Marlin .308 Express

slimjim · Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 5:53 am Post subject: Re: Marlin .308 Express

It may be a .308, just don't expect to have .308 Win performance.

stovepipe · Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 6:00 am Post subject: Re: Marlin .308 Express

Vince wrote:

Sooooo....what are ya tryin' ta say Stovey old mate?????

Cheers, Vince

Sorry man, there I go sugar coating things again.

I need to learn to let it out.

1895ss · Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 8:29 am Post subject: Re: Marlin .308 Express

stovepipe wrote:

Vince wrote:

Sooooo....what are ya tryin' ta say Stovey old mate?????

Cheers, Vince

Sorry man, there I go sugar coating things again.

I need to learn to let it out.

Oh!!!!

Maqwa · Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 6:07 pm Post subject: Re: Marlin .308 Express

Well every company has it's problems . I had a alloy 358W lite browning BLR that spent two of the three years in for repairs . First there developed a problem with timing of the bolt to lever , then after it became hard to open after a shot fired . It was almost as the 358 W cartridge was too much for the gun .
I heard of others on the forums who experianced problems with their new lightweight BLR, so going into the third year It was again sent back to browning , then- I sold it .

The Marlin 308 ME is close to the Savage 300 in power which is indeed an old but useful round suitable for deer , moose and black bear .
For a bit more power consider then the 338 ME marlin which is on the heels of the 3006.
The Marlin 338 Me did have some feeding issues but this can quickly be resolved if you look in the Marlin owners forum.

Implying that the Marlin levers are not not good guns, then that is like a Ford man telling a Chev guy his car is junk .
I own a 308 Savage bolt , but would carry a 308/338 ME instead , if some one wanted to trade ( in Canada )for a new Savage bolt.
Then too I am a "Ford " guy and my wife drives GM Very Happy

squirrelbait · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:19 am Post subject: Re: Marlin .308 Express

I'm just a little mistified as to why marlin had to come out with a different cartridge. It seems there are a large number within the 308 Marlin performance range. The 308 Win will always be around. Don't get it.

Maqwa · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: Marlin .308 Express

squirrelbait wrote:

I'm just a little mistified as to why marlin had to come out with a different cartridge. It seems there are a large number within the 308 Marlin performance range. The 308 Win will always be around. Don't get it.

Marlin wanted to come up with something in the 307 W range, The 307 Winchester is really a 308 W with a rim that could be fired in the winchester 94 lever . It almost has the power of the 308 W.
The 308 ME is a bit shorter than the 307in length and works nicely in the 336 Marlin action, and is suitable for deer and up to Elk in performance. It is also a flat shooting cartridge .
Why did we need it ? Well to have the performance of the 308 Winchester cartride in a Marlin Lever . It is their own cartarge Both the 307 W and 308 ME are really in the same class as Savage 300.

Later Marlin introduced the 338 which is close to the 3006 cartrige in powder .
So we are getting bolt action performance in A Marlin Lever

slimjim · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:01 pm Post subject: Re: Marlin .308 Express

I'd be interested in seeing some pictures of your groups. I have a Marlin 22lr lever but I'm not familiar with the accuracy of the centerfire Marlins.

Maqwa · Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: Marlin .308 Express

I personally do not have a Marlin in 308 or 338 ME . I did manage a 307 Winchester BB or rather it found me this spring . Most of my hunting days are spent with the 308and 3006and the last few also with the 338 Federal , all in bolt action rifles . The 307 was intended for heavy bush on deer . I was shopping around for a Savage 99 and looked at the Marlin 308 and 338 ME which was researched .
Had the 307 not come arround I would probably bought either the 308 ME or 338 ME in the Marlin MX which is the blued 22 inch barreled Lever .Think the grouping is more like close to an inch@ 100 yards.
My wife had a Browning BLR in 308 W . It shot well ,but you had to site it in every time you changed the ammo to a different loador brand ,so we finally traded it on a Ruger3006 bolt .
I later bought one of the alloy reciever BLR in 358 and it was in for repairs more than in our safe , so sold it . The older steel recievered frame is the way to go.I know about a dozen hunters who have had many problems with the Liteweight BLR.
The point , there is a need for this class of lever action rifles . The Savage 99 filled that need withthe 300 Savage which later was chambered in 308 W. Too bad they are no longer made.
Winchester adapted the Big bore 94 for the 356/ 307 and 375, but they never caught on. If the winchester sold the 356and 307 Now I bet they would sell!!It is more how they were marketed that killed the chambering
Marlin had the 444/ 45/70 then the 450M but they were more for short range , where the later 308 and the 338 ME were more to the 200 + yard rifles where the big bores were more to the 100/ 150 yard bush guns .
The BLR browning could be had from 22 centre fire right up to the 300 WM , so they were long range lever rifles. So they had the range too as the bolt action rifles

PaulS · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 12:58 pm Post subject: Re: Marlin .308 Express

I think the reason for the new cartridge is the rimmed case. Having that rim makes it more suitable for the lever action. It would also be easier in single shots than the rimless rounds.
I have always liked bolt actions but then I tend to buy Fords too.

Maqwa · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 2:08 pm Post subject: Re: Marlin .308 Express

Paul S

I see you a very fine guy , just by reading your E-mail .
You like bolt action rifles and like fords .
Well I enjoy lever action rifles as much as a fine bolt . In close quarters or dogging through heavy cover I prefer the lever .
And for thirty years worked as a Ford Mechanic.

PaulS · Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: Marlin .308 Express

Well, that goes to show you that even guys with lever actions can be nice guys too.
Thanks Magwa. I had to work on Chevies to make a living - there just weren't enough Fords breaking down. Smile