Marlin 336 38-55 Conversion Exploratory thread.

[Just Duke]

I am looking to buy a couple of these that were factory done or have a couple made up. This cartridge is one I have completely overlooked..
From my readings here and other places you can drive a 250 grainer up to 1900 and a 300 grainer to 1600 fps. This would be a great big bodied Mule Deer rifle.


I tried calling this fella and I get a ladies phone.
He does the reboring of the barrel form 30-30 to 38-55.

Jesse Ocumpah
715 S 6th Street
Cottage Grove, OR. 97424
phone 715-942-1342
(you will not usually reach them during the day just evenings, but if you call in the day just leave a message and he will return the call ASAP)

He was pleasant to talk with, answered all of my questions well and is a brick mason by trade. He said that if he received the rifle early in the week he would get the work done and return ship about the same time the next week so does not have a backlog of work. His price for my work was $180 which included return shipping.

Another reason for wanting the Marlin with the 336 action is it readily accepts the Warne scope mounts which I have a box of including the QD rings. One could throw this rifle in a scabbard, ride to his destination, and then throw the scope back on it. A couple of el cheapo Walmart Leupold 3 X 9's and I would be good to go.



http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/336W_scope.jpg

Stainless might be cool too.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd255/EBRSOPMODS/336SS.jpg

[6pt-sika]

Try 541-942-1342

[6pt-sika]

Price is $225 now not $180 . Changed in june sometime.

[spurrit]

I think ,in order to afford to do all the gun stuff I want to, I'm just gonna have to go to gunsmith school!

[jjamna]

I guess he will do a 94 Win also. Same price?

[Doc Highwall]

Duke, I dont think you can shoot the 300 grain boolits in the 38-55 as the OAL will be to long for the Marlin.

[Starrbow]

The 38-55 is overlooked for a reason, they are a nightmare to load for, too many different specks in the chamber, once the specks are known and the right components are got then it's no problem. There was a person in Alaska that made a 280gr LFNGC that you could drive to 2000fps very easy in a modern Marlin 38-55.

Jesse did a 38-55 Marlin Cowboy for me to 444marlin, he did a fine job, no regrets either. I stillhave 400+ of the 280LFNGC in .380 if anyone has any intrest.

[beagle]

The .38/55 conversion is a nice conversion on the 336. It has a big advantage over the Marlin factory guns. For example, you can put a .375" diameter barrel on it and have it chambered long with a .375 Winchester reamer and you have a shooter. No need for large diameter bullets and you don't have the chamber dimension hassles as you do with the Marlin factories.

I went this route on a Number 1 Ruger and I've been well pleased with it./beagle

[6pt-sika]

Jesse did a 38-55 Marlin Cowboy for me to 444marlin, he did a fine job, no regrets either.

I still want a 444 like yours !

But I still ain't gonna bore out my 336CB 38-55 !

However I might just send a clunker 30-30 in and have the conversion done and then send that to have it rebored to 444 !

Still like the idea or relining a 1895CB to 444 also [smilie=1:

[PatMarlin]

The .38/55 conversion is a nice conversion on the 336. It has a big advantage over the Marlin factory guns. For example, you can put a .375" diameter barrel on it and have it chambered long with a .375 Winchester reamer and you have a shooter. No need for large diameter bullets and you don't have the chamber dimension hassles as you do with the Marlin factories.

I went this route on a Number 1 Ruger and I've been well pleased with it./beagle

Beagle- I've got a number 1 in 300 Win that I've wanted to have rebored. Would the .375 Win work for mine?

[acsteve]

will the conversion be the long or short 38-55?

[jlchucker]

The 38-55 is overlooked for a reason, they are a nightmare to load for, too many different specks in the chamber, once the specks are known and the right components are got then it's no problem. There was a person in Alaska that made a 280gr LFNGC that you could drive to 2000fps very easy in a modern Marlin 38-55.

.

Better believe it's a nightmare to load for. I've loaded a lot of ammo over the years, in several calibers. Then last year I got crazy and went for an H&R 38-55. I've NEVER had accuracy problems like I did with that caliber and *** rifle! After lots of experimentation and research, I've given up on that particular caliber, and sold the gun. Chamber dimensions, bore dimensions, throats, no throats, cast bullet diameters, powders, and case lengths all offer the possibility of driving a shooter nuts! Maybe in a lever gun done over by a good gunsmith, with a good barrel it may be OK, but check back through the threads posted in this site and others regarding this caliber, then think it over before laying out hard-earned cash. Good luck.

[Just Duke]

It's a crap shoot with a handy rifle wether you get a shooter or not.

[Just Duke]

will the conversion be the long or short 38-55?

I'm lost. Long or short?

[Muddy Creek Sam]

Duke,

There are two different lengths of case available for 38-55 2.085" of 2.125" The original length for winchester is 2.125 for Ballard 2.085, most new guns take the 2.085. Older have larger bores. New guns usually have .379" You have to get to know your gun. If Jesse does your gun, You will know exactly what you have to start with.

Sam :-D

[Ranch Dog]

I know several fellows that have had 336 rifles re-chambered by Jessie and they shoot great. Both shooters are using my TLC379-235-RF and push it like the rifle was chambered in the 375 Win.

Before I got side tracked this summer, I was looking for a short tubed 336 or Glenfield to send to Jessie but I got side tracked with by purchasing a 1894P and a couple of 1894CL for upcoming bullet designs. With the 308ME, my 336A in 30-30AI is now officially obsolete so I've been thinking of using that rifle for the work. Although, owning two Marlin 375s causes me not to be in a rush to make a decision!

I don't think a guy could go wrong by just purchasing a new 336 and letting Jessie have it for the work. Better yet, I wonder if he could just get you a new 336 locally to at least save you the shipping and hassle of sending the firearm to OR?

[Just Duke]

I know several fellows that have had 336 rifles re-chambered by Jessie and they shoot great. Both shooters are using my TLC379-235-RF and push it like the rifle was chambered in the 375 Win.

Before I got side tracked this summer, I was looking for a short tubed 336 or Glenfield to send to Jessie but I got side tracked with by purchasing a 1894P and a couple of 1894CL for upcoming bullet designs. With the 308ME, my 336A in 30-30AI is now officially obsolete so I've been thinking of using that rifle for the work. Although, owning two Marlin 375s causes me not to be in a rush to make a decision!

I don't think a guy could go wrong by just purchasing a new 336 and letting Jessie have it for the work. Better yet, I wonder if he could just get you a new 336 locally to at least save you the shipping and hassle of sending the firearm to OR?

Thanks for your response Ranch Dog. Sika tell me you have some great mould designs that look and function well.

[Just Duke]

Duke,

There are two different lengths of case available for 38-55 2.085" of 2.125" The original length for winchester is 2.125 for Ballard 2.085, most new guns take the 2.085. Older have larger bores. New guns usually have .379" You have to get to know your gun. If Jesse does your gun, You will know exactly what you have to start with.

Sam :-D

Yes sir, I read here where Starline makes two different sizes in there brass. Thanks for the heads up though. Not sure which to go with. I am always open minded to ideas though.Thanks for your reply.

[BABore]

I also believe the longer SL brass is thinner so you can use a larger diameter boolit in the bbl's that need it.

[6pt-sika]

Long brass short brass .

When I got my 336CB the only game in town for correctly headstamped brass was Winchester !

It and the the RCBS 37-250GC and the Lyman 375449GC work just fine in my rifle !

In the older model 1893 I have they don't work "as well" but they still work well enough !

If a person is "worried" about pushing the bullets hard just go ahead and get one of the many used Marlin 375's that seem to crop up regularly on gunbroker and auctionarms .

As far as bullet sizing of cast goes . I size ALL my bullets for the 375 , 38-55's and 38-56 in a .379" sizing die !

My cast bullet 375 shoots them well , the 336CB shoots them well and the 38-56 shoots them well ! And the old old model 1893 in 38-55 does a good enough job that I see no reason in changing anything !

[compass will]

Better believe it's a nightmare to load for. Then last year I got crazy and went for an H&R 38-55.

I looked into one of them. I think H&R screwed up the chamber or something. I have heard of reaming them to make them work. I also heard of using the Starline shooter brass, which allows you to load a larger boolit and some of them shoot fine. OR was it the long brass was thinner?

I bought the 45-70 and it works great

Lots of information on that gun over at graybeard outdoors