Marlin 336 30-30 vs. .35 Remington

[SouthronBoy]

I have an old Marlin 336 in 30-30 sold as a Western Field. I got it already scoped at a gun show for a pretty good price.

It's my deer rifle. I live in a hilly part of the country, and my max shot is going to be about 200 yards, which is fine since my 50+ year old eyes ain't what they used to be.

If all goes as planned, I'm about to get a Marlin 336 in .35 Remington from my wife's uncle's estate. I won't get rid of this gun, except under the most dire of circumstances. If I don't like it for some reason, I'll keep it for one of my kids.

If I like it, I'm going to use it. I'm thinking of putting a peep sight on it, since the scope on my 30-30 is kind of cumbersome.

I guess my question is, will I like it? I don't know anything about the round, so I don't know what to expect. My other rifles include an M-1 and a couple of Mosins, so big bang doesn't bother me.

 

[jmr40]

Not really much different in practical use than the 30-30. The 30-30 is really a slightly better round in my opinion. The 30-30 will have a little flatter trajectory while most people claim the 35 has a little more punch on larger game such as black bear. In reality I doubt if any game animal will ever know the difference. The 35 will win for the coolness factor however.

I own both and don't plan to sell either, but If I could only have 1 I'd give the nod to the 30-30.

 

[Craigman]

I plink with my 30-30 now and hunt with the .35 The 30-30 seems more of a fun gun cause its way cheaper to shoot. Both will be OK to 200 if you practice at that range to see what the drop is. LeverEvolutions shoot pretty darn good out of my .35 and I dont believe I'll ever need a stronger bullet for whitetail. Dont get rid of the 35......it will always be cooler

 

[Hillbillyz]

I'll second what everyone else said. Hit something with a .35 and it goes down. Ammo will be cheaper with the 30-30, and everyone sells it. You might have to look a little more for .35 and it will cost more. Recoil will be slightly more with the .35 but nothing to worry about. Enjoy the .35 it is a fine old cartridge.

 

[Abel]

I guess my question is, will I like it? I don't know anything about the round, so I don't know what to expect.

You'll like it. It seems to lay the smack down a little better than my 30-30. I have a Marlin 336C made in 1980 in 35 that I really like. The 35 Remington was put to market the very same year that the 30-06 was...1906. It was designed to be shot out of the Model 8, designed by John Browning. The Model 8 & 81 are gone, but the 35 Rem. lives on in the Marlin 336. It is, to the best of my knowledge, one of only two models currently chambered for the 35. The other is the Remington Model Seven from Remington's Custom Shop.

 

[epijunkie67]

If you shouldered and fired each with your eyes closed I doubt you could tell the difference really. I have both and recoil is pretty much the same to me. 30-30 ballistics tables say it shoots a little flatter but to be honest there just doesn't appear to be that big a difference between the two calibers.

Just grabbing some data off the Federal ammo web site for a quick random comparison using their Power Shok round nose ammo. Zeroed at 100 yards.

30-30, 170 grain
Muzzle velocity 2200 ft/sec with 1827 foot pounds of energy
200 yards velocity 1619 ft/sec with 990 FP of energy and -8.4" of drop

35 Remington, 200 grain
Muzzle velocity 2080 ft/sec with 1921 FP of energy
200 yards velocity 1374 ft/sec with 838 FP of energy and -10.7" of drop.

The 35 Remington actually drops below the 30-30 in energy before 100 yards, probably around the 80 yard mark or so. This is obviously just one set of numbers but I'm sure they are mostly all similar to this.

Bottom line is, you aren't going to notice a difference in weapon weight, usage, or performance. Either is a great deer gun at or below 200 yards. I'm guessing that reloading for the 35 remington will be about as easy as reloading for the 30-30.

Enjoy your new toy.

edit, here is a photo of both rounds for comparison. The 35 is far right and the 30-30 is right next to it.

 

[Jubjub]

If you reload, the .35 can be used with light powder charges and cast bullets made for the .357/.38spl. Makes for a cheap practice load.

 

[JohnBT]

If you want to be cool you'll need a .32 Special too. It too is over 100 years old.

170 gr at 2,283 fps, 1,968 ft·lbf

 

[NCsmitty]

I have loaded the FTX bullets in both calibers, and ballistically on paper, they are very close, but the 35 Rem has more "smack down" in real life situations.



NCsmitty

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've got both, and have used both for many years.

I like both rifles. The .30/30 performs much better than it's general reputation.
However, if you reload and have a strong .35Rem, (the Marlin is one of them), then you can load the .35 to a significantly greater power than the .30/30.

The .35 has about 15% greater case capacity, and therefore at equal pressures, it shoots a 200gr bullet the same speed that the .30/30 does a 170gr bullet. However, the .35 as loaded by the factories is loaded to approx. 10% lower pressures and that's what makes the factory loads appear to be near equal in stopping power, ect.

I'm a huge fan of the 170gr .30/30 and 200gr .35Rem Corlokt bullets. I load both to approx. 2,300fps and both kill deer well, just the .35 hits with more authority and leaves larger wounds, and broader-shorter blood trails if the shot is not bang-flop, which it usually is.

However, I've got one of the new .338MarlinExpress rifles. It is even the .35 done better. The trajectory is remarkably flatter and it still has the "slap" of the .35.

However; just sight in your .35 to impact 3" high at 100yds and with factory ammo, your still only ~4" low at 200yds, so it is essentially point-blank to 200yds (point and shoot...).

With the .338 in the closet, the .30/30 wears a reciever sight and does plinking duty at the range with cast bullets at 2,000fps and in the backyard deer stand hunts-, and the .35 wears a large objective scope for "afternoon" twilight hunts where I don't want to track a deer in the dark, and the ranges likely are under 200yds. For the "walkabout" hunts and for the Wyoming elk and mule deer hunts, it's now the .338ME. Did I mention that I'm partial to the ergonimics of the Marlin l/a's? I'm left eye dominant, so the Marlins are the most comfortable rifles to carry, handle, and shoot. Whats really remarkable is that with select ammo, three of the four Marlins I own are 1.5moa or better accurate. (the .45/70 has never had a jacketed bullet through it, so even it may be 1.5moa with at least one load).
Check out www.marlinowners.com

 

[SwampWolf]

If I like it, I'm going to use it. I'm thinking of putting a peep sight on it, since the scope on my 30-30 is kind of cumbersome.

That's the way to go, I think. I'd suggest the Williams "FoolProof" receiver sight. The .35 Remington is a great old cartridge. Having it and the .30-30 is icing on the cake.

 

[PapaG]

If you can find them, the 150 grain bullets in the 35 would be just like the 30-30s. I bought a rough 30-30 a couple years ago thinking I'd go rebarrel to 35 but it shot so well I just left it alone.
The 200 grainers will drop faster but put a bigger hole in to let air in and blood out.

 

[Abel]

If you can find them, the 150 grain bullets in the 35 would be just like the 30-30s

Most 150 grain 35 Rem that I have seen is pointed and should not be used in the tubular magazine of a 336.

 

[d2wing]

I haven't shot my Mosin or 35 Rem for awhile but the 35 Rem has much less recoil than the Mosin. Closer to the 30-30. I generally use my 30-30 over my Remington .35 mainly because the .35 pump is old heirloom. Maybe I should shoot a deer with it in honor of my dad sometime.

 

[BrocLuno]

I would - great tribute. Ain't nuthin wrong with a 35 Rem or a 32 Special. They all kill deer and such and have been doing so longer and in larger numbers than modern stuff- by far.

 

[ms6852]

If you like your 30-30 you will like your 35 rem. I have both and enjoy hunting and plinking with both calibers.

 

[Harley Quinn]

Many who reload the 35 rem, with .357 bullets to shoot (similar to the 357 cartridge) feel it is superior...I do