marlin 35 rem lever gun

[joshlm]

I have been keeping my eyes open for a 44 mag lever gun used in my area with out much success. I did find a 35 rem marlin that has a peep added for $300 though. Is this a good buy and would it be a sutible substitute for the 44 mag. and what range of game would it take? I here it makes a magnificent deer gun.

 

[kaferhaus]

35 Rem is just a "suped up 30-30". I like em. but it's nothing like a 44mag, it's much more powerful, kicks harder and the marlin only holds 5 or 6 of em.

Regional preferences have a lot to do with what a guns worth. Down this way a used Marlin 336 in 35Rem without a scope (even a cheapo) would bring less than $250 and more likely $200 to a private individual. A shop would allow you 125-150 bucks trade for it.

It's a good cartridge, a bit under appreciated and not too popular because it's too close to the 30-30 in performance and the ammo is much more expensive. Down here a box of 30-30 is 8-9 bucks. 35 rem is 14-15 bucks and you can't always find it.

 

[GooseGestapo]

The price is a bit high, but you didn't give some relevant information. If the gun is a 24" bbl 336A, and in pristine condition then the price becomes better. What make is the Reciever sight. If it's a Lyman, then the price goes up some more.

Like another posted stated, the .35Rem is a lot more cartridge than the .44mag at ranges over 50yds. If you reload, the .35 is no more costly to reload than the .30/30, and is substantially more gun. At ranges of 150yds and less, I consider my .35 to be more gun than the .30/06 (I killed my first deer in Alabama with a .30/06 in 1976).

I have a soft spot for the .35 as my "mentor" who set the fire in me to hunt and shoot which led me to my career used a Marlin 336 in .35 with a Weaver 3x scope his entire life to hunt, and was a highly successful deer and turkey hunter long before it was popular throughout Alabama the way it is today. He hunted the Talladega Nat. Forrest between Sylacauga and Anniston before the deer restoration efforts of the 40's, 50's, and early 60's.

Check out the Marlin again, it may be something of a collectors item, and someone here may want to "snatch it up" even if you aren't interested.

Otherwise, it seems to be overpriced. A good average .35 with a cheap scope will bring $250-275.00 in your area.

Properly sighted in (2.5" high at 100yds), the .35 is easily capable of "point blank" shooting of deer to 200yds (-4.0" at 200yds.

Much flatter shooting than the .44mag.!

 

[41mag]

$300 would have been a find for one around here.I went specifically looking for a 35 Rem Marlin a couple of months ago.Nary a one to be found..30-30's all over the place.People up here buy 'em & hang on to them.

 

[Gordon]

$300 with a peep sight is good IF it is not scratched or worn very much ect. ALOT more gun than a .44mag. Recoil on my 16" Marauder 336 is about the same as my B-92 Browning .44 mag. I'd rather hunt deer with the 336 marlin!

 

[kaferhaus]

Went by Wally World this morning

NEW 336 30-30s are $279, they'll likely special order you a 35 for the same price.

However Walmart does not have the same prices everywhere....so your's may have a different price.

 

[joshlm]

o.k. guys the rifle is a 336c with a 20" barrel. It is only a couple years old and looks like new. I could not find a scratch on it anywhere. It also has the pistol grip type stock. The peep is indeed a lyman. I think I will check walmart and then see if they will come down on the price on the 35, I will let you know how it goes later today.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Figure the peep sight running about $50. And since new Marlins are not drilled and tapped, you'll have to have a 'smith put it on. You won't get much change from a hundred dollar bill -- so the gun with the peep is really a bargain, even though it may not look that way at first blush.

 

[kaferhaus]

Vern is right IF you want a peep sight.....

For me, it would detract from the value of the gun because now it has holes in it that I don't want there!

Which is always the caveat on accessorizing any gun... if it can't be put back to it's original condition without evidence of modification, it many times makes it harder to sell.

You then have to find a buyer that also wants your accessory and wants to pay for it...

I've bought several trucks the same way... seller's got "mags" on it, maybe a nice hard shell bed cover etc.

Doesn't add a penny to price I'm willing to pay for it.

 

[Mannlicher]

I like the .35 Remington, but it is not a wonder caliber. the .35 is an exellent short range cartridge, much like the 30/30. With the factory 200 grain bullet, and its relatively slow speed, it penetrates well, and kills clean. I prefer the .44 Mag for deer, but I have used a .35 several times.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Although Marlin no longer drills and taps the left side of the recievers, it is not necessary to drill and tap it to mount a reciever sight.

Williams makes the WGRS which mounts on top of the reciever and utilizes the two rear scope base holes.

However, it does require that you replace the front sight with a higher front sight to accomodate the adjustment range available with the WGRS.

Best way to purchase it is in the combination with a FireSight front sight which is the correct height.

Also, it may be beneficial to open up the front sight hood in like manner to the current factory style, or order a new factory hood with the slot cut to let in light for the optic fiber.

I have these on both my Marlins and enjoy them greatly. (although the 5D is "half" removed from the .30/30 to allow mounting of the 2x-7x scope it now wears).

 

[BJPARKER]

What you might consider looking at is the typical shot groups that people get out of lever action 44mags. It seems that this combination is not known for sub 3-4in groups, the average being 4in. If you go on the lever action forums, the frequent question of recent 44mag owners is "Is this the best group I can get?". I've owned the 336 in .35Rem and was quite pleased with consistantly good groups up to 150yds, and definitely sub 3in, more in the 2in range, once in a while a flyer, but I only used factory ammo. Excellent caliber for deer, and some folks up here use it for elk and bear under 100yds.