New-to-me Marlin 336

[Dave Markowitz]

I made my first post-election rifle purchase today at the Valley Forge gun show, but it wasn't a black rifle. I picked up a used, pre-safety Marlin 336 in .30-30. Sometime recentaly I developed a hankering for one of these, specifically one made before Marlin added the cross bolt safety.

It's in basically good shape with a few dings on the wood and some blueing wear. (So I also bought a bottle of Birchwood Casey cold gun blue.) I may strip and refinish the stock to make it a bit darker. We'll see.

It came with sling swivel studs but no swivels or sling. It also had a Weaver scope rail mounted on the receiver, and a hammer extension for use when a scope is mounted.

After getting it home I field stripped and cleaned it. It's pretty clean inside and the bore looks new.

I got two boxes of Wolf Gold (Prvi Partsan) .30-30 150 grain JSPs since there wasn't a wide variety of .30-30 at the show.

I placed an order with Brownell's for a few things:

* Plug screws for the scope mounting holes in the receiver, since I removed the Weaver rail.
* Replacement elevator for the rear sight. I didn't notice until after I got home that it was MIA.
* Lyman Model 66 receiver sight. I like aperature sights and up until 2000 or so Marlin drilled and tapped their leverguns' receivers for them.
* Uncle Mike's QD swivels with 1-1/4" loops. My plan is to use a Lee-Enfield sling so I need the wider loops.

Hopefully I'll get to shoot a deer with it next year.

 

[ETXhiker]

Congrat's, man. For a slick handling little rifle, nothing beats it. I sold my Winchester 94 years ago, but I think another one will follow me home before too long. Enjoy.

 

[tubeshooter]

Congratulations; I'm having a peep sight installed on mine as we speak, and I can't wait to give it a spin after that.


I think I will go with a Williams WGRS (the gunsmith recommended it), probably go ahead and replace the front sight too while I'm at it.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Dave,

Good for you. I found one a few weeks ago, vintage early 1950s. "Fat" furniture, Ballard rifling (which was why i bought it), too old to be drilled/tapped on top of the receiver but ready for a receiver sight. Gonna get one on it soon...

Use it in good health, hope you live long enough to wear it out.

lpl/nc

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Thanks guys.

Lee, mine has Microgroove rifling. My father had a late 40s vintage 336 with Ballard rifling. Dang thing could shoot MOA at 100 yards. I think you'll be pleased with the accuracy of yours.

 

[AStone]

Dave, you lucky bastard!

Congrats. I'm envious. Hopefully will be catching up soon.

Please keep us posted on the progress.

Ah, 336 fever is spreading, and is sooooo much better than bird flu...

Nem

 

[torpid]

Ha- I saw the thread title and knew Nematocyst-870 would be here!

Congrats!

 

[AStone]

These days, where ever 336 goes, I will follow.

 

[dodge]

I own a 336 in 30-30 but use the factory iron sights and I like it a lot. I also own a guide gun in 45/70 and have put the WGRS sight on it. If you do this you may have to put a taller front sight on to it. With my guide gun and the rear sight to the bottom it still shots a little higher than I want so I'm looking itno a taller front sight to get it to shot where I want it.

 

[MrDig]

The first deer rifle I bought, was a 336, in 30-30 it is the gun I have shot the most deer with and the "Old Trusty" I will go back to every time. Mine is also a more modern production but lacking the Hammer block safety. Welcome to the club.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Nem, I actually thought about sending you a PM pointing you at this thread, but decided to wait and see how quickly you'd find it.

I'll bet you'll be able to find one for your ownself in the next month. Deer season is over here in PA and I guess in most of the country. Trade-ins should start turning up on dealer shelves soon.

 

[AStone]

With my guide gun and the rear sight to the bottom it still shots a little higher than I want so I'm looking itno a taller front sight to get it to shot where I want it.

Hey Dodge, seems like I read recently in a THR thread that at least one other person had a similar problem with a Williams sight. They sent it back to Williams (at least the front sight) with a description of the problem, and Williams promptly sent out the appropriate front sight. You might either search THR Rifle country for details, or just contact Williams directly about it.

Dave, I'm betting you're right about used guns going up on shelves soon. I expect (or is it a hope ) my business (and thus cash flow) to improve over the next couple of months, so the timing could be good.

 

[SSN Vet]

Williams WGRS

will definitely require a taller front sight that the stock one.

Williams sells the WGRS packaged with an appropirate height fire eye front for about $45.