35 rem: 1 in 12 ballard or 1 in 16 micro?

[Aldeer]

After getting a Lyman 358627 from a fellow member here, I've decided it's time for a Marlin 35 rem. Question is which one?

Perusing the Marlin website I see there are now two choices:
1) 336C with 1 in 16 microgrove barrel (20")
2) 336XLR with 1 in 12 ballard barrel (24")

Will the ballard-style grooves be sufficient to compensate for the faster twist?
Right now I'm thinking yes.
What do you all think?

[Leftoverdj]

If one of them has dovetails in barrel and one has screwed on sights, get the one with the screwed on sights. To my mind, that's far more important than the difference in twist rate or rifling style. Marlin broaches those dovetails and usually causes a tight spot in the barrel under them.

[35remington]

How the rifle is throated/chambered has far more to do with how accurate it is with cast bullets than rifling style. Forget the microgroove versus ballard debate. Either can shoot. I've had several "Ballard" type (really just standard rifling) barrels shoot cast poorly. I suppose there are Microgroove that haven't worked either, but lay the blame to other problems when it comes to shooting lead, not rifling style. Both barrel types can also suffer from constrictions in 336's.

Either twist rate will work.

Most of these rifles have short to very short throats. Your bullet has a short nose and considerable bearing surface that would require very deep seating, with the bullet base well below the neck.

Some don't like this and avoid it like the plague while advising all that it's a waste of time trying to get a rifle to shoot a deeply seated lead bullet. Many others say try it and let the rifle tell you what it likes. I guess I go along with that crowd.

Be sure that the rifle will cycle through the magazine with a short nosed bullet.

On edit: leftoverdj posted the same time as I did. Consider the repetitious advice as experience from Marlin shooters who've been there and done that.

[beagle]

If you're not hung up on a new rifle, look for one of the old Model 336s made prior to 1953. This will have the regular rifling as opposed to micro groove. Mine is 1-16 twist and will shoot 1" when scoped.

The only advantage I can see in the 1-12 twist is that it will probably stabilize the 358009 big boys better.

I have shot them in my 1-16 twist and with the few I tested, they stabilized at 100 yards so the 1-12 twist may not be a selling point./beagle

[6pt-sika]

I agree with Beagle , look around and find you a nice old 336A or 336SC in 35 REM that was made before 1955 and it will be Ballard rifled .

My first 35 REM was a nd still is a 336SC that was made in 1952 . I also have a 336D in 35 REM , this one looks like e Guide Gun , but is micro . And earlier this year I got one of the 35XLR's and if I'm not mistaken they are micro as well .

Now I know for a fact Ranch Dog has had decent results with a 336D and cast bullets .

And I have good results with the cast in my second Marlin 336ER (356 WIN). And this one is micro as well .

[6pt-sika]

Here's the 336XLR in 35 REM .

I had a Leupold 6.5-20 up top that day just for shooting paper . Only thing I've shot in it so far has been the Hornady rubber tipped stuff .
This gun will be jacketed exclusively while I own it

[Bret4207]

Oddly enough I was reading a Fred Ness article in a 1943 Rifleman last night on the 35. He stated all the rifles had 1/19 twist, same as the 357 or that time. When did this change I wonder?

[johnly]

Here a picture of a old early 50's Marlin 336A in 35 Remington I picked up a few weeks back. Not a safe queen, but still aging gracefully.

John in Oregon