308 Marlin Express or 30-30?

[CoachHunter]

I've read some good things about Marlin and Hornady's collaboration of the 308 Marlin Express, but I'm not sure I wouldn't be better off getting a 30-30. Any thoughts?

 

[Roscoe]

Back in the 80's or so didn't Winchester and Marlin make a .307 caliber rifle. Everything looked good about it, but it just didn't sell in numbers. My only problem with buying a 308 express would be, if it doesn't catch on ammo could be hard to come by.

 

[AusTex]

Yup... Im a 30-30 guy myself... Ammo is not cheap, heavy, and would be hard to come by in an emergency situation but I have a win model 94 30-30 carbine with a 16" barrel... I am taking that sob with me.. Its no long range shooter but it holds multiple rounds.. it wont jam and up close that sucker packs a serious foot pounds sandwich "punch" ... and its a loud SOB ....!@#

 

[Texas1911]

I beg to differ about them jamming up ... we fix a number of stuck lever action guns every year.

As far as caliber, .30-30 has been around for over 100 years, can you say the same about .308 Marlin Express? Guess which will be easier to find at a Walmart in Podunk, TX at Noon on a Saturday because you forgot your ammo?

 

[dublin]

I beg to differ about them jamming up ... we fix a number of stuck lever action guns every year.

I've got a 1968 Marlin 336 30-30 that was handed down to me, I've been shooting it on and off for years, took my first deer with it. Never had any issue until a month ago when the lever got stuck on me. Had to bring it home loaded, wasn't equipped to work on a gun that day. In my mind it was a complete catastrophic failure. Had I really needed the gun it was completely unusable as anything more than a club, it wasn't just a jam that could be cleared it was completely seized. I still love the gun but will never fully trust it again, I now realize how common it really is.

 

[dobarker]

Go with the .30-30, like Roscoe said, There was a .307 that had great press but try and find ammo for it at wal-mart. Better yet, take a look at eh .45GAP. That was one that everyone hailed. But now, that round is on a path to become extinct.
For the cost of the rifle and the ammo, the .30-30 is where it's at. How often do we shoot at anything over 100 yards with a lever action anyways?

 

[AusTex]

Well maybe the marlin is the problem . lol. Well I will take your word for it but I have been shooting my 30-30 since I was 10 years old. It was the 2nd gun I was ever given . After that I purchased another one maybe years later and was given one last year that had been left in a barn and all rusted. I refinished it.

I have never had a win94 jam up on me, but I think a big part of that is working the action correctly. Its kinda like Limp wrist-ing a glock.. If you don't do the motion correctly it can jam on you.

It could be a situation like the ruger mini's though, some people get shooters and other people don't.

Just my two cents.

 

[Texas42]

Do you reload?

Personally, I'd stick with the 30-30, but if you did get the other one, buy a bunch of brass and dies while you can. A couple thousand pieces of brass will last a long while. At least you won't be stuck with a gun that you can't find ammo.

 

[pigdave]

If you can only buy one, stick with the proven and readily available 30-30.

 

[M. Sage]

Looks like it's apples and oranges on these two. The .308 Marlin Express is a full-power cartridge that's about twice as powerful as the .30-30. The .30-30 is going to be way easier to find, though.

 

[Texas1911]

I've got a 1968 Marlin 336 30-30 that was handed down to me, I've been shooting it on and off for years, took my first deer with it. Never had any issue until a month ago when the lever got stuck on me. Had to bring it home loaded, wasn't equipped to work on a gun that day. In my mind it was a complete catastrophic failure. Had I really needed the gun it was completely unusable as anything more than a club, it wasn't just a jam that could be cleared it was completely seized. I still love the gun but will never fully trust it again, I now realize how common it really is.

Yep, they aren't as reliable as alot of people imagine. The same can be said for revolvers, when they fail, they fail completely.