to the limit. I had to use a toothpick to loosen it up so that it would come out of the case and when it did, some of it came out in small clumps that looked like wet, but of course they weren't. I don't think a single molecule of oxygen would fit inside this round.

Maybe Dave is right in that they are packing them right up to the pressure border line. No wonder the dang kicked so much, and yes my should is sore this morning. Have a great day

Edited: See attached picture

 

[Halwg]

Hal: I had a few minutes b4 church this am and I took out one of the bullets from a factory round & here are the figures:
powder (whatever it is) = 51.3
bullet = 199.6 grains,
case w/o primer = 197.5.
The powder was compressed to the limit. I had to use a toothpick to loosen it up so that it would come out of the case and when it did, some of it came out in small clumps that looked like wet, but of course they weren't. I don't think a single molecule of oxygen would fit inside this round.

Maybe Dave is right in that they are packing them right up to the pressure border line. No wonder the dang kicked so much, and yes my should is sore this morning. Have a great day

Edited: See attached picture

I'll pull one apart later today if I have time. I'm interested in seeing what the weight is, also.

I've seen Al shoot before, he leans forward when he pulls the trigger. ;D

Maybe that's why it's kicking so much, as well. I have a PAST pad I slid inside my shirt any time I'm shooting from the bench. It doesn't matter if it's a 30-30, or a 450. I don't like my shoulder beat, nor do i want to start flinching. But I still think the 338 has very moderate recoil.