Home Forums Lever Action Central Marlin 336 Lever Actions new .308 Marlin Express

I guess its up me to row against the tide-this is similar to the ol Savage an Winchester numbers, but its a new animal, folks.
There will always be those whose loyalty to the ol cartridges is unwaverin. Myself, I'm quite partial to the .307, an I've seen the .300 Savage take down a truly magnificent Bull, but the truth of it all is that both of these cartridges come with lots of strings, an very little in the way of bonus for either Marlin or Hornady.
Whether you like it or not what it really does is maximize the 336-gets the most possible out of the gun/30cal. format.
Marlin an Hornady are gonna ruffle some feathers, theyre changin the whole concept of the levergun, but personally, I thin its exciting to see these companies working the tried an true platform into the 21st/C.
Good luck n good shootin

I have no problem with what Marlin & Hornady are doing to maximize the 336. The problem I have is with the BS they are spewing about it never being done before. Savage 99s have been shooting pointed bullets for nearly 100 years, and I mean REAL pointed bullets not some rubber titted fake point. Savage changed the whole concept of the levergun in 1895 not Marlin in 2006. I will continue to enjoy my pre-stupid safety Marlins shooting blunt nosed bullets at short range , but when I need more range capability I will reach for one of my 99s , yet farther & one of my boltguns gets the nod.
Mike
BTW I just so happen to have a Savage 99 chambered in the REAL 308 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

6mm you said it best as far as i'm concerned

I own Savage 99 and Marlin 336/1895 rifles. They are my two favorite rifle models. With that being said, the new Hornady ammo does offer real advantages over traditional flat/round tipped bullets in my Marlins. I have an 1895SS 45/70, 336RC 35 Rem and 336A 30-30 all scoped and sighted in with the Leverevolution ammo. All three are sub 1.5 moa rifles now, and all are at least 200 yd rifles. This stuff shoots more accurately, and with a better trajectory than any factory ammo I have ever tried.

The 24" barrel Marlin 30-30 now has almost the same trajectory as my 24" barrel 99EG 300 Savage, and is more accurate. The 35 and 45/70 cartridges fill a niche that none of my Savages do with super accurate, big bore slugs.

It is true that Marlin and Hornady have not come up with a better moutrap than the Savage 99, but they have evened the playing field considerably. I am excited about the 308 Express and will most likely buy one in each configuration.

While you may see the safeties as "stupid", I do not. It's a matter of opinion, not verifiable fact. I leave mine off in the field but use it when loading/unloading. Two of my levers have safeties, two do not. A safety won't deter me from buying another Marlin, and sales of Marlin levers indicate others are not deterred either.

As to the .308 win or .300 Savage, neither can be used safely in a Marlin or Winchester lever. Winchester introduced the .307 Win back in the 80's but rifles in good condition are fairly scarce and often command a premium over other calibers. Marlin didn't ship any, which makes them even harder to get.

The .308 Marlin comes in a rifle redesigned for higher pressures than a standard 336 (v-threads instead of square for the barrel/receiver) and provides .307 velocities at lower pressures. The Hornady LeverEvolution ammunition with the flexible-tip bullets provides bulletes with better Ballistic Coefficients that are still safe in tubular magazines - a first as far as I know. (The French Lebel excepted, as there were some problems with mag-tube explosions.)

For myself, I plan to handload for the .308 Marlin and won't use the flex-tip bullets even if they become available. Since a Marlin in .307 was what I wanted when I purchased my first Marlin in .375 Win, I applaud what Marlin and Hornady are doing.

This all sounds all well and good and like a few I like Marlins efforts if for nothing else bringing something to the table that will do what a .308 does in their rifles. But as with everything else new (especially the short magnums) this may live very short in the limelight!!!

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BLASPHEMY!

I know, I know, and I'm ashamed of it too. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I pick up every 99 I can, just waiting to find the right one, but it just hasn't happened yet. Now, if one came along in .358, I'd learn to live with it! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Also wanted to say, I like the cross bolt safety. Especially now that my 7 yr old boy is starting to shoot with me.
The only lever I have is a Marlin 1894 in .22 mag, and he's really starting to like it!

I realize that a number of folks still idolize the Savage 99. Even the mo99fan has gotta admit one thing-theyre not makin em, an they haven't made em-for some time. According to what I heard, theyre not thinkin of goin back to makin em, either.
To state the obvious, Marlin is offerin brand spankin new.
Once again, you don havto like the flex tip bullet, but it is a unique phenomenon in todays world.
Truth is, I personally am left cold by just about every bolt action out there, but if you want to talk about cuttin edge ballistics, thats your real platform.
Leverguns are pretty much a unique, American phenomenon, as a levergunner I can have loyalty to the tried an true, the traditional, an the new.
Nobody is forcing anyone to add the new Marlin to their battery, but since Browning is sitting on Winchester, all we really have r Marlin & Miroku. If you prefer a levergun thats both traditional an long range capable Miroku has some of its 1895/06s still at various distributors.
I applaud Marlin for taking the plunge, it was courageous, especially if the response here is any measure of their market.

To me, a 99 feels absolutely great in my hands!!!

From what I am hearing from my industry friends this will be the biggest thing since �sliced bread� everything regarding production specifications are being finalized(cut barrels evenbut not single point)! Huge pre orders for both the ammo and the rifles�lot of folks on this board are going to look pretty foolish this time next year! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

ooooooooooooooooooohhh that is gonna leave a mark!!!!!!

Exactly! Some genious would have tried to shoot regular 300 Savage shells through the tubular tube and not the lever evolution tbe safe ammo!

Although I would love a spiral mag so I can reload it with ANY pointed bullet of my choice!

True, but it is impossible to chamber a round without bringing the rifle to full ready (hammer back), even if you are not ready to shoot.

I was at the range one day and my thumb slipped while dropping the hammer to half-cock on a loaded chamber. My finger must have been on the trigger as the rifle went Kaboom sending a cartridge downrange. OK, I screwed up. A safety would have prevented the Kaboom, however.

The Marlin website now has them listed. Available 2nd qtr 2007..I really do wish they had thought of a 7mm Marlin Express. 120-140 gr bullet at 2800+..Now that would be interesting.

I agree with Mak and Coyote Hunter on this.

Some of you are trying to make this into something it was never intended to be. We are talking about a light, fast handling, medium range rifle here, not a long range bolt action. Get real, they are made for different purposes.

Think about it, you cannot use hard pointed bullets in a tube magazine, safely.

I forgot, tell me again, what are the advantages of a pointed bullet inside 200 yards?

Jim

i thought a 30-30 was that?

Yes that would be Marlin , trying to make their levergun into something it was never intended to be. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Horrors! To think that a manufacturer might try to address the needs and/or wants of the market!

You�ve already admitted you don�t like change, but you haven�t mentioned what type of wood you use in your spears.

Just about any kind of wood that I can cut with my stone ax.