Levergun Deer Rifle!

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M65Man

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I took my Mod 64 to fine tune the zero with my Reloads I've settled on for this rifle, and am sure it's a outstanding deer rifle & load. I'm shooting the Hornady 160FTX, Rem Brass, CCI 200 Primers, LVR Powder @ 2,425fps, and with the B.C. of that bullet being .330, I'm sure it's a legitimate 200yd load.
Shot these at 100yds. 20220711_083528.jpg 20220711_093830.jpg
 
I shot these at 150yds, nothing to brag about, but no doubt my fault with iron sights at this distance.
And I tried 3 reduced loads I'm working on, 130gr Speer H.C. and a minimum charge of 3031 powder. Shot these at 30yds. 20220711_113146.jpg 20220711_101834.jpg
 
Last time I shot my Marlin 336 with reloads, at paper targets, I was getting dime sized three shot groups at 100 yards. Using 200gr FTX bullets and LVR powder. So far it hasn't hit an animal that hasn't gone more than 5 yards before dropping down. I haven't chronographed any loads out of it but the accuracy and velocity has been enough for ethical kills without being at the max or recommended load.
 
Thanks guys, and yes it's a Williams Peep. I got this rifle in 2019, unfired, installed the Williams sight myself. I had wanted a Mod 64 Win for many years, #1. I've only always purchased rifles either new or by handling first hand used locally. I have a 336 Marlin and 94 Win both 20" Carbine, but always thought the features of the Mod 64 & 71 to better handling & consistent.
I had never seen a 64 around here amid all the many 336s and 94s. This rifle is a 1971 NRA Centennial Model, marked Mod 94 for that year, but in 1972&73 this same rifle is marked Mod 64a, the Mod 64 had been discontinued in I believe 1957.
When I first saw it I kinda frowned on it, it being post 64, but I bought it on sight anyways, sure glad I did, I wouldn't trade it now for a pre64, unless I could spend plenty time shooting trying it out!
I reload, enjoy having my 30-30s, and every deer I ever killed with a rifle, has been with iron sights. I hunt big mountains, heavy brush & hardwoods, no agriculture fields, so most all shots are short range. A light quick levergun is hard to beat!
 
herrwalther said:
Last time I shot my Marlin 336 with reloads, at paper targets, I was getting dime sized three shot groups at 100 yards. Using 200gr FTX bullets and LVR powder. So far it hasn't hit an animal that hasn't gone more than 5 yards before dropping down. I haven't chronographed any loads out of it but the accuracy and velocity has been enough for ethical kills without being at the max or recommended load.
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Dime sized groups and 200 gr bullets, it must be a scoped 35 Rem? You got a rifle there I should have! Used to be plenty 35 Rem Marlins around here, but next to impossible to find a 336 in 35 Rem for sale anymore. I should've had one years ago in my cabinet, wish I had! My first old hunting buddy when I got outta HS in 77 hunted with one, he swore by it, it's a fine caliber!
 
M65Man said:
Dime sized groups and 200 gr bullets, it must be a scoped 35 Rem? You got a rifle there I should have! Used to be plenty 35 Rem Marlins around here, but next to impossible to find a 336 in 35 Rem for sale anymore. I should've had one years ago in my cabinet, wish I had! My first old hunting buddy when I got outta HS in 77 hunted with one, he swore by it, it's a fine caliber!
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Dont know where you are located but there are a fair number of Marlin 336 35 Rem in the SE.
 
I'm in SE Ky, and this was always Marlin country, at least in the 60's-80's when I grew up. I'd guess it was even 5 to 1 more Marlins than Win Leverguns. But everyone's went to Bolts since then. The 35's that remain have pretty much found a home. I'm 63, and I'd guess my iron sight days are limited, so my 3 30-30's are all I need. I've got a dandy scoped 30-06 waiting for its turn, plus a 270.
And the prices of Marlin Levers now, no way!
The only Leverguns I'd buy now, first and foremost a Mod 71 in 348, and maybe an Mod 86 in the old 33wcf, and an old original 1895 in 405 or 30-06.
 
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M65Man said:
Dime sized groups and 200 gr bullets, it must be a scoped 35 Rem? You got a rifle there I should have! Used to be plenty 35 Rem Marlins around here, but next to impossible to find a 336 in 35 Rem for sale anymore. I should've had one years ago in my cabinet, wish I had! My first old hunting buddy when I got outta HS in 77 hunted with one, he swore by it, it's a fine caliber!
Click to expand...

Correct. Mine wears a 1.5-4x Leupold LPVO. Bought the rifle and scope together about 15 years ago. I don't shoot groups with it very often because the outdoor zero range is an hour away but I have a hunting preserve in my backyard. Love the rifle and the caliber but I am looking into a new rifle now. It is just too hard to find components and ammo in 35Rem right now. Won't sell it but it will be retiring as my primary hunting rifle. 35Rem in the Southeast is a near ideal deer and hog round.
 
herrwalther said:
Correct. Mine wears a 1.5-4x Leupold LPVO. Bought the rifle and scope together about 15 years ago. I don't shoot groups with it very often because the outdoor zero range is an hour away but I have a hunting preserve in my backyard. Love the rifle and the caliber but I am looking into a new rifle now. It is just too hard to find components and ammo in 35Rem right now. Won't sell it but it will be retiring as my primary hunting rifle. 35Rem in the Southeast is a near ideal deer and hog round.
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herrwalther said:
Correct. Mine wears a 1.5-4x Leupold LPVO. Bought the rifle and scope together about 15 years ago. I don't shoot groups with it very often because the outdoor zero range is an hour away but I have a hunting preserve in my backyard. Love the rifle and the caliber but I am looking into a new rifle now. It is just too hard to find components and ammo in 35Rem right now. Won't sell it but it will be retiring as my primary hunting rifle. 35Rem in the Southeast is a near ideal deer and hog round.
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I'll sure not dispute the 35Rem capability! And in all honesty, when I grew up, 30-30 Marlins where everywhere here, and I'm not knocking it, I love my 30-30 's, I've had great success with them! But knowing what I know now about the 35Rem, in these mountains, this type of hunting, the 35Rem should've been king!

But to complete my lists of Levers I'd still buy now, I left out the Win Big Bore 375. Although I've never even been around one, I'd like to have one, no doubt a jewel!
 
Beautiful Marlin sir!
My Dad has an older 336, dont think hes ever actually taken a deer with it.....but Im sure that gun has downed plenty in its day.
My levergun deer rifle-
IMG_0158.edit1.jpg
Ive actually never taken one with this gun either, but my buddy borrowed it once when his M700 trigger broke. He got two on that trip. They were delicious!
 
Beautiful Rifle! Nice shooting too, you must be young, even with peep sights I can't do that. I've pretty much gone to scopes.
 
The two that I've been using the last few years .35 Rem and .444.
I've had good luck while carrying the .35, but I've only seen one deer I could shoot while carrying the T4 and that one was way too small.

DSCF0034 (2).JPG
 
Shimitup said:
Beautiful Rifle! Nice shooting too, you must be young, even with peep sights I can't do that. I've pretty much gone to scopes.
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I'm 63, very near sighted, but with my glasses I still see pretty good. I've squirrel hunted all my life with open sighted 22's, 000's of shots at game, so taking up deer hunting I didn't even consider a scope. I truly prefer good open sights to a receiver sight for tighter groups inside 100yds. But longer ranges, low light shots early and late into brush, now a receiver is better all around for me, my eyes aren't what they used to be. I'm close to going to a scope!
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Beautiful Marlin sir!
My Dad has an older 336, dont think hes ever actually taken a deer with it.....but Im sure that gun has downed plenty in its day.
My levergun deer rifle-
View attachment 1089566
Ive actually never taken one with this gun either, but my buddy borrowed it once when his M700 trigger broke. He got two on that trip. They were delicious!
Click to expand...

Love the clean looks of the 99. Mine is in 243, and I had stopped hunting by the time I bought it. It does ding steel very well however.
 
I want #5, but willing to accept #6, your choice, , I'll send my local ffl address, Lol!
 
I haven't hunted in years and I never got a chance at deer with this rifle but my dad got a couple before I inherited it. (Bottleneck cartridges are illegal in Ohio where I live but my dad lived in PA at the time where it was/is legal)

'68 .308Win.

It's the 99E which means no walnut or cartridge counter (it has an aluminum rotor)

Some day I'll get it back out in the woods.
nX7nbkD.jpg
 
Y-T71 said:
I haven't hunted in years and I never got a chance at deer with this rifle but my dad got a couple before I inherited it. (Bottleneck cartridges are illegal in Ohio where I live but my dad lived in PA at the time where it was/is legal)

'68 .308Win.

It's the 99E which means no walnut or cartridge counter (it has an aluminum rotor)

Some day I'll get it back out in the woods.
View attachment 1089941
Click to expand...


Just keep enjoying it no matter how.

The 99 is an interesting critter. So different from the "cowboy" rifle so many of us grew up watching.

My first exposure to it was in the movie Joe Kidd, WHAT IS THAT....does not look like any winchester I had ever seen. My uncle told me it was a savage 99, and they are a bit of an odd duck.

Been in love with the looks from that moment on.

Took a while to lay my hands on the one I have, and now would love a 22HP, but prices are just going stupid on them.
 
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