I've lost my mind, buying Marlin lever rifles (pic)...

[canoeguy]

Early this Spring, I invested $700 buying four canoes at an Estate Sale. I have spent the whole Summer re-furbishing and selling those canoes, and turning the money from each sale into a gun. The first one got me a somewhat shabby looking Model 64, but it turned out to be probably the most accurate revolver I own. The second canoe sale got me a Marlin 1894 "Cowboy Special" lever rifle in .357 caliber. I liked that rifle so much that with the proceeds of the third canoe sale, I bought a Marlin Model 39A .22 lever rifle. No disapointments so far, so after selling the last canoe, I bought a Marlin 1895 45/70 rifle, with 22" barrel. Just got through wringing it out at the range, very pleased...

Here's a link to discussion of loading cast lead for the 45/70:

Marlin 45/70 cast lead experiment a success! (with teething pains) (pics)...

I have been very happy with these rifles, shooting cast lead. Apparently, Marlin has gotten away from the Micro-Groove barrels which were problematic with cast lead bullets, instead using Ballard Cut Rifling. I like that feature, having been able to find a very accurate, cheap cast lead load for both the .357 and 45/70 rifle.

So, for a $700 investment I was able to pick up what is probably a lifetimes worth of rifles (and a revolver). I imagine I can pursue any game on this continent with those rifles, the hard part being which one to choose! The down side, now I have serious "Jones" for lever action rifles, I'm thinking a Winchester 94/22 will be on the radar soon.

Here's a pic of the Marlins racked up with a lonely looking Winchester "Ranger" 30/30, and a pic of the 1895 Marlin:

[jimmyj]

Hi:
My Mother had a Marlin 30/30 (M36 or M336) with a 24" barrel and pistol grip stock. With factory 170gr ammo it would group 1 1/4" groups at 100yds. one of my sons have it now.
I have a older M336 (round bolt) in .44mag. Great shooter.
Jimmy

*** After reading Lee Barner post, the Marlin that my Mother had was also a Model 336A w/ half magazine and 24" barrel- a "Tack Driver".

[Lee Barner]

they can become addictive just like smiths. i've owned one 336 for 45 years now. also have a 1950, birth year, 336A with the half mag and 24inch barrel that is very accurate. also have the requisite 39A and 1894 in .357. all fun to shoot. lee

[Vulcan Bob]

If you lost your mind it found a good home! The Marlins are very nice rifles and you do need the .22, mid bore and the big stick. Sounds like ya got it covered.

[Steave]

Never had an interest in Marlin lever guns until earlier this year. A friend that is slowly selling off his collection showed me a 1952 production 39A that could almost be called ANIB if it had a box, neat little gun, but he didn't mention any interest in selling it and I, frankly, wasn't interested in buying it. A month of so after I saw it I started thinking about it, called him and asked if it was for sale, he said he wasn't sure, but would let me know if he decided to part with it. I was in MO the end of June since Dad was having some surgery and called my friend as I had agreed to buy another rifle from him. When I got to his house he said he'd sell me the 39A as well and it followed me home. Neat little rifle!

[pred]

I am about to get my second 39A Tue evening.
I have a 1952 336rc 30/30 that groups 2" at 100 yards with irons,
Great rifles you've got there!
I have one canoe but many marlins.
Peter

[gunlovingirl]

Nice guns! I own a Marlin bolt action, and just last week picked up a Winchester 9422M XTR. Both Marlins and Winchesters are fine rifles, and I have a feeling another will come home with me in between the S&W adoptions!

[Smithhound]

I've never had an interest in .22 cal leverguns, but do love the Marlin center fires, so far I've accumulated an 1894cl in .32wcf, a 1894cb, oct. barrel with checkered stock set up with Lyman peep, an 1895cb oct. barrel .45-70 that i've set up with Marble tang sights and a little 1895sg in .45-70 that is a great gun but will punish you for the effort it takes to fire it.
Next to Smiths they are my favorite guns..as well as Colt's, Remingtons, etc,, etc.

RD

[sipowicz]

I keep a Marlin 39A for bear...luckily, I live in area where there are no bears..

[Lee Barner]

if you haven't found it yet, check out: marlinowners.com
great forum with more catagories than you can shake a stick at. lee

[Cyrano]

My folks gave m my firfst rifle in 1946. It was a Marlin 81DL, a bolt action, tube magazine 22 with a peep sight. It came out just after the war and the stock and some other details wre different on the later 81DLs. It taught me to shoot. It's stock is somewhat worn, but it is still accurate, and it's probably the last rifle I'd ever dispose of.

[Vegetaman]

I've only even shot one Marlin, and it was a 450... Bolt action. Fun to shoot. Man, those .450 rounds pack a good kick. One of the ones with the silver metal and the stock was that gray, white, and black type of wood. Great gun.

[Noah Zark]

I can relate to Marlinitis infections. My Marlinitis is terminal.

I've been into Marlins since the early 70s. I'm more into Marlins anymore than I am into S&Ws:

39 TDS 16.5" 22LR
39M Mountie (x2) 18" 22LR
39A 24" 22LR
57 Levermatic 22LR
57M Levermatic 22WMR
1894CL 22" 218 Bee (round bbl, half mag)
1894CL 22" 32-20 (round bbl, half mag)
1894CCL 20" 32-20 (octagonal bbl, full mag)
1894C 357 Magnum
1894CB 357 Magnum Cowboy (24" octagonal bbl)
1894LTD 16.5" 45 Colt (octagonal bbl, full mag)
1894CB Limited 20" 45 Colt (octagonal bbl, full mag)
1894CB 24" 45 Colt (octagonal bbl, full mag)
1894SS LTD 16.5" 44 Magnum stainless
1894CB 24" 44 Magnum (octagonal bbl, full mag)
1895SDT 16.5" 45-70 Stainless
1895 22" 45-70 (half mag)
1895CB 26" 45-70 (octagonal bbl, full mag)
336 Marauder 16.5" 30-30
336T "Texan" 20" straight grip 30-30
336SDT 16.5" stainless 30-30
375 22" 375 Winchester (half mag)

I'd like to find a Levermatic in 30 Carbine, but with prices in the $600 to $800 range, I've been able to exert restraint.

I'm no longer a CAS shooter, but I shoot and enjoy every one of the Marlins listed above. Each one may not get out every year, and some favorites get the range regularly, but they all get exercised -- no safe queens in the bunch. I enjoy shooting at empty 16-20 oz soda bottles on the 50, 100, and 200 yd berms rather than shooting at paper. I like the instant visual feedback on my marksmanship, either airborne plastic or dust puffs. Not a one of the Marlins is scoped. A few do wear Lyman, Redfield, or Williams receiver sights.

In my experience, Marlins have been consistent in quality, accuracy, functionality and service. Out of the box the trigger pulls have for the most part been crisp and uniform. Accuracy has been minute of clay bird at 100 yds using open sights or receiver sights. And when the contact points in the action are polished up with impregnated rubber dremel bits, "slick" doesn't begin to describe the feel when the lever is worked. "Teflon-coated ball bearings" is more like it.

I had the 336 Marauder out to the range maybe two months ago. It's a 16.5" round-barreled, straight-grip "trapper" style levergun in 30-30. That day I wash shooting at claybirds lying on edge on the front of the 100 yd berm. The weather was perfect and my nerves were cooperating. I had loaded 4+1 170 gr 30-30 handloads in the Marauder and took out five claybirds one after the other, open sights. Another shooter firing a scoped Short Magnum of some kind or another four benches away flew over to my bench, saying "I was wondering what you thought you were going to be able to hit with that short lever action. How is it possible that you can hit a 4" White Rock at 100 yds with such a short barrel and open sights?"

"It's a Marlin," I said. "Want to try?"

He declined.

Noah

[canoeguy]

Dang, Noah, no wonder Marlins are hard to find, you have them all!

I have to agree that Marlin seems to have the best quality of all the lever guns available today. Before buying my Model 39 .22, I looked at the Henry, the Marlin was all over it quality wise, and the price was only $50 more. Well worth the extra money in my opinion.

[617fan]

A Marlin 39 is at the top of my short list. People that own them tend to keep em.

[Newfyman]

A few weeks ago I bought a Marlin 1894CS in 357 and I really like it. It is one fun gun to shoot.

[44wheelman]

I got the Marlin bug a few years ago too. The first three are takedowns with the nylon zipper bags.

Papoose,
39 TDS
Midget Magnum
39A
444 S
444 SS
1895

I really like the big & little guns, & not much in between, but if run across a 375 or 32mag at a reasonable price....

[Sgt Preston]

Sgt Preston here.YUP, ME TOO.I just bought a new 336XLR Stainless x 24" barrel in 30-30...I took it to the range for it's virgin journey just last Thursday & it passed with flying colors. Next I'll be looking for a Golden 39A in 22 cal. Sgt Preston USMC LLA

[Rikkn]

I own several, no Winchesters here though.

[pete-driver]

Marlins, I've got them.
Here is two of the four.
Top: 1895 45-70 stainless
Bottom: 336 30-30 stainless