308 Marlin Express?
- Thread starter ten ring
- Start date
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Much like the rsaum family of cartridges the marlin express family suffered from a bankrupt sponsoring company, and no market push. Its a interesting idea, but basically completely obsolete/mothballed now.
Seldom see brass in the ee, and even hornady seems to have stopped promoting their ftx projectiles. I believe the performance was based on proprietary blends of powder, not available to the public. So even a doubtful reloading proposition.
If a performance lever gun is the goal. Your probably looking at a 348, or Browning blr.
Seldom see brass in the ee, and even hornady seems to have stopped promoting their ftx projectiles. I believe the performance was based on proprietary blends of powder, not available to the public. So even a doubtful reloading proposition.
If a performance lever gun is the goal. Your probably looking at a 348, or Browning blr.
buck knife
CGN Regular
- Location
- Golden forest
Around my area there are a couple guys that have them and bought 6 boxes of ammo when they got them years ago,they haven't seen ammo for sake anywhere local since the initial purchase.
I bought one a couple years ago just to pair it up with my 338 marlin express. I didn’t have any issue finding components or ammo. Places like ellwoodepps have brass, ftx bullets, loaded ammo and plenty of it. I also found a lot of factory ammo in the classifieds very cheap because there’s a limited market for it. I laid up a set of dies, couple hundred pieces of brass, couple hundred ftx and a few hundred factory rounds. The powder isn’t proprietary anymore, leverevolution is the go to powder in that rifle.
No your not going to stop at Walmart and buy ammo for it but it’s certainly available and not that hard to find.
The .338 is the pick of the litter IMO but the .308 is a handy little rifle.
No your not going to stop at Walmart and buy ammo for it but it’s certainly available and not that hard to find.
The .338 is the pick of the litter IMO but the .308 is a handy little rifle.
I'm sure many here will correct me if I'm wrong, but the only reason for this round was to subvert the 307 Winchester.
A 307 Winchester will chamber and fire a 308 round if I'm not mistaken.
A 308 Marlin will not chamber the regular .308 or 7.62 Nato round.(hence no lawsuits for Marlin)
Had this debate many years ago on a popular US forum where as the superior ballistics of the Marlin round as loaded by Hornady was touted ad nauseum.
This round is a solution to a problem that should never have existed.
A 307 Winchester will chamber and fire a 308 round if I'm not mistaken.
A 308 Marlin will not chamber the regular .308 or 7.62 Nato round.(hence no lawsuits for Marlin)
Had this debate many years ago on a popular US forum where as the superior ballistics of the Marlin round as loaded by Hornady was touted ad nauseum.
This round is a solution to a problem that should never have existed.
I picked up a gently used 308ME last fall.
Marlin 336 308ME c/w Vortex Diamondback 2-7*35 BDC
After a bit of hunting to find dies and brass, I found a set of Hornady dies, 2 unopened boxes of 50 and 1 open box of 50, Hornady 308ME brass.
I found this lot of Hornady 308ME Brass very hard, the neck 'sprung back' a lot after the initial resizing. I've annealed the brass and I'm using graphite neck lube when I seat the bullets to ease seating issues.
I could not find a Lee 308ME Case trimmer, was told it could be 6-8month wait. I bought and modified/shortened a Lee 30-30Win case trimmer.
Bullets, I bought a few boxes of Hornady #30396 308ME 160gn FTX from EPPS.
I've not shot the rifle a whole lot, went to range last fall shot 2 'test' rounds, they landed no where on the paper. Needed to be bore sighted
. NO tools, packed up and went home.
A couple of weeks ago I finally shot that initial 24 round load ladder. I've located a couple of accuracy nodes to work on.
Best 3 shot group @50yds, Hornady #30396 308ME 160gn FTX over 39gns HLVR.
Marlin 336 308ME c/w Vortex Diamondback 2-7*35 BDC
After a bit of hunting to find dies and brass, I found a set of Hornady dies, 2 unopened boxes of 50 and 1 open box of 50, Hornady 308ME brass.
I found this lot of Hornady 308ME Brass very hard, the neck 'sprung back' a lot after the initial resizing. I've annealed the brass and I'm using graphite neck lube when I seat the bullets to ease seating issues.
I could not find a Lee 308ME Case trimmer, was told it could be 6-8month wait. I bought and modified/shortened a Lee 30-30Win case trimmer.
Bullets, I bought a few boxes of Hornady #30396 308ME 160gn FTX from EPPS.
I've not shot the rifle a whole lot, went to range last fall shot 2 'test' rounds, they landed no where on the paper. Needed to be bore sighted
. NO tools, packed up and went home.A couple of weeks ago I finally shot that initial 24 round load ladder. I've located a couple of accuracy nodes to work on.
Best 3 shot group @50yds, Hornady #30396 308ME 160gn FTX over 39gns HLVR.
when the 30r and 7x65r is available i doubt it ...
- Location
- Ford Nation
I am pretty sure the two cartridges are pretty much ballistic twins. Marlin developed the 308 Marlin in cooperation with Hornady with a shorter brass case than the 307 Win because the Hornady Leverrevolution Ammo with the plastic point was too long and had unreliable chambering in the 307 Win Platform because of it's length with the added plastic point.
I am sure I read this somewhere, whether it is true or not, I can't say.
I am sure I read this somewhere, whether it is true or not, I can't say.
Just imagine the new marlins. Theyll be an investment casting
Marlin previously chambered both the .307 and .356 Winchester rounds, so they are plenty strong enough.
As Northshore has said, the .308MX was designed to make the FTX bullets fit in and cycle, as the slightly longer .307 case was slightly long to work. Probably also a healthy dose of adding a new cartridge with their name on it to help sell guns and ammo.
