Marlin 336 converted to 32-20

[bandmiller2]

My question is cartridge feeding from magazine to chamber,is it doable.I know Marlin made a run of 94 short action rifles in 25-20 218 bee and 32-20 but try to find one reasonable. Used 336's are common at gun shows reasonable, threading, fitting and chambering the barrel holds no mystery to me,only concern is if I can feed the smaller shorter case. Many thanks Frank C.

 

[natman]

It's probably possible, but it's almost certainly impractical. Trying to get a lever action to feed a shorter cartridge reliably is hard for even the factories to get right. You'd need a new barrel, special bolt face, lifter, timing....

By the time you were got it all to work, if you did, you'd have spent enough to have bought a nice factory 32-20 and have a smaller, lighter and more reliable gun.

Get a Marlin or a Browning 53. Or if that's beyond the budget, get a 92 in 357 mag. If it has to be 32-20 on a budget, try a Savage 23 bolt action.

 

[bandmiller2]

No feed

Natman,thank you I'll take your advice, come to think of it 336's can have real feeding problems with their intended cart.Suppose I could down load a 30-30 to 32-20 power and have the same thing. Frank C.

 

[MMCSRET]

I have loaded down a 30-30 to plinker/small game level in a 99 Savage, 1936 vintage. I use a cast Lyman 311316 gas checked and sized .310 over Unique or 2400. It is fun and surprisingly accurate at intended ranges.

 

[dprice3844444]

us repeating arms sells a 32-20

 

[rcmodel]

The Marlin 336 is a 30-30 length long-action.
The Marlin 1894 is a pistol length short-action.

It has been offered in 32-20 WCF on and off again until fairly recently.
http://www.gunsamerica.com/97687978...rn/Lever-Action/Marlin_1894_CB_used_32_20.htm

I would search out one of those if I wanted a Marlin 32-20 WCF, or any of the other pistol length 92 carbines as mentioned above.
That would be the Winchester 92, and clones from Browning, Puma, Uberti / Cimarron, etc..

Converting a 336 to a pistol length caliber would cost a fortune in either your time, or money, and probably be unsatisfactory after you did it.

rc

 

[dprice3844444]

auctionarms.com

 

[ridgerunner1965]

if yu want a really nice 32-20 lever, look for a browning model 53.they made around 2000 of them in the early 90's. i had one and it was awesum.didnt shoot werth a crap with factory lead ammo but with hornady 80 and 100 grn handloads with 4227 imr it was a tack driver.i loved it but ended up selling it for twice what i gave for it.with my loads and the hornady hollow point bullets it would literally blow small game to pieces.it was prob the prettiest gun ive ever owned.