Marlin 336 capacity issue

[Storm]

I was shooting with a buddy this weekend who was shooting a Marlin 336 in 30-30 that he had just acquired, one formerly owned by the Georgia DNR. The problem was that it would only hold five rounds. Other than that the rifle shot fine. Any idea what the issue could be? We took the tube mag apart and it wasn't plugged and the spring and follower looked to be the usual. Is there any other way to limit capacity, and/slash or any idea what could be preventing that sixth round from being loaded?

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

Which Model 336 is it? If memory serves me correctly (Im old) a couple of the 336 models in 30-30 actually had 5 capacity tubes.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Some states limit deer rifles to a mag. capacity of 5 rounds. That get's mfgs. attention.

 

[mgmorden]

I'll have to check mine when I get home, but I could have sworn mine only held 5 rounds too.

 

[Storm]

Thanks for all of the info. This doesn't surprise me as nothing looks altered. The gun was manufactured in 1978 and from what I recall it's only marked on the barrel as a "336". The gun is owned by my neighbor and I can get more info on that to verify that it isn't a 336A, if that matters. I haven't shot my 336 yet so for all I know mine is 5+1 also. Outwardly the gun looks no different than any other 336 that I've seen, but it might be time to get the tape measure out.

Five or six reounds, doggone is that 336 a sweet shooter. I hope my 336 and Glenfield are as good.

 

[dougw47]

my glenfield...

My glenfield that I had a long time ago...late 60's...for some reason I remember it was able to hold 6 rds in the magazine and one in the tube.

Am I crazy...or just mistaken?

 

[Abel]

A full length 336C, with a 20" barrel, holds six in the tube and one in the hole. I have a Marlin 30TK with a 3/4 mag and an 18.5" barrel that only holds four in the tube. Take pictures of this 336 and post them here.

 

[Storm]

I just took a look at the marlin in question. There wa no sense in taking a photo a tghe rifle was broken down as the stock is being refinished. I did get a measurement on the barrel and it's 20 inches long. It appears to me as if Marlin did make some five shot rifles, at least this one from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources which appears to be one. I think that the next step will be to break down a six shot and compare the two to see if there are any differences.

 

[jmr40]

When was this gun made. On most Marlins made after 1972 you subtract the first 2 numbers in the SN from 100 to get the date of manufacture.

I've never seen or heard of a Marlin with a full length mag tube that did not hold 6 rounds of 30-30 in the tube + 1 more in the chamber.

Most, if not all of the states that limit mag capacity only do so with detachable mags.

 

[Tentwing]

Wow this is a mystery... I have a Marlin 336C in a 30-30 that I purchased in 1994 at the Walmart in Athens, Georgia.

It will hold six in the tube mag and one in the chamber.

Lets us know what your able to find out about yours .

Tentwing

 

[Storm]

It was made in 1978. It was one of a group of ten sold to the Georgia DNR. If l cant make sense of this with comparing I may recommend that a smith look at It, but it is clear that the sixth round isnt going in.

 

[rcmodel]

Could be someone replaced the mag spring and didn't cut it off to the proper length.

After-market mag springs come long enough (40" or so) to work in 26" rifle full length magazines and have to be shortened for carbines, half-mags, etc.

If it wasn't shortened, it is stacking up before the magazine is full.

rc

 

[Storm]

Thanks RC, I think that you have hit the nail on the head. Now that you mention this I can just see in my mind's eye that spring stacking up.

As it turns out my buddy went back today to the shop where he bought the Marlin (with me tagging along) and he bough another ex-DNR Marlin for his son for Christmas (at 22 his first gun). This rifle is from the same group of DNR rifles and is also a 1978 with a serial number 2000 apart. Between that rifle and my 336 and Glenfield/Marlin we will have enough to comapre and figure out the coil situation. Believe me, before we start clipping coils we will be swapping some colis and proceeding slowly.

I suspect that I have my answer, but if anyone has anything else please chime in. Thanks all. One way or the other I will report back as to what happens. Threads like this need closure

BTW, these DNR 336 can be obtained from Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, GA (great folks to deal with, they are the ones fighting Bloomberg). They seem to have a good supply of them always seeming to bring out more from the back room. My buddy noticed that they seem to have been bought by the DNR in groups of ten and the ones that I have seen have all been 1978. If you don't like what you see ask them to bring out more from the back. The metal has varied from excellent to good to very good. All that I have seen are very workable with strong bores. The wood varies, but none of it has been abused and my buddy's has already been refinished and is almost too nice. We're talking some ligh scratches and some light dings, what I would call honest work/carry wear that can be refinished easily Prices vary from $199 to $219, from what I have seen so far. The ones today were missing part of the rear sight which is easily replaced.

 

[Abel]

Prices vary from $199 to $219, from what I have seen so far.

I just picked up a 336C from 1971 in good condition for $278. $220 is a great price on a 336C pre-safety. I'd buy/grab at least two or three for that price. These little rifles are awesome 150 yard deer slayers.