308 Marlin Express
- Thread starter viking499
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kentucky_smith
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- Oct 6, 2005
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Lots of responses I see.
I've been toying with getting one, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. One place locally has one in, a bit on the stiff side which I don't know if they just aren't making them like they used to, or it just needs breaking in. Looked decent wood and fit and finish wise. Of course, then we have this conversation as I'm looking at it:
me: I dunno, I'm really tempted, but worry just a bit about the cartridge--you know, if it'll stick around
him: (in a what are you a retard voice) it's a 308, that's a great round--there's a reason that military snipers and law enforcement use it
me: uhhh, but actually this is a new round
him: it's 308--308 is 308
me: but...this is the new 308 marlin express round, you're thinking 308 winchester...it's not the same thing
I think at this point he actually said something about how I didn't know what I was talking about and they couldn't keep them on the shelf and if I didn't take it somebody else sure would asap blah blah at which point I left
I had noticed that t hey didn't have any ammo on the shelf for it during the 20 minutes or so I stood there waiting to be helped--wonder how much 308 win ammo they sold the last poor slob they sold one to...
me: I dunno, I'm really tempted, but worry just a bit about the cartridge--you know, if it'll stick around
him: (in a what are you a retard voice) it's a 308, that's a great round--there's a reason that military snipers and law enforcement use it
me: uhhh, but actually this is a new round
him: it's 308--308 is 308
me: but...this is the new 308 marlin express round, you're thinking 308 winchester...it's not the same thing
I think at this point he actually said something about how I didn't know what I was talking about and they couldn't keep them on the shelf and if I didn't take it somebody else sure would asap blah blah at which point I left
I had noticed that t hey didn't have any ammo on the shelf for it during the 20 minutes or so I stood there waiting to be helped--wonder how much 308 win ammo they sold the last poor slob they sold one to...
I'm just not sure what this cartridge brings to the table that is not already out there. Sure, it has more range than 30-30, but to me a levergun is a handy, relatively shortrange gun to begin with. There is NO WAY I'm putting a scope on one, and that seems to be the best way to maximize this new cartridge. Throwing a scope on a levergun completely takes away its handling advantage, and I might as well grab a boltgun.
If this cartridge doesn't catch on, a shooter would be in an awful predicament. They don't sell bullets for reloading, and that alone turns me off. I suppose you could use .308 or 30-30 bullets, but that would kind of defeat the purpose of the cartridge to begin with. We don't have access to the powder they use, so even if there were bullets, you couldn't access the full potential of the cartridge.
No way I would buy something I couldn't reload for, not ever. Even if I choose not to reload, I like to have that option. Most 30-30 I shoot is store bought but I know that in a pinch I could go out in the garage and load up a couple hundred.
But, hey, the more the merrier.
If this cartridge doesn't catch on, a shooter would be in an awful predicament. They don't sell bullets for reloading, and that alone turns me off. I suppose you could use .308 or 30-30 bullets, but that would kind of defeat the purpose of the cartridge to begin with. We don't have access to the powder they use, so even if there were bullets, you couldn't access the full potential of the cartridge.
No way I would buy something I couldn't reload for, not ever. Even if I choose not to reload, I like to have that option. Most 30-30 I shoot is store bought but I know that in a pinch I could go out in the garage and load up a couple hundred.
But, hey, the more the merrier.
Car Knocker
Member
The Marlin, using a proprietary cartridge with limited availability, fills the same niche as a Browning BLR chambered for .308 Winchester.
Davo
Member
I have read a bit on this cartridge, but dont undertant what its supposed to "be".
well, you start getting older, scopes start just working better for you...
I have a pre-64 model 94 with peeps that is my light, handy lever gun. But the one place I have to hunt these days (it's getting harder and harder to find places) is pretty dark for one thing, and the ol eyes just aint what they used to be.
Let's face it, you reah a certain age, you tend to hve all the bases covered. I have any number of bolt guns in deer calibers. I have a 35 rem 336 and the 94 for shorter range lever guns. After while you're just looking for something different, which is where the new Marlin comes in for me *shrug*
I DO have some concern about an oddball sticking around, and tend to favor more "traditional" cartidges anyway--don't own any "short mags" or anything. We'll see, there are always other things I'm thinking about, just sort of been thinking lever guns lately...goes in phases...
I have a pre-64 model 94 with peeps that is my light, handy lever gun. But the one place I have to hunt these days (it's getting harder and harder to find places) is pretty dark for one thing, and the ol eyes just aint what they used to be.
Let's face it, you reah a certain age, you tend to hve all the bases covered. I have any number of bolt guns in deer calibers. I have a 35 rem 336 and the 94 for shorter range lever guns. After while you're just looking for something different, which is where the new Marlin comes in for me *shrug*
I DO have some concern about an oddball sticking around, and tend to favor more "traditional" cartidges anyway--don't own any "short mags" or anything. We'll see, there are always other things I'm thinking about, just sort of been thinking lever guns lately...goes in phases...
aspade
Member
They tried this 25 years ago and called it the .307 Winchester. Nobody could figure out what that one was for either.
rdaines
Member
The .308 Marlin sounds great if you like lever rifles and don't want to reload. For me, if I can handload I'm not interested.
The XLR rifles Marlin is producing to take advantage of the LeverEvolution cartridges are really fine rifles. My 336XLR in .30-30 is very accurate, and I've actually mounted a low powered scope on it. I have a 336C that I shoot conventional .30-30 cartidges with, and it will remain the handy carbine it was meant to be, with iron sights (ghost ring).
The new .308ME has impressive performance for a traditional lever gun cartridge, but the .30-30 LeverEvolution shot from the 24" XLR barrel approaches the same territory. And within 200 yards or so the performance of the two is probably about the same.
The new .308ME has impressive performance for a traditional lever gun cartridge, but the .30-30 LeverEvolution shot from the 24" XLR barrel approaches the same territory. And within 200 yards or so the performance of the two is probably about the same.
jeff-10
Member
I am not one to knock evert cartridge that comes out but I think I'd go with a BLR in 30/06 or 308 before I bought a 308 Marlin.
SSN Vet
Member
this reminds me of a Navy buddy who justified spending money on jewelry for his wife by going on and on about what a good "investment" it was.
I suggested to him that an investment is something you plan to sell at a future time for a porfit and asked if his wife knew he wanted her to give up the ring when the market turned up.
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