Hey guys,

I have been feeding Leverevolutions to my old 336 in .30-30 since they came out. They have always shot really good groups, and the terminal performance has been very good as well. I stocked up on them years ago and I am just now getting low on them. As a result I recently bought a new box to make sure I can get through deer season. Well, I made a trip to the range today where I put some rounds down range. As expected the old stuff shot really good, about 1 1/4". The new stuff shot about 3 inches high and the groups were in the 2 1/2" range. I shot a few 150 grain Power Points for comparison sake and they shot great too. My question is, has anyone out there experienced anything like this? The brass and primers on the new stuff looks different than the old, and the shoulder of the brass is a little different too. I am bummed out regarding this new ammo. Luckily still have a few rounds put back for season.

I had the same experience years back. I started using them when they first came out and swore by them, then they started spraying everywhere like they were out of balance or something. I started using Winchester Powermax Bonded HP's and never looked back. The first season I used P-Max, everyone would ask what I shot that with. Every deer I shot dropped in place and had a 3" exit wound.

Hornady told me it was the shallow microgroove getting coppered up.,this was BS. Many people had this problem. I ran the same lot down a Winchester 94 and a tackdriver Savage 30-30 with the same results.

There is something wrong with random lots of the stuff. I use it in 444, 450, 44, 35, 308mx, and 45/70. Never had a problem from any of the other Leverevolution calibers, only 30-30.


Come on over to Marlin Owners and do a search, you'll find much on the subject over the years. Look me up, my screenname is Njcioffi or Milkbone

Thanks for the feed back on this. I will check out the Marlin Forum as well.

Best of luck

-Rootbrain

Years back ... I guess I'm getting old, I thought it was still a new product.

What you are experiencing is not uncommon. It's generally a good idea to check your point of aim when you buy a new lot of ammo. As consistent as they are, I have occasionally had to adjust my sights even when it was the same brand.

It's a shame the group size is larger. That's a different problem entirely. But 2 1/2" is still plenty good for deer.

I first used it in 2007, so years back would seem right.