Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

I am extremely curious about this rifle and bullet. I currently shoot a 270 Winchester, but have a tough time with carrying the gun for long hunts. Now I also have a Marlin 30-30 and a Marlin 1894 44 Magnum rifle and they are much easier on me for packing. What I am looking for is a levergun that I can pack when Elk hunting and possibly use it for deer hunting too, which the 308 Marlin Express sounds perfect for. Now I know that there are other cartridges out that are chambered in leverguns, but I am curious about this one. So please, if you have any experience with it, or even some thoughts feel free to chime in. Thanks.

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

Nobody has any experience with them? Or even any thoughts or opinions on it? Or maybe a link to some reviews?

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

I have a friend that bought one.

I really couldn't see any difference between a regular 308 and the Marlin Express besides the ability to shoot pointed bullets in a lever action firearm.

Gun manufacturers comes out with new models from time to time to generate sales.

In my opinion, you would be better off finding a used Model 88 Winchester in 308!

The ammo will be cheaper and more accessable.

My luck in life is when ever you need something - it is not available. Like 9 Pm on a Sunday night before the opening day of deer season.

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

I will look into the Winchester mdl 88. The only thing that really bothers me about the 308 MX is that you really cannot reload for it. Other than that though, it is everything that I am lookin for in a gun.

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

Sure you can reload for it, as long as you have the brass and the dies and the bullets.

You can buy components at Grice Gun Shop in Clearfield Pa for it right now.

They also sell online to gun shops at www.gricewholesale.com

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

They told me at the sporting goods store that I buy my supplies at that you cannot get dies for the 308 Marlin Express. I know that I would have to buy a couple of boxes of the Hornady Leverevolution ammo to get brass and I would also have to use flat point bullets to reload my own since you cannot buy the leverevolution bullets yet if ever.

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

If I'm not mistaken I think the only load is a 160 gr load which at that speed is too light for elk in my opinion. Not to mention that component bullets probably will not be offered.

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

I am also interested in all the info I can get for the new marlin 308 express!

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

I do have some info on reloading the marlin 308 express cartriges. Unfortunately the info I have is to reload round nose bullets from Hornady and not the new soft point that they are advertising. The info is a spreedsheet on how to work a load for the round nose bullets. Info came straight from a tech advisor at hornady. This gentleman also told me that the new soft point bullets would not be available to reload for approx. 12-18 months because they are having trouble producing enough bullets to keep the store shelves stocked. I am interested in purchasing one of the new Marlin 308 mxlr with the stainless barrel and laminated stock, but like many others I am leary of the availabilty of ammo. Perhaps if they are having trouble keeping up with demand there will soon be more production and availability!!

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

If any one has any Info or has bought or shot one of these new rifles please contact me. I will check back on a daily basis and post anything I come up with!

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

My brother-in-law used one this year for the Michigan firearms deer season, He said that it was very easy to sight in and that it was one of the most accurate rifles that he has ever owned. 1 inch groups at 100 yards with scope same at 50 yards using the iron sights. He shot a 6 point and a doe, both with only one shot each-devastating results with the new Hornady ammo. He's extremely happy with it, I haven't shot it but it sure is a prety rifle! Bricat

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

Thanks for the positive feedback! Its always nice to hear something good about a product you considered buying!

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

Try going to http://www.marlinowners.com/board/viewforum.php?f=60 and ask the question about the new .308 Marlin. They will give you any info you want.

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

Spent several hours today on the marlin owners forum and man what a great place for info and details. I saw harmonics and balistics charts, and lots of great hunting stories. These people are the serious in depth gun owners and shooters. Everyone should check them out!! Thanks you for all that FA!

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

You are very welcome69. I've been a member there for a long time. Anyone who is serious about leverguns should sign up. These guys are full of knowledge and are always willing to answer any questions or help out. I'm glad you enjoyed the website.

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

in reply to the new 308mx...i thought long and hard.. i read everything + and- about the 308 mx. i bought one..i am very satisfied with the bullet as well as the rifle...it has to be the most accurate i have ever owned and has knock down power to spare. i own several 308 rifles,blr,remington,winchester.. i like them just fine.. but i have always loved the lever action marlin and just dont like a 30-30.. 35 is ok and i own both. you can say all the neg about the 308mx if you want,, try it first it is a performer and will be the first out of the safe everytime. ammo is not hard to find.. if you think it might be buy 2 boxes it sights easy and is accurate so you wont wast any. as far as reloading.. it will come.. so i say buy it

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

well i hate to be the first guy to write something negative about 308 MXLR. The cartridge was nice and accurate. i could hold offhand and shoot about 250 yards and hit a steel target with relative ease. but that only happened when the gun would feed the cartridge. my problem was that the tubular magazine or something was screwed up with the gun. everytime i worked the action, a shell would jam the lever and totally render the gun inoperable. i had to take the lever out and everything just to get the shells out. and what really irritated me the most was that after the FIRST and SECOND times i sent it back to the factory, the gun still did not function properly. but i guess that was the gun and not the cartridge.

RE: Has anybody shot or bought the 308 Marlin Express?
 

What about a Browning lever action in .308? I have one and love it.

This is strange as some people experienced this with the early releases and they were fixed by te factory the first time.

For future reference
http://gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satelli...Marlin+Express

From what I've seen it will be a good load. Reloading wise, might have to wait a year or two when all the components are available. Marlin levers are good rifles. Just a notion, if your looking for packability, might look into the ruger compact mag's 300 or 338 m-77 with a 20" barrel, that's what I took to Newfoundland for moose. Very compact and easy handling rifle. Just after I bought that rifle marlin came out with the 308 & 338's.

From what I've seen it will be a good load. Reloading wise, might have to wait a year or two when all the components are available. Marlin levers are good rifles. Just a notion, if your looking for packability, might look into the ruger compact mag's 300 or 338 m-77 with a 20" barrel, that's what I took to Newfoundland for moose. Very compact and easy handling rifle. Just after I bought that rifle marlin came out with the 308 & 338's.

Hi
new member here, and for my first post, It's a rebuttal regarding reloading the marlin .308 exp.
You can get cases, bullets, and dies for this rifle.
what is hard to find are reloading recipes.
thanks, shutzen:happy0001:

308 marlin exp
 

I own a marlin 308 exp and shoot it regularly. I also shoot a .308 in a custom rem. 700 with a shilen bull barrel for long range. the marlin kicks a bit more than the rem. 308. I have had no trouble getting the supplies for reloading, dies, cases bullets, are readily available. what is hard to get is reloading recipes.their are buillets available in 140,150,155, 160, and I have heard that 180's are available. I started in the .307 cartridge info. The rifle will shoot into a 2" group at 100 yds. with iron sights. fyi I am 73 yrs old and have parkinsons disease and have recently had catarac surgury. I;m sure a younger shooter could do better.
shutzen:happy0001:

Marlin .308 mxlr
 

I have recently purchased one of the Marlin .308 mxlr stainless steel with laminate stock and I can tell you first hand It shoots very nicely with one exception: It jambs-up during levering with the hornady ammunition. It had to be sent to the factory for a re-fit of a longer follower to accomodate the rubber tipped bullets. I am still waiting (2 months) to receive my re-worked rifle. I did discover however since remington(actually freedom arms) purchased Marlin that they (remeington) now offers an option in soft nose. I believe 165 grains. The little shooting I did get to do was fun...can't wait to get it back!:happy0001:

I have a re-worked mauser in .257 roberts. Anybody out there possess one of those? I would be interested in any input.

I too have had the same exact problem and mine is now at the factory. They sent it sportsman haven in ohio and then was subsequently sent back to the factory from there. I don't know what the outcome will be, but I informed the very re-assuring "representatve" that if I am not satisfied that I am going to shout to everyone that will listen what a lousy deal i got!

Wow! I suppose I've been lucky. My .308 MXLR in stainless/ laminate with 24" barrel has performed flawlessly at the bench and in the field. It is fast handling, smooth cycling, and consistently very accurate. My sons and I have no trouble ringing the gong out to 300 yds. on our local range using this weapon. Terminal performance with Hornady Leverevolution 160s on deer has been impressive on the whitetails I've taken. I wouldn't hesitate to use this on any medium size game and would consider it adequate for larger game within 200- 250 yds. I hope the cartridge and rifle stay around for a long time. I have been a 30-30 Marlin Lever guy for years and this gun fills a longstanding void in the Marlin line, a gun which could reasonably be expected to perform on deer/antelope out to 400 yds. It's just plain been a lot of fun to have around. The only thing I might change is the barrel which is a bit longer than what I've been accustomed to owning carbines. Any thoughts on shortening to, say, 20"?