Would you buy a NEW rifle chambered in the .300 Savage or the 308 Marlin Express

[Slamfire]

I'll pass on both cartridges, what's the point of havin' a cartridge good for three hundred yard shootin' in a rifle that the buyers only use to 200 yards. The Lever Revolution idea doesn't impress me, the difference in trajectory over 200 yards is miniscule, when the difference between spitzers and round nose bullets are used in the same rifle.
As to wether  a .398 would kill a black bear, I can't see why not, the only one I ever shot succumbed to one shot from my .270, another cartridge some folks consider to be insufficient. Bad hits fail to kill and it really doesn't matter what the caliber or bullet weight are. I certainly don't intend to give up on blackies with my "puny" .260 stuffed with 129 grain Hornadys.
My Dad owned a Savage 99 in .300 Savage, and it was the hardest kickin' rifle I shot, as a kid, I'm sure it wouldn't have been as brutal with a different stock, I never could hit anything with his Model 12 Winchester either. 

[Coyote Hunter]

I'll pass on both cartridges, what's the point of havin' a cartridge good for three hundred yard shootin' in a rifle that the buyers only use to 200 yards. The Lever Revolution idea doesn't impress me, the difference in trajectory over 200 yards is miniscule, when the difference between spitzers and round nose bullets are used in the same rifle.
...

Slamfire -

Perhaps one reason people limit the .30-30 to 200 yards is the retained energy.  Here are some energy figures:

100 yards:
1218fpe = Hornady 170g factory load .30-30
1278fpe = Hornady 150g factory load .30-30
1438fpe = Speer 170g 2200fps handload .30-30
1478fpe = Speer 150g 2400fps handload .30-30
1643fpe = Hornady LeverEvolution 160g .30-30
1963fpe = Speer 170g 2550fps handload for .308 Marlin
2111fpe = Hornady LeverEvolution 160g .308 Marlin

200 yards:
 793fpe = Hornady 170g factory load .30-30
 832fpe = Hornady 150g factory load .30-30
1120fpe = Speer 150g 2400fps handload .30-30
1121fpe = Speer 170g 2200fps handload .30-30
1410fpe = Hornady LeverEvolution 160g .30-30
1552fpe = Speer 170g 2550fps handload for .308 Marlin
1761fpe = Hornady LeverEvolution 160g .308 Marlin

Looking at it another way, using the 200-yard 832fpe of the Hornady 150g .30-30 load as the basis for comparison:
165 yards = 833fpe, Hornady 170g factory load .30-30
200 yards = 832fpe, Hornady 150g factory load .30-30
305 yards = 828fpe, Speer 150g 2400fps handload .30-30
315 yards = 834fpe, Speer 170g 2200fps handload .30-30
450 yards = 826fpe, Speer 170g 2550fps handload for .308 Marlin
460 yards = 834fpe, Hornady LeverEvolution 160g .30-30
550 yards = 883fpe, Hornady LeverEvolution 160g .308 Marlin

Or yet another way of looking at it, using a 6" diameter target for Maximum Point Blank Range calculations (the bullet is never more than 3" above or below line of sight):
199yds/820fpe = Hornady 170g factory load .30-30
213yds/809fpe = Hornady 150g factory load .30-30
213yds/1079fpe = Speer 170g 2200fps handload .30-30
227yds/1043fpe = Speer 150g 2400fps handload .30-30
238yds/1302fpe = Hornady LeverEvolution 160g .30-30
245yds/1390fpe = Speer 170g 2550fps handload for .308 Marlin
261yds/1574fpe = Hornady LeverEvolution 160g .308 Marlin

Of course, once we have zeroed for MPBR for a 6" diameter target we can look at where the bullet is down 10" - a combination I frequently use when assessing the useful range of a firearm (in addition to other factors):
240yds/696fpe = Hornady 170g factory load .30-30
255yds/683fpe = Hornady 150g factory load .30-30
260yds/962fpe = Speer 170g 2200fps handload .30-30
275yds/904fpe = Speer 150g 2400fps handload .30-30
290yds/1179fpe = Hornady LeverEvolution 160g .30-30
300yds/1212fpe = Speer 170g 2550fps handload for .308 Marlin
320yds/1403fpe = Hornady LeverEvolution 160g .308 Marlin

One last comparison, using the 1403fpe delivered by the .308 ME at 320 yards as the basis:
 60yds/1387fpe = Hornady 170g factory load .30-30
 70yds/1386fpe = Hornady 150g factory load .30-30
110yds/1403fpe = Speer 170g 2200fps handload .30-30
120yds/1400fpe = Speer 150g 2400fps handload .30-30
200yds/1410fpe = Hornady LeverEvolution 160g .30-30
240yds/1408fpe = Speer 170g 2550fps handload for .308 Marlin
320yds/1403fpe = Hornady LeverEvolution 160g .308 Marlin

The reality of the situation is that the LeverEvolution loads DO have spitzer bullets and enjoy better downrange ballistics as a result. 
Comparing the .30-30 LeverEvolution to the .standard 30-30 ammo, the LE adds about 14-21% more range (at -10", zeroed for MPBR) and has 70% more energy at the longer range than the standard ammo has at the shorter range.

Comparing the .308 ME to the standard .30-30 ammo, the ME adds 25-33% more range (at -10", zeroed for MPBR) and has 100% more energy at the longer range than the standard ammo has at the shorter range.

Using the 1403fpe level as the basis for comparison (a level quite adequate for elk, by the way), the .308 ME extends the range over Hornady's standard .30-30 ammo by 457-533% and over the .30-30 LE ammo by 60% .

My Marlins all wear scopes and hitting kill-zone sized targets at 300 yards is not a problem.  The reason I would not use my .30-30 to hunt at 300 yards is a problem with insufficient retained energy.  The .30-30 LE and the .308 ME ammo (even when  the .308 ME is handloaded without Hornady's special powders) rectify the retained energy problem.

You may not be impressed by the LeverEvolution ammo, but it has been a big hit with consumers in general.  I think the numbers above explain why.  And I think quite a few will be very impressed with the .308 ME's downrange capabilities.

[shilo]

Just bought a Savage 99E , if it's had 20rds through it I'd be surprised, in 300 Savage.

[Slamfire]

It has been my experience that kinetic energy firgures have nothin' to do with killin' game. Those numbers don't impress me, as I consider them worthless. It is the rifles themselves that are the limitin' factor. Nobody bought the Sako Finnwolf, and not enough bought the Wincchester 88 to keep it in the catalog. When people look at the other lever actions they figure, "brush gun".

[Cement Man]

Slamfire,
There's no doubt that kinetic energy is not a total index for lethality, and that there are a lot of different dynamic factors to be considered regarding successful game-taiking - but it all starts with simple physics.  You can't get away from that.  It's not optional.  Ballistics are a valid and inseparable part of the equation, as are accuracy, bullet construction, shot placement, etc.etc.

[Coyote Hunter]

It has been my experience that kinetic energy firgures have nothin' to do with killin' game. Those numbers don't impress me, as I consider them worthless. It is the rifles themselves that are the limitin' factor. Nobody bought the Sako Finnwolf, and not enough bought the Wincchester 88 to keep it in the catalog. When people look at the other lever actions they figure, "brush gun".

Kinetic energy is a valid way of comparing various loads but is not a perfect method.  It is best used when comparing projectiles of similar construction and diameter and weight.

In this case I compared 150 and 170g cup-and-core bullets of the same diameter. The twist rates in the rifles may be different but the loads are close enough for a reasonably valid comparison.  People have long considered the .30-30 to be a short range tool because of the relatively low energy it delivers downrange.  Let’s compare apples to apples – my .30-30 load with the 170g Speer and the same bullet in a .308 Marlin at an estimated 2550fps.  The .308 Marlin delivers the same energy (1408fpe) at 240 yards that the .30-30 does at 110 yards (1403fpe).

 If Kinetic Energy has nothing to do with killing, then I propose I shoot my game while you throw identical bullets at them.  If you prefer you can use a rifled blowgun to stabilize the bullet and make sure it lands point first. We’ll see who gets more one shot kills, and if you can even get a kill.  Unless you live in a very strange and different universe where the laws of physics are radically different, energy counts for a great deal.  In this universe, energy is conserved (the First Law of Thermodynamics).  Translated, that means that if no energy is transferred from object ‘A’ (the bullet) to object ‘B’ (the game animal), no change occurs to object ‘B’.  No change, as in no change whatsoever – no imparted momentum at any level, no damage of any kind, nothing.  As in no injury or death.

There is nothing about a good Marlin that inherently limits its usefulness to 100 yards, 150 yards or even 200 yards.  I use my .30-30 to shoot clay pigeons at 200 yards on a regular basis and often back off to 300 yards.  Granted, I often miss, but I often hit as well and overall group size is better at 300 yards than many people achieve at 100 yards with other firearms.  My .45-70 will hold 5” a 300 yards and my Marlin in .375 Win has shot several 2” groups at 200 yards.

What other people think of leverguns is of little concern to me, but the sales of Hornady’s LE ammo indicates a great many people are either looking to extend the range of their leverguns with a flatter trajectory or are want to deliver more energy downrange.

[Mac11700]

It has been my experience that kinetic energy firgures have nothin' to do with killin' game. Those numbers don't impress me, as I consider them worthless. It is the rifles themselves that are the limitin' factor. Nobody bought the Sako Finnwolf, and not enough bought the Wincchester 88 to keep it in the catalog. When people look at the other lever actions they figure, "brush gun".

The Sako Finnwolf was too damn expensive...and the model 88 wasn't that great nor was the model 100..I've owned 2 88's and good friends had the Sako...Their introduction was just at the wrong time...

I don't know about others..but I don't look at the BLR's as brush guns..since you said other lever guns..and I certainly don't consider my 24" Stainless Steel XLR Marlin 45-70 just a brush gun...namely because I know just how good it does at 200 yards and beyond...Energy figures maynot impress you... and you may consider them worthless...but the vast majority of folks thinks otherwise...and we know just how important these figures are when shooting at longer yardages..

Mac