Marlin .30-30s?

[JayFramer]

Gang was up at the Sportsman’s Warehouse today in North Vegas, and went to “paroosin” the shelves. Found a Marlin’s 336C walnut .30-30:

She was a floor’s model with dings from the dinguses handling it for who knows how long. The nice man behind the counter said “I’ll order you one from the warehouse instead” so guys he’ll ring me when it gets in. I put money down but he said “full refund” to my card if it’s a dud gun, as I here the new Marlins are still a bit spotty though not near as bad as a few years back.

So yeah... guess I just invested in a Remlin Marlington!!

No risk though, but I’ve wanted a lever-action .30-30, specifically the Marlin, for years n’ years. Grew up where a .30-30 was a “good ‘ol boy’s rifle” and lots used them to get deers. Just always wanted one I guess.

Any thoughts, inputs, lectures, ideas, etc. welcome, gang. My plans are to use it as a tough truck gun for dragging around the deserts and forests, maybe for boars and deers when the opportunity arises, and for social works should it come down to that. Didn’t want to get a J.M. and drag it around to hell and back.

-Jay

 

[sigp220.45]

I think you'll like it, Jay. The new "Remlins" look pretty good to me. The design is well-tested. Let us know how you like it when you have it in hand.

I have a straight stock 336 and a 16" Glenfield, both 30/30s Great guns.

 

[kraynky]

Haven't handled one personally, but I hear pretty good things about the 2018-'19 Remlins. With that kind of guarantee you can't go wrong.

I've been shooting Marlin leverguns for over 40 years, but all have been JM's, so far. Still have a few in 30-30, and I've got nothing bad to say about them. I honestly can't begin to tell you how many deer I've taken with the thurty-thurty. I lost a deer or two to other calibers over the years, but can't recall ever loosing one with a 170 gr. Power Point.

Clean it good when you get it, before you shoot it. Keep it clean and lubed and it will treat you kindly in return. Work that lever like you mean business, even setting down watching TV. It'll get smoother & smoother as you go. Keep 8n mind, some of them like 170 gr, some prefer 150 gr. Your rifle will let you know.

Congratulations! And a range report. And pictures!

 

[nate-dogg]

I've got a 336 from 1976 and 30AW from 1989. Shot my first deer with the 30AW. Great guns.

 

[Farmer17]

I have a JM Marlin 30/30 I bought about five years ago from a pawnshop for $235 in great condition and I mounted a Weaver V1-3X scope and the bullet holes will nearly touch each other at 50 yards. It's a rifle that's one of the classic great guns of all times and everybody should own one.

 

[Sistema1927]

I have a 336 from 1975 that would probably be the last rifle to go to market if I had to liquidate my collection. Hopefully the new ones are getting better and uphold the Marlin tradition.

 

[ken158]

Saw a show on one of the outdoor channels about the Marlin transition and they owned up to the Remington growing pains which was refreshing. Also showed all the newest machinery and they believe the newest guns are the best guns Marlin has produced.

 

[phonejack]

Previous posters have given excellent advice. My JM is my do-all rifle.

 

[cowboy4evr]

Both I and my sister have Marlin 336's . I cast gas check bullets sized .311 . With the microgroove rifling they need the larger size instead of the usual .309 . I use the Lyman 311041 mold , supposed to weigh about 173grs . With a charge of 25 grs of 3031, very accurate . I don't have a chronograph but I figure it's doing about 1700-1750 fps or so from what I have read . It's a very comfortable shooting load that will do most anything you need . Regards, Paul

 

[canoeguy]

I like lever rifles, especially 30/30 ones. Here's a pic of my rifle rack, Marlin 336W from 2004 or so prominently displayed with two Winchester 94 brothers and two Rossi 92 cousins:

I like the smoothness of the Marlin action, and the ease of breakdown for cleaning.

 

[RobertJ.]

I was researching a Marlin 1895 CBA in .45-70, and it looks like they've got all the bugs worked out.

 

[ditrina]

Brand new last week.. 1894c in .357 mag. Fit and finish is as good as it gets.
Built in June of this year..

Bluing is great no mars in the wood.. " I'm sold"

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

There is a change in the safety system from "The Old Days" to current production. The tried and true "Half Cock" is still there, but the lawyers have added a push button safety. This is a hammer block design so I have seen no detriment to trigger pull weight or dragging. However, if you are worried about the Safety getting in the way during a crisis. You can pull the butt stock (just 2 screws in the tang) and there is a small Allen screw that will lock the push button in place, meaning it can't accidentally get pushed into a blocking position! Then simply reinstall the buttstock. The modern 1894 and 1895 marlins have a 2 piece firing pin, that can be replaced with a one piece if you desire (I have had both and don't see any difference! So why waste the money?)

I never had a 30-30 lever gun, I've had 32-40's, 32 Win Specials, 38-55's and 35 Remington's, 45-70 (1895 & 1886), 45-90's (1886), 357's, 44 Special (1873) 44 Mags, 44-40's, 45 Colts and a 308 (BLR), but never a 30-30. Maybe the time will come!

Ivan

 

[mrchuck]

I kept my "scoped out" Marlin 336 in 30-30 caliber.
Best deer rifle out there for forest and shooting out to 175 yards.
Longer Range,I use my Mauser bolt action in 7mm Mauser caliber.

 

[MCorps0311]

I like it,I have a Marlin 336W 30-30, 20" myself. Congrats on your 336C 30-30.

 

[Valmet]

My roommate in college was absolutely deadly with his 336. He swore by the classic 150-gr Remington Core-Lokt load and regularly killed big deer with it (open sights). They are great old rifles.

 

[Old Corp]

Still have my first deer rifle, a Marlin 336 with the straight stock and shorter barrel - 'Texan' model maybe. Not sure. A Leupold 1.75-5x sits atop it.
Took my first few deer with it and after devouring every hunting article I could and finding that I really needed to have .270's and .30-06's to take deer, it went into disuse.
It may come out of retirement this Fall.

 

[white cloud]

I bought an 1895 CSBL in .357 last year. It was a bit rough inside and had that infernal cross bolt safety. There is a safety delete kit that makes it look like a screw. I installed the delete kit and a replacement trigger. I also cleaned up the insides of the action. It is now a smooth and accurate little rifle that I have become fond of.

 

[Bayou52]

Out of a 20" 336, have had outstanding experience on deer using the Hornady 160 grain FTX pushed by 35.5 grains of LVR (this load is published on both the powder canister and on the Hodgdon website) with a CCI LR primer.
I've cronied it at the velocity of 2390 FPS which is right in line with the advertised velocity.

Bayou52

 

[JayFramer]

Thanks, guys! Is .30-30 hard to reload for?