marlin lever 308

[hillbill]

anybody seen one of these or have one?if so i have a few questions. marlin claims it will reproduce regular .308 ballistics. is this so? is it just a rimmed 308 or can i make it from standard 308 brass?the article i have seen claimed very good accuracy, especially good for a lever gun, in fact they claimed a 9 shot group at 300 yrds of 6 in.the msrp price they were talking about was around 750$this may of been for the stainless version.any info would be appreciated.

[Swampman]

"marlin claims it will reproduce regular .308 ballistics. is this so?"

No

"is it just a rimmed 308 or can i make it from standard 308 brass?"

It's neither, it's a new cartridge.

"the article i have seen claimed very good accuracy, especially good for a lever gun, in fact they claimed a 9 shot group at 300 yrds of 6 in."

I'm equal guns, I believe it's as accurate as the .30-30.

"the msrp price they were talking about was around 750$"

I think you can get a better price than that.

[handirifle]

Now lets see.

The 308 Win (from Remington web site)

Velocity   
Premier® AccuTip™
muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
165 2700 2501 2311 2129 1956 1792

Energy
Premier® AccuTip™ 165
Muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
2670 2292 1957 1661 1401 1176

Short-Range Trajectory
Premier® AccuTip™ 165
50 100 150 200 250 300
 -0.1 zero -1.3 -4.1 -8.5 -14.7

Long range trajectory
Muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
2.0 1.8 zero -3.4 -8.6 -24.8 -50.1

**********************************************
The 308 Marlin Express (from the Hornady web site)

308 MARLIN EXPRESS 160 gr LEVERevolution 82733

Velocity (fps) 

Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
2660/2513 2438 2226 2026 1836 1659

Energy (ft-lbs)
muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
2513 2111 1761 1457 1197 978

Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
 -1.5     3.0       1.7     -6.7    -23.5 -50.7
 ***********************************************

Ballistic Data from Point Blank software using the Nosler Ballistic tip 165gr bullet for comparrison
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Range  Elevation  Velocity   Energy     
  0 yds   -1.50 in  2700 fps  2671 fpe 
100 yds    2.72 in  2492 fps  2275 fpe
200 yds    1.35 in  2293 fps  1926 fpe
300 yds   -6.71 in  2104 fps  1621 fpe
400 yds  -22.42 in  1923 fps  1354 fpe
500 yds  -47.84 in  1753 fps  1126 fpe


I haven't owned, shot or even seen the 308 MX, but to me the differences are not worth discussing.  The 308 Win has the advantage WAY out there past where most of us shoot, but it is still an advantage, but that, I feel is due mostly to bullet desiugn, not the cartridge capabilities.

As for accuracy, I'd suggest checking the marlinowners.com web site as they have a section devoted soely to this round.  all the reports I read show it makes the leverguns built for it appear as accurate as many factory hunting rifles in 308 calibers.  NOTE I said FACTORY and HUNTING rifles, not to compare this to any tactical or target rifles in the same caliber.