The 336 Club

[papajohn]

Mo, that's some pretty good shooting with iron sights! I'm getting so old I can't even remember having the eyesight to shoot that well. Sounds like the PJ load is working well enough, without any tweaking. I'm also pleased to know that I'm not the ONLY one who puts four shots in a nice little cluster, then gets hyper, and yanks the last one out. If I could find a way to stop the "5th-shot Flyer Syndrome" I'd be a Sharpshooter!

PJ

 

[Eb1]

Okay, PJ.

I loaded up a medley last night. I loaded some IMR4895 with my 150 CL SP with 30.2 grains. Then bumped up quite a bit and went with some hotter loads in a ladder sequence.
I also loaded up some Win760 at 35.9 grains with the 150 CL SP. Went on to load up a ladder of 170 grain Hornady FN with the IMR 4895.

I broke out the Unique and went with 9.5 grains with the 150 CL SP as well.

I got quite the medley of bullets loaded for this weekends range time.

One thing I noticed is that the sticks of IMR4895 are smaller than IMR 3031. I also have a harder time weighing the IMR 4895. I guess I am just not use to it yet.

I did not crimp the rounds. It seems that my RCBS dies gives adequate neck tension. I cannot get the bullet to set back by pushing on a hard surface, nor can I by kind of hitting it against the hard surface. I guess I will get flamed for that one.

 

[papajohn]

eb1, I wouldn't worry about the lack of crimp if your neck tension is that good, all I care about when testing loads is consistency. I use the Lee Factory Crimp on several calibers, and I'm convinced it helps, but it's not always needed. Quite often when I'm testing loads I'll single load them into the chamber, so as to avoid any other variables from getting mooshed in the tube or during the feed cycle. Ondce I isolate the best load, THEN I worry about all that other stuff.

Some might say I'm not simulating hunting conditions, where it really matters, but when going after a deer, two rounds is all I have in the gun, one in the chamber, the other in the tube. When was the last time you got (or needed) a third shot at a deer?

PJ

 

[Eb1]

I agree. Never needed more that one shot. Although the last deer I shot got two thrown at him. I shot him with my .223 AR15, he did not go down, but ran across a 50 yard field. I shot again. Didn't need to as the 1st one was a doozy of a shot. He went down, and the 2nd shot missed anyway.

I bought the Lee Factory Crimp Die, and no matter how I set it it always changes the OAL. Always, always, always. It has become the biggest pain in the butt.
I have just given up on it..

 

[ShakyJake]

Had to bump

Page 4 is totally unacceptable
Finally got Calamity to the short indoor range. She does not care for 20yds too much. But I will have to put a scope on her for these aging eyes. Will try the 2.5X off of the M39 for the 50yds I will be mostly shooting. Hope to get out this Sunday.
TaKe CaRe
Ted

 

[paintballdude902]

shaky i have a bsa catseye that i payed 80 bucks for and i love it

its 1.5-4.5x it does a great job out to about 150yrds

 

[AStone]

Thanks for the bump, Jake.

At nearly 68000 views, it's unlikely we'll totally drop off entirely, though.

Had a positive experience today with a couple of friends visiting my studio. One saw my 1894C hanging by the door, and asked about it.

"Security system", I said.

"You like levers?", he asked, knowing that last year I had owned a pump shotgun.

"Yep. I owned levers as a kid, and am now getting back into them."

So then, I trotted out my 39A, followed by the 336A.

The other one said, "Is that a 444?".

No, I explained, then educated them on the diff between .30-30, 444 and 30-06, which one owns, given to him by his father.

They both noted that the 336 and 1894 seemed to be cocked.

"No, that's half cock. It's a safety mechanism." That required some explanation.

Why shucks, after 5 minutes or so, I felt like a regular college prof. They seemed to enjoy the lecture.

 

[kmrcstintn]

quick ??? about feeding my new Marlin 336W in .30-30; I have a few boxes of Federal 125gr flat-tipped jhp's that sight in much differently that the Remington Core-Lokt 170gr that I used to use; is the Federal 125gr jhp bullet resilient enough for deer hunting, or do I just stash it for use as a defensive load?

 

[MilsurpShooter]

Starting load for the Varget Powder, 37 Grains over a Speer 180 grain bullet. County run range so there isn't many paper changes, most of the single shots are from sighting in the scope for the first time. Took me awhile to realize I couldn't sighte it in the same way I did for my Mosin 91/30 with PU Scope, that one you take a shot and adjust the crosshairs to the hole, modern scopes don't like you adjusting them that way lol.

Next Saturday I plan on taking it to the range again, test out and see how 39 grains of varget does. Managed to find a box of Speer 180's at the gun show last weekend, $15 for the box so I was just a little happy lol

 

[Inspector3711]

Still waiting for the day when dad forks the "meat gun" over to me. He hints around about it but when I get serious he acts like I'm crazy for thinking such a thing! It's grandpa's early 1950's 336C in 30-30. Still has open sites and still no sling. It was a rite of passage to carry that thing all over h e double L and back in our family during deer and elk season in Eastern oregon. It has taken more game than any other rifle in the family and I'm the last of the line. That gun is a shooter. Always within an inch of the bull at 100 yds. A scope would really tell the tale, but I would never put one on it.

 

[AStone]

Kmr, I look forward to reading
what others have to say about those 125's.

Jay, you're clearly closing in on the target.
Please keep us updated about those next reloads.

Inspector, welcome in.
What a privilege to be associated w/ a 336
that's been in your family for so long,
that you've toted on eastern OR hunts.

Eastern Oregon: that's where I really want to be.

 

[Eb1]

I tried my medley in 150 grain Core-Lokts with IMR 4895. Didn't work in my gun.

My 150 grain load is 35.9 grains of Win760 for the 150 grain Core-Lokt.
With that loading my gun shot 1/2" at 100 yards more than once. I don't think it is very fast from a 20" barrel, but that accuracy and consistency is fine with me. I am still going to give the IMR 4895 a go with 170 HRNDY FN bullets. I think that the 170's will do better with that powder.

 

[Z_Infidel]

kmrcstintn: The 125gr HP bullets will do the job on deer assuming you don't exceed the effective range and put it in the right spot. You would want to go for a good shot into the vitals and avoid the shoulder. These offer good accuracy and velocity, but will obviously expand and lose energy faster than heavier SP bullets. The advantage of the heavier bullets is that you can break the shoulder and still reach the vitals if that type of shot presents itself.

The 125gr HPs are probably the best choice for SD ammo in the .30-30.

 

[bearmgc]

Straight walled cases and 336's will become even more popular, as ammo prices have gone through the roof, and straight wall cases are so much easier to reload. 30-30 ammo is still relatively cheap compared to other ammo, and brass then to reload. I have the Marlin in 444, 30-30 and 375Win.

 

[AStone]

Friday night here in the club.

Bumpity bump.

125 gr in .30-30.
I like it. Where can I get some?

 

[JustsayMo]

Jay is that load for 35 Remington?

 

[MilsurpShooter]

Yep, .35 Remington load. I just got back from the range with the new loads, 39 Grains of Varget over the same Speer bullet. Results were... While not disappointing, not close to the original results. I wanted to try the higher load for a little more power, plan on using this 336 as my primary hunting gun. Feel bad saying that, think I hear my Yugo Mauser crying in the safe anytime I say it lol.

Going to stick with the 37 Grains of Varget for it with the Speer 180 Grain, seem to get the best results and is quite fun to shoot at the range.

These are the bullets I've been using with it. Haven't been reloading long but I've seen some results, in my mind it's not only the powder, but the bullet you use as well

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=545716&t=11082005

Looking at the price of them now, I wish the guy who was selling them for $15 a box at the gun show I went too had more lol

 

[RUGER EMPLOYEE]

new to the 336

i just got a 336A today and in reading the many posts here im glad to see that im not the only one that is impressed with this great little rifle. on the way home i was able to hit a 5 inch plate @ apprx. 50 yards with no rear sight just the high rise scope base. thanks to all the 336 club members. great info here and im only on page 10. hope your shots are as accurate as your info !

 

[_N4Z_]

Range day with 336 30-30

Just checkin' in, it's been awhile.

Actually here to brag a little on my Marlin. Spent the morning Sat. at the range with Mr. Marlin, Mr. Ruger, and Mr. AK clone.

The Marlin and the AK both did time on the 300 yard lane ringing the 18" gong. Both succeeded on multiple tries off a bag with only open sights. Ahhh, makes me grin.

Now I found that with the 30-30 sighted in/zeroed to 200 yards, with a 170gr. slug, all that need to be done to ring steel at 300 is to cover up the target with that large factory front bead. Aside from the noise it makes, additional enjoyment comes from onlookers who seem miffed that a lowly 30-30, without any optics, can achieve such a feat.

Was sunny and in the 70's, no wind, a GREAT day at the range!

*ammunition used was Monarch 170gr sp. It's cheap Serbian fodder made by PRVI Partizan. My Marlins favorite factory load is Federal 170gr.

 

[JustsayMo]

N4Z wrote: "Aside from the noise it makes, additional enjoyment comes from onlookers who seem miffed that a lowly 30-30, without any optics, can achieve such a feat."

That statement is so well put and so true. It is even enjoyable to read.

 

[papajohn]

Fortunately for all of you, my digital camera packed it in this week, or you'd be subjected to more boring pictures of a slightly oblong hole in a piece of innocent paper. The Papajohn Load strikes again, this time at 100 yards, I got bored with shooting it at 50, and decided to let it stretch its legs a bit in my 336-RC. The first few groups were hovering around an inch, when I got to my last three rounds I hunkered down and forced myself to focus, and it paid off. I haven't measured the group, but it's easily under a half MOA net, about what I'm used to seeing at 50 yards.

The fun part was when a new arrival was putting up his target as I was retrieving mine. He was shooting a bench gun, and he saw my target as we walked back up to the benches.

"Nice groups.........especially the one on the right. What caliber?" he asked.
"Thirty." I replied, setting the hook.
"Whatcha shooting, a 300 Winchester?"
"Nope. Marlin."
"Oh, you get one of them new bolt jobs?"
"Nope. Levergun." I glanced sideways as his eyebrows danced and furrowed.
"Lever? That new 308 they got?"
"Nope..............(wait for it........)....30-30."
"30-30 My @$$!"
I pointed it out to him as we got back to the benches, and he looked it over, from the Limbsaver on the butt to the $20 3X9 scope, then said, "That gun did THAT?" My buddy nodded, and then laughed. "You shoulda been here last week. He put three shots under an inch at 200. I think his bullets are Laser-guided." My face was getting red from his glare, and I knew he was having a hard time believing it, so I pulled out the target from my car and showed him. We started talking, and he said he had around $1800 in his bolt gun, and his groups were better, but not by much. When I told him I found the gun in a pawn shop for $160 OTD, he almost swallowed his chaw.

By the time I got home, my face hurt from whistling a happy tune.......

Papajohn

 

[JustsayMo]

Is it possible we've invented a new term that Websters will need to include in their next printing?

PapaJohned (pop-a-jon-ed) 1. being unexpectedly humbled by an unlikely source. Example: That dude just Papajohned me with that rusty beat-up Marlin.

 

[Wolfgang2000]

By justsayMO
Is it possible we've invented a new term that Websters will need to include in their next printing?

PapaJohned (pop-a-jon-ed) 1. being unexpectedly humbled by an unlikely source. Example: That dude just Papajohned me with that rusty beat-up Marlin.

Papajohn, Just out of curiosity where do you fine "coast" in MO.

 

[AStone]

"30-30 My @$$!"

Hahahaaha...

Great story, PJ. Makes me smile.

One for the club archives, for sure.

Ah, these inferior little lever guns.
Just feed them a good diet,
and you never know what they'll do.

 

[papajohn]

Stop it you guys, you're embarassing me. (Just kidding, I'm really eating this up, but don't tell anyone.) I'm sure the guy would have called BS if I hadn't shown him the 200-yard target, and having my buddy there to back me up also helped. "Papajohned" as a tern of surprising humiliation? I like it! Kind of a David-and-Goliath thing. Think of Dorothy ("The small and meek, if you please....") and a few scenes later, she tears the Wizard a new one!

Wolfgang, I live a half-mile from the Mississippi in St Louis, the river I like to think of as a Southbound Inland Sea. The shore faces the Evil Communist Land of Illinausea, where people are unarmed slaves, especially in the northern regions. They are governed by a crazed wizard named Blago the Jevich, who has deigned that all his subjects must be made to suffer at the hands of the criminals. If a man stands up against the forces of evil he is taken to task, humbled, persecuted, and imprisoned. How Dare He!

I once lived in that evil place, escaped over the wall to the Land Of Misery, where even the smallest and meekest are armed to the teeth, and shooting street thugs is encouraged. Let Freedom ring!

Papajohn the Porcupine (That Packs Powerful Pistols)