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Offline Bushnell Boy

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Which Marlin is best
« on: April 06, 2004, 06:04:27 AM »
I was wondering which lever gun caliber has the best Ballistics at long ranges (300-400 yards) and still has the power to take down midsize game like white tails? Looking for factory loads only
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Offline va_hunter

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Which Marlin is best
« Reply #1 on: April 06, 2004, 06:38:07 AM »
saying lever gun and 300-400 yards in the same sentence isn't really a good thing.  These rifles and loads are truly designed to be hard hitting at under 200 yds.  There are folsk here that will claim taking deer at over 200 yds, but is really the exception.
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Offline Bushnell Boy

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Which Marlin is best
« Reply #2 on: April 06, 2004, 08:26:19 AM »
Ya I kind of figured that. I thought maybe there was one out there that I didn't know about. I know that other companies like savage make some longer range lever guns but I like my Marlin so much I was kinda hoping to get another one. I actually can't ever see myself shooting over three hundred yards but I like to know that my rifle can if I have to.
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Offline lubbockdave

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Which Marlin is best
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2004, 11:14:49 AM »
Quote from: Bushnell Boy
Ya I kind of figured that. I thought maybe there was one out there that I didn't know about. I know that other companies like savage make some longer range lever guns but I like my Marlin so much I was kinda hoping to get another one. I actually can't ever see myself shooting over three hundred yards but I like to know that my rifle can if I have to.


why would you HAVE to? part of the thrill of the hunt is getting in close...
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Offline Bushnell Boy

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Which Marlin is best
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2004, 01:39:01 PM »
Almost everything I have ever shot was within 100 yards. I have shot a couple deer at around 150 - 200 yards but most of them are in close. I was just curious. Im not familiar with a lot of the calibers avaliable in the lever action guns. I was just wondering what was out there.
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Offline Winter Hawk

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Which Marlin is best
« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2004, 01:41:27 PM »
Look for an old Savage 99 or Winchester 88.  Or, you might want to look at the new Brownings.  All three are available in .308, the Browning in .30-06.  They should reach out and touch something for you!

-WH-
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Offline lubbockdave

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Which Marlin is best
« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2004, 05:23:01 PM »
Quote from: Bushnell Boy
Almost everything I have ever shot was within 100 yards. I have shot a couple deer at around 150 - 200 yards but most of them are in close. I was just curious. Im not familiar with a lot of the calibers avaliable in the lever action guns. I was just wondering what was out there.


Like Hawk said, if you really want a lever gun that goes 200yards++ check out the savage 99, Winchester 88's, or the Brownings. I personally owned a Savage 99 in .243 that handled VERY well and was accurate-1inch groups at 100 yards with factory ammo-and would HIGHLY reccomend the Savages. The .308's and .300 savage calibers are fairly common and won't cost an arm and a leg. If you are looking for something a little more exotic maybe a 250-3000 or a .303?? I chose the Savage over the winchester only 'cause the savage kinda fell into my lap and the Savages seem to be a little cheaper that the Winchesters. I never considered the Brownings--think they are kinda ugly...

Good luck and let us know what you decide...

Dave
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Offline RIFLERANGER

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Which Marlin is best
« Reply #7 on: April 06, 2004, 09:00:11 PM »
You could always rechamber an existing 30-30 to .307 or 35Rem to .356.
The conversions are cheap enough at around $100, and both of these cartridges are good to at least 250 yards and more.
It is true though, that leverguns for the most part, were always supposed to be brush guns, but Savage, Browning, and Winchester have all put out leverguns capable of longer cartridges utilizing spitzer type bullets which give them the reach you are looking for.
If you think about it, aside from the fun of getting in close, if you are indeed hunting long, a brush gun isn't the answer anyway.
Ranger
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Offline Bushnell Boy

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Which Marlin is best
« Reply #8 on: April 21, 2004, 12:33:12 PM »
First of all what is a 250-3000?

Second I have been really happy with the savage bolt guns that I've owned maybe I will look into a 99. I like the idea of converting a 30-30 also but I'm not familiar with the rounds mentioned.
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To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
Thomas A. Edison (1847 - 1931)

Two roads diverged in a wood, and --
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And that has made all the difference.
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Offline oso45-70

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marlin lever action rifles
« Reply #9 on: April 21, 2004, 05:31:33 PM »
BUSHNELL BOY
The 250-3000 was developed in 1915 by Charles Newton.It's a 25 cal.
round based on the 300 savage, The 3000 is because it was the first 25 cal round to make 3000 ft.per. sec. It came out in the mod.99 savage. It
is still popular with the old timmers. All in All it's a neat little white tail gun
that can be used for varmint shooting, Hope this answers your question.
Good luck to ya,, Joe
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Offline Coyote Hunter

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Which Marlin is best
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2004, 04:51:27 AM »
BushnewllBoy -

When you mention "300-400" yards you are talking about a range far in excess of the optimum range for "traditional"  Marlin lever-action calibers like the .30-30, .444 and .45-70.  Calibers like the .356 Win, .375 Win and the newer 450 Marlin still don't get you there.  (And good luck finding a .356 anyway, and .375's can be hard to find, too.)  A .307 Win will work to 300 and beyond, but I wouldn't consider it a 400 yard cartridge  - and Marlin never actaully produced a .307 even though they were announced.

As others have mentioned, a Savage in .308 is a good choice if you want to gamble on buying a used rifle.

That leaves the Ruger #1 and Browning BLR, either of which can be had chambered for cartridges that will reach 300-400 yards if you do your part.
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Offline PeterF.

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Which Marlin is best
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2004, 07:05:35 AM »
You'll notice the difference, of course, is that the Savage, Win 88 and BLR have box-type magazines (well, the Savage is rotary, but that's another story), while your "traditional"-looking Marlin/Winchester are tube-feed.  You can't be having those pointy-headed long-range-type bullets sitting nose-to-butt against the primer of the next one ahead.  The rounder-headed bullets typically seen in tube-fed lever action calibers won't generally perform well at the long distances you suggest.
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