Marlin 336 Lever Action Rifle

[Alex1992]

I've been wanting a 336 for a long time but I hear some are good and bad and I want my ducks in a row before I buy one.

[Reaver]

Ill leave you with this note.

The date it was originally made was when?
Only improvements have been made.
There is a reason its still being manufactured today... does that reason fall into one of your needs?

[Alex1992]

Ill leave you with this note.

The date it was originally made was when?
Only improvements have been made.
There is a reason its still being manufactured today... does that reason fall into one of your needs?

To a certain extent I need more than that, I hear the quality is good and bad, like I said I want to know if I'm getting something good

[CrystalHunter1989]

The Marlin 336C has been my deer rifle ever since I was 18. It's a classic brush gun that's very well balanced. The 30-30 cartridge is perfect for targets up to 200 yards away, often said to be the American 7.62x39. Longest shot I ever took was about 140, given the terrain. If you're hunting at extended range, say 250+ you might want to reconsider, though others have made good kills with the caliber at that distance.

The first thing to do is get a good variable scope. The iron sights on the Marlin are great for target practice, but on live animals at range, the front sight might cover up so much of the body that you won't be able to guarantee a clean hit (especially in low light). There are better sights out there than the factory ones, including peep sights. When you get a scope, get a hammer spur to make cocking easier.

My weapon has never failed me nor the ammunition. The 30-30 soft point rounds from Remington and Federal will drop a whitetail reliably every time if you do your job. I always aim a little in front of the shoulders (heresy, I know). I've never had to shoot twice, and they've never run far. The recoil is very manageable and the lever action never offers much resistance even with the hammer lowered. The only thing that has ever occurred that could be considered a problem is when loading. After a few rounds into the magazine, it will start to push one towards the chamber, blocking the loading gate and making it impossible to top off. This can be remedied by the method you see in this video (skip to 1:20):

Loading Unloading a Lever Action rifle

I don't know what bad things you've heard about the 336, but it's consistently ranked as one of the single most popular hunting rifles in America. It's often preferred over its Winchester counterpart because it ejects brass to the side, rather than the top.

Hope this helps.

[JohnyMac]

What Crystal wrote PLUS...

We have 2 at the cabin during deer hunting season. One is a 30-30 with iron sights and the other is  35 Remington with a weaver 4x scope.

We switched to the Hornady Leverlution ammo a few years back which is scary accurate and extents your range 50-100 yards depending on your talents.

Side note: We never load up our rifles while deer hunting with more than 3 rounds. It doesn't matter if it is 700 Remington, 99 Savage, Mosin Nagant or a Marlin 336. If you need more than 3 rounds to drop a deer you shouldn't be hunting. We do this for several reasons such as:

> State law mandates that you can only load a shotgun with 3 rounds. There also has to
   be a plug installed in the tube Cconsistency)
> It prevents one from continuously shooting at a running deer and spraying the woods - We are of a
   belief that this could lead to accidentally shooting another hunter
> Once a deer is down, we know how many rounds were fired and how many are left in the magazine.
   When my nephew shot his first day this fall; as I walked up to congratulate him on his kill I
   asked him where the other round was? He shot twice with the 30-30 Marlin 336. He showed me one bullet and
   then showed me that the rifle was empty.  Then the "high fives" commenced.

Safety...Safety...Safety! 

[CrystalHunter1989]

> It prevents one from continuously shooting at a running deer and spraying the woods

You should have seen me the first time I went out. Got the buck fever BAD. I took a shot and missed. He ran a few yards and stopped. I shot again. Same deal. Wasted four rounds in rapid succession and hit only dirt. Pretty embarrassing, since I had drilled the inside of a CD from 75 yards the day before.

[JohnyMac]

Oh well Crystal shooting at deer isn't like shooting at a paper target. 

When I first started hunting deer I would take way to long with making the perfect shot. More times than not the deer would walk off before I could squeeze the trigger.

Got over the hump by learning to snap shoot. I would sit on a chair (no shooting table) raise my rifle, take the safety off and shoot at a paper target 50 yards away- In all one fluid motion and under 2 seconds. Was bullet placement 1" or under? Nope. Was I able to attain a 3" or under every time? Yup. Plus venison in the freezer.

[Alex1992]

Know the feeling too, I'll tell you the story in a different topic in the future.

[RONSERESURPLUS]

Hello all


While Lever action firearms have never been my cup of tea, I see they are a Ignored and Over looked action design! 30/30 and 35 are more than capable of taking deer and simular game and the prefered design in many brusy dence forest or scrub area's! My Dad in CT always had a Winchester or Marlin in back of the seat and it served him well! Many Places like Tx the Rangers will still be seen today with them, Over Military Style rifles or Bolts so Popular with other Leo's! With a good scope mount optics are possible but just a tad harder to use with some! I prefer the marlin designs over the Winchester but thats a Personal preference and not really anything more? Use what ya like and Prefer, but over looking the Lever disigns is a Mistake for sure!


Ron L

[JohnyMac]

Lever rifles...Don't forget the Savage Model 99 

[1000meterstare]

The .30-30 paired with lever action are American icons!  Nice rifle.

[Alex1992]

They certainly are with that being said I'm going to get the money together and purchase a Marlin Model 336 30-30 lever gun. My local Wally World are selling them $410.00 including sales tax, which by my standards is a deal 

[hjmoosejaw]

They certainly are with that being said I'm going to get the money together and purchase a Marlin Model 336 30-30 lever gun. My local Wally World are selling them $410.00 including sales tax, which by my standards is a deal 

Boy, I feel old. When I was 16, I bought the deer rifle, I still hunt deer with today, the Remington 760 Gamemaster. A pump action, mine is chambered for 3006. My buddy bought the Marlin 336, 30-30. My MSRP was $154.00, His Marlin MSRP, was $125.00. I paid $125.00 brand new, He paid $99.00, brand new.   

[Alex1992]

They certainly are with that being said I'm going to get the money together and purchase a Marlin Model 336 30-30 lever gun. My local Wally World are selling them $410.00 including sales tax, which by my standards is a deal 

Boy, I feel old. When I was 16, I bought the deer rifle, I still hunt deer with today, the Remington 760 Gamemaster. A pump action, mine is chambered for 3006. My buddy bought the Marlin 336, 30-30. My MSRP was $154.00, His Marlin MSRP, was $125.00. I paid $125.00 brand new, He paid $99.00, brand new.

How long ago was it, I'm curious. I WISH the prices like that were here today.

[hjmoosejaw]

They certainly are with that being said I'm going to get the money together and purchase a Marlin Model 336 30-30 lever gun. My local Wally World are selling them $410.00 including sales tax, which by my standards is a deal 

Boy, I feel old. When I was 16, I bought the deer rifle, I still hunt deer with today, the Remington 760 Gamemaster. A pump action, mine is chambered for 3006. My buddy bought the Marlin 336, 30-30. My MSRP was $154.00, His Marlin MSRP, was $125.00. I paid $125.00 brand new, He paid $99.00, brand new.

How long ago was it, I'm curious. I WISH the prices like that were here today.

A few months shy of 40 years. Of course, everything was cheaper, BUT, people's income wasn't near what it is today. Damn cigarettes were probably .50 or .60 cents a pack. Highway robbery. LOL  When I was 9, I didn't smoke then, but cigs. were .35 cents, out of a machine. I remember, cause I would be sent to the store to buy them for somebody. That's right, a 9 y/o could buy them, no problem.

[JohnyMac]

Hey hj, do you remember when a box of .22LR were 25 -35?... No parents needed!

I use to buy cigarettes for my grand-dad all of the time. Chesterfield unfiltered to be exact. I think they were 25? a pack.

I bought a 1917 Savage model 99 in 303 savage for $90- when I was 17.

I bought a .36 cal. Navy cap & ball pistol when I was 16 for $65-. Same age... I bought DuPont black powder for the handgun for $5-$6 a pound without an adult.

Brought a shotgun to school; on the bus to go hunting after school with no issues.

So exactly what has happened?

Well certainly inflation...Thanks to the US dollars not being backed with PM's and the breakdown of the family.

I am sorry in that we are getting off the Subject of this thread.

$400- for a 30/30 Marlin is a good price Alex. Before you buy please check out the stats of the .35 Remington vs. the 30/30. Don't forget for the one you buy use the Hornady Leverolution ammo. I love it!

 
A low end Weaver 1-4X scope will do you well.

[special-k]

Speaking about lever actions...

I ran across this hickok45 video a few days ago.  Something like this may be the ultimate ultra-long-term post-apocalyptic survival rifle...being that it's quiet (subsonic ammo is typical for .38spcl and .44spcl for that matter) and it has no problem eating cast lead projectiles.  I've always feared that our gas-operated weapons are going to become useless when there is no jacketed ammo left.

Leveraction Rifle with Suppressor

[Alex1992]

To hj and Johnny that's not that long ago or so my dad tells me but yeah wow, I like to smoke cigars every now and again the prices for them are not like back then where you can buy a box of 25 without breaking the bank these days for one it's $10. To special-k I saw that video very interesting those SBR lever guns they look ok but I prefer something long but interesting.

[special-k]

@Alex1992

You might want to seriously consider what this guy has to say before you buy any Marlin made since 2010:

Death of the Marlin Levergun

[JohnyMac]

So there you go...Buy pre-2010 Marlins. Please check out http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?Keywords=Marlin+336

You can find good deals on a classic. Still compare the stats on 30/30 vs. 35 Remington cartridges.

Mine was produced prior to 2004 from a private party who claimed the rifle was produced in the late '80's. At 100 yards, using the Hornady Leveroultion ammo, using a bench & a 4x Weaver scope, all five holes in the target can be touched with a quarter. Good gun.

[hjmoosejaw]

Since reading this thread, It got me thinking more about my deer rifle, in a whole new SHTF light. The 760, came in a wide array of calibers. It's the most popular deer rifle in Pa. Doesn't hold as many rounds as the Marlin 336, but the box mag, pops in and out, AND they sell 10 round mags, which is good, if you had to carry a bunch of extra mags in your BOB, or on your vest or whatever. Pretty accurate. Other than semi, I think the quickest action. Not comparing. Just thinking, if it had to be me and my old deer hunting buddy, the 760, out there in a SHTF situation, I wouldn't have a problem with it.

 http://picturearchive.gunauction.com/2017949/9468598/106_4068.jpg_thumbnail1.jpg

http://www.shootingtimes.com/2010/09/23/longgun_reviews_ga_remmodel760_200903/

Man, I should have bought a few of these, when they were like ten bucks a piece. Hindsight's 20-20.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Remington-740-742-760-7400-7600-30-06-270-280-10-round-Magazine-/221248161720?_trksid=p3284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BIEW%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D21%26pmod%3D290884629246%26ps%3D54

[Alex1992]

To special-k I watched that video a few weeks ago that's why I started this thread to figure out what the hell is going on and why Remington is doing this. I hear newer Marlins are starting to improve but the ones made during the time when Remington took over are complete utter shit. I had a chance to have a look at a brand spanking new Marlin and the action was smooth, sights are straight, no dings or damage and the guy said he just got it. Thought I might share that with you guys.

[CrystalHunter1989]

To special-k I watched that video a few weeks ago that's why I started this thread to figure out what the hell is going on and why Remington is doing this. I hear newer Marlins are starting to improve but the ones made during the time when Remington took over are complete utter shit. I had a chance to have a look at a brand spanking new Marlin and the action was smooth, sights are straight, no dings or damage and the guy said he just got it. Thought I might share that with you guys.

There are more good Marlins out there than bad.

[JohnyMac]

The farmer across the road from the cabin uses a pump rifle chambered in .308. It was a carbine version with a short stubby barrel. He got it as a present from his father in his teens.

I don't know if it was a Remington 760 or not...Probably however to your point...He is very fast with that rifle. It has provided a bit of met to the freezer too.