It is hard to compare the Marlin and the Winchester without starting a fight.
In general terms the Winchester will accept slightly higher pressires than the Marllin rifle. We have proven this to ourselves shooting the .30-30AI, the .307 and .308 Marlin Express.
On the Shooters Forum Seattleroadwarrior proved this when he had a Marlin 336 converted to .307 Winchester. His rifle would not accept maximum loads in the .307 cartridge. He had Nonneman gunsmithing shorten the .307 Winchester case slightly and blow it out to a sharp shoulder improved case he named to .30 Maximum and the Marlin easily exceeded the .307 Winchester velocities I see in my Winchester rifle.
My 308 Marlin Express has a 22" barrel and it pushes the 160-grain Hornady ammunition about 2,260 fps on any given day.
My 20" .307 Winchester would push the 180-grain factory loads 2,375 fps but these were early factory loads. I understand later Winchester factory loads are about 50 fps slower.
With 150-grain bullets my 20" Winchester will push the 150-grain Speer bullet above 2,700 fps using 46.0 grains of Alliant Reloder 15.
My 22" .308 Marlin Express will push the same 150-grain Speer bullet to 2,700 fps using 43.0 grains of Alliant Reloder 15. I have had no trouble with the load but I am told it is over published maximum so it is just an example, not a recommendation.
My 22" 308 Marlin Express will push the 170-grain bullets above 2,500 fps using 41.0 grains of Alliant Reloder 15.
IMR 4007 is a wonderful powder for the .308 Marlin express. It is easily compressed and seems to be very tolerant of it balance point with no sudden surprises as the charge weight increases - part of this is because I am running out of case capacity.
The .307 Winchester is gone forever and the .308 Marlin is a reasonable follow on.
Last edited by william_iorg; 07/08/15.
