Marlin Express 308 (Newbe Hunter)

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TheRick

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Hello All

I'm interested in getting into hunting and looking at getting a Marin 308MXLR. I want a lever action gun because thats the only "type" of action in my collection that I'm missing. I like the Marlin express 308 because it seems like a rifle that I can do almost all of my hunting with (already have a 223).

Does anybody have one or has anybody shot one? are the bullets expensive? Does anybody have any other suggestions on other lever action hunting rifles (that can be used for large game at far distances)?

Thank you Rick
 
Don't know about the Marlin gun your talking about, but I own a Browning lever action in .308 win. The are great little guns that come in a wide variety of calibers. You should look at them and see what you think. Just my 2 cents.
 
The .308 express would fill your hunting needs for sure, but the ammo may or may not be frequently available. Best to buy lots of it, or get a set of dies if you reload.

If you don't reload, maybe the BLR in .308 winchester would be a better lever for you.
 
Good round. Basically a 308 dressed up nice and pretty for prom.

If I were you, I'd swing a look at the 30-30 or 45/70.

both are very good hunting rounds. If you're looking at getting into hunting, the 30-30 is a good round to start on.

Both are practically exclusive to levers, with ammo at every mom and pops store to boot.
 
The current downside to the Marlin Express is that Hornady doesn't sell the leverrevloution bullets for reloading so you must buy the .308 LeverRevolution ammo.Make sure you have lots on hand as it won't be readily available in your local Cdn Tire.
 
Check out Graybeardoutdoors.com or marlinowners.com. There's lots of info about the 308MX on both.

IMO, logic would dictate going for a BLR in 308 Win or a Savage 99 in 308 Win simply because of ammo cost, selection and flexibility.

However I do love the look of the Marlin's and I have a 336 in 30-30. The Marlin 308MXLR in stainless and laminate is beauty, and sometimes the little head rules...
 
I like the idea of the 308MX in a 336 rifle, like a 30-30 but a solid 250 yard cartridge. Save lots of brass and reload it.
 
Reload it with what though... You need those squishy tipped bullets to use in the tube mag and you can't buy them seperately.
 
I've considered the FN reload, but the problem that that I see is that your ballistics go out the window. No free lunch.
 
yeah the BLRs - especially the takedowns - seem like a nice compromise between old and new world, you can get them in a straight up .308 instead of having to deal with the .308MX BS.

theyre not a 'true' lever action though, so the purists will never accept them :)

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I'm not convinced. The Marlin .308 LeverR doesn't even come close to what a regular .308 can do regularly. I'm not the world's greatest .308 fan, but I'll humbly give it it's dues when it comes to accuracy. Plenty of smack for most things in this country, save REAL moose and the biggest bears, yet I'd take the '06 over it most of the time - truth is I shoot neither. Big bore Marlins are an absolute riot to own and shoot, but if you're B+T to shoot a lever .308, look for a Win 88 or a Browning 81 in .308 Winchester! If you want a Marlin lever, get a big bore. If you want a .308, get a proven one - you can shoot 6 inch 1000 yd groups with the .308 Win. without even working too hard, much like the .243 Win which not very many like to acknowledge 'cause it questions the validity of things like the .260 Rem or the endless versions of the 6mmxwhatever or the .284 weird off-shoots. (Gee, wonder what the parent case might be for most of those!) Endless choices of bullets, powders and guns for the .308 Win ensure that it will be around forever or the next few Federal elections, whichever comes first.....don't get me started!:wave:
 
HERE HERE!!! NICELY PUT SBTENNEX!!
I think its all been said in your post. Not much use having a novelty gun that you may or may not be able to buy bullets for, and definately cant reload for,
(at least you cant reload to equal the ballistics of the factory loads, you cant buy the leverevolution bullets as a component separately)
If I cant buy ammo for it at Walmart/Canadian Tire/local mom and pop stores, then It really is no use to me.
I also cant see that lever gun caliber lasting too long if they dont make ammo and individual component bullets more readily available. Who wants a gun that is a pain in the ass to find ammo for?
 
The .308 Marlin Express will be but a memory in 5 years. Way to gimicky. A
.308 winchester in a Savage 99 is the way to go. I would never own a caliber where the manufacturer ties my hands and doesn't allow me to reload it.
 
sgt.rock said:
If I cant buy ammo for it at Walmart/Canadian Tire/local mom and pop stores, then It really is no use to me.
I also cant see that lever gun caliber lasting too long if they dont make ammo and individual component bullets more readily available. Who wants a gun that is a pain in the ass to find ammo for?
Click to expand...

What will you do when Walmart and CT stop selling ammo? Cause it won't be long.;)
 
I'm a big fan of leverguns and even Marlins, but I'd be leery buying that rifle.
For one it can only shoot one type of ammo and that is the Hornady LeverEvolution .308 Marlin. Thats it thats all. Will the ammo supply be hard to find and will it be available in 5, 10, 15 years from now. Remember Marlin was bought by Remington, my guess is the Marlin - Hornady ammo relationship will come to an end.
If you like the XLR series of Marlin rifles, why not go with the 30-30, 35, 444, 45-70 or 450 as you can get all the benefits of the rifle and LeverEvolution ammo, plus you can shoot standard ammo in those calibers that are easily available - more flexability!
If you want a .308 go with the BLR, Savage 99 or Win 88. You will have a lot more flexability in factory and roll your own ammo with the .308 Win vs the308 ME

My 2cents!
 
Thanks Guys basically looking for a lever action gun that I can shoot 300 yards at some big game.... I've been told that a 30-30 isn't the best large game gun (moose at long ranges). can the 444,45-70 and 450 be use long range for big game?

Rick
 
I picked up a plain vanilla Marlin 336 in 30-30 just for pure fun, and I've got my brno 30-06 for the long range stuff. I've got a feeling that the Marlin is going to turn into my go-to gun though.

I agree with blargon; asking a lever to take over a long range role may be asking it to do too much and you lose what make it special and fun; namely cheap and common ammo for lots'o shootin'!
 
TheRick said:
Thanks Guys basically looking for a lever action gun that I can shoot 300 yards at some big game.... I've been told that a 30-30 isn't the best large game gun (moose at long ranges). can the 444,45-70 and 450 be use long range for big game?

Rick
Click to expand...

The .30-30, .444, .45-70 and .450 are all 200 yard cartridges. Pushing them beyond that is difficult due to their highly arced trajectories.

If you must have a lever and insist on it being capable of 300 yard shooting, the BLR, or a used Savage 99 or Winchester 88 is in order. They are chambered for more capable longer range cartridges.

The .308 MX may be capable of shooting at those ranges, but if it fails to gain a strong foothold, and the limited ammo offerings do not expand, it will not be a particularly good gun to have going forward into the future. Without the LeverEvolution plastic tipped spitzers available for handloading, that leaves it with a much smaller edge over a .30-30 if you are forced to use flatpoints. It is pretty hard for a specialized round like that to gain enough of a spot in todays market to become a commercial success. The only way it will become successful is if we buy them. Personally though, I'm not inclined to buy a rifle chambered for a cartridge with one source of ammo, and the inability to handload it to match the performance of that one factory load.
 
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