Well i have had my 308MX for a few weeks and I have to say that I really like this rifle and cartridge. The accuracy is outstanding! The first MV that I ran over the chrono are not bad either with the Hornady Leverevolution ammo. I'm currently in the middle of working up loads for the rifle.

The recoil is not bad at all, and I honestly think this rifle is going to be an outstanding hunting rifle, at lest now I can carry a levergun all season and should not be at a major disadvantage if a 300+ yard presents it's self. Here is a pic of the rifle and some pics of some targets.


http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o239/big_medicine/DSCF0050mx.jpg

50 yard open sights

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o239/big_medicine/DSCF0047pm308mx.jpg

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o239/big_medicine/DSCF0045pm308mx.jpg
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o239/big_medicine/DSCF0046pm308mx.jpg

100 yard scope target
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o239/big_medicine/DSCF0053mx100yd.jpg

This rifle is the real deal. Those targets were shot straight out of the box. The open sight targets were shot 20 minutes after I picked up the rifle at the gun shop. The scope target was shot a few days later.

Looking good big medicine :D Have you done any load work- up using the 150gr.-165gr. match bullets yet... If the barrel will stablize them, its going to be a one-holer... :eek:

Here is my 308MX. The target shows (3) 3-shot groups with the LeverEvolution stuff. They moved around a bit because I was experimenting with barrel band screw pressure. Two of them are under an inch, one is just outside of an inch. I am just now starting some loads with 150gr Spitzers.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/Duckbill_336/308mx.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k189/Duckbill_336/308mx-LE.jpg

The rain has been frustrating me and limiting my range time but I certainly agree the .308 Marlin Express is great fun. It is indeed a nice looking rifle. Everything looks like mine is going to be a shooter - I have just been a bit limited in my range time.
It is not a .307 Winchester but it is a fine rifle.

Looking good big medicine :D Have you done any load work- up using the 150gr.-165gr. match bullets yet... If the barrel will stablize them, its going to be a one-holer... :eek:


I have been working on some loads with the 168 gr match bullet, 150 gr sp. There are some of those loads that look like they could be shooters. I still have a bunch of them loaded to shoot. I also have some loads waiting to shoot with the Hornady 110 gr RN, and the 180 gr SST. I hope to get out this weekend and do some shooting, but there won't be much time.

Tomorrow evening is the kids Vacation Bible School program at 7pm. I'm going to try and get out for an hour or so before that. Then I'm going to get up early on Sat and shoot for an hour or two. We have a new dentist moving to town and I'm going over Sat about 10am to help unload the truck. Then Sat night one of my friends is having a get together for his son that just returned from Iraq last week, then Sunday I'm going to try and take my son fishing, and then that evening we are going to have the new dentist over for a cook out. Somewhere in there I'm going to try and sneak out and shoot :rolleyes:

I have been working on some loads with the 168 gr match bullet, 150 gr sp. There are some of those loads that look like they could be shooters. I still have a bunch of them loaded to shoot. I also have some loads waiting to shoot with the Hornady 110 gr RN, and the 180 gr SST. I hope to get out this weekend and do some shooting, but there won't be much time.

Tomorrow evening is the kids Vacation Bible School program at 7pm. I'm going to try and get out for an hour or so before that. Then I'm going to get up early on Sat and shoot for an hour or two. We have a new dentist moving to town and I'm going over Sat about 10am to help unload the truck. Then Sat night one of my friends is having a get together for his son that just returned from Iraq last week, then Sunday I'm going to try and take my son fishing, and then that evening we are going to have the new dentist over for a cook out. Somewhere in there I'm going to try and sneak out and shoot :rolleyes:


Big Med take it easy !!!!!!!

You're gonna wear the rifling out before huntin season , LOL's :D

Big Med take it easy !!!!!!!

You're gonna wear the rifling out before huntin season , LOL's :D

I'm trying :D

I'm trying :D
Just wondering if anyone has looked at the ballistics of the 308M and 307 Winchester both being in the same neighborhood (excepting the flatnose bullet with the 307), but if the 307 was loaded with an leverevolution bulllet what would a comparison be in balllistics. Jumping ahead somewhat I would love to see the 308M bumped up to a 35 caliber something like the 356 Win was from the 308,

I have compared the .307 Winchester and the .308 Marlin Express together.
The 22” barrel .308 Marlin Express with a muzzle velocity of 2,600 fps (in my rifle) and sighted in at 240 yards and using an extreme range of 300 yards, has a maximum height of 3.9 inches at 133 yards. The LeveRevolution bullet has a maximum point blank range on an eight inch circle of 282 yards.
At 40 yards the bullet is traveling 2,511 fps. At 100yards it is traveling 2,380 fps and has 2,013 fpe. At 200 yards it is traveling 2,171 fps and has 1,675 fpe. At 300 yards the bullet is traveling 1,974 fps and has 1,385 fpe.

The .307 Winchester in my 20” Model 94 Big Bore rifle has a muzzle velocity of 2,550 fps using the Speer 170-grain JFN bullet. The Speer bullet when sighted in at 230 yards and using an extreme range of 300-yards has a maximum height of 3.9 inches at 129 yards. The Speer bullet has a maximum point blank range on an eight inch circle of 269 yards.
At 40 yards the bullet is traveling 2,436 fps. At 100yards it is traveling 2,269 fps and has 1,944 fpe. At 200 yards it is traveling 2,008 fps and has 1,523 fpe. At 300 yards the bullet is traveling 1,766 fps and has 1,178 fpe.

So, we see there is very little difference between the 22” barrel .308 Marlin Express and the 20” barrel .307 Winchester. Two fine cartridges and rifles which are well worth our consideration. With Winchester out of business and the .307 cartridge an orphan, the .308 Marlin Express is a good follow-on and available in a new production rifle.
The .308 Marlin Express cannot equal the .307 Winchester using equal barrel lengths. With the 22- and 24-inch barrels Marlin has a rifle and cartridge which appears to equal or exceed .307 Winchester performance using both factory ammunition and handloads.

There is no doubt the 307 is a good cartridge, the biggest problem is availability...it isn't available. I think the 308MX will prove it's metal in time.

I'm trying :D


Should I finally get one of these rifles . I plan on shooting about 5 three shot groups with the 20x Leupold . Then pull that off and mount a 4-12 Leupold sight it in and leave it alone until after it has taken a deer or two .

Just wondering if anyone has looked at the ballistics of the 308M and 307 Winchester both being in the same neighborhood (excepting the flatnose bullet with the 307), but if the 307 was loaded with an leverevolution bulllet what would a comparison be in balllistics. Jumping ahead somewhat I would love to see the 308M bumped up to a 35 caliber something like the 356 Win was from the 308,

I have had a conversation with a gentleman affiliated with Marlin on just this subject . Well sorta I was more intrested in a 338 Marlin Express . But I was told the 33 and 35 cal were not in the future plans for this cartridge case . I do however think they may be giving some thought to an under 30 cal version .

Personally I would like to see it in 6mm , 6.5mm , 7mm , 8mm and 338 versions . Provided Hornady comes out with the appropriate rubber tipped bullets .

Not asking much am I :D

Saw today (well actually yesterday now). My dealer finally got it for me :D

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0171.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f316/6pt-sika/DSCN0173.jpg

Now all I need to do is fit a scope (Leupold 20x) and take it to the range !

Good! Now we’ll get to compare some 24” barrel data!

6pt,

You might as well put a tent or park an RV at the range. With your new toy, er tool, sorry about the slip, you are going to be at the range 24/7.

Keep the reports comin', boys. :cool:

I may well have a 308MXLR in the next few days. I'm a blue walnut kind of guy, but didn't have the will power to resist the XLR ;) I look forward to haveing the pair :D Guys I have to warn you...6pt is a bad influence ;)

I may well have a 308MXLR in the next few days. I'm a blue walnut kind of guy, but didn't have the will power to resist the XLR ;) I look forward to haveing the pair :D Guys I have to warn you...6pt is a bad influence ;)


Thats right blame me :D

If you're blaming me at least you're leaving everyone else alone :p :p

I may well have a 308MXLR in the next few days. I'm a blue walnut kind of guy, but didn't have the will power to resist the XLR ;) I look forward to haveing the pair :D Guys I have to warn you...6pt is a bad influence ;)


Okay since you have disparaged my character I think you need to FIND us a place to test drive these two XLR's on some Nebraska mulies ;)

He is a bad influence! I traveled 400 miles today to buy another mint 336ER and the first blue & wood 308MX I find I will buy!!!

Okay since you have disparaged my character I think you need to FIND us a place to test drive these two XLR's on some Nebraska mulies ;)
Might have to see what I can find.

He is a bad influence! I traveled 400 miles today to buy another mint 336ER and the first blue & wood 308MX I find I will buy!!!

Hmmm , I'd like to see some pics of your new toy :D

Congrats ;)

He is a bad influence the first blue & wood 308MX I find I will buy!!!

Have you tried Collectors Firearms in Houston ?

I would think they might have one , as they handle new as well correct ?

Have you tried Collectors Firearms in Houston ?

I would think they might have one , as they handle new as well correct ?

That is where mine came from and they post the pic of the actual rifle.

Dave :cool:

I have compared the .307 Winchester and the .308 Marlin Express together.
The 22” barrel .308 Marlin Express with a muzzle velocity of 2,600 fps (in my rifle) and sighted in at 240 yards and using an extreme range of 300 yards, has a maximum height of 3.9 inches at 133 yards. The LeveRevolution bullet has a maximum point blank range on an eight inch circle of 282 yards.
At 40 yards the bullet is traveling 2,511 fps. At 100yards it is traveling 2,380 fps and has 2,013 fpe. At 200 yards it is traveling 2,171 fps and has 1,675 fpe. At 300 yards the bullet is traveling 1,974 fps and has 1,385 fpe.

The .307 Winchester in my 20” Model 94 Big Bore rifle has a muzzle velocity of 2,550 fps using the Speer 170-grain JFN bullet. The Speer bullet when sighted in at 230 yards and using an extreme range of 300-yards has a maximum height of 3.9 inches at 129 yards. The Speer bullet has a maximum point blank range on an eight inch circle of 269 yards.
At 40 yards the bullet is traveling 2,436 fps. At 100yards it is traveling 2,269 fps and has 1,944 fpe. At 200 yards it is traveling 2,008 fps and has 1,523 fpe. At 300 yards the bullet is traveling 1,766 fps and has 1,178 fpe.

So, we see there is very little difference between the 22” barrel .308 Marlin Express and the 20” barrel .307 Winchester. Two fine cartridges and rifles which are well worth our consideration. With Winchester out of business and the .307 cartridge an orphan, the .308 Marlin Express is a good follow-on and available in a new production rifle.
The .308 Marlin Express cannot equal the .307 Winchester using equal barrel lengths. With the 22- and 24-inch barrels Marlin has a rifle and cartridge which appears to equal or exceed .307 Winchester performance using both factory ammunition and handloads.
Thank you so very much. Never thougth I would get such a detailed answer to my question. I am really following the 308 Marlin with great intrest. I wonder also if the lever action intrest is such now as to support a round other than the usual 30-30- to 45-70 etc, saw Marlin has a 32-20 in their catalogue and got an itch for one, if it was in 25-20 I'd buy it tommorow. My intrest in odd or orphan cartridges got me to buy a 2nd yr. Win 356 BB and it was one of the best rifles I bought with ammo at almost 2 dollars a round I'm buying reloading equipment.

I am really following the 308 Marlin with great intrest. .

It is indeed a very interesting cartridge – of course I am a big fane of this class cartridge (.30-40, .300 Savage, .307 Winchester and now the .308 ME)

Go to the members section and look for posts by Chris Cash on the .356, these will get you started. There is a fairly new .356 reloading thread, I’ll post a link to it. The .356 is an easy cartridge to load accurate and powerful ammo for. I look forward to reading your results.

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=37471

I have not looked at Gun world Magazine very often in quite a few years. Without Dean Grennell’s by-line it no longer appears to be a “real” gun magazine.
I happened to see the September 2007 issue on the news stand and the review of the .308 Marlin Express caused me to pick it up and have a look.
The article, written by Denis Prisbrey is so superficial and shallow I could not help but purchase the magazine. I assumed I was missing something – and I was – the equally – shallow comments by Editor Jan Libourel on the last page. I am pre-disposed to like Jan Libourel as he is a fan of the .32 H&R Magnum. Libourel’s comments on the .308 Marlin Express have damaged this good will.
The article is primarily a few good quality pictures with the blank spaces filled with mundane background material. This very sad article has no unique material and the reader would be better informed on the cartridge and rifle with a simple visit to the Hornady and Marlin web sites.
Jan Libourel’s comments on the back page indicate he has probably never visited the Marlin Owners Board or read any background material on the Marlin Firearms Company. His speculation on the .307 Winchester vs. the .308 Marlin Express indicate he has not even read the reviews of the cartridge and rifle printed in his competitors magazines.
A much more in-depth review of the rifle and cartridge could have been written by any one of a half dozen members of this forum or the Marlin Owners forum. It is a sad state of affairs when the quality of the pictures is the only criteria for the inclusion of a rifle or cartridge review in a mainstream magazine.
We have all discussed the poor quality of today’s gun magazines but this one stands out in my view. Has anyone else been amused by this “review.”

BTT for an interesting post.

Sitting by and reading all of these posts about the new 308MX makes me wonder IF any folks plan to reload the cases with the Hornady 150 gr RN or the 170 gr FN.....or any of the other well known 30-30 bullets. I realize the "old standby's" would not produce the same results, however - one could reload and shoot in the meantime - until the new bullets are available for reloading.

Regards, Vic

Has anyone done a side by side comparison of the .308 MX and the .300 Savage

Far as the marlin gummy bullets being offered for handloading, I'll assume not for a while. Meanwhile, seeing you can cycle a pointed bullet in it, I would reload some 150gn spire points and go with the one in the mag, one in the chamber.

What does BTT mean? “Back to the top” or “Back to topic.”

This thread is long but has more speculation on ballistics.

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=33853&highlight=.308+marlin+express

With the rains returning to a more normal status I will probably be able to shoot more often. I have quite a bit of stuff loaded up for comparison with the .307.
In the thread I linked to we started discussing the .300 Savage a bit about page 6. The .307 Winchester and the .308 Marlin Express appear to have a useful point blank range of about 240 yards when loaded with the Speer 170-grain flat point bullet. I believe I can safely say that for all of my hunting in West Texas this is more than satisfactory.
Tomorrow I hope to shoot a few sabots in the .308ME to compare with the .307. I’ll use Hodgdon Benchmark to give Snow something to think about.

Swany,

Some of us at MarlinOwners are experimenting with various bullets. I am sticking with the Hornady 150 gr SST for now and trying various powders. I found a potential with H-4895 and have loaded up a ladder test for the next time I get to go shoot along with some H-335 loads. Some are using the 170gr FPs among other bullets and doing the same thing. A few reports are showing up in the .308 Marlin Express Forum.

Dave :cool:

Shooting in the fog this morning. The chronograph did not have enough light to see the bullets and we could not see the 100 yard line. The 50 yard line was not completely clear but we could see well enough to shoot a bit.
I shot a few of the sabots just for fun at 50 yards. The 53-grain Sierra HP-Match bullet appears to be too long for the Marlin rifle. The bullets strung 6” vertically and about 1” wide. These were loaded with 34.5-grains of Hodgdon Benchmark in the .270 Winchester cases and they appeared to be low pressure as the primers were rounded and tried to protrude out of the case a little.

Next was the 45-grain Remington JHP ahead of 36.0 grains of Hodgdon Benchmark. I seated these out just a little bit further and the sabot just touches the rifling when the rounds are chambered. If you look at the picture above you will see the little Remington bullet just noses out of the sabot. Loaded in the .308 Marlin Express cases this load put two rounds into ½” with the third round directly in-line but three inches higher. Hard to say if it was my handling of recoil (what little there is) or just the vagaries of sabots. These were run through the magazine.

The 40-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip has given us some good groups in the .307 Winchester. With 36.0-grains of Hodgdon Benchmark in the .444 Marlin case these stacked three shots vertically 1 ¾” high with the holes in a straight line.

I’ll shoot the rest on a better day when I can chronograph them and shoot at 100-yards.
I found two of the E. Arthur Brown sabots about 20 yards from the bench. One of them came apar which is unusual. I don’t intend for these to be ultra high velocity, I am looking for around 3,000 fps – 24” barrel K-Hornet velocities. I would use these for feral cats, fox and skunk at 50 yards or less.

Well I got the chance to put the 308MX to the real test in the field. We started shooting deer on depredation tags. We have a killing permit for 30 deer and so far I only have one down.....but this deer (does only) was shot Sat evening at a distance of 365 yards. The numbers add up to real performance on game. Here is a link to the story I posted at MO. Guys, this rifle/cartridge shines. 300 Savage, 307 Winchester, 308 Winchester, it doesn't matter to me which it comes close to, the fact is that at close to 400 yards it laid a deer out like it was hit by a freight train :D

http://www.marlinowners.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=23582

While it helps a great deal to know the exact range for a long shot like this, from a field position this was an outstanding shot. It says as much about the rifleman as the rifle and cartridge. I certainly am pleased with the performance of the bullet at this distance. A great shot.

William,

He already has a huge head!! :D I believe Big Med was a Match shooter back in 'The Day'.

I have been considering a 308MX for a little while now. After reading this thread, I'm really leaning toward picking one up. I have a couple of questions about load work-up though and am hoping folks here could answer them. First off, would the Barnes MRX (or their new polymer-tipped TSX) bullets be safe in a lever gun's magazine tube? The tip Barnes uses for these looks very much like the proprietary one Hornady and Nosler use. Has Hornady made brass available for this cartridge yet? It would be nice to purchase new, factory brass for load experimentation. I think a 165-gr. Barnes MRX over (around) 32 grns. of VV N-140 would come very close to replicating the factory ammo from Hornady.

Hi,

My understanding is, No, the MRX is not suitable for loading in a tubular magazine. The elastic tip is of a different material. An e-mail to Barnes may shed more light on how they feel.

The 150- Triple Shok X bullet for the .30-30 is a very good bullet for the .308 Marlin Express. While I have not used it as yet I have used the older smooth side Barnes X bullet in the, 30-30 and in the .307 Winchester and it is a wonderful bullet. Some of my best accuracy in the .30-30AI and the .307 Winchester has been with the Barnes X bullet.

It would be nice to be able to buy new component brass for the .308ME but it is not yet available. Brass can easily be formed from the .444 Marlin, .307 Winchester or .308 Winchester cases – I assume you saw Taylors thread on this subject. – I am a booster for the cartridge and believe once brass becomes available to the handloader the cartridge will develop a wider following.
The handloaded .308ME cartridge gives up very little to the factory round. Within 240 yards we have little real need for the pointy bullets and hi-energy powders. Using Hodgdon 4895, Varget, Alliant Reloder 15 or the VV 140 powders the cartridge is quite a powerhouse for a tubular magazine lever-action rifle.

On my way home from work this morning my wife and I dropped by the gun club.
Using a Data Log reader we took a few quick sound level measurements. The readings were taken eight feet to the left of the muzzle and two back from where the muzzle was. I am a left handed shooter so there was nothing between the recorder and the muzzle. The wind was blowing 20+ mph so we could have had a better day. We took all reading under the sheet tin roof and this allows the sound waves to bounce around a bit.
We shot one of our 23” barreled .22lr Savage Model 23 rifles with Federal Premium .22lr ammunition. The Savage M-23 averaged 81 db.

Three shots from the 22” barreled Marlin 308MX using Hornady 160-grain factory loads gave an average of 93.2 db. My wife insists the .308 Marlin Express factory ammunition is as noisy as the 20” barreled .307 Winchester. These three shots averaged 2,613 fps with an E of 15 and SD of 7 fps – All of the .308 Marlin Express factory ammunition has been very consistent across the chronograph and the rifle and factory ammunition is shooting some very uniform and small groups for us.

I fired one three shot group with the 20” .375 Winchester Big Bore rifle with 220-grain Hornady bullets ahead of 38.5 grains of Hodgdon 322. These loads chronographed 2,054 fps with an E of 21 and SD of 10 fps and had an average sound level of 91.3 db. Wearing double ear protection these shots still seemed quieter than the .308 Marlin Express-Hornady ammunition.

I fired two three shot groups from the .444 Marlin Winchester Timber rifle with its 17 ¾” ported barrel. I was using the 270-grain Speer Gold Dot bullet ahead of 48.0 grains of Alliant Reloder 7. The first string averaged 2,038 fps with an E of 38 and SD of 19 fps. The average sound level was 99.6 db.
The second string chronographed 2,020 fps with an E of 48 and SD of 24 fps. The average sound level was 96.7 db.

Due to the muzzle blast the Winchester Timber rifle seems quite loud. This particular load is not my noisiest handload for this rifle. A 240-grain JFN bullet ahead of a maximum charge of IMR or Hodgdon 4198 appears to be louder by far than this 270-grain load using RL 7.
While unscientific it is interesting, I would not want to shoot one of these ported rifles from an enclosed blind.

I was shooting sabots in the .308MX again today. For fun I recorded the sound levels on two of the loads. The 45-grain Remington JHP Hornet bullet ahead of 36.0 grains of Hodgdon Benchmark in .Hornady .308ME cases went across the chronograph at 2,826 fps with an E of 14 and SD of 9 fps. This load measured 80.7 average db. If you are shooting sabots in the new Marlin rifle this is a good place to start looking for 50- and 100-yard accuracy.

Using the 40-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip ahead of 36.0 grains of Hodgdon Benchmark in R-P .444 Marlin cases the sound level averaged 98.1 db with a velocity of 2,971 fps and an E of 53 and SD of 27 fps. I need to work with the seating depth for this load as it will sometimes put three shots within an inch at fifty yards and then string the other two shots up or down from the group, a frustrating situation.
As I have come to expect, the sabots are hard on chronograph sun shades and sky screen covers. I need to place another order to Oehler as the little buzz saws did their best to tear things up.

I’ll bring the Marlin Guide Gun along next time and compare it to the Timber Rifle.
I would like to know the muzzle pressure of the Hornady .308 Marlin Express factory loads, it must be quite high.

i have been shooting my 308MX at long range targets getting ready for deer season and an up comming elk hunt. I plan on using the 308MX for elk under 200 yards. Tonight i shot the rifle at 500 yards..well actually 517 yards. I'm shooting two shot groups to conserve on ammo, and it gets my zeros. Here is a group from the 308MX from 500 yards.

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o239/big_medicine/DSCF0074500yd308mx.jpg

Gosh that is impressive shooting. The cross hairs on my Burris straight 4x Short Mag scope would cover the body on an elk at that distance. These rifles are certainly fun to shoot.

I like having the magnification esp at long distance. I use the higher magnification when I'm sitting even at close distance, so I can get exact shot placement.

Last evening there were 4 of us out in the hay field. I was the only one shooting, one of my friends was spotting for me and we would drive down and check out the targets and paste the holes, the other two guys came along to check it out. Neither of them have done any long range shooting.

I love doing this kind of stuff, Where I hunt the possibility of a 300+ yard shot is always there. I try and get as close of shot as possible, but you need to be prepared to make a long shot if that is all you get.

Before I had to hunt with a bolt gun to be able to make those shots, not any more.

My friend that was spotting for me, bought a 308 MXLR this summer because of what my 308MX was doing. He looked at me last night when we were checking out the groups on the targets, and said, "This rifle really impresses me" ;)