Been looking at Marlin 336 30-30 at Cabelas. New production. The pressed checkering was not nice. The forearm rattled around. What are your experiences with the new production 336. Would you take a new production 336 over a new Henry blued 30-30.
New production 336
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GooseGestapo
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I'd look at another specimen. (different individual rifle). In my experience with the new "Remlins", the wood is a laminate with machine cut checkering, not pressed checkering.
Also, the ones I've handled/bought, which includes a new production (before discontinued) .338MXLR. I actually had great difficulty reassembling it due to excessive material on the stocks. I had to do some rather extensive cutting with a dremel tool to get it fitted properly.
However, now with a little trigger tweaking shoots MOA for 3-shots, and near MOA for 5-shots.
The Henry .22wmr I had was despicable. Very poor accuracy and NOT "fixable".
I would definitely look at another Marlin. There is some variablilty in quality control, but not all of them are as bad as they're made out to be.
Also, the ones I've handled/bought, which includes a new production (before discontinued) .338MXLR. I actually had great difficulty reassembling it due to excessive material on the stocks. I had to do some rather extensive cutting with a dremel tool to get it fitted properly.
However, now with a little trigger tweaking shoots MOA for 3-shots, and near MOA for 5-shots.
The Henry .22wmr I had was despicable. Very poor accuracy and NOT "fixable".
I would definitely look at another Marlin. There is some variablilty in quality control, but not all of them are as bad as they're made out to be.
Deog
Member
The new Marlins are getting better. I would not purchase anything without checking it out. things to look for are barrels installed not straight to mag tube, bad fitment of rear stock, sticky action. crooked sights. Checking on all stocks sucks now, no more hand cut checkering. There are good ones out there and they are getting better. Option 2 is to find a JM stamped Marlin, there are plenty out there.
The Henry, MEH ! has nothing on a jm marlin, the best engineered lever gun ever made, yes superior to John Brownings winchester model 94.
Just one guys opinion.
The Henry, MEH ! has nothing on a jm marlin, the best engineered lever gun ever made, yes superior to John Brownings winchester model 94.
Just one guys opinion.
Badlander
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I would look for A nice used 336 made by Marlin.
Zeke/PA
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I'll second that motion as I have a couple of 'em and they are great rifles!
SwissArmyDad
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Just fyi there are quite a few different models out:
336c - blued, 20" barrel, walnut stock
336w - parkerized, 20" barrel, laminate stock
336bl - 336w + factory big loop lever
336ss - stainless finish, walnut stock
336 deluxe - blued, 20" barrel, #1 american black walnut stock, hand tuned and polished
The laminate stock, parkerized (similar to an 870's finish) rig is aimed (pun intended) at no-nonsense folks who just want a no frills, knock-around, hard working rifle.
336c - blued, 20" barrel, walnut stock
336w - parkerized, 20" barrel, laminate stock
336bl - 336w + factory big loop lever
336ss - stainless finish, walnut stock
336 deluxe - blued, 20" barrel, #1 american black walnut stock, hand tuned and polished
The laminate stock, parkerized (similar to an 870's finish) rig is aimed (pun intended) at no-nonsense folks who just want a no frills, knock-around, hard working rifle.
Deog
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You want the c or the ss, but you will pay dearly for the stainless model.
There is also the y, it is a small unit with shorter stock and 16 1/2" barrel. kinda neat, but i just hate the laminated stocks. would make a great gun to keep in the truck thought.
I have had most lever guns at one time or another. the pre remington marlins win hands down., But i am a true Browning BLR lover as well, just a different beast altogether.
There is also the y, it is a small unit with shorter stock and 16 1/2" barrel. kinda neat, but i just hate the laminated stocks. would make a great gun to keep in the truck thought.
I have had most lever guns at one time or another. the pre remington marlins win hands down., But i am a true Browning BLR lover as well, just a different beast altogether.
So I saw an interesting one. This 336 had a serial starting with "MM" and a REP on the barrel indicating remington manufacture, but the barrel clearly said Marlin of Connecticut. Would that be a barrel made by the old Marlin and proof tested by Rem before going out the door?
sixgunner455
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I have not seen a new Marlin that would get a dollar from me in the past 5-10 years.
Stock inletting and fitting seems to be a lost art for them at the moment.
Stock inletting and fitting seems to be a lost art for them at the moment.
BSA1
member
Ditto what Badlander said. With something like 6 million Winchester 94's alone produced and who knows how many Marlins finding a good used one shouldn't be too difficult.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Plenty of good advice above.
Best IMO is to try and find a real Marlin.
The Henry is nice but some shooters don't like loading the tube from the top of the tube.
A suggestion not yet mentioned is the Mossberg 464 in 30-30. It's a faithful representation of the Winchester at less than half the price of the new FNH Winchester leverguns.
http://mossberg.com/product/rifles-lever-action-centerfire-464-lever-action/41010
Best IMO is to try and find a real Marlin.
The Henry is nice but some shooters don't like loading the tube from the top of the tube.
A suggestion not yet mentioned is the Mossberg 464 in 30-30. It's a faithful representation of the Winchester at less than half the price of the new FNH Winchester leverguns.
http://mossberg.com/product/rifles-lever-action-centerfire-464-lever-action/41010
Well, had a gift card at a big box store so I was able to pick up a new in the box 336. I looked it over close and things seemed straight and the action cycled well enough. Again being a total newb I have no frame of reference to lever guns. But the thing seems nice enough to me. I took it home and applied a coat of linseed oil on the walnut stocks, and put some oil on the metal. Looks pretty nice. I'll add pics when I get a chance.
Now I am looking at aperture sights to add... I am thinking about a Williams rear peep either the FP or the WGRS and a Hi Viz green FO front.
Now I am looking at aperture sights to add... I am thinking about a Williams rear peep either the FP or the WGRS and a Hi Viz green FO front.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Not a bad goal but if you want a nice Savage you better buy that sooner than later. The prices seem to be going up on those wonderful rifles.I may end up with a lever collection of all the major brands... Winchester, Mossberg, Henry, Savage...
littlelefty
Member
I held and almost bought a Henry a couple of years ago. Really nice looking gun with a smooth action, beautiful wood, nice open sights. The reason I did not buy it was that it has a longer than normal LOP; like almost 14" if I remember correctly. And I am a little guy and want/need 12.5" LOP.
The other thing I noticed about the Henry was its weight. I don't recall what it was, but definitely more than the Marlin and/or Winchester. Maybe not a big deal, but I wanted what I'll call a more typical lever 30-30; a short and light carbine.
The front end tube feed is different, but not a show stopper for me personally.
Had the LOP been more to my wants/needs I probably would have bought the Henry. It's a pretty gun, and that extra weight probably makes it a real pussy cat to shoot.
But as others have said above, a JM stamped Marlin is probably the way to go.
The other thing I noticed about the Henry was its weight. I don't recall what it was, but definitely more than the Marlin and/or Winchester. Maybe not a big deal, but I wanted what I'll call a more typical lever 30-30; a short and light carbine.
The front end tube feed is different, but not a show stopper for me personally.
Had the LOP been more to my wants/needs I probably would have bought the Henry. It's a pretty gun, and that extra weight probably makes it a real pussy cat to shoot.
But as others have said above, a JM stamped Marlin is probably the way to go.
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