Current Production Marlin 336 Quality

[Mr. Mosin]

This is a curiosity thread, not a "to-buy" thread. I know when Remington acquired Marlin, the quality was shoddy for a while. They are the lowest priced out of the big three lever gun manufacturer's (Winchester/Henry/Marlin). Does their quality reflect this, or is their quality back up to snuff ? I'm not asking for perfection, just good accuracy, good fit/finish, and reliability. The crossbolt safety is a... non-issue. If it turns out to be an issue, it can be readily replaced.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Bought a Remlin 444 from 2019. Gaps in the stock to receiver fit and rust under the forend.

Here is a 100 yd group I shot with it though.



Here is another group I shot a few months back. 5 rounds this time.



The guns work they are just poorly executed in the details. I bought this one used a mere month after they hit retailers for an insane deal. I would never have bought it new. I wanted a 444 and was waiting for a later production JM when this came up. No regrets either.

 

[troy fairweather]

Save your money and get a rossi, or to for a winchester.

 

[Dunross]

I have a late model 336 bought a couple of months ago. Wanted the walnut stock, but could not find one anywhere. Didn't want to buy it sight unseen because of the early models poor quality. The one I have is the 336 Big Loop with the laminated stock. I think the fit and finish are quite good. It handles well. A little stock polish improved the looks of the wood. I have no complaints.

The only other 336 I could find was one of the early Remlins. The price was good, but the fit and finish were so bad I wouldn't even consider it. The newer ones are much improved.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

What of those Mossberg offerings ? The ..... 464, I think they're called ?

Also, what to look for when buying a lever gun ?

 

[Frulk]

It’s a shame Mossberg doesn’t expand their lever line to include some pistol calibers.

 

[earlthegoat2]

What of those Mossberg offerings ? The ..... 464, I think they're called ?

Also, what to look for when buying a lever gun ?

I would play closer attention to Mossberg if they had any other chamberings besides 30-30.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Are they of passable quality ?

 

[courtgreene]

Mossberg are good guns. They are, however, only available in thirty thirty. I bought my marlin before I knew about the mossbergs and looking back I wish I’d bought the mossberg FOR THAT APPLICATION.
The thirty thirty I needed was to be iron sights only and shot at treed bear and deer in close range/thick woods situations. I didn’t need a scope. The mossberg would have been perfect.
Since then I’ve gotten another lever gun and will likely get more but I already have a 30/30 so that eliminates them from consideration.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Mossberg are good guns. They are, however, only available in thirty thirty. I bought my marlin before I knew about the mossbergs and looking back I wish I’d bought the mossberg FOR THAT APPLICATION.
The thirty thirty I needed was to be iron sights only and shot at treed bear and deer in close range/thick woods situations. I didn’t need a scope. The mossberg would have been perfect.
Since then I’ve gotten another lever gun and will likely get more but I already have a 30/30 so that eliminates them from consideration.

Never handled a Mossberg 464. How's the fit/finish/function ?

 

[PapaG]

Go old school. My 336, 94, and 336-444 are all pre 1980 and just fine.

 

[mshootnit]

Bought a Remlin 444 from 2019. Gaps in the stock to receiver fit and rust under the forend.

Here is a 100 yd group I shot with it though.

View attachment 922574

Here is another group I shot a few months back. 5 rounds this time.

View attachment 922576

The guns work they are just poorly executed in the details. I bought this one used a mere month after they hit retailers for an insane deal. I would never have bought it new. I wanted a 444 and was waiting for a later production JM when this came up. No regrets either.

This is my experience as well. Good barrels.
Buy a Remlin as a shooter. I like my 2004 JM 336.

 

[rayatphonix]

I have an 1895 CB in 45-70. Fit and finish is fine and it shoots well. Most reports I’ve heard of recent Marlins are positive.

 

[dh1633pm]

The Marlin line made at “The Arms” in Ilion NY has been retooled. The. Marlin antique machine tools have been sent for recycling. The current quality is superior than when they were made in CT. I have a friend at the factory who does QC. He is very proud of the new rifles. Two years ago he said don’t buy any Marlins. Today he says they are well made. There were some managers at the factory who were ship first and fix later. They were walked to the door. I love my new 1894 in 45 colt.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

I'm seriously considering a 336 if I job I have lined up goes through. That, and a S&W Mdl 10-5.

 

[Old Stumpy]

I can't speak to the quality of current 336 rifles, but I can attest as to the quality of the 1894s made in 2019.
The fit and finish is quite well executed, without damaged screws, stiff actions, faulty machining, badly fitted wood, or whatever.
Having once vowed never to buy a Remlin, I ended up buying an 1894 Cowboy in .45 Colt.
Internally it was smooth, and appeared to have been subtly re-engineered for the better around the breechface and lifter. I stoned the edge of the extractor a touch and feeding was smooth and easy.
The stock wood was a plain but okay black walnut, darker than older Marlin production, and less glossy.
Accuracy seems very good as long as the velocity of the ammo isn't too slow for the 1:38 inch twist.
American Eagle 225 grain worked well.
The trigger pulls vary. Some are heavy. Some are just right.
I also ended up buying the .44 Magnum and .357 models.
The rear sights seem very tight in their dovetails, so you might need a padded vise to drift them for adjustment.
My advice is to buy one in person after examining it carefully and slowly.
The odd one may have wood not fitted as well, and you might be able to exclude one with a heavy trigger pull.
I believe that you will get quite decent accuracy from the .30-30 models, with their micro-groove rifling.
While I tend to be more of a traditionalist, I very much like the looks of the 336BL.
The 18 1/2" barrel seems appropriate and the big loop is sort of appealing.
The laminated stock is something that I would have to look closely at.

 

[mshootnit]

My 2004 JM is a little more dehorned and refined than the last Remlin I handled circa 2012. Also made a distinctly different sound when working the lever.
Remlin laser checkering looked like it was executed by a wraith with a bag full of steel brushes.

 

[courtgreene]

Never handled a Mossberg 464. How's the fit/finish/function ?

Handled them in pawn shops. I thought they were slightly better than the marlin I have. Function was good. Very Winchester-y. Fit was perfectly fine, finish was decent. So finish, to clarify, wasn’t something you’d gush over, but for a gun to be used in the rough stuff, it was well suited to the job.

 

[DocRock]

By accounts and the two new I have seen in the last year, it seems like Remington has got its act together. Enough that I am very likely to take the plunge on a 444.

 

[DocRock]

I can't speak to the quality of current 336 rifles, but I can attest as to the quality of the 1894s made in 2019.
The fit and finish is quite well executed, without damaged screws, stiff actions, faulty machining, badly fitted wood, or whatever.
Having once vowed never to buy a Remlin, I ended up buying an 1894 Cowboy in .45 Colt.
Internally it was smooth, and appeared to have been subtly re-engineered for the better around the breechface and lifter. I stoned the edge of the extractor a touch and feeding was smooth and easy.
The stock wood was a plain but okay black walnut, darker than older Marlin production, and less glossy.
Accuracy seems very good as long as the velocity of the ammo isn't too slow for the 1:38 inch twist.
American Eagle 225 grain worked well.
The trigger pulls vary. Some are heavy. Some are just right.
I also ended up buying the .44 Magnum and .357 models.
The rear sights seem very tight in their dovetails, so you might need a padded vise to drift them for adjustment.
My advice is to buy one in person after examining it carefully and slowly.
The odd one may have wood not fitted as well, and you might be able to exclude one with a heavy trigger pull.
I believe that you will get quite decent accuracy from the .30-30 models, with their micro-groove rifling.
While I tend to be more of a traditionalist, I very much like the looks of the 336BL.
The 18 1/2" barrel seems appropriate and the big loop is sort of appealing.
The laminated stock is something that I would have to look closely at.

Are the Remlin's still using microgroove rifling? I was under the impression that everything was "Ballard" cut these days?

 

[Old Stumpy]

Are the Remlin's still using microgroove rifling? I was under the impression that everything was "Ballard" cut these days?

According to the Marlin website all 336 variants still use micro-groove rifling. Mostly because they shoot the .30-30 and .35 Remington cartridges, I would think. Not many people hand load lead bullets in these, so they still use micro-groove, which works great with JSP bullets.
Since its' a bread and butter production rifle sold everywhere, they probably don't want to retool to Ballard rifling when it isn't necessary.
Many customers wouldn't notice or care one way or the other anyway.
The 1895 and 1894 series rifles are a different matter, and all have Ballard rifling.
Remington doesn't seem inclined to change JM Marlin rifling or twist rates that existed before the big changeover, even if the 1894 .44 Magnum and .45 Colt could benefit from it.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Are the Remlin's still using microgroove rifling? I was under the impression that everything was "Ballard" cut these days?

The 444 also has Ballard rifling and is 1:20.

 

[cdb1]

I think current production 336’s are fine. Never seen a 464 in person but from pictures I’ve seen they look to be angle eject. I prefer the Marlin ejection system. If I were looking for a 30-30 to use strictly with iron sights I’d look at a Mossberg, but any lever action I own will be scoped.

 

[dh1633pm]

I purchased an 1895G in 2003. It was made in CT by good ol Marlin Employees. It is excellent. What those workers did with old tooling is a testimate to their work. The stories that run about the arms about the machines and tooling when it was moved to Ilion are legion. Broken, old, some sabotaged, and mostly just out of date. No way employees not familiar with them were to make a nice product. Hence the bad years before the line was re-tooled.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

So the current production is generally back up to snuff ?