Lets talk power

[wvfarrier]

I am huge fan of powerful leverguns especially 338 ME however the brass is becoming more and more rare. Aside from 338 ME what is ballistically similar to 338ME but can be made from commercially available brass? This includes accepted wildcats.

[GunnyMack]

The first rifle I made in school was a 338 WM, then when Federal brought out their 338 Federal I bought one. Both killed elk just as easily as the other. My WM is a tad more accurate than the Ruger Hawkeye but the Federal is MUCH more pleasant to shoot!

[Bridger]

I like my 348 Winchester, brass is fairly readily available if you look for it. Bullets are also there if you look.

I think ballistically they are pretty similar, and you can go up to a 250 gr bullet in the .348

[samsi]

Miroku 1895 in .338-'06 would be pretty neat.

[EG73]

I’m looking at getting a .356 winchester next. Basically next Gen of the 348 but lighter and handier.

You could do a .45-70 based .338 wildcat on a 336, if you’re a fan of the bore diameter.

[wvfarrier]

Whats frustrates me is the difficulty in finding brass for a lot of these levergun calibers

[JimT]

IMG_3889.JPG

Has all the power I am gonna need and use. Works for me. No, I am not saying everyone should be the same. This old world would be durn boring if we all thought alike and chose things alike. I am of the age where I don't like getting hammered by recoil. If I were back in my 20's or 30's I would have a .50 Alaskan levergun ....

[Rockrat]

A 338-284 would be fairly equivalent to the 338-06, but with 284 cases hard to come by, the 338-06 would be my first choice. Speaking of the 284 win, its case dimensions are really close to the 338ME which shows the 338me as being .006" larger at the base. You might be able to use less than full power loads, but the only drawback would be extraction/ejection. My 356 works fine with 358 win cases. The 338 ME might or might not function with 284 brass.
Picked up 40 rnds of OF 338ME brass at our last gun show. Cost 50 cents a case. Was going to try some reforming a 338ME case and didn't want to use any of my new brass.

[Bronco]

I have had a 50-110 for about 20+ years. Max energy is with a 525grgc at about 2000 fps. I also do not enjoy the recoil, or should I say tolerate the recoil like I used to. When I do shoot it, seldom, it is with a 300 grgc at about 1500 fps. I just ain't as tough as I once was! AND no so much back then either

[hfcable]

I’m looking at getting a .356 winchester next. Basically next Gen of the 348 but lighter and handier.

You could do a .45-70 based .338 wildcat on a 336, if you’re a fan of the bore diameter.

i second this one ! have several rifles in 356 .....does a goood job on deer,caribou,, and moose

[44shooter]

348 and 356 are probably the closest in SAAMI cartridges for a tube fed gun. A 33 on a 444 Marlin case should get you there too, may have to shorten cases a tad.

[LeverGunner]

My first thought was 348 Winchester. Brass is beginning to be available again, so it should be a spell before it dries up. You could consider 33 Winchester too... While it wasn't as strong as the 348 Winchester that replaced it, in a modern gun, it could be handloaded into the same power range. Brass is made from 45-70, so should never be an issue.