[cold creek road]

thinkin of getting a 308 express ill be using this gun in thicker areas and on drives . ill use open sights and a williams receiver sight. i like a levr action and didnt want a 30 30 i like the 45/70 guide gun but dont want the recoil any suggestions or ideas and opinions welcome

 

[Stetam]

Personally, I would scrap the 308 express idea and get the 45/70 guide gun. The recoil is not bad on them.

Stetam

 

[Clinton County]

If you didn't want a lever and old 8mm would do the trick. Shoots out to 200 yards easy if you get the shot and it is a .32 caliber.

 

[ACEarcher]

If I'm not mistaken the 308 express is a different round (if i am mistaken sorry). Not like the ordinary 308 we are used too. If your not a hand loader it may be difficult on ammo.

 

[*Moose]

And better yet in ten years that 308 Marlin express will be a collector item just as obscure as the .307 Winchester. Don't wait to get a supply of ammo though.

 

[HOGGHEAD]

I have also been looking at one of those. They impress me as a great cartridge. Basically 308 performance in a lever gun that normally has the 30-30 cartridge. Brass is available. So just buy some brass and don't worry if they discontinue it or not. There are lots of discontinued lever rifles out there. And in the levers normally the discontinued ones keep or raise in value. Also for the performance yielded by the cartridge it is a pretty good cartridge for a reasonable price of factory ammo if you shoot factory fodder.

I have talked to a few guys on lever guns forum that really like them. They are getting honest to goodness 300 yard range with a rifle that does not have a bunch of recoil. Go for it, I think I am.

Again the guys may be right about what might happen to the cartridge down the road. However the 307 is not a good example. I know a few guys who would love to get their hands on a 307. Just stock up a little ammo and save your brass. Tom.

 

[*Moose]

I've always wanted to get my hands on a .307. I had the .356 and the .375 but the .307 was the one I really wanted.

 

[Setters4Life]

There is a lot of good reads on the Marlin Owners forum about the new Marlin 308/338 cartridges. I would tend to agree that you might get the most out of the cartridge if you reload for it. (As you would for any cartridge available today.)

I still like the .444 Marlin and the old .45-70 chambered in Marlin's as a big bore cartridges. If you reload for either they are both very versatile rounds. Hey, nobody expected the .444 to stay around as long as it did but it's still hanging on by a thread and outlasted the .307 and .356. I have my eye on a .45-70 that I'm going to look at next week. I hope I can make a decision on this one.

 

[Farflung]

i guess I'ver gotten skeptical in my old age. I'm not a collector, so I like a popular cartridge. Yup, the gun will probably increase in value, 'cause the cartridge is unlikely to become widely adopted and will dissapear in time. It does have the advantage of some good ballistics in a excellent lever gun. I hope I'm wrong cause I would like to buy one, in 10 years when there are lots of different guns chambered for it and the cartridges are as common and easy to come by as "aught 6's".

 

[JasonN]

FWIW, 'they' said the 450 Marlin would be dead in 10 years too....it's been 10 years and it's still selling well. The 444 has been here since 1964 and it's got a good following as well.

 

[Setters4Life]

FWIW, 'they' said the 450 Marlin would be dead in 10 years too....it's been 10 years and it's still selling well. The 444 has been here since 1964 and it's got a good following as well.

Agreed. The .450 Marlin benefits from the fact it is substantially "uploaded" in factory rounds with good bullets. Something any handloader can duplicate in a proper .45-70 arm that can accomodate it.

The .444 is an under-rated cartridge, but it's still hanging on and proven very versatile over the years. And it benefits well from handloading. My next project with my pet .444 is to try my hand at home-brewed shotloads.

 

[*Moose]

FWIW, 'they' said the 450 Marlin would be dead in 10 years too....it's been 10 years and it's still selling well. The 444 has been here since 1964 and it's got a good following as well.

Agreed. The .450 Marlin benefits from the fact it is substantially "uploaded" in factory rounds with good bullets. Something any handloader can duplicate in a proper .45-70 arm that can accomodate it.

The .444 is an under-rated cartridge, but it's still hanging on and proven very versatile over the years. And it benefits well from handloading. My next project with my pet .444 is to try my hand at home-brewed shotloads.

That's not what I'm hearing at all. I'm hearing it was a flop.

 

[HOGGHEAD]

I have also heard the 450 was a flop. I do not think it will be around much longer.

I also do not have a lot of faith that the 308 Marlin will be around long either. It really is a lever action specific cartridge. And alot of people do not like rimmed cartridges. So the guys are right about it having a high probability of dying.

However if I had one I would not care if it died or not. If I bought 500-1000 cases then I would not care if it died. I would have all I would need. I would cast my own bullets for the rifle. So I would not care if it died.

If you want to buy a cartridge that is popular then go ahead and get it. However in most calibers the better performing cartridges are not always the best selling. And this is probably just one more. Who cares!! Tom.

 

[*Moose]

The problem is the 450 Marlin was the answer to a question no one ever asked. There is nothing it offers over the 45-70. It can be argued that it doesn't even offer what the 45-70 does because it has thicker case walls which cut down on powder capacity. So thick in fact that every 405 grain I ever loaded in the .450 case left a slight bulge in it.

 

[Setters4Life]

That's not what I'm hearing at all. I'm hearing it was a flop.

I opine that that same can be said for any lever gun today which all seem to be waning in popularity. Many rifles sold today all appear as bolt-action rifles, looking part-sniper and chambered in some whizbang calibers too. We live in an age where more rifles seen to wear illuminated BDC optics, sport at least 4x14x for magnification, and come pillar bedded in a 'glass & Kevlar stock with the obligatory Teflon finish on all metal parts.

I like technology too, but whatever happened to the working man's rifle?

I pulled an old Speer reloading manual the other day to get some reduced load data I was researching. It was from the mid-70's. I noted that there were not many cartridges in it either. Some of the standards we know, and one wildcat I noted was the 8mm/06. It didn't even have data for the .35 Whelen. In contrast, the plethora of cartridges available today are staggering. What rounds are really better than some of the old tried and true ones? Many some of the bigger magnums which hold a cupful of Norma MRP I suppose. Too many in the middle simply split hairs and duplicate older ones.

Is it possible I am turning in to a cynical "rifle curmudgeon?"

 

[HOGGHEAD]

I like technology too, but whatever happened to the working man's rifle?

Is it possible I am turning in to a cynical "rifle curmudgeon?"

Today's generation of kids do not want to be like their dad and grandpa. When I grew up I wanted to be like my dad. I wanted to have what he had. But today's kids are being taught at a very early age that dad is wrong. And I think that is sad.

As far as the new stuff. Well it is simple. The people want something different than dad's. So why not supply them with it. Then charge $40-$60 for a box of ammo too shoot out of it.

The working man's rifle is gone simply because as Americans we have become too rich and overindulged. Our forefathers could only afford one firearm for the whole family. Now we have dozens. I know I am guilty of this.

There really is no such thing as pinching for most people any more. If that was the case then we would all be casting our own bullets for an MZ. So things are bad out there right now. But not when you compare it to historical standards.

And if anybody is hungry and can not afford to eat then stop by and I will cook up a batch of deer steak and fried potatoes. Tom.

 

[Setters4Life]

I like technology too, but whatever happened to the working man's rifle?

Is it possible I am turning in to a cynical "rifle curmudgeon?"

Today's generation of kids do not want to be like their dad and grandpa. When I grew up I wanted to be like my dad. I wanted to have what he had. But today's kids are being taught at a very early age that dad is wrong. And I think that is sad.

As far as the new stuff. Well it is simple. The people want something different than dad's. So why not supply them with it. Then charge $40-$60 for a box of ammo too shoot out of it.

The working man's rifle is gone simply because as Americans we have become too rich and overindulged. Our forefathers could only afford one firearm for the whole family. Now we have dozens. I know I am guilty of this.

There really is no such thing as pinching for most people any more. If that was the case then we would all be casting our own bullets for an MZ. So things are bad out there right now. But not when you compare it to historical standards.

And if anybody is hungry and can not afford to eat then stop by and I will cook up a batch of deer steak and fried potatoes. Tom.

Tom, I couldn't agree with you more.

 

[TedC54]

I would suggest considering the same gun, but in .35 Rem and LeveRevolution Ammunition. It is the real deal. You obviously are not getting the ballistics of a .308 Win, but you are a heck of a lot closer with this new ammo.

 

[Big Ken]

Get what your heart desires..No need to justify it to anyone, you know it will kill deer....Does anyone tell you what color car to get?....These oddball cartridges often turn out to be the best!

 

[Harrysigafoo]

Actually, if you want a close hunting Marlin lever rifle for PA, don't overlook the 44 mag. Much lighter and faster handling than the 307/308 actions. More than enough for deer at ranges out to 150+

Also the 444 is a better 50-200 yard deer rifle than the 308, you don't even need to think bullet expansion, it starts out at .42.

Of the newer lever (marlin/wincher) cartridges, the 375 is really perfect. It is just a 38-55 re-styled. I've killed lots of deer with both my 44 carbine and my 375 Marlin, they seem to die just as well (maybe faster) than from my 308 win!