Playin around with the 308 MX, Updated

[Sidinman]

Ok some of y'all may have seen a thread a month ago where I picked up a Marlin 308MX, well if not, I did. Last week I got my dies for it, I made a dummy round and sent to Lee to get a FCD, hasn't arrived yet. Well a couple nights ago I loaded a few rounds to play around with, knew I could just shoot it like a single shot.

 

Well the bullet I'm playin with is a 125gr. plastic tipped bullet, don't know much about it, came in a bunch of 308 bullets I bought a while back. I just call it a Green Hornet, lol. Well I figure it may make a nice coyote load. 

 

Loaded 3 rounds with 41.0grs. LEVERevolution, and another 3 rounds with 41.4 grs.

Shot this target at 75yds. Scope may need a little adjustment but not bad for my first outtin. Gonna work on some heavier loads for deer season.

 

Here's a pic of target after 3 shots with the lighter load, then a pic. of the next 3 shots.

And the last pic. is of the bullet. 

Edited August 5, 2014 by Sidinman

[RED333]

WOW, good shooting, ya gona try some cast boolits?

[Sidinman]

I don't know just yet. Got quite a few others to try first. Some 165gr, & 170gr SP's. 

But yeah some where down the road I'm sure I will.

[Luke E.]

Those 125gr Noslers you have there make excellent hunting bullets for a Blackout.. I didn't even realize Marlin made a lever gun in 308win, that's pretty much awesome!!

[Sidinman]

Luke its not a 308 Win, its a 308 MX " Marlin Express". the case is a little shorter than the Winchester. Different dies and everything. The Marlin case measures 2.01, & a Win case like 1.93, like I said not a big difference but enough that it requires a different set of dies. Its a BA little round though, some say its as accurate as a bolt gun. I plan on findin out for myself, but either way looks like I've got a good little deer rifle to say the least.

Edited July 24, 2014 by Sidinman

[Luke E.]

Luke its not a 308 Win, its a 308 MX " Marlin Express". the case is a little shorter than the Winchester. Different dies and everything. The Marlin case measures 2.01, & a Win case like 1.93, like I said not a big difference but enough that it requires a different set of dies. Its a BA little round though, some say its as accurate as a bolt gun. I plan on findin out for myself, but either way looks like I've got a good little deer rifle to say the least.

 

 Oh,,, well stand back and watch my ignorance shine!  :surrender: I didn't realize that was the caliber rather than the model number. Is it a relatively new caliber or has it been around a while?

[Sidinman]

Since about '07.

[Luke E.]

Since about '07.

 

 Cool.. I haven't gotten into the lever gun world yet so I guess that's why this round slipped past me. I have always liked lever guns but still have a few more things ahead on the list.

[RED333]

You feed those in a tube, no wait you said you were firing single shot.

[dralarms]

Sidinman,

I am having trouble finding ammo, since you are setup for it, how much would you charge to do some rounds for me?

[Sidinman]

Alright I got the Factory crimp Die in last week and this weekend was kind of busy, but I did load some heavier bullets.

Got to try a few out late Sun. afternoon.

First I shot 4 factory loads, these were Rem. 150gr Core-lokt SP.

First two shots are the pair over the center bulls eye, then the third is the one right over the orange and the last was almost dead on.

The the next group is with a 160 FTX & 41.0grs. Leverevolution.

First two are the ones right under the bulls eye, the one to the right was next and that was all my fault, I knew soon as I pulled the trigger.

The lower target was with a 170gr Speer SP and the same 41.0grs, of the LVR.

The first shot is the one to the right of bulls eye, second is the high one, then the low one and the last shot was the best.

As you can see I'm no sharp shooter. All these shots are at 75yds, off a bench.

Maybe next weekend I'll get a little more time, but for right now think I'll stick with the 160grs. Gonna try a few different loads and see about a little longer distance.

[gregintenn]

Looks like it's gonna shoot! :up:

 

Nothing wrong with a lever rifle, I don't care what anybody says.

Edited August 5, 2014 by gregintenn

[Sidinman]

Thanks Greg, I'm kinda a levergun guy and like the single action revolvers also.

Yes I think this is probably gonna be my go to gun this deer season, even though I've a few others that will see some hunting time also.

Pretty sure the bolt guns are stayin in the safe this year.

Edited August 6, 2014 by Sidinman

[gregintenn]

I haven't carried a bolt rifle into the woods in several years now. I'm starting to get away form scopes as well. As I'm on the downhill side of 40, however, the iron sights era will likely be short lived.

[Sidinman]

Well I got a chance to shoot her a t 200 yds. yesterday. Didn't have any handloads to test so I took a handful of Hornaday 160 FTX's. Lets just say I need to practice a little more. But out of the five shots, I got a couple fliers, and a 3 shot group of about 3" to 3 1/2". Two of the shots were an inch and quarter apart with the third about 2" left of the closet. Not bad I guess for the first time shootin this rifle at this distance.Sorry no pic. this time, my bud threw the target in his truck and left, when he came back a little later the targets had come off the plywood.

Now mind you most of the huntin shots will most likely be 150yds. or less, I was just try to see what mine and its limitations are.