The new Marlin Express rifles are giving a lot of trouble if the ongoing reports on Marlin Owners are any indication. The .30-30 is as good as the .308ME and the .444 beats the pants of the .338ME. They are an answer to a question that wasn't ask.
Wow, the 30-30 is as good as the 308MX? I didn't know the 30-30 kept a velocity of over 1800 fps and over 1190 ft lbs of energy at 400 yards. Didn't know the 30-30 was such a great long range antelope gun . . . . Not
The 444? Well the 444 marlin drops between 60 and 80 inches at 400 yards while the 338 drops 26 inches. The 444 has between 900 and 1100 lbs of energy at 400 yds depending on the bullet, while the 338 will hit with over 1450. At 300 yds the 338 beats the 444 hands down. One 338MX owner at marlin owners took out a coyote at 370 yards with a NECK SHOT.
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,54765.0.html
What the previous numbers don't take into account is the much lower recoil of the 338 compared to the 444 making it much more appealing to people who are not interested in having the snot kicked out of them by a heavy recoil. Also the 308MX has less recoil than a 308 Winchester and only slightly more than a 30-30
Here's numbers from a recoil table from lightest to heaviest, I'll include the '06 for comparison:
30-30 170 gr . . . 7.5 lbs at 9.7 g
308MX 160 gr . . . 13.4 lbs at 10.4g
338MX 200gr . . . . 16.2 qt 11.4g
308 Win 180 gr . . 17.5 lbs at 11.9 g,(a 150 gr is less than the 338MX)
30-06 180gr . . . . 20.3 lbs at 12.3 g
444 Marlin240 gr . . 23.3 lbs at 14.8 g heavier bullets just makes the recoil go up
Recoil acceleration in G's is included because in 2 guns with equal recoil the one with a higher g force will increase the perceived recoil.
The ballistics and trajectory tables also don't take into account the much better accuracy of the Marlin Express series. MOA accuracy is not unusual for these rifles.
But I guess your right. No one was interested in a flat shooting, highly accurate levergun, with mild recoil that also still hits hard at long distances.
And BTW, your response just proved my earlier point.
