And the answer is: As long as it is loaded with a flat or round nose bullet and it will not damage the targets 308 Marlin Express is legal for Lever Action Silhouette.
E-Mail from NRA Competitive Shooting Division Below:
Subject: 308 cartridge explanation
From: Epley, Beth (
BEpley@nrahq.org)
Date: Thursday, January 4, 2018 10:12 AM
James,
Per our NRA Silhouette experts:
1. HPR: This cartridge is certainly legal in High Power Rifle Silhouette (subject
only to the target damage requirements, but the energy/velocity/ballistics
indicate it should be fine).
2. LAS: This cartridge is typically NOT loaded with round/flat nose bullets,
which would be a requirement for Lever Action Silhouette, but if it were loaded
with round nose bullets, it would be fine there too (subject again to the target
damage regulation). This cartridge was designed for tubular magazines using a
polymer tip. This is a new idea circa 2009 as previously only round/flat nose
bullets were used in centerfire tubular magazines. Our rule reads, "All bullets
must be round or flat nosed suitable for tubular magazine use." Based on the
plain reading of our current rule a pointed polymer tip would NOT be allowed.
3. LAPCS: This cartridge is semi-rimmed, which counts as rimmed. Our rule
reads, "A rimmed pistol cartridge loaded with a round or flat nosed bullet must
be used " 308 Marlin Express is not a "pistol cartridge" by any normal
definition, and we believe that it would be illegal. However, Lever Action Pistol
Cartidge also requires a round or flat nosed bullet based on the plain language
of the rule.
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
Beth Epley, PMP
NRA Manager Tournament Resources
General Operations / Competitive Shooting Division
703-267-1485 |
bepley@nrahq.org
National Rifle Association | Explore.NRA.org
11250 Waples Mill Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030
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1/4/18, 6:03 PMPrint
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Hope that for the purposes of this forum the issue is put to bed. Now to go back to the fun part...shooting, which sadly requires load development...which I think is where I started. Hogdon had some Sie 125gr loads I will start with these - Varget, IMR 4064, WW 748, and IMR 4520 (if I can find any).
One last request. From the tone of many of the postings there are very strong beliefs that are contrary to the e-mail above. When you challenge it with the NRA I hope that it will be done in a professional and polite manner. Have spoken to Beth Epley twice, she is a kind and responsive person. She does not shoot Silhouette and has no vested interest how this question was decided. It is fine that there are disagreements it does no one honour to be disagreeable.
Best wishes to all on a great New Year - except them steel chicken!!!
JW