Marlin336 MOA?

[_N4Z_]

What should/would be considered a good 100 yard MOA for a Marlin336 30/30 with unmodified iron sites?

I've had this thing for years but never really sat down an attempted to see what kind of 3 round groups groups I could make.

Today I went to my local outdoor club range and did just that. I was a bit disappointed. Used a standard 100 yard rifle target on a people sized/shaped sil-oh-wet. Target was placed center mass. 17 out of 20 hit the paper but the groups were not good and spread around. Only managed one decent set that were about 2.5inch.

Was sitting on a chair with my elbows supported by the table. No sandbags or any other such cushioning.

What do you other 30/30 shooters here land in similar set ups?

*note- was very windy here today which didn't help matters, but I still think it should have been better.

 

[grimjaw]

You might try a different set of iron sights, but I'm assuming you're still using the factory ones.

Even with a scope, I didn't get sub-MOA groups out of a Marlin 336, but I did get ones consistent enough for confident hunting at ~100 yards. The rifle was capable, I don't know if my shooting skills were.

jmm

 

[Roadkill]

I handload, using a 7x power on scope can get 2 moa unless I screw up. I fire sitting.

rk

 

[rbernie]

Off sandbags set on a bench, with a 2.5x scope; average groups for my Marlin 336 20" barrel in 35 Remington is about 2" (handloads), and average groups for my Marlin 336 16" barrel in 30/30 is 1.5" (handloads).

 

[Preacherman]

Using a scope, I can routinely get sub-2" groups with my Marlin 336 w/20" barrel, and sub-1.5" groups with my Marlin 336 Cowboy with 24" heavy octagonal barrel. The latter gun occasionally surprises me with sub-1" groups.

 

[_N4Z_]

*

yes i'm using the factory irons. they've been adjusted for elevation only as it initially was hitting low at 100.

was using factory winchester super-x 150 powerpoint.

i would be pretty confident hunting at 100yards or less with this thing but figured on a littel bit better showing.

i'll be going back out with some sandbags next time, and will also wait for calmer winds. we were blowing anywhere from 15 to 25 out of the south today. the lanes face west.

 

[22hipower]

try a different load

 

[_N4Z_]

suggestion?

i've used remmy core-lokt, federal, and winchesters in the past.

if i were to guess i would say the feds were probobly the most accurate. wacked some lage coffee cans with them at around 100 yards once upon a time.

what does everyone recommend? no handloading done here, strictly off the shelf.

 

[hoghunting]

Yes, try different ammo

I have the 336 with a 20" barrel in 30-30. With Winchester ammo I am lucky if I get a group smaller than 4". Using Federal ammo turned it into a different gun. Will group 1.5" using a 4X scope.

 

[Sulaco]

Minute-Of-Angle

Less than 4 inches is "minute of deer" accuracy.

I have one that will keep a 1" group and some that open up to closer to 3" groups and they all kill deer.

 

[Rpriestlyjr]

try the new 'Leverevolution' rounds that are out there. They are supposed to be smokin' hot. I read up a bit on them and they appear to be the second coming of Christ for lever guns.
And try to have the steadiest rest. Sandbags and/or a rolled up jacket can do pretty good.

 

[foghornl]

My Marlin .30/30 doesn't like any brand 150-Gr ammo. Does best with Fed & Rem 170-Gr, then the Win 170's.

Haven't tried the new "Leverution" ammo yet, or any of the 55-gr or so "accelerator" rounds.

 

[T.R.]

I set my scope on 7X and zero my carbine dead on for 150 yards. Typical group size at this distance is 2.5 to 4 inches. I like the performance of Remington core-lockt 150's and FEDERAL Classic 170's best. But Winchester 150 grain SilverTip is also quite deadly. This accurasy has put a lot of meat on our table.
TR

 

[lawson]

i haven't tried the Leverevolution that everyone is raving about, because i can't find it, but with Federal 170 gr Premium Vital-shok, scope set at 7x and a good rest, i get 1.5" groups out of my 336 @ 150 yards. hasn't failed me yet.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Marlin 336T, Federal 170 gr bullets... 1.5 inch groups is pretty common.

Now with IRON sights the best I ever got was about 2x that. a Three inch group at 100 yards... but two of those bullets were almost touching.

Marlin makes good stuff.

 

[Mannlicher]

My 336Y with the 16 inch barrel tolerates 150 grain loads, but it shines when I feed it my 170 grain handloads. I use the Speer FP, and a decent amount of IMR4320. Shooting off the bench, with the 1X4 Redfield variable set on 4X, I can get honest 1 inch to 1 1/2 inch groups.

My 1954 336 in 30-30 Ackley does almost as well with 170 grain handloads.

 

[Old Time Hunter]

Never saw game stand still enough to worry about groupings of two shots much less 3! Set my beer cans up at 100 yds, nailed to a wood railing. Using 170 grain rem, usually hit each of the cans when using a rest. Doesn't matter if I use the 336A or the '94 30-30. More fun using the .44 standing though, at 100 yds I can take a lot of money from the younger generation.

 

[rhoggman]

Got a package deal 336 w/ 7x scope from Dicks last year. I paid less than $350 for it out the door during this sale. I must be on of the lucky ones here; however, I have read on other forums about the 336 being notorious for sub-moa performace.

I'll be real honest, I don't shoot sub-moa with many rifles, unless I am in a very well set up rested position. My Marlin 336 is the exception. There is something about it that I love. When I shoulder it, it is like an extension of my bloodlust

I use Hornady LeveRevolution in mine exclusively. It shoots better at 100 yards with the junk factory scope, than any other gun I own, and I don't feel like I have to try real hard to make it happen.

The only thing I did to the gun was, don't laugh; I put a limbsaver on it. The limbsaver helps with the muzzle flip. If I did not hold onto the forend tightly the scope would pop me in the eyebrow. The extra length of pull the limsaver added basically made it perferct for me.

No joke... at 100 yards mine shoots sub moa groups everytime I sight it in. I have not had it long, but I like to shoot it. Everytime I shoot it I feel better about the rifle. It is almost like a deep trust is developing between her and I.

Funny thing is I have not killed a deer with it yet. I have this wierd idiosyncrosy that makes me feel the need to kill something with every rifle I own, and I just got to the point where I am allowed to hunt with my Marlin. Thankfully I filled all my tags last year, because there was quite a waiting list.

She is accompanying my 7mm Mag on a Russian Boar hunt this week. I am going to stand hunt with the 7mm Mag, and run dogs with the 336. We will see what happens. If she doesn't make it out of the box I have all deer season to abuse her.

Last note: I thought long and hard about buying a nice scope for it, but I guess the assumption that all no-name package deal scopes are complete crap is not %100 true. While I still have that belief for the most part, thus far this one has been the exception. I have yet to see it fog up, in warm or cold, and it serves up great clarity. Honestly the whole thing is a cunundrum. The 336 is the cheapest long gun I have aside from a Winchester Wildcat .22lr made by Toz. Word to the wize on the latter is to investigate further (also another overlooked piece).

Bottom line on the 336 is most places I researched spoke better of their accuracy than this thread, and I can validate that for me the 336 is an unbelieveable value because it shoots sub-moa from semi-rested positions and with LeveRevoltion I can hit milk jugs at 300 yards without performing calcultions or pretending I am a sniper.... beyond 300 yards it is not exaclty a performer, but for most applications it is great.

 

[336A]

What should/would be considered a good 100 yard MOA for a Marlin336 30/30 with unmodified iron sites?

I've had this thing for years but never really sat down an attempted to see what kind of 3 round groups groups I could make.

Today I went to my local outdoor club range and did just that. I was a bit disappointed. Used a standard 100 yard rifle target on a people sized/shaped sil-oh-wet. Target was placed center mass. 17 out of 20 hit the paper but the groups were not good and spread around. Only managed one decent set that were about 2.5inch.

Was sitting on a chair with my elbows supported by the table. No sandbags or any other such cushioning.

What do you other 30/30 shooters here land in similar set ups?

*note- was very windy here today which didn't help matters, but I still think it should have been better.

That is actually very good shooting with the stock open sights. The front bead on these rifles subtend something like 8" at 100yd. If you want to continue using iron sights yet get better accuracy then upgrade to a good set of peep sights. With the exception of a limited few rifles and not cherry picking it's favorite ammo most 336 rifles will average about 1.5" to 2" groups at 100yd. This level of accuray is just fine for hunting whitin the carbines intended range of about 200yd for conventional bullets, or out to about 250 with the Hornady LE stuff.

 

[Al Thompson]

Zombie!

 

[_N4Z_]

Bottom line on the 336 is most places I researched spoke better of their accuracy than this thread, and I can validate that for me the 336 is an unbelieveable value because it shoots sub-moa from semi-rested positions and with LeveRevoltion I can hit milk jugs at 300 yards without performing calcultions or pretending I am a sniper.... beyond 300 yards it is not exaclty a performer, but for most applications it is great.

I think this quasi run on sentence may be bigger than the groups my 336 shoots.

Having resurrected this 4 year old post I will give a short follow up on my 336. With handloaded ammo it will shoot around 2 to 3 inches at 100 yrds, with the still yet to be upgraded stock sights. Only good for 3 or 4 rounds though and then things begin to spread. I am sure this is due to the heating/pressure points having negative influence on the barrel. It did shoot a 7/8" 3 shot group once with handloads. That was cool.
Funny thing is I have a Marlin 1894c (.357mag) that shoots just as good @ 100 yards, and a whole lot better @ 50. And for whatever reason it does not suffer heat issues. Can fire off 50 rounds with that thing and see minimal group growth. It also has Skinner peep and blade installed. What a difference that made!

 

[Abel]

You can loosen up the barrel bands a smidge & it might help once your barrel heats up.

 

[benzy2]

I found I couldn't hit squat with the factory irons but when I tossed a 4x scope on it, I was getting 1-2" groups with most any ammo I tried, handloads or not.

 

[handle02]

I know this thread is for the 336 but, with my win 94 I can get 2'' groups with factory irons and ammo all day long. I've always heard that the 336 is more accurate than the 94so maybe you need to invest in some better sights or just try your luck again on a more calm day.