"New" 308MX

1015 Views 7 Replies 7 Participants Last post by RIF, Apr 11, 2011

Goat

Discussion Starter · Apr 9, 2011

"New" 308MX

For the second time in my life I am the proud owner of a previously owned Marlin 308MX. The first one shot extremely well (1-1/2" @ 200yds.) I never did warm up to the gun and loaned it to my brother to hunt with part of one season. He killed a few with it, wanted it, and bought it from me. I mostly hunt in creek bottoms and along the edge of thickets were the shots are normally short range and sometimes very fast. However I do have a few places that are better served with something with more reach than my normal leverguns such as 35,38/55,375,45/70 etc. So I tought for a while about what to do. I thought about a BLR in 7mm-08 or 308 or a Savage 99 in 300 Savage or 308 or one of the Marlin Express calibers. Well, since I already have a BLR in 358 I didn't think I needed the 338. The 308Marlin Express will give me all the reach I need without beating me up in the process (like some crazy magnum.)
I found what I was looking for in the classifieds here and now have one for my own once again. I put what I have come to believe is one of the best scopes available for my kind of hunting on it, the Leupold VX 3 2.5-8x. I used Talley rings and think it makes an outstanding combination. I know that pics are mandatory and will have to get my wife to help me get some posted.
I haven't shot it yet but am really looking forward to the experience again. There is a box of 160gr Hornadys just waiting for me to get a set of dies and a can of LVR powder here. I will be looking for some more brass and may pick up a couple of boxes of store bought ammo anyway. I am eagerly anticipating getting some 140gr Monoflex bullets to try as well. I'll get the pics up soon as I can.

Goat

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CalvinMD

· #2 · Apr 9, 2011

Re: "New" 308MX

Congrats on your new 308MX there my friend...sometimes guns are like marriage...things work out better the 2nd time around....hope this one shoots even better than the last...if you want to try a great load look up my results with the 125 Remington pointed core-lokts.

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dpe.ahoy

· #3 · Apr 10, 2011

Re: "New" 308MX

Congratulations, hope you warm up to this one better than the last time. What was it that didn't give ya the warm and fuzzies with the first one?
By the way, my 338 MXLR and 358 BLR play nice in the same safe, don't let that stop ya.

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Goat

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 11, 2011

Re: "New" 308MX

At the time that I got the first one I was really into short barrels(still like them) and couldn't seem to get around the 22" tube. My brother also was wanting a levergun with more reach than his 30/30 and something that handled better than his Rem 700 in 270. He really took to the 308MX and the rest, as they say, is history. My only regret was the fact that the rifle shot SO WELL. I hope that I am able to repeat the shooting performance with this one. I am going to try the factory suff again since it shot so well in the first but I am a handloader at heart. I have a box of the 160grFTX bullets and need some LVR powder to show up locally. I really, really want to get some of the 140gr Monoflex and hope that they shoot well from this rifle. My brother has had nothing but outstanding results from the factory 160gr FTX but the stories on here of bullet failure scare me. I would much rather have a bullet that exits a deer than one that does not.
Well, that should have answered your question dpe.ahoy and then some!
Goat

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Dodge

· #5 · Apr 11, 2011

Re: "New" 308MX

I don,t think having the bullet not exit is a failure if the deer is DRT, I think people just expected it to because it is close to the 308 Win. Bullet placement has alot to do with how this bullet performs.

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stykbow57

· #6 · Apr 11, 2011

Re: "New" 308MX

The 308 FTX Bullets are just fine! And the Leverevolution powder work great in the 308 ME. and the 30-30 as well! just takes some time to work them up. Mono flex will be nice when they let it out but as of now they Only have the Monoflex for the 30-30 and I haven't got them YET. My 308 load that I worked up for My gun is 43.0 grs. LE but 40.5 grs A2520 looks very promising. but I'm always testing and shooting so it could change at anytime. There is nothing wrong with the FTX, I could go on about this but every body has there own opinion just as I think Ballistic tip are crap due to meat damage that has happened to me! anyway take what what You read here and try it and different things and You will find what works for You. Dennis

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Lonnie

· #7 · Apr 11, 2011

Re: "New" 308MX

Congrats on your "new" rifle and welcome back aboard the Express Train

. I own the .338MX but would have been just as easily happy with the .308MX. I think both are fine calibers. Good luck with shooting and hunting with it in the future

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RIF

· #8 · Apr 11, 2011

Re: "New" 308MX

Cool beans. Hopefully my next rifle too.

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