Has anyone heard if Marlin will offer the rifle in a larger or smaller caliber than 308?

Has anyone heard if Marlin will offer the rifle in a larger or smaller caliber than 308?

The 35 would be a much better levergun cartridge - we should all make sure Marlin knows that.

I doubt it will happen, but high volume sales of the 308 will be good incentive. Make sure you buy a couple.

I personally will probably not buy another new manufactured deer rifle for myself. UNLESS Marlin comes out with a 35, 338 or 375 caliber version of the 308ME.

I possibly may in the future think of converting a 308ME to 35 Caliber if they do not come out with it.

I have hypothesized and I may be completely off base. But to me I wondered if Marlin came out with the XLR's and 308ME simply as a way to curtail all the conversions of their old guns. Exactly how many times have you heard people converting a 30-30 to a 30-30 AI or even 7-30? How many times have you heard the argument about converting to 307 Win or 356 Win? or +P the 35 Rem?

In my opinion the 30-30 XLR with the LE ammo essentially negates the need to convert to 30-30AI or possibly the 7-30. The new 308ME negates the conversion to 307Win.

So now all we need is the 35 Caliber based off the 308ME to negate the need to either +P the 35 Rem or convert to 356 Win.

Maybe It's just wishful thinking on my part. ;)

I converted a 30-30 Marlin to a 30-30AI, but it was a disappointing conversion. Bullet speed increased about 9% with 150 grain bullets. I was expecting a 12% increase. Also, the 9% was not across the board. Lighter bullets showed more increase while heavy bullets showed less increase than 9%.

Next I got Nonneman to rechamber a 30-30 Marlin to 307 and work out all the bugs before he returned the rifle, and all for $75 plus shipping ($95 total). It has been a very good conversion. I have not kept up with the exact number of bullets that have been shot in the rifle since the conversion, but I would estimate 250 to 300 rounds of 307 Winchester factory and my reloads. My reloads are mostly 170 grain Remington at 2400 ft/sec from a 20 inch barrel with no problems.

I got what I wanted. A 30 caliber Marlin with enough power to tackle hogs, deer or black bear at 200 yards if necessary. The rifle is sighted in at 165 yards. BTW, I have never shot at a game animal over 115 yards. I like to keep the shots close, but I practice out to 225 yards.

I believe Marlins whole reason for the 308MX is to have a longer range levergun. The 308MX does just that. At 100 yards +3.0, at 200 yards +1.7, 300 yards -6.7, and 400 yards -23.5 . For me I can leave the bolt gun at home. Where I hunt 300 and 400 yard shots are not that uncommon. In the past I have had to trade in the levergun for a bolt gun when hunting those areas, not any more. I believe that a 35 cal version will most likely give up those types of ballistics.

The 30 cal cartridges are hard to beat. Take the 30-06 there have been all kinds of cartridges based off it, many good cartridges in their own right but the 30-06 still reins king. The 308 Win is about the same, there are a lot of cartridges based off it, but in that catagory of cartridge the 308 is hard pressed to be out done.

At one point in my life I shot the 308 Win almost everyday at ranges of 700-1000 yards it lacks not in the accuracy dept. I don't think the 308MX will lack in either accuracy or performance. I believe it will be a ture 400 yard levergun. I don't think it was by chance that Marlin and Hornady setteled on the 30 cal for this type of cartridge. It is a new breed and I would bet that others will follow, that seems only natural.

I for one can't wait to get my paws on one. I plan on it being my primary hunting rifle. I have had to carry bolt guns in the past because I needed the range, but I have always wanted a Marlin that would do the job, and now that need has been answered. :D Deer will no longer be safe at 300-400 yards when I have a Marlin in my hands ;)

I agree that a 307 conversion or even a 356 conversion are probably good. But my point was that Marlin may want to minimize to the extent possible their name associated with modified guns. That's all.

I also agree that the 308ME was designed to be longer range. That just seems like a logical progression from the XLR series into a tailor made cartridge.

I further agree that a 35 caliber will give up the ballistic range to the 308. But I don't want a long range rifle. I want a lever gun with a 20 inch max barrel, that shots 200+ grain bullets effectively 200 to maybe 250 yards range with power to hunt elk and maybe larger bears. Right now that only leaves within affordable limits; the Browning BLR (ugly IMO) in 358 Win, the marlin 444 and a converted 336 marlin to 356 Win.

It just seems to me that a necked up version of the 308ME would be the near perfect match for what I'd like.

Think there is a market for the light fast handling lever guns that don't recoil to much and have better on game performance then the 30-30 and 35 rem. So I think having a 358ME, a 308ME, and a 257ME would prove very profitable. Add a 218 bee and things should work out very well. A little more range and power with out high recoil levels will sell.

How ever the market for XLR as long range rifles is very limited but I am glad to see marlin doing it. Except for athentic styed guns like hex barreled guns the market for barrels longer than 22 inches seem low 18 to 22 is what makes the leverguns great. If I want a long range rifle a bolt with any 308/06 based cartridge makes more sense. The 20 to and 22 inch 336ME looks sharp, is quick handling, well balanced, and just make sense as a levergun. And long barreled old style gun with old cartridges do as well.

As of now the only toy(s)/tools(s) in the shed are the moss 500 12g and the 444xlr. I love the 444 for the 200 and under ranges. the 308xlr would be a nice companion toy/tool but I am hoping/ waiting for a 1/4 size leaver.
wolfpack795 :)

I finally got a 308 MX. There were just too many good reports on the internet. I think it is going to be a very good shooter, but scope problems have kept me from knowing for sure. I put a Nikon 3 - 9 variable scope on the rifle. When I took the rifle out of the truck air conditioning into 95 degree weather, it fogged up. I could not see the target clearly at 100 yards. By the time I got home, the truck air conditioning had cooled the scope enough to clear up.

Today, I finally saved up enough money to get a Leupold VII, 3-9 varible scope. I hope to get back to the target range in a couple of weeks. If everything goes well, I plan to give my 308 BLR to my newphew. He's 27 years old and a good young man. Every since he started hunting with us, I have promised to leave him the 308 BLR in my will. I would like to go ahead and give it to him a little early.

I have been thinking. I hand load my 35 Marlin. It shoots a 200 grain bullet at 2220 ft/sec. I don't really need more speed, but a pointed bullet would be nice. I wish Hornady would release the 35 caliber pointed bullets for reloading. I think there is a market for a 35 caliber Marlin MX right now, but if Hornady releases the 35 caliber pointed bullet first, the market may go away.