I REALLY like lever guns, but should I like this one?

RodTheWrench · January 30, 2014, 12:02 AM

The LGS I patronize the most just bought a pretty good-sized lot of guns from a pawn shop that was closing. They just got them put into racks (they used to only deal in new guns) and had them out yesterday. The fact that I'm a lefty may explain why I always gravitate to lever guns, but regardless that's where I headed first. And of course the gun I liked the best...was a Marlin chambered in...wait for it...308 Marlin Express. WTH?

So, talk me into or out of buying this thing. Does anyone have experience with this cartridge? I guess it was supposed to give 308 Winny performance out of a lever gun and kind of-sort of got close? It's in darn good shape and is under 400 bucks. Only Marlin I own is an 1895 SS Guide gun in 45-70 that I like a lot.

chris in va · January 30, 2014, 12:59 AM

Roughly duplicates a 308 cartridge in a lever gun. I guess it's fine if you use it for hunting, but ammo seems to have limited availability. Doesn't look like you'd get to shoot it much.

Jim243 · January 30, 2014, 01:33 AM

I wouldn't offer more than $250.00 for the rifle. While it might be in great shape, that caliber will be extremely hard to find. Hornady has the MSR at $1.30 a round.($36.00 a box of 20).

The price he is asking would be good for a 30-30 but way too high for that caliber Unless someone has a large supply of 308 Marlin Express, shots from that rifle will be few and far between.

If the dealer does not want to budge on the price, I would just pass on it.

Jim

http://www.hornady.com/store/308-Marlin-Express

dakota.potts · January 30, 2014, 01:35 AM

Jim, just a note, that price is actually $1.80 a round

That's almost $2 a pop

Zmax · January 30, 2014, 08:37 AM

Just reload than who cares how much ammo costs .The 308 marlin express seems to have alot of fans. I see dies for it every were brass may be tricky.

jmr40 · January 30, 2014, 08:58 AM

Winchester tried the 307 win and 356 win, which were basically a rimmed 308 and 358 loaded with round nose bullets back in the 1970's. Both flopped. The 308 and 338 Marlin are almost identical. I don't see them having any more success 40 years later.

Most guys who want a lever action are completely satisfied with 30-30 and similar rounds. The rubber tipped pointed Hornady bullets offer some ballistic advantage on paper, but not that much in the real world.

Most of those rifles had 24" barrels to get a little more speed. The end result is a rifle longer and heavier than a typical magnum chambered bolt rifle, with far less performance.

Mystro · January 30, 2014, 10:09 AM

Its a great deer cartridge. Ammo is limited BUT not dead. Hornady makes it in their excelent FTX bullet. I see SG has 160 FTX for $24.00 a box. That's a 160FTX going 2660fps. Considering a 30-30 is a good all purpose gun, the 308 Marlin Express ought to be even better. I would buy 4 boxes of the Hornady ammo and reload the brass afterwards. Its a easy rifle caliber to reload and Midway has the dies in stock. I think it would be a fun and caliber and gun to own if you want a niche caliber. Think of it as the 41Magnum of the lever gun world. Obviously a 30-30 is a much easier caliber to own all around.

doofus47 · January 30, 2014, 10:34 AM

Not sure what the price is/was, but Savage made a lever rifle in .308 win.
My father-in-law has one. I am not buying a lever rifle b/c he no longer shoots nor do my in-laws, so that one is theoretically destined for my safe.

Dr. A · January 30, 2014, 11:22 AM

Years ago Marlins owners came to the Marlin forum and asked for our wants and desires. This gun was one of them. A longer distance 30 caliber gun. I bought one in 2007 and so far have shot several deer at distances longer than 250 yards. Two of which were over 400. I've never had a shot farther than 419. The guns are more accurate than the typical Marlin and except for some of the problems with the production of this gun type (barrel drooping), this is a rock solid cartridge. Hodgdon imports Leverevolution powder and the 308MX bullet is easy to get ahold of. I've bought a number of seconds and am probably good to go for the rest of my life. My go to load for both of my 308's (son has one), is 41.5gr. of LEV with the 308 bullet. These bullets are thought in general to be a big soft, and fully intended to be used on chests, rather than bowing through bone. Its my favorite gun. Its got less recoil/blast than the 30-06 family of guns, and a similar effect. There is one other loading by Remington that does not have a pointed bullet. Ballistics are impressive because of the bullet Hornady loads. We can buy them locally and have a decent supply. I'd highly recommend it, but if supply is a problem, just buy on the internet like so many have learned to do. I've got 50 other guns. This one is my choice for tough hunts.

Salmoneye · January 30, 2014, 11:41 AM

If you don't want it, post the info at MarlinOwners.com so someone else can pick it up...

dvdcrr · January 30, 2014, 12:25 PM

That rifle is an mxlr. Marlin had to beef up the rifle to handle the 308 mx. They are good rifles. The nicest one I saw was a stainless grey laminate in 338 mx. There surely is a guns and ammo review or shooting times review on these from about 2008. I remember reading it. Another option would be a mag fed lever in 308 win.

dgludwig · January 30, 2014, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Considering a 30-30 is a good all purpose gun, the 308 Marlin Express ought to be even better. I would buy 4 boxes of the Hornady ammo and reload the brass afterwards. Its a easy rifle caliber to reload and Midway has the dies in stock. I think it would be a fun and caliber and gun to own if you want a niche caliber. Think of it as the 41Magnum of the lever gun world.

Well said, Mystro. I kind of like "niche calibers" and if the op can get the rifle for under $400.00 (assuming it's in good shape, of course), if I were him I'd sure enough get it. Seems like a better than average price. I also like the .41 Magnum in a rifle analogy.

Grundy53 · January 30, 2014, 03:09 PM

I have one in .338 mx. I love it! Great lever action round. I imagine the .308 mx would be good also.

**44 AMP** · January 30, 2014, 03:30 PM

essentially a .308 Win with a rimmed case, and a bullet intended for tube magazines.

A fine round for hunting, but scarce. If the idea of having to invest in a quantity of uncommon ammo doesn't bother you, I'd say enjoy!

If you want something you can feed "off the shelf", I'd say keep looking around.

RodTheWrench · January 30, 2014, 04:58 PM

Well I guess I don't need to think about it anymore - I just stopped by and turns out some guy went in yesterday and bought 5 of the 7 used lever guns they had in stock - including that one. For the best I suppose but knowing me, I'll be kicking myself for no good reason for a while... :/

pathdoc · January 30, 2014, 06:36 PM

Adapted from a poem I once saw on a used books website:

"...I realise now with bitter pain, I'll never see those guns again."

Mystro · January 30, 2014, 07:30 PM

That's a shame. Its my worst fear when finding a unusual gun and thinking it over for a day. I generally buy on the spot now.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · January 30, 2014, 07:31 PM

Is there a (parent cartridge) case to the 308 Marlin's?

PetahW · January 30, 2014, 07:37 PM

.

It's better to put a (say) $10 deposit on whatever, if one has to "think" a gun purchase over B 4 buying - that way, if you decide against it, a tenspot isn't a big loss.

.

RodTheWrench · January 30, 2014, 10:37 PM

Yeah, I know not to dilly dally when it comes to buying something you want, the only thing that gave me pause and made me ask you great folks on here is not knowing anything about the cartridge.

I DID see that there was one Winny 94 Big Bore left in 375 Winchester.... how 'bout that one?

Mystro · January 30, 2014, 10:55 PM

375 Winchester is very expensive ammo. Like $50.00 for the cheap stuff and $95.00 for the better stuff.

hornetguy · January 31, 2014, 12:13 AM

The 375 winchester is a great round/rifle combination. It's got more smack than the 30-30, but doesn't thump you like the 444 and the 45-70.
I had one for a while, then traded up to a 45-70, but the 375 has plenty of punch, and is pretty accurate. It's great with cast bullets.
If you reload, and can't find brass (usually not a problem), you can blow out 30-30 brass and use that until you can buy the official stuff.
Do a google search for articles by Paco Kelly... he's written some good stuff about the 375.
Get it...

McShooty · January 31, 2014, 12:22 PM

The .308 Marlin Express has a neck/shoulder shape quite similar to that of the .308 Win, but, ballistically, it is closer to the .300 Savage. Hornady uses the LeverEvolution technology for the .308 ME, a soft-pointed spitzer bullet with Hodgdon LE powder, which results in down-range performance far superior to any .30-30 load, including the LE .30-30. If you send the 160-gr spitzer out of a .308 ME at 2,660 fps (2,513 fp muzzle energy), it will arrive at 300 yards still travelling 2,026 fps with 1,457 lb of kinetic energy. If it is sighted in to be 1.7" high at 100 yds, it will arrive at 300 yds only 6.7" low. This is really outstanding performance for a cartridge short enough to work in the Marin Lever Action. I have BTW, duplicated this performance in the .300 Savage by using th 160-gr Hornady FTX bullet with Hodgdon LeverEvolution powder.

Guv · January 31, 2014, 01:12 PM

How different is it from the 307?

Sure Shot Mc Gee · January 31, 2014, 01:41 PM

FWIW: Save your money. Forget the Marlin. If wanting a lever rifle with 308 performance. Simple resolve. Buy a lever rifle that shoots 308s.

Look to: Browning's BLR 81. Whats not to like about a Browning's capability. It's being Clip fed. Shoot's common easy to find ammo. Any 308 bullet weight you can purchase off the shelf functions. Perhaps all are disappointments to some others. Please !!__Why spend the time looking at a want-a-be 308 lever rifle when the real Mc Coy are available. Marlin as far as I'm concerned. Are just ~~~marlin's!! Everyone should at the very least own (only) one in their lifetime.

January 30, 2014, 12:02 AM	#1
RodTheWrench Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2013 Location: Utah Posts: 365	I REALLY like lever guns, but should I like this one? The LGS I patronize the most just bought a pretty good-sized lot of guns from a pawn shop that was closing. They just got them put into racks (they used to only deal in new guns) and had them out yesterday. The fact that I'm a lefty may explain why I always gravitate to lever guns, but regardless that's where I headed first. And of course the gun I liked the best...was a Marlin chambered in...wait for it...308 Marlin Express. WTH? So, talk me into or out of buying this thing. Does anyone have experience with this cartridge? I guess it was supposed to give 308 Winny performance out of a lever gun and kind of-sort of got close? It's in darn good shape and is under 400 bucks. Only Marlin I own is an 1895 SS Guide gun in 45-70 that I like a lot. __________________ "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." - Han Solo

January 30, 2014, 01:33 AM	#3
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	I wouldn't offer more than $250.00 for the rifle. While it might be in great shape, that caliber will be extremely hard to find. Hornady has the MSR at $1.30 a round.($36.00 a box of 20). The price he is asking would be good for a 30-30 but way too high for that caliber Unless someone has a large supply of 308 Marlin Express, shots from that rifle will be few and far between. If the dealer does not want to budge on the price, I would just pass on it. Jim http://www.hornady.com/store/308-Marlin-Express __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

January 30, 2014, 01:35 AM	#4
dakota.potts Senior Member Join Date: February 25, 2013 Location: Keystone Heights, Florida Posts: 3,084	Jim, just a note, that price is actually $1.80 a round That's almost $2 a pop __________________ Certified Gunsmith (On Hiatus) Certified Armorer - H&K and Glock Among Others You can find my writings at my website, pottsprecision.com.

January 30, 2014, 10:09 AM	#7
Mystro Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2004 Location: Central Pa. Posts: 1,528	Its a great deer cartridge. Ammo is limited BUT not dead. Hornady makes it in their excelent FTX bullet. I see SG has 160 FTX for $24.00 a box. That's a 160FTX going 2660fps. Considering a 30-30 is a good all purpose gun, the 308 Marlin Express ought to be even better. I would buy 4 boxes of the Hornady ammo and reload the brass afterwards. Its a easy rifle caliber to reload and Midway has the dies in stock. I think it would be a fun and caliber and gun to own if you want a niche caliber. Think of it as the 41Magnum of the lever gun world. Obviously a 30-30 is a much easier caliber to own all around. __________________ "I'm a good guy with a gun" What do I care if I give up some freedom or rights?....The Goverment will take care of me. This kind of thinking is now in the majority and it should concern you. "Ask not what you can do for your country, but what free entitlements you can bleed from your country" Last edited by Mystro; January 30, 2014 at 10:14 AM.

January 30, 2014, 10:34 AM	#8
doofus47 Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: live in a in a house when i'm not in a tent Posts: 2,483	Not sure what the price is/was, but Savage made a lever rifle in .308 win. My father-in-law has one. I am not buying a lever rifle b/c he no longer shoots nor do my in-laws, so that one is theoretically destined for my safe. __________________ I'm right about the metric system 3/4 of the time.

January 30, 2014, 12:59 AM	#2
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	Roughly duplicates a 308 cartridge in a lever gun. I guess it's fine if you use it for hunting, but ammo seems to have limited availability. Doesn't look like you'd get to shoot it much.

January 30, 2014, 08:37 AM	#5
Zmax Member Join Date: January 19, 2011 Posts: 60	Just reload than who cares how much ammo costs .The 308 marlin express seems to have alot of fans. I see dies for it every were brass may be tricky.

January 30, 2014, 08:58 AM	#6
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	Winchester tried the 307 win and 356 win, which were basically a rimmed 308 and 358 loaded with round nose bullets back in the 1970's. Both flopped. The 308 and 338 Marlin are almost identical. I don't see them having any more success 40 years later. Most guys who want a lever action are completely satisfied with 30-30 and similar rounds. The rubber tipped pointed Hornady bullets offer some ballistic advantage on paper, but not that much in the real world. Most of those rifles had 24" barrels to get a little more speed. The end result is a rifle longer and heavier than a typical magnum chambered bolt rifle, with far less performance.

January 30, 2014, 11:22 AM	#9
Dr. A Senior Member Join Date: July 17, 2007 Location: Salina, KS. Posts: 215	Years ago Marlins owners came to the Marlin forum and asked for our wants and desires. This gun was one of them. A longer distance 30 caliber gun. I bought one in 2007 and so far have shot several deer at distances longer than 250 yards. Two of which were over 400. I've never had a shot farther than 419. The guns are more accurate than the typical Marlin and except for some of the problems with the production of this gun type (barrel drooping), this is a rock solid cartridge. Hodgdon imports Leverevolution powder and the 308MX bullet is easy to get ahold of. I've bought a number of seconds and am probably good to go for the rest of my life. My go to load for both of my 308's (son has one), is 41.5gr. of LEV with the 308 bullet. These bullets are thought in general to be a big soft, and fully intended to be used on chests, rather than bowing through bone. Its my favorite gun. Its got less recoil/blast than the 30-06 family of guns, and a similar effect. There is one other loading by Remington that does not have a pointed bullet. Ballistics are impressive because of the bullet Hornady loads. We can buy them locally and have a decent supply. I'd highly recommend it, but if supply is a problem, just buy on the internet like so many have learned to do. I've got 50 other guns. This one is my choice for tough hunts.

January 30, 2014, 11:41 AM	#10
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	If you don't want it, post the info at MarlinOwners.com so someone else can pick it up...

January 30, 2014, 12:25 PM	#11
dvdcrr Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2010 Posts: 665	That rifle is an mxlr. Marlin had to beef up the rifle to handle the 308 mx. They are good rifles. The nicest one I saw was a stainless grey laminate in 338 mx. There surely is a guns and ammo review or shooting times review on these from about 2008. I remember reading it. Another option would be a mag fed lever in 308 win.

January 30, 2014, 03:09 PM	#13
Grundy53 Member Join Date: November 24, 2013 Location: Lake Stevens, WA Posts: 47	I have one in .338 mx. I love it! Great lever action round. I imagine the .308 mx would be good also.

January 30, 2014, 03:30 PM	#14
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,804	essentially a .308 Win with a rimmed case, and a bullet intended for tube magazines. A fine round for hunting, but scarce. If the idea of having to invest in a quantity of uncommon ammo doesn't bother you, I'd say enjoy! If you want something you can feed "off the shelf", I'd say keep looking around. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 30, 2014, 04:58 PM	#15
RodTheWrench Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2013 Location: Utah Posts: 365	Well I guess I don't need to think about it anymore - I just stopped by and turns out some guy went in yesterday and bought 5 of the 7 used lever guns they had in stock - including that one. For the best I suppose but knowing me, I'll be kicking myself for no good reason for a while... :/

January 30, 2014, 06:36 PM	#16
pathdoc Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2013 Posts: 669	Adapted from a poem I once saw on a used books website: "...I realise now with bitter pain, I'll never see those guns again."

January 30, 2014, 07:30 PM	#17
Mystro Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2004 Location: Central Pa. Posts: 1,528	That's a shame. Its my worst fear when finding a unusual gun and thinking it over for a day. I generally buy on the spot now. __________________ "I'm a good guy with a gun" What do I care if I give up some freedom or rights?....The Goverment will take care of me. This kind of thinking is now in the majority and it should concern you. "Ask not what you can do for your country, but what free entitlements you can bleed from your country"

January 30, 2014, 07:31 PM	#18
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	Is there a (parent cartridge) case to the 308 Marlin's?

January 30, 2014, 07:37 PM	#19
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	. It's better to put a (say) $10 deposit on whatever, if one has to "think" a gun purchase over B 4 buying - that way, if you decide against it, a tenspot isn't a big loss. .

January 30, 2014, 10:37 PM	#20
RodTheWrench Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2013 Location: Utah Posts: 365	Yeah, I know not to dilly dally when it comes to buying something you want, the only thing that gave me pause and made me ask you great folks on here is not knowing anything about the cartridge. I DID see that there was one Winny 94 Big Bore left in 375 Winchester.... how 'bout that one? __________________ "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." - Han Solo

January 30, 2014, 10:55 PM	#21
Mystro Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2004 Location: Central Pa. Posts: 1,528	375 Winchester is very expensive ammo. Like $50.00 for the cheap stuff and $95.00 for the better stuff. __________________ "I'm a good guy with a gun" What do I care if I give up some freedom or rights?....The Goverment will take care of me. This kind of thinking is now in the majority and it should concern you. "Ask not what you can do for your country, but what free entitlements you can bleed from your country"

January 31, 2014, 12:13 AM	#22
hornetguy Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: on the north side of DFW Posts: 970	The 375 winchester is a great round/rifle combination. It's got more smack than the 30-30, but doesn't thump you like the 444 and the 45-70. I had one for a while, then traded up to a 45-70, but the 375 has plenty of punch, and is pretty accurate. It's great with cast bullets. If you reload, and can't find brass (usually not a problem), you can blow out 30-30 brass and use that until you can buy the official stuff. Do a google search for articles by Paco Kelly... he's written some good stuff about the 375. Get it... __________________ I always felt that if I got to the point where I thought it was time to bury my firearms, it was actually time to pick them up..

January 31, 2014, 12:22 PM	#23
McShooty Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2012 Location: Northern Missouri Posts: 480	The downrange p The .308 Marlin Express has a neck/shoulder shape quite similar to that of the .308 Win, but, ballistically, it is closer to the .300 Savage. Hornady uses the LeverEvolution technology for the .308 ME, a soft-pointed spitzer bullet with Hodgdon LE powder, which results in down-range performance far superior to any .30-30 load, including the LE .30-30. If you send the 160-gr spitzer out of a .308 ME at 2,660 fps (2,513 fp muzzle energy), it will arrive at 300 yards still travelling 2,026 fps with 1,457 lb of kinetic energy. If it is sighted in to be 1.7" high at 100 yds, it will arrive at 300 yds only 6.7" low. This is really outstanding performance for a cartridge short enough to work in the Marin Lever Action. I have BTW, duplicated this performance in the .300 Savage by using th 160-gr Hornady FTX bullet with Hodgdon LeverEvolution powder.

January 31, 2014, 01:12 PM	#24
Guv Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2012 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,126	How different is it from the 307?

January 31, 2014, 01:41 PM	#25
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	Sure Shot's Idea for a Happy 308 Relationship. FWIW: Save your money. Forget the Marlin. If wanting a lever rifle with 308 performance. Simple resolve. Buy a lever rifle that shoots 308s. Look to: Browning's BLR 81. Whats not to like about a Browning's capability. It's being Clip fed. Shoot's common easy to find ammo. Any 308 bullet weight you can purchase off the shelf functions. Perhaps all are disappointments to some others. Please !!__Why spend the time looking at a want-a-be 308 lever rifle when the real Mc Coy are available. Marlin as far as I'm concerned. Are just ~~~marlin's!! Everyone should at the very least own (only) one in their lifetime.

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