Marlin 336 reliability

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TechBrute

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I've been pondering a lever purchase for some time. My gun collection is mostly Glocks, 1911s, AR15s, and 700s. There are a couple of more interesting pieces, too, but for the most part they are all of a few platforms of which I am very familar, have proven reliability, and have a plethora of replacement and upgrade parts available.

I'm concerned about reliability in a lever. I'm the kind of guy who buys ammo by the case and 500 rounds is not a long day at the range.

What can I expect out of a Marlin 336? Should I be looking elsewhere for a really solid lever? Do they make levers that perform to the level of an AR or Glock with regards to reliability? Price isn't a worry, but I want to stay away from custom guns. I just want something that I can buy off the shelf and count on. I'm not against proactively replacing a "weak link", but I don't want to have to get a gunsmith involved, I'll just buy something better.

*if you want to make wisecracks about Glock or AR reliability, please just move on, that's not what this thread is about.
 
You can't do much better than the Marlin 336 in a lever. Expect excellent accuracy and reliability.
 
I've had Marlins for years (336, 1895)...many many rounds downrange and I've never had a jam or anything.

Its the 1894's that sometimes jam, but they can be easily fixed.
 
i paid bottom dollar for a gently loved marlin 30AS and its been rock solid. its my "truck gun" and stays with me almost always. i even took off the scope with that see thru base they sometimes come with and am even more happy with it. it has taken down a few deer and hogs that decided to let me see them in a field or logging road.
 
It will last longer than you will.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a dare... ;)

I have worn 2 guns completely out, a Mossberg 500 and a Ruger MkII. I don't mind if a gun wears out after thousands of rounds, I just don't want it to break.
 
The Marlin is very reliable, but think it is designed as a hunting and general purpose gun, so it is not a 200 rounds per hour plinker.

After 50 shots you become aware of your shoulder (at least I do) and the barrel gets really hot after 20 shots in 10 to 15 minutes (rising hot air will trouble your view on target).

For that reason I own two Marlins: the 39a in 22lr for plinking fun and the 30/30 for lever matches and more serious stuff

greetings


peter
 
I have the 336 with the micro-groove barrel. Its deadly accurate with the Remington Core-Lokts. You'd be hard pressed to find a bad word about a Marlin lever gun.
 
The 336 is a solid lever gun that is easy to take apart & put back together. The receiver is very strong and any of the parts that you are likely to wear out are pretty much replaceable. I look for ones made before Remington took over in 2008. Those are very easy to find on the used market with minimal rounds fired through them.
 
I'm curious what the OP wants a lever action for?

I own a couple and they are great hunting rifles, but I haven't used them as range guns (other than sighting in) because the lever action is awkward (for me) off of a rest, and the thin barrel heats up quickly.

As to their reliability, sleepyone pretty well nailed it in post #4.
 
CZ, I want one just because I don't already have one (and because I can). My idea of a range doesn't have rests, and there's a lot of shooting and moving. Levers just seem like a nice, compact, quick shooting platform.
 
I have owned a few 336s and have not so much as seen a seriuos problem.

The only problem I have ever seen was when the screw that holds the loading gate comes
Loose and the loading gate hangs the feeding ramp. But simply loc-titeing that permently cures
The problem.
 
I have worn 2 guns completely out, a Mossberg 500 and a Ruger MkII.
Click to expand...

Wait...WUT?

The Mossberg I could see but, aside from converting it to full auto with some type of hopper feed, how did you manage to wear out a MKII?
 
I like the 336's built back in the 60's. so... do the math, i have two of those one in 44mag(just produced a few years back then), one in 30-30 and another 2 marlin levers from the 60's also. havent heard of them wearing out at all, just passed onto kids and grandkids.
 
how did you manage to wear out a MKII?
Click to expand...

It was pretty easy to wear out a standard model after 38 years of HEAVY use. If you put enough rounds downrange through any firearm it will eventually wear.
 
I have also had good luck with the Marlin. I will only add that they disassemble and reassemble quite easily which I consider a great benefit.
I overtightened the loading gate screw and snapped the head off. This required a full tar down to remove the stud from the loading gate. after seeing how easy it was to disassemble and reassemble I am contemplating swapping the standard lever handle for the large "John Wayne" loop. They cost about 60 bucks but Marlin wil only send them to dealers because they feel they require gunsmithing to function correctly.
 
Alright, I'll be the bad guy. I bought one made in 1970 that had to have the lever replaced. The cam was worn out. Tried repairing it but couldn't get it right. Part cost $40 and it runs like new so that means I have a total of $215 in the gun.
 
I currently have 3 336's and an 1895. I love them and they are rock solid. They are almost indestructable, easy to clean, and very accurate. I would say pick one up and have fun.
 
My Mark II passed 250k known rounds years ago. I don't actually know the round count any more. Wouldn't surprise me if it had 300k or even more by now. I used to put several bricks a week through it. I've had to replace several parts multiple times. It was a gift from my father and my first handgun, I simply won't part with it. I'm pretty sure the barrel is shot out now, as it won't group for spit.

My Mossberg wore out the receiver, so I sold it for parts.

Sounds like the 336 will hold up over time just fine, just maybe not designed for high volumes of fire.
 
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