by Larry S. Sterett

It's not unusual for firearms and ammunition manufacturers to team up to release a combination that one might not be able or willing to produce individually.

Remington Arms and Smith & Wesson came out with the .22 Remington Jet Magnum cartridge and the Model 53 revolver in 1961, although it had been rumored for a couple of years previously. Winchester announced the .256 Winchester Magnum cartridge in 1960, but the first rifle for it didn't really hit the market until 1963. Ruger released its single-shot Hawkeye pistol about the same time and may actually have preceded the Marlin Model 62 lever-action rifle slightly.

In 1964, Marlin Firearms introduced their Model 336 lever-action rifle in a .444 Marlin chambering, adding a bit of lever-action wallop to the .30-30 Winchester and .35 Remington chamberings then available. The ammunition was produced by Remington Arms, which did not introduce any rifles so chambered. In 1984, Federal Cartridge Co. combined with Harrington & Richardson to introduce the .32 H&R Magnum cartridge in the H&R 500 series of revolvers.

Usual Trend
The usual trend for handgun manufacturers is to join with an ammunition manufacturer when a new caliber is to be introduced. Thus, when the 10mm was introduced for the Bren Ten pistol, Norma produced the ammunition. Winchester teamed with Smith & Wesson when the .40 S&W was introduced. Other ammunition and arms manufacturers then climb on the wagon, if the original combination proves a success.

Manufacturers of both arms and ammunition, such as Remington or Winchester, tend to introduce a new rifle model in a new chambering and produce the ammmunition to go with it. In Winchester's case, they produce the ammunition, and US Repeating Arms Company (USRAC) produces the rifles. Since USRAC and Browning Arms are now under the same corporate umbrella, the chambering may be introduced by either or both brands of rifles.

In 2000 Marlin introduced their Model 1895 lever-action rifle for a new cartridge, the .450 Marlin, a belted design that improves on the old .45-70 Govt. cartridge. Hornady produced the ammunition and the result can deliver better than 3,400 foot-pounds of muzzle energy, and nearly 4,000 foot-pounds when handloaded. Now, for 2002, Hornady and Marlin have teamed again.

This year, Hornady has introduced not one but four new rifle cartridge loadings, one of which is an entirely new cartridge-the .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire). The second is a new load for the .444 Marlin, and numbers three and four include a reintroduction of Teddy Roosevelt's favorite-the .405 Winchester, which has not been readily available in a factory load for half-a-century-and a legitimized "wildcat"-the .458 Lott.

The original Remington .444 Marlin load featured a 240-grain jacketed softpoint, the same weight bullet used in the .44 Remington Magnum cartridge. The cartridge called for a heavier weight bullet that the rifle was capable of handling, and one that would provide more punch. Hornady has provided that and a bit more. Using a 265-grain jacketed bullet that has been in their line for more than three decades, the firm not only equaled the muzzle velocity of the original Remington factory load but provided more than an additional 200 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle, resulting in increased downrange energy. With the increased performance that the new load provides, the cartridge will come close to achieving its potential.

The second new Hornady load for 2002 is also teamed with Marlin rifles. Tabbed the .17 HMR, this new rimfire round has a flatter trajectory at 200 yards than the excellent .22 Winchester Rimfire Magnum cartridge. Featuring a bottleneck rimfire case loaded with a new propellet, the new round is capable of pushing a 17-grain V-MAX polymer-tipped jacketed bullet out the muzzle at an impressive 2,550 feet-per-second (fps). The effect on ground squirrels, prairie dogs, and crows out to 150 yards or so, should be something to behold.

New Rifles
To enable the .17 HMR to achieve its potential, Marlin Firearms has introduced two new bolt-action rifle models. The Model 17V features a heavy 22-inch barrel mounted in a turn bolt-action with a detachable 7-round box magazine. No sights are provided, but the receiver is grooved for tip-off scope mounts, which are provided. Metal parts have a blued finish and the unit is housed in a walnut-finished hardwood stock having a Monte Carlo comb, and press-checkering on the forearm and pistol grip.

The second Marlin rifle chambered for the .17 HMR cartridge is the Model 17VS, which features a stainless steel receiver and heavy 22-inch barrel. The 17VS also has a 7-round detachable box magazine, and comes with the tip-off scope mounts. The Monte Carlo stock is a Mar-Shield finished weatherproof gray/black hardwood laminate that compliments the stainless steel barrel and receiver. Both models come with sling swivel studs on the forearm and buttstock, with the 17V having a plastic butt plate and the 17VS having a rubber butt-pad.

The two rifles measure 41 inches in overall length, and weigh 6 and 7 pounds respectively, depending on the density of the wood. Both rifles feature red cocking indicators and thumb safeties on the right side, just to the rear of the bolt handle shank. (Ruger has announced their Model 77 bolt-action rimfire rifle also will be available in the new .17 HMR caliber as the Model 17/77.)

A third new .17-caliber model out of the Marlin stable, but of H&R lineage is the NEF (New England Firearms) Sportster SS1-017 single-shot, break-action rifle. Weighing 7 pounds, the SS1-017 features a 22-inch heavy barrel with no sights, but a scope mount rail to accept Weaver-type scope mount rings. The Monte Carlo stock with pistol grip, and the semi-beavertail forearm are of high-density black polymer, and a recoil pad and sling swivel studs are standard, as is a hammer extension on the centrally-mounted outside hammer. As on all current production H&R and NEF rifles and shotguns, the actions open via a push-down side lever, and the hammer design utilizes a transfer bar system for safety. Overall length of the new Sportster is 38 inches.

Other new rifle models in the Marlin line, but not coupled with Hornady ammunition include the centerfire lever-action Model 1894SS, a stainless steel design chambered for the .44 Magnum cartridge, and the Model 1894 Cowboy Competition Carbine. The latter is chambered for the .38 Special cartridge. Both models feature 20-inch barrels and 10-round tubular magazines.

NEF/H&R new additions include a new Huntsman break-action muzzleloader available in both .45- or .50-caliber. Featuring a 24-inch rifled barrel with open fiber-optic sights, but drilled and tapped for a scope mount base, the Huntsman utilizes 209-size shotshell primers. All NEF waterfowl and turkey guns will be available with Mossy Oak Break-Up pattern camo stocks and forearms, and there are four new Combo packs in the regular line, featuring hardwood stocks. The SCY-422 Vesa-Pack is a youth size unit featuring a straight grip stock having a length-of-pull of 12° inches. Overall length of the SCY-422 is 34 inches with a 20-inch .22 rimfire barrel and 36 inches with a 22-inch full choke .410-bore barrel. The other three combos feature pistol grip stocks, and include the Pardner with a modified choke 12-gauge barrel and a .50-caliber muzzleloader barrel, the Tracker II with a 12-gauge rifled slug barrel having rifle-type open sights and a .50-caliber muzzleloader barrel, and the Handi-Rifle with a .243 Winchester rifle barrel and a .50-caliber muzzleloader barrel. Weights range from 5 to 7 pounds, depending on the barrel length and caliber, and the barrel lengths vary from 22 to 28 inches, depending on the caliber and gauge.

Hornady and Marlin have done it again. Let's hope they continue to introduce new cartridges and rifles so chambered.