Are you a dedicated hunter seeking to maximize the performance of your lever-action rifle, particularly one chambered in the powerful .308 Marlin Express? Do you find yourself asking, "What is the best ammunition for my Marlin lever gun to ensure ethical kills at extended ranges?" or "How can I get modern ballistic performance from a classic rifle design?" If so, the Hornady LEVERevolution 308 Marlin Express 160 grain Flex Tip eXpanding (FTX) ammunition is engineered precisely for your needs. This revolutionary ammunition addresses the inherent limitations of traditional tube-magazine firearms, transforming the capabilities of iconic lever-action rifles into formidable hunting tools for the 21st century.

Unlocking the True Potential of Lever-Action Rifles

For generations, the lever-action rifle has been synonymous with rugged reliability, quick handling, and a deep connection to hunting heritage. However, the design of these firearms, specifically their tubular magazines, historically necessitated the use of flat-nosed or round-nosed bullets. This was a critical safety measure to prevent accidental primer ignition in the magazine tube caused by the recoil-induced impact of a pointed bullet tip against the primer of the cartridge in front of it. While safe, these traditional bullet shapes are aerodynamically inefficient, leading to rapid velocity decay, significant bullet drop, and limited effective range. This often meant hunters had to restrict their shots to closer distances, potentially limiting their opportunities in varying terrains.

The Hornady LEVERevolution Breakthrough: The FTX Bullet

Hornady, a leader in ammunition innovation, recognized this challenge and developed the groundbreaking LEVERevolution line, featuring the patented Flex Tip eXpanding (FTX) bullet. This ingenious design fundamentally changed the game for lever-action ammunition. The key innovation is a soft, elastomer tip that is compressed upon impact, initiating rapid, reliable expansion. Crucially, this flexible tip also allows the bullet to have a pointed, spitzer-style profile, which is inherently more aerodynamic than traditional flat or round noses.

This seemingly simple innovation has profound implications for performance:

• Enhanced Aerodynamics: The pointed FTX bullet dramatically reduces drag, allowing the bullet to maintain higher velocities farther downrange. This translates directly to a flatter trajectory and less bullet drop, making longer shots more manageable and precise.
• Tube Magazine Safety: Unlike conventional pointed bullets, the flexible tip of the FTX bullet poses no risk of igniting primers in a tubular magazine, ensuring safe operation without compromising performance.
• Controlled, Devastating Expansion: Upon striking game, the flexible tip compresses into the bullet, initiating rapid and controlled expansion. This ensures that the bullet reliably delivers its energy within the target, creating a wide, devastating wound channel for quick, humane kills.

Why Hornady LEVERevolution 308 Marlin Express is Your Go-To Hunting Ammunition

The .308 Marlin Express cartridge itself was designed to offer ballistic performance comparable to modern short-action cartridges like the .308 Winchester, but specifically for lever-action rifles. When paired with Hornady's LEVERevolution technology and the 160-grain FTX bullet, this combination becomes an exceptionally potent force in the field.

Superior Ballistics for Confident Hunting

• Impressive Muzzle Velocity: With a searing muzzle velocity of 2660 feet per second (fps), the 160-grain FTX bullet launches out of the barrel with significant speed. This high initial velocity contributes directly to a flatter trajectory and reduced time-of-flight to the target, minimizing the effects of wind drift and making range estimation less critical.
• Devastating Muzzle Energy: Delivering an formidable 2513 foot-pounds (ft-lbs) of muzzle energy, this load packs a serious punch. This high energy is crucial for transferring maximum force to the target, ensuring deep penetration and rapid energy dump necessary for ethical harvests of medium-sized game.
• Exceptional Downrange Performance: Traditional lever-action loads might start strong but quickly lose steam. LEVERevolution, however, maintains a significant portion of its velocity and energy far downrange. Hornady's testing has shown LEVERevolution outperforms conventional loads for high weight retention, delivering up to 40% more energy at 200 yards compared to older designs. This means you have more confidence taking shots at distances that were once considered beyond the practical range of a lever gun.

Designed for Medium Game Hunting

The Hornady LEVERevolution 308 Marlin Express 160 gr FTX is purpose-built for hunting medium-sized game. What does this mean in real-world hunting scenarios?

• Deer Hunting: Whether you're pursuing whitetail deer in the dense woods or mule deer across open country, this ammunition provides the flat trajectory, energy, and reliable expansion needed for clean, one-shot kills. Its performance makes it an excellent choice for hunters who prefer the quick follow-up shots offered by lever actions.
• Hog Hunting: The tenacious nature of wild hogs demands reliable ammunition that can penetrate tough hides and deliver decisive stopping power. The 160 gr FTX bullet excels in this role, offering the necessary energy transfer to anchor even the largest boars.
• Black Bear and Elk (within reasonable range): For black bear, especially in brushy terrain where lever guns shine, this ammunition provides ample power. While not a magnum, its enhanced capabilities mean that for closer shots on elk (where shot placement is paramount), it can certainly be an effective choice for skilled hunters, particularly in areas requiring shorter engagement distances.

Answering Your Hunting Ammunition Questions

When choosing hunting ammunition, many questions arise about performance, suitability, and reliability. Here's how Hornady LEVERevolution for the .308 Marlin Express answers them:

• "Is this ammunition safe for my Marlin lever-action rifle?" Absolutely. The key innovation of the FTX bullet is its flexible tip, specifically designed to be safe in tubular magazines, eliminating the risk of primer detonation. You can load your magazine to full capacity with complete confidence.
• "How does this ammunition improve my rifle's accuracy and range?" The aerodynamic spitzer profile of the FTX bullet reduces drag and improves the ballistic coefficient, leading to a flatter trajectory. This translates to less bullet drop at distance, making accurate shot placement easier and extending your ethical hunting range significantly compared to traditional round-nose ammunition.
• "What kind of terminal performance can I expect?" The Flex Tip eXpanding (FTX) bullet is engineered for controlled, rapid expansion upon impact. This ensures maximum energy transfer within the animal, creating a wide, devastating wound channel that leads to quick and humane kills. You'll experience high weight retention, meaning the bullet holds together to penetrate deeply.
• "Is 160 grains the right bullet weight for my .308 Marlin Express?" The 160-grain bullet weight strikes an excellent balance for the .308 Marlin Express. It's heavy enough to carry substantial energy and momentum for medium game, yet light enough to be driven to high velocities, contributing to the flat trajectory and extended range that LEVERevolution is known for. This balance optimizes both speed and terminal performance.
• "How does Hornady LEVERevolution compare to older .308 Marlin Express loads?" It's a significant upgrade. Older loads, constrained by the need for flat noses, had inferior ballistic coefficients, resulting in much more pronounced bullet drop and less energy retention downrange. LEVERevolution consistently delivers higher velocities, flatter trajectories, and significantly more downrange energy, bridging the gap between classic lever-action performance and modern bolt-action capabilities.

The Hornady Difference: Precision and Innovation

Hornady has built its reputation on a foundation of precision, consistency, and relentless innovation. Every box of Hornady LEVERevolution ammunition, including the 308 Marlin Express 160 gr FTX, undergoes rigorous quality control to ensure uniform performance from cartridge to cartridge. This attention to detail means:

• Consistent Performance: From lot to lot, you can trust that your ammunition will perform predictably, shot after shot, season after season.
• Reliability in the Field: Hornady ammunition is manufactured to exacting standards, ensuring reliable feeding, firing, and extraction in your lever-action rifle, even under challenging hunting conditions.
• Ethical Hunting: By providing superior ballistic performance and terminal effects, Hornady helps hunters make clean, ethical kills, minimizing animal suffering and maximizing success.

When considering your next hunting trip with your trusted lever-action rifle, choosing the right ammunition is paramount. The Hornady LEVERevolution 308 Marlin Express 160 gr Flex Tip eXpanding ammunition represents the pinnacle of modern ammunition engineering tailored for classic firearms. It empowers hunters to push the boundaries of what's possible with their lever guns, delivering unmatched performance, safety, and reliability. This ammunition is sold in boxes of 20 rounds, with 10 boxes per case, making it convenient for stocking up for the season.

Invest in Hornady LEVERevolution and experience the transformative difference in your lever-action rifle's capabilities. It's not just ammunition; it's an upgrade to your hunting effectiveness.

Detailed Product Specifications

Feature	Detail	Value
Manufacturer	Hornady
Product Line	LEVERevolution
Caliber	.308 Marlin Express
Bullet Type	Flex Tip eXpanding (FTX)
Bullet Weight	160 grains	gr
Muzzle Velocity	2660	fps
Muzzle Energy	2513	ft-lbs
Rounds Per Box	20
Boxes Per Case	10
Casing Material	Brass
Primary Application	Hunting
Recommended Game	Medium Game
SKU	82733
UPC	090255827330