Scoping a Marlin 336

I am considering using my (currently unfired) Marlin 336 as my back up gun this coming deer season. It is a big loop and has sort of a matte finish on the steel.

When I was mounting the one piece Weaver-style base I ran into a problem. Apparently the matte finish was put on after the blind screws were put into the receiver. Three of the four blind screws came out just fine. The head on the fourth screw (one of the two middle screws) sheared in half, that is one of the half moons on the slot sheared off.

I went ahead and mounted the base with the three other screws, using loctite blue. My reasoning: There have been some one piece bases with only three screws that have worked just fine on more heavily recoiling rifles. It would be interesting to know if anyone else has run into this problem.

I have mounted a Leopold 2.5x scope with a heavy duplex, figuring it would do a bit better in lower light and in the brush. I am planning to use the 160 gr Leverevolution factory ammo. As someone observed in another thread, this turns it in to a 308-lite.

 

I am curious as to the vintage of your gun, is it a Remlin (made in NY)? The top of the receiver is not really a different finish in the original Marlins, the only difference is that the steel there is a different texture. That way it is non-gloss after the bluing is applied. Sounds like you made a good choice of scope, and I doubt that having only 3 holes will make any difference.

 

It will probably work OK.

Of course, the proof will be in the accuracy of the combination.
Since the rifle is unfired, you have no accuracy 'baseline' for the gun.
But that probably makes no difference if you can make a heart-sized group
up to 75 yards. Even past 100 it will work for a lung shot on deer.

The rifle-scope-ammo combination is excellent. I put a 3-9x on mine
just so I can zoom in whenever necessary. Yours will do just fine.


No way to use one of those tiny drill bits in a Dremel? Even if you can,
I don't know of an EZ Out that small.

 

I used a Weaver rail, Ironsighter aluminum rings, and Redfield 2-7 scope. Extremely nice.
You will be fine with the 3 screws. Some factory base come with only three holes anyway.

 

I would be tempted to drill it and put an easy out on it...that said, my 336 was dropped by my uncle and it broke the screw off on the rear. I'm running 3 set screws and 1 boogered up scope screw that I couldn't ever get loose. Made it impossible to secure the scope bases, but couldn't get the rear base off without damaging the base.

 

I dont know if this will help as ive never owned a 336, but if you DO decide to drill out the screw, and you can get at it from the inside of the reciever. You might wanna take it apart and go at it from the inside of the receiver, then run a standard 4-40 tap into it. I had to do that on a friends 10/22 that had a buggered up pair in it. bot holes he started were off center so going from the other side was the only way, one popped out during drilling, the other came out with the tap.

 

I think I just take my chances with the three holes. I really need to get out and shoot it first. It is about 4 deep down on my list of projects, but deer season is coming up.

 

3 screws loctited on should be fine, my contender in 7-30 only has three on its mount.

 

He mentioned "Apparently the matte finish was put on after the blind screws were put into the receiver. Three of the four blind screws came out just fine." When he says Blind screw we figure the hole doesn't go all the way through.

 

If it is a tradition Marlin the holes do go all the way through.

 

The Burris, Redfield, and Leupold solid one-piece bases for Marlin 336 only have three screws. So yes, three is enough. I've used them on .45/70's with max loads and never a problem, except for screws loosening... I did however damage a Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5, detaching a reticle... Fixed under warranty for $10 handling/shipping fee.

 

This, I have a 336 with a Leupold one piece base and it uses only 3 screws and it's rock solid so don't sweat it!

 

Marlin uses larger 8-40 screws so it should be fine.