The 336 Club

Status
Not open for further replies.
2376 posts... too many for me to read. my eyes are crossed now, i have a nice 336 starting to show its age a bit. slight pitting ect. can anyone tell me an age for this rifle... it is a 336, no a or anything after the mod. # sn is 25159*** oh and please add me to the club roster.

thanks in advance
 
Last edited:
336 Variant

Last year I sent one of my Marlin 336 Texans back to Marlin for the Cowboy Conversion in 30-30. When I got it back I was VERY pleased with the results.

arlin001.jpg

336 Texan Converted to a 336 Cowboy in 30-30

The idea of shipping my other 30-30 Saddle Ring Texan back into Marlin to get the 38-55 Win Cowboy Conversion has been rattling around in my brain for a good while... Luckily for my wallet Marlin quit offering it for a spell. :rolleyes:

Last week on a whim I gave Marlin a call to see if there are any plans to resume with the conversions and the friendlly voice on the other end of the line said "Yes, but right now only in 38-55."

So after a short debate with myself and some correspondence with my 'enablers' the Texan is on its way back to Marlin...

3marlin336.jpg

Sixties Vintage 336 Saddle Ring Texan (bottom) The Middle Texan was converted to a 30-30 Cowboy shown above

While not the most practical or economical choice... the 38-55 Winchester is an intriguing cartridge. Introduced in 1884 in a single shot target rifle it soon found its way into leverguns including the Marlin 1893 and was one of the orginal chamberings for the Winchester 1894 (along with 32-40). The Savage Model 99 also was chamber for this cartridge. The 38-55 is also the 'parent cartridge' for the 30-30 and the 32 Winchester Special (and a few others). Even today the old cartridge holds its own in Schuetzenfest competitions taking more than its share of gold medals.

In the metallic cartridge black powder era it was considered an excellent Deer and Black Bear hunting cartridge launching a 255 grain 38 caliber projectile at a bit under 1300 fps. With today's powders and firearms safe loads approaching 2000 fps have been published, though most top out around 1600 fps.

Since this is a new caliber to me it will require me to buy new dies, bullet molds (Ranch Dog's excellent TLC379-235RF is on its way here now :D) and Brass - which ain't cheap or free like 30-30 brass :eek: The 38-55 Marlins have a reputation for being a bit finicky so I'm expecting some trial and error to get it ready for the field.

I'm pretty excited about this venture. I'll document my adventure here in the club. If there are any other 38-55 Marlin owners I'd sure like to hear about your experiences.
 
After buying a 336 for my sons, I decided to get one for myself today. I imagine I'll keep it till I die.
 
just found this page while searching the internet for a 336 texan ( deluxe )...

i currently have a 336cs 30-30 / 336rc 30-30 / 336c 35 rem ( for sale ) / 1894c 357....

has anybody seen or have a pic of an actual 336 deluxe texan ? This is the version with the longhorn / state map carved into the stock... been trying to find one for a while now..( both a pic and the actual rifle )
 
I accept the 35 Remington ballistics in my Marlin 336 as adequate for my hunting/targeting purposes.

Still, I plan to improve my rifle to accept the 358 Winchester. My desire is to make my rifle accept this cartridge solely for (what I deem) the superior geometrical design (broader shoulder, longer neck).

My intention is to load the 358 Winchester cartridge ONLY to the maximum loads of the 35 Remington.

It is uncertain what modifications, beyond rechambering, are required.

I would appreciate advice on the merits of this project.


Paul
 
conversion...

Have you considered rechambering it to the .356 Winchester round, that was made for the lever actions and if I remember correctly is working with a lower operating pressure than the .358...50,000+ psi as opposed to 60,000. If I am wrong about that, surely someone will correct me.

The .356 is a heck of a woods cartridge. although I hear it is a tad scarce to find ammo. I'd like to have one, myself.
 
358 Cartridge

The 356 Win has not been a consideration of mine. Since it is rimmed I believe more mods to the bolt would be necessary.

According to the many pundits I have read, nearly no bolt mods will be required if using the 358 Win. The 358 is 0.473", the 35 Rem is .460" the delta is 0.013". The 358 is credited with being of better design & construction, that is my lone objective.

But I am "ignorant" of the fine gunsmithing details.


Paul
 
Last edited:
Other than weatherability, what would the benefits be for putting a synthetic stock on my 336? It would shave some weight, but wouldn't it un-ballance it?
 
figured i would update my last post

i currently have a 336cs 30-30 / 336rc 30-30 / 336 35 rem ( 100 yr model ) / (2) 336sc .219 zipper - both 1955 models / 1894c 357....

has anybody seen or have a 336 deluxe texan for sale ? This is the version with the longhorn / state map carved into the stock... been trying to find one for a while now..(
 
Here is my 1957 336SC After stock refinish and mounting old Weaver K4 with old Weaver rings. Forearm stock did not come out well. Is sapwood and wouldnt take the stain well. working on that.

P1010001-1.jpg

P1010002-1.jpg

P1010004-1.jpg

P1010006-1.jpg
 
I'm in the market for a 336 now. I've seen what folks paid for theirs on this thread so far (loooooong thread, I haven't read every post) but don't see anything current. I found one (336W, no scope) at Wal-Mart for $328. Is that a good price? The local GM usually has 336C's in the $450-$500 range, but I'm not willing to pay that much extra for walnut stocks. Thanks.

James
 
James, that is about as good as you can do retail. Makes a fine utility rifle, considering it's accuracy potential, reliability, portability, availability and cost (compared to other commercial quality offerings) of 30-30 ammo.
 
Dick's Sporting Goods has some good deals on the 336A (Birch stock) scope included for $329 from time to time, especially before deer hunting season $329. By the way the birch stock looks just fine. I got one last year and love it.
 
Thanks Madcratebuilder.
I was looking for the same setup you have on yours when this K4 turned up. It was to nice and priced right to pass up.
 
The most fun with a 336 - ever

Last week I got the chance to get out of town with the 336 Cowboy (conversion) in 30-30 and put it through the paces. The snow is mostly cleared out of my place and the first signs of Spring are just starting to appear. I hadn't been over in several months to what better way to see the place than to take a few 2-3 hour walks with a rifle.

onversionyonderosaintro.jpg


On a few of the walks I took the 336 Cowboy Conversion. I've hunted with this rifle in its original configuration (20" Texan) and was curious what my impression would be with the longer 24" barrel. There is a noticeable weight gain. Not so much that it is burdensome and still much lighter (and thinner) than a scoped bolt rifle. I didn't limit myself to the trails and headed cross country into the thickets to test the portability. I must say I was quite pleased - with the loaded magazine the balance point is about a hand width forward of the previous (short barreled) point of carry so while carried in the hand the barrel protrusion isn't much if any more than the Texan. I did not test it carried vertically on a sling which I'm sure would have been more likely to catch on branches and uneven ground higher and/or lower.

One of the loads I took along while out scouting the ranch was the Lee 115 grain "Soup Can" bullet over a little (less than 3 grains) of Bullseye. It only jogs along at 850 fps but is very accurate. Out of the long barrel it is quiet enough for me (a half deaf carpenter) to shoot without ear protection and it didn't take me long to run through all the ammo I brought with me. I did shoot it out to 110 yards (lasered) but the bullet drop past 50 yards starts getting measured in feet, not inches. It looks like a perfect Grouse load as it shoots close enough to point of aim of my hunting loads out to 50 yards that I'm confident I can make clean and ethical shots on those tasty critters without sending a cloud of feathers into the atmosphere and leaving a greasy spot where he once stood.

The timing of my trip allowed me to drop in to a friend's place and we had ourselves a shooting fiesta before (and after) the next day's Silhouette match. I started dialing in my match load on the 200 yard Ram-o-matic dinger when he rolled out the newest addition to the shooting gallery - the 400 yard triple lung which measures 32" tall by 20" wide.

400yarddingerdelivery.jpg


For perspective, this is looking back toward the firing line on the front steps of the shop.
ind400yarddrooler.jpg


He then proceeded to thump that thing with an 1895 Marlin Cowboy in 45-70 and a Marlin 1893 in 32-40 (114 years old). Shooting off the sticks was too easy so he took a shot at it off hand with the 32-40 and rang it - though at the time we initially saw the lead splash below it before the clang made it back to us. I have a short video of that I can't figure out how to post. I also have some video of the hits and grins we endured during our arduous :p shooting session.

ind400yardsoffthesticks.jpg


ind400yardoffhand3240_1.jpg


Off the sticks I was able to ring it easily with my 336 CB using the Ranch Dog 165 grain Bullet over enough 2400 to get me 1850 fps.

400yarddinger.jpg


We finished off the day with a celebratory feast that included all three food groups; Meat, Taters and BEER (Moose Drool).
oosedrool.jpg
 
The most fun with a 336 - ever part 2

The next morning we joined up with a bunch of other lever gun enthusiasts to knock down a bunch of critters at various ranges.

load10april.jpg


My pard left his tack driving 30-30 in the safe and took the old girl (32-40) to the dance. Al the match director also decided to take style points over score and showed up with his century plus old Winchester 1873 in 44-40. Imagine the history and adventures those old guns have seen. Very cool.

We started on the Chickens and little did we know that the number 4 chicken in our lane was bullet proof. We both missed him... TWICE! :cuss: :confused: :neener:

superchicken10april.jpg

#4 Super Chicken, still standing despite our best efforts.

We had a grand time toppling those critters, even though it was cold and the wind picked up as the morning went along. With one shot left in the match this was ram was all I needed to break 30.... I choked... dern it! :banghead:

onemoreram.jpg


The 165 grain Ranch Dog bullet/2400 load is plenty to topple the heavy 200 yard rams, even with less than ideal hits. I got this guy twice in the "unit" during the match and both times he fell. The other two hits were from a side match we had after the official competition was over.

ourramhits.jpg


In the interest of science we decided to end the Marlin vs. Winchester debate once and for all. The contest would pit four Marlin shooters against four Winchester shooters, the first group to mow down five 200 yard rams wins. Needless to say we Marlin owners won easily and had our rams on the ground while two of theirs were still on the rails. :D:p:neener:

After being embarrassed the Whiny, er, I mean Winchester boys demanded a rematch, this time we'd shoot rams AND turkeys. I think my pard and I were the only Marlin guys left with rifle calibers and ammo but we were pretty sure it was still fair since they had to shoot Winchesters... :neener:

At the "go!" command I touched one off that sailed over my Ram and levered in another, this time I got planted a solid shot right in his middle and started looking for more Rams, My pard and his 1893 already had his ram down, the extra and was working on our teammates rams before I got a bead on the last one standing. One to the turkeys the with our Ram distance zeros we all sent our first shots high. We got three down when the Winchester dudes dropped their last Turkey....

Looks like this arguement will have to continue until we get a rematch... ;) :D
 
Last edited:
JustsayMo,

Great Tale and to bad about the Win. VS Marlin Loss, but that arguement asbeen going on longer then either one of us has been alive. Would love to see that video(whenever you figure out how to post) (I havent a clue either). Keep on..keeping on. life is too short to be off the range.
 
Does anyone know or have a 336 that has a 16.25" barrel. If so, what is the capacity? How much does it weigh? How accurate is it at 100 yards? I think it would make a handy little carbine to carry.
 
There was also a 336 SDT, a stainless, laminated stock 16" barrel, sort of a 30-30 guide gun. I had one for a while - it is now owned by fellow 336 club member Pine Cone. Handy is a good description, it is about as easy packing as a rifle can be. I didn't have it long enough to really work up any loads or put a scope on it to try but it did quite well with everything I tried. The firesights aren't conducive to precision but are excellent for fast acquisition, which is what a handy carbine's primary purpose is. Excellent choice for HD or hunting the thick stuff or where mobility is key. It also helps if you have young eyes that can focus well enough to pick up the front sight.

The capacity was 5 + 1, so minimal loss vs. the 20"
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top