2nd attempt at gunsmithing, Marlin 336, 30-30

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tractorshaft

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The Socialist State of Connecticut
Hi,

I am nearing the end of my project Marlin 336, 30-30. It started as a pawn shop find for $150.00 and has had quite a cosmetic and functional transformation. I first tried working over a really beat up Remington Model 39 single shot .22.

Rem_33-7.jpg

I was pretty happy with the results so I dove right in and started another. I started out by buying a cheap Ram-Line stock and fitting a decent recoil pad to it. I also filled the large void in the buttstock with expanding foam. I textured the fore end and grip of the buttstock with epoxy and filler, finally painting it with a "textured" type finish. It greatly improves the looks of the plastic Ram-Line stock as purchased. I also cut the barrel down to 16.25", re-crowned with recess and silver soldered a NECG banded ramp sight onto the new tube length. I like the way it looks on the lever gun, hope you do too! I have the rear peep sight on order and along with a Burris "Short Mag" IER scope on a Scout Mount with Talley QD rings I will have redundant sights appropriate for the caliber, 30-30 of course. Why mess with a classic? Laugh! I did a complete action job from barrel lap & polish to trigger job, it breaks like glass at exactly 2 lbs. It was a 1974 built gun so it really had a decent trigger when I started. All of the bearing internals were hand stoned and polished where appropriate. I even lapped the magazine tube for smooth operation. The mag tube was cut down to 13.5" and the capacity is now 4 plus 1 instead of 6 plus 1. The little gun points and balances very very well. It is really light and should make a great truck or boat gun. I degreased everything including the screws, 40PSI of aluminum oxide and matte stainless steel Gun Kote baked on at 310 deg for an hour with a Mil-Tec lube bath afterwards gives it a tough, glare free industrial finish that requires little care in the field. This should be a nice little deer or hog rifle. I cant wait to finish up my Marlin 45-70 GG in a similar fashion. I did have Bob Cogan put his industrial matte chrome on it. He is the master of this finish and it will serve me well on Kodiak , Afognak and Raspberry Islands in Alaska where I often hunt. I have always been a shooter but have really enjoyed these little gunsmithing projects. I plan on customizing my .45 LC Bisley next. Enough chatter, here are the pictures of my beginner efforts in making a great gun even better :eek:

Started with this;

028.jpg

Here is the progress so far;

336_Front_3rdcopy.jpg

336_Front_Sight.jpg

336_RH_WorkBench.jpg

336_RH_WorkVise.jpg

336_RH_WorkbenchII.jpg

Hope you enjoyed looking at my new found hobby. What fun!

Thanks and God Bless

Jerry

NW Connecticut
 
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No problem, I just have to finish assembly and mount the scope. This thing has been laying around half cut up and rusty on my bench for over a year. I just kicked it into high gear last week and can now see daylight on it. It should be done tomorrow. I have to customize (Split) the other little barrel band after I braze a sling swivel stud on it. Thats about it!
 
Nice work, but I'm interested in the single shot. Can you provide a similar write up and photos?
 
Who can afford two grand for an "Alaskan Co-Pilot" when you can DIY it with a hacksaw and a good "Can-Do" attitude! :D I actually just finished a rebuild of a 1945 Logan 10" lathe. I am working on making replacement hex head screws for the entire gun. I have to take larger screws and turn new threads on them as there are no "Blanks" for the smaller sized ones.

This old Logan was a basket case when I got it, its up and running like a sewing machine now; it turns true to 4/10's in 18" of travel forward of the chuck. Now, if I only was younger and had 10 years to learn the machine trade. Will just have to "Fake it" I guess , wink wink. Here is a pic before I finished the headstock and drive box. This is from an era when Americans "Made Stuff". I was simply blown away at the quailty and craftsmanship I found when working on this old piece of Americana. Know that I know how "It works" , I have to figure out how to "Work it".

RH_Quarter.jpg
 
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Finished it up yesterday

Hi Fellas,

Here are some photos of the finished gun; It was a fun project. I am flattered at the nice comments. I appreciate your taking the time to give me your opinions, some of the specs are;

Model: Marlin "336"
Caliber: 30-30
Capacity: 4+1
Finish: Norrell's Moly-Coat over 60 grit Aluminum Oxide Bead blast with "Metal ready" phosphate coating, mil-tech "bath"
Stock: Ram-Line, textured, foam filled & epoxy resin reinforced at swivel stud & butt plate
Front barrel band & swivel stud: home made & recessed into shallow barrel cut.
Front sight: New England Custom Gun "Masterpiece" banded ramp w/Gold Bead insert
Scope & Mount: XS Scout base with Talley steel rings, 1X Burris Short Mag scope
Rear sight: Williams FP (On order)
Action: Tuned & polished, Bear proof extractor


here goes!

336_8.jpg
336_7.jpg
336_6.jpg
336_5.jpg
336_4.jpg
336_3.jpg
336_2.jpg
336_1.jpg

Ya'll have a nice day!

Jerry
 
Thanks for the comment on the sling attachment W.E.G., I couldent find anything available commercially I liked either.The part started out as a little piece of .5" black iron pipe.

I brazed a swivel stud onto it and filed it to shape. I did put a little "Scallop" on the top of it with a mill where it mates with the barrel to keep the magazine tube in place under recoil.

Best regards.

Jerry
 
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