Brother had a 308 ME. Shot great. Problem was as you mentioned, factory ammo tough to find and rather. A suggestion - The 308 Win. cartridge and 165 gr. hunting bullet combo is a great short action choice for deer sized game. The Browning BLR is a nice feeling lever action, and readily available in many cartridges including the 308 Win. An rather off the wall suggestion - You can still find the Winchester Mod. 88 out there. The 308 Win. version of this fine, accurate lever is rather common. One in great shape will usaully runs about $600-$700. Pricey for a lever when compared to a Marlin 336, but a unique gift.