Marlin M-336 XLR .35Rem bench rest rifle

[357Mag]

Howdy !

I'm having great success, using my Marlin M-336 XLR .35Rem purely as a target shooting accuracy rifle. The rifle is "stock", as-delivered from the CT factory.
* All I have done, is add a home-made "barrel clamping / bi-pod block.
( Please see attched pics... ). The rifle has been fitted w/ a Weaver 36X scope, with Gene Davis 2X optical booster attached.

My initial goal: shoot a 5/8" 5-shot group @ 100.
I was unable to realize that goal, until after I $$$ a good wind flag; and started using it.

My son shot the first 5/8"th group Jun 2011. I fired my first one 2mo later.
I therafter re-set my accuracy goal for the rifle/load to: 7/16" 5-shot group @ 100.

I pretty much forgot about 7/16", when I was able to produce 3-shot groups in the .2's range !

As regards the 5-shot group pictured twice:
- After the first 3 shots went into a small cluster, I held off @ 2 o:clock and a little Right... based on what the wind flag was showing me. I read the condition wrong, and the 4th shot went wide.... right where I had aimed ( outside of the group ). None-the-less, that 4-shot group was still not too shabby!

- For the 5th shot, I again completely misread the flag ( or flag was not located in best position for the range conditions that day ); and the 5th shot went even wider ! AAccckkk !!

Second pic shows the group over-layed w/ a dime, to give some idea of scale.

I am convinced that the "wide shots" are not load or rifle-induced.
Also, the barrel block set-up sure seems to have prevented/arrested any undesireable verticle grouping tendency.

A final note:
I have been trying to successfully post a short ( "youtube" )video of me releasing the XLR's trigger w/ the skinny flat-end of a flat tooth pic.
In the video, I show that I cannot release my varmint rifle's 2oz "Rilfe Basix"
trigger using the tooth pic, while I AM able to release the XLR's trigger in such fashion !!

The youtube video is titled " Marlin bench rest rifle trigger test ".
The website also listed "youtube.com/watch?v=LoA56" ....... but I DK if that helps

With regards,
357Mag

[357Mag]

Howdy !

Soem more pics, of my XLR "bench gun"

Regards,
357Mag

[uscra112]

Well, I'll be hornswoggled and left on an anthill.

Being a Marlin .35 Rem fan myself, I salute you !

It looks like the magazine tube has been removed ?

And is that trigger even remotely safe ?

And what's your load ?

[357Mag]

USCRA -

Howdy !

Thanx for the friendly reply !!

No... the magazine tube is still on the gun, that was the whole idea of using
casting resin to make the" barrel/bi-pod " block.

The resin secures the mag tube to the barrel, while providing a better attach point for a bi-pod.

As for " trigger safety " .....
I am using the XLR purely as a paper-puncher... shot off a bench.
This set-up IS NOT intended for field use ( use on live animals ).
Since I am used to operating ( bolt ) rifles w/ 2oz triggers and lever guns w/ trigger pulls measured in lbs; I find My XLR's trigger to be "curiously refreshing"

The load:
- Remington-brand . 35 Rem brass fully prepped using bench rest type practices.
- Lee Collet NS die, mandrel .004" under factory ( NO FL sizing )
- Hornady "Custom-Grade New Dimension" .35 calibre universal seater; w/ micro
- CCI Mag primers, Lee Hand Prime
- 18.6 or 18.7gr IMR4759 ( dependent on ambient air temp ), dial-beam scale
- J-word Rem surplus .358" cal 150PSP ( sorry about that ). NO crimp
- " Pufflon " additive between buffer layer and bullet' base, to-fill case

Most successful group work to-date, has been those range days 98 -102*F .
As temp goes up, I drop charge back to preserve accuracy; as-needed.
18. 7gr I4759, CCI Mag, Rem 150PSP seated into the lands... is NOT a max load
( my rifle, my loads ).

PLease see other related posts ( " Marlin M-336 XLR .35Rem bench rest rifle " )

I am also working on load for my " .35 Rem Neckless ", which shoots
" Dead Center Duplex " .357" calibre swaged-lead 195gr SPBTs.
These are pulled from .45 calibre ML sabots.

With regards,
357Mag

[357Mag]

US -

A better pic is attached.

I used clear epoxy to fill some voids in the casting resin, where the bi-pod legs
enter the cast resin barrel block. THis was my first attempt @ casting resin use.
Were I to do another barrel block for the XLR, I believe I'd go w/ straight
clear expoy ( if I could find a large enough "kit" ).

Bi-pod legs are made from a "splayed " 5/16" "U"-bolt.
Other hardware store items round-out the bi-pod assy.

I use a conventional bench rest " rear bag ".

Regards,
357Mag