Problems with Leverevolution in a 336

[Virg461]

Guys, I am a little perplexed. After reading the glowing reviews and looking them over for a while, I finally bought a box of 30-30 Leverevolution ammo to try out. I have a Marlin 336 that usually shoots very accurately. With Remington or Winchester 150gr "old school" ammo, I can usually get about 1.5 MOA off a bench. I figured POI would be pretty different with these, so I dragged out the old sandbag and began sighting in. Once I was on paper, I was walking my scope back and forth until I decided to stop being stupid and fire off three in a row to see how they grouped. I was pretty shocked. I fired 4 three-shot groups, and my best had a four inch spread. At that point, I figured I had wasted a box of ammo on a rifle with a loose scope mount. Just for grins before walking back to the house for a screwdriver, I loaded three Remingtons and let them fly. One inch group, centered about 2 inches lower than the Leverevolution group. Later that night, I checked everything over, and the mounts are dead tight.

What gives? Am I the only one with a 336 that doesn't like this stuff? To hear people talk about, you'd think it was handed to Moses on the mountain. I was pretty pumped about being able to use a real spitzer style bullet and hoped to be able to use old Bessie in stands I wouldn't have before.

Anyone else having trouble with it?

 

[ldhulk]

I have read a post somewhere of another person who had a similar experience, also with a Marlin 336 I believe. I've known people who loaded 30-30 ammo with 150 grain pointed soft points, putting one in the chamber and one in the magazine, their theory being that if you don't get him with the first shot or the second, you won't likely get any more decent shots.

 

[Pacifico]

I had a similar experience with my Marlin 1894 44 mag. with factory loads and my loads. Went back to 300 gr Hornady reloads and I was spot on. As a side note, had trouble cycling the factory loads, leverevolution reloads cycled fine, but were also off .

 

[BrocLuno]

Yeah, I quit using LeverEvo a while back. Just plain old Winchester silver tips or Remington 150gr 30-30 seems best. I guess everything new ain't necessarily better?

 

[44Dave]

My 336BL did worse with the Leverlutions as well. I ended up using the 170gr Remington corelokt. Surprisingly the 170 was a tab more accurate than the 150.

 

[hboy35]

bummer

I just sprung for my first box of Leverevolutions with high hopes for my scoped 336 (could have easily bought two boxes of regular stuff). I hope to get it to the range in about 2 weeks, and will post my results.

 

[chieftain]

Just to be a contrarian, I use Winchesters 150gr Hollow points. Real round ogive, and no soft lead to deform either. I like the way it opens up while going through the target.

I like it.

Good luck.

Fred

 

[Psa1m144]

I had issues with that ammo in 32 win special for my win 94, pre 64 model. I will NOT buy that ammo again.

 

[jdh]

It must be the microgroove barrel. On a range trip two of the group were shooting 45-70 leverevolution. Both 1895 rifles. The newer of the two with the ballard rifling shot a bout 2" groups the other was an older one with microgroove rifling. It would do 6" at best. Same lot number ammo. Different shooters on each gun same result.

 

[shenck]

Two 336s

I have two 336s, one shoots the leverevolution bullets well one does not, I have not used factory leverevolution, I reload. I just think your rifle just doesn't like the ammo. I wouldn't blame the ammo.I will have to check out what rifling they have but I think they are both micro groove.

 

[NCsmitty]

Often, you'll find that sometimes factory ammo will be accurate, and sometimes it's not. You'll find that in reloads, some types of bullets will shoot well and some will not. Rifles are like that, and are individuals, and one guy's pet load may be all over the place in another rifle, for various reasons.

Imagine how hard it is to develop factory ammo that is reasonably accurate in the majority of rifles, regardless of condition, and make everyone happy.

I reload two versions of the FTX bullet in 30-30 and 35 Rem, and both are reasonably accurate in the rifles that shoot them, but they are no where near the velocity of the factory Leverevolution stuff, and maybe that's the key.



NCsmitty

 

[Virg461]

Yeah, I think the higher velocity isn't playing well with the microgroove rifling. Either way, didn't work for me.

 

[ssyoumans]

Sorry, guess I am in the minority with my 336. Mine doesn't like 150's but likes 170gr Fed and Rem and 160gr Leverevolution ammo. Even likes my reloads running Leverevolution powder. Get around 2320fps with my reloads and about 2380fps with factory. Both hold under 2" at 100 yards, good enough for me. Most of my shooting is around 80 yards with 1.5" groups.

 

[336A]

I'll secnd what NCsmitty said. I have a Marlin 336 in 30-30 too and shoots great with the Hornady 160gr LE ammo. I tried some Federal, Rem, and Win 150gr bullets as they were cheaper than the Hornady ammo. With the distances that I was hunting the Hornady ammo didn't really offer anything over the convential amm either. The Rem and the Fed ammo shot like garbage in my rifle, about like the Hornady ammo shot for you. However as soon as I tried the Win 150gr PP I got a nice 3 shot group at 100yd that was about 1"

I also tried Win 170gr PP and ST ammo and they gave me nice 1.5" 3 shot groups at 100yd I really wanted the Rem ammo to shoot better in my rifle as I've always heard great things about it from other hunters, but it just wasn't in the cards. Ya' just have to let your rifle tel you what it likes and dislikes and go from there just like any other rifle out there.

 

[mnhntr]

I have alsways had the best luck with Winchester silver tips in my 30-30 lever guns. I thought the Leverevolution in my .35 Rem 336 was going to be the ticket, but I found the same as you. Not as accurate but it works ok on deer out to 100yds. I think I will be going back to Rem core lokts in the .35 Rem.

 

[Flynt]

Unfortunately, I've got all you guys beat. I bought an XLR ("extremene long range") 336 in 30-30. Supposedly the Leverevolution ammo was designed with it in mind. This rifle won't group with any factory ammo I've tried -- and it's worst with Leverevolution!

PS I have an old 336 that is a 30A, I believe, one of the 336's Marlin made for Sears or somebody. Crappy birch stock, but it's a tack driver with the cheap 170 gr. Federal.

Go figure.

 

[Freedom_fighter_in_IL]

I guess I too am in the minority. I shoot the LE's in both my .30/30 (well now my oldest boys .30/30, damn kids) and my .444. They both hold sub MOA @ 100 yards. And yes Flynt, the Marlin XLR was designed around this ammunition. Hornady and Marlin got together in the design of both the rifle and the ammo. But as with any rifle, some just don't like a particular load. I own a pair of .30/06 rifles that absolutely will NOT shoot the same ammo and they are not only the same lot, but only 1 number difference in the serial numbers! They were ordered as a pair many years ago for my dad and I.