The 336 Club

Status
Not open for further replies.
The difference the primer makes

Hi all

I posted earlier saying I'm experimenting with different primers.

Background : my 30-30 336 is very picky. It likes the bullet 27 thou off the lands. This means that Sierra bullets work and Hornadys don't (look at the shape of the ogive, with the Hornadys the bullet is quite far from the forcing cone when the crimp groove is where it's meant to be).

OK, so I loaded 5 rounds of four different primers, 33.5 grains Somchem S341, 150 grain Sierra #2000, 27 thou shorter than my dummy cartridge.

All loaded on the same day, all shot on the same (different) day. Five shot group at 100m.

CCI Large Rifle : 3.5"
Winchester Large Rifle Magnum : 2.6"
PMP Large Rifle Magnum : 4.2"
Federal Large Rifle : 3.2"

Didn't take my chrony with, should have.

Also got a 2.4" group with CCI primers and .3 grains more powder.

So if someone asks you if the brand of primer makes a difference, the answer is "depends" :)
 
Just bought me a 336 SS 20" last night. I really like the way this rifle points even better than AK/AR's. I think that I'll be spending a lot of time getting to know my 336:).
 
points even better than AK/AR's

Maybe it's because I also shoot shotguns, but I think that just about anything points better than an AR or AK. They have their own merits, but pointing isn't one of them.

Some of the tacticool guys think that shooters just use traditional stocks on shotguns and rifles because they're stuck in the past and don't know what they're missing. But it ain't so. I have an AR sitting between an O/U and a couple of Marlin lever guns a few feet away as I write this.

Welcome to the wonderful world of guns that point!:)

There's a reason to like every good design, AR or lever action, double or pump gun. You just have to figure out if it works for you.
 
I am really considering making the 336 my serious go-to-gun. I don't really fret the capacity issue.
 
336xlr

For the last few months,
I've been aware of the 336XLR.

I've read the page about it,
and have respected the concept,
but have been lukewarm about it.

I've suspected that it was a fine rifle,
but being a carbine kinda guy,
it just didn't excite me.

Tonight, I reconsidered the 336XLR.

For several reasons - to be discussed another time -
it's moved to the top of my "acquire" list, ahead of a .45-70.
(Note: that could change as soon as tomorrow.)

OK, the top three reasons?

1) It eats .30-30, which I've already got in a fine carbine.
2) It'll hurl 160 g 200 - 250 m.
3) Just look at it ...

zoom_336xlr.jpg
 
Two guys in our club have XLR's, both love em. Accuracy, especially with the Hornady LR ammo is very impressive.

I'd prefer a 20" barreled version. If I had money to burn I'd get one in the 308 Marlin Express caliber.
 
Nem - I can vouch for the quality, accuracy, and handling characteristics of the 336XLR. It really is a fine rifle. However, sometimes I do kick around the idea of replacing mine with a 22" blued 308MX. The .30-30 LeverEvolution ammo in the XLR is definitely a step up from conventional .30-30 but the 308 is another step up and I really like the looks of the blued 308MX -- in fact it looks a lot like my 18" 336C only longer! A downside is that the 308 ammo is more expensive than the .30-30 LE stuff.
 
Mo, I hear you re the 20" barrel. But in this case, if I were indeed going to add another .30-30 for long range, I'd go for the long range and stay with the 24" barrel.

Z, you probably know me well enough by now to know that - because of my lifestyle (that semi-nomadic thing with limited space) - I like having guns that use the same ammo as the ones I've got so there's less ammo to carry. Right now, all my guns eat one or more of the following: .22 (short, long, LR), .38 sp, .357 mag or .30-30. It makes the ammo store easier, less to tote around. I MAY eventually still add a .45-70, even though that's still not certain. And I MAY eventually add a 20 ga SxS shotgun, but ...

Anyway, that's why I'd lean towards the 336XLR instead of the new .308 stuff: I'd like to be able to use .30-30 in the 336A and a big brother XLR interchangeably, even though - yes - I understand that the LE stuff will perform differently than the more traditional rnds.
 
What is the difference between a Marlin 740 and a Marlin 336?

I am looking at buying a 740 and the owner says he thinks it's just a different model number of the same gun.

Here is a picture, he wants $200 (No scope or rings). Buy or pass?

DSC01588.gif
 
The scope and rings aren't part of the package, as my original post states.

The gun itself seems to be in good condition. I can tell it's older and that was actually what I was looking for.

I just want to know if there is a difference between a 740 and 336.
 
From the picture it sure looks like a 336. My guess based on the slender forend and rear sight would be an early to mid sixties vintage.

I've never heard of a Marlin 740. Is it possible it is a Western Auto, Sears, Montgomery Wards or similar one off that Marlin produced but was marketed by another retailer?
 
TF,

When I googled "marlin 740", all I got was a link to a story about a 740 lb blue marlin caught on a fishing trip. No links to lever guns.

Yet, it sure looks like a Marlin.

If I were you, I'd contact the seller for more information about this "740",
including where he got it, all the ID marks on the gun (model numbers, names, etc).

Or have you actually seen the gun? If you can check those things yourself,
and give a report on the condition of the action, barrel, etc, that would be ideal.

If it's in good shape, then, IMO, it would be worth $200.
 
The "Western Field" (aka Montgomery Ward) model 740 was a Marlin 336.

At first I thought the OP was talking about a "Western Field" model M72 (also the 72, 72C, 771, 772, 777 and 778) which was a Mossberg Model 472 lever-action and looked very similar to the Marlin 336 BUT if you work the action on a 472 you'll see that the trigger moves down and out of the action because it's attached to the lever unlike the 336 where the trigger stays put.

This makes the pictured levergun a Marlin (because the trigger stays in the body).

And just for the record, those scope mounts are incorrectly installed. Both should "lean" forward to provide extra eye relief if needed. (I have a set of them on a different style rifle).
 
Last edited:
Shane writes: "I am really considering making the 336 my serious go-to-gun. I don't really fret the capacity issue."

Many of us have come to the same conclusion. I have a healthy variety of other rifles and calibers but I keep coming back to the Marlin 336 in 30-30 for its versatility, portability, economy, reliability, accuracy and fun factor.

The cheap commy block rifles only surpass it in economy and arguably reliability. The 336 is a better hunting rifle, good ammo is still inexpensive comparatively, accuracy is typically better which further mitigates the capacity disadvantage and for packing on around in the field a levergun is second to none. The 336 will feed a wide variety of bullet shapes at a wide variety of velocities and fuction without a hitch even when mixed in the magazine.

Compared to US/Nato rifle types the 336 is MUCH less expensive. One can equip the family for the price of a nice AR, M1A, FAL... Quality commercial 30-30 ammo is typically less expensive than 308.

Except for the AR and the M1 carbine the 336 is lighter and more portable.

The 30-30 does give up some range though accuracy is on typically par with even Milsurp Bolt rifles within its effective range.

Capacity = weight and degrades portability. It does allow higher rate of fire but how practical is that in anything but combat? And in a SHTF scenario where any wound is potentially lethal from infection shouldn't the priority be avoidence?

Manual action = reduced rate of fire but allows ammo versatility. When hunting with my 30-30 I can quietly harvest a grouse with a cast bullet over a reduced load of pistol powder and still have my big game loads on board meaning I can leave the handgun at home if I choose.

It all comes down to what you believe your rifle needs to do. I can't imagine a lot of scenarios that a lever 30-30 wouldn't do just fine.
 
I've never heard of a Marlin 740. Is it possible it is a Western Auto, Sears, Montgomery Wards or similar one off that Marlin produced but was marketed by another retailer?

He did indicate it was a Montgomery Wards model of a 336. Nice to know his story checks out.

I'll be buying the gun on new years day, the seller is driving near my place for the last day of archery season.

I wanted an older Marlin in good shape for a good price, and this one seems to fit the bill well. I am not a fan of the newer composite stocks and terrible looking wood furniture.

I'll be stripping the wood and staining to a medium red mahogany color, then topping it with Tru Oil for a nice hard finish. I'll post pics when complete!
 
I agree, JustsayMo. I love my 336 and I have confidence it can do anything I would reasonably need to ask of it. Definitely one of my favorites!
 
tf do it just because its not a true 336 doesnt mean anything i have a 30aw which is a just a cheap version of the 336 and it shoots just a well as any 336
i spent under 300 for it plus 80 for a bsa scope

so i didnt spend an arm and a leg on it but its gotten 2 deer this year so im happy
 
Last edited:
After browsing this thread, and doing some outside research,
I just today purchased a "gently used" 336XLR. I'd been considering
a lever action for some time. I was at a my local range/shop and it
was just sittin' there shining on the display rack, and I took the bait. ;)
I had pretty much set my sights on the 336A, but couldn't pass up
the deal I got. I know some don't care for the stock and the finish.
To be honest, I myself would prefer hardwood, but just love the
stainless steel barrel and action, so I guess for me it's a tradeoff.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to take it home. For the second damn
time in my life (out of almost two dozen weapons purchases) I got
the dreaded "delay" on my application. I was so damned pissed. :cuss:
No rhyme or reason for the delay. I wonder about the entire approval
process, but that's for another thread topic. In any event, I got to shoot
it before I left, and was it ever sweet! The dealer threw in a Weaver
scope base and installed it, but I want to get real comfortable with
the sights first. Can't wait to take it to the outdoors range and give
it a good workout with some some Hornady LEVEREVOLUTION at 100yds.

So, happy to be a new member of The 336 Club!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top