Marlin 336CS

[JudgeBAC]

Found one of these for $225.00. Looks to be in great shape, has the safety (yuk). Is this an acceptable deal? I've been dying to try a 30-30 as a cast bullet gun. What do you think? Looks like the perfect rifle for an XS system scout scope mount along with XS ghost ring and front sight.

[NVcurmudgeon]

Judge, for a Marlin 336 SC in great shape, it sounds like a reasonable price. I'm assuming it is .30/30 caliber, but if it's a .35 Remington the price is even better! I gave my .30/30 Carbine to my stepson, so I am temporarily out of a 336 right now. I do have an 1894 Cowboy in .44 Magnum with what you call the "yuck" safety. I seldom use the cross-bolt safety, as I prefer the traditional half-cock. In fact, I don't even notice the cross-bolt is there most of the time, but when I go to unload a full magazine, the cross-bolt safety is a real asset. Sure beats racking ten rounds out!

[crazy mark]

Judge, That is a good price for around here if it is above 90%. None of my 336's have the yucky safety. I have one in Micro Groove that just loves cast boolits. It's a Glenfield though which was made by Marlin. If ya don't buy it you will kick yourself later. Mark

[lovedogs]

Sounds like you got a winner at that price. You'll get over that safety. We are just resistant to change. It is handy, as mentioned, when you go to unload. At first I didn't like it but have since changed my thinking.

[felix]

The older we get, the mo'betta' that safety is there. I like (now I do) that cross bolt arrangement on both the marlins and winnies. ... felix

[JudgeBAC]

OK, I took the plunge and now and the prowd owner of a 336CS 30-30. It already had a weaver base and I had a 2x7 Leupold with Weaver rings that was on a 38-55 for load developement. What a great combo. Now I need to know what cast boolits, powder and combination seems to work the best. No need reinventing the wheel if I can start off with loads from experienced shooters. Any info. will be greatly appreciated.

[pumpguy]

My pet load is a 311041 sized to .311 lubed with LLA over 18gr of 2400 fired with a Winchester LR primer.

[JDL]

My old 336A really likes 35 grains of H-414 and the RCBS 30 180 FP. -JDL

[Shuz]

34g of H-4831 and RCBS 150g FN, sized .309, Bhn 14 hardness, CCI 200 primers, WW brass, OAL 2.485. Vel 1750fps and feeds and shoots very well.

[corvette8n]

I have 4- 30-30's
two Marlin 336, 1 from 1950, 1- 1978
two Win 94's 1- 1949, 1- 1966.

My plinking round for all of them is 8-10gr of Unique under
the Lee 150fncg tumbled lubed.
Shoots like a .22.

BTW the ballard 336 and microgrove 336
shoot the same I see no differance in accuracy or fouling.

[725]

Marlin 336SC
I would not hesitate to grab that $225 Marlin. Great, practical rifle. I have a 336SC in .35 Rem and have just noticed my first problem. It's over 50 years old and has eaten nothing but factory loads. I just took it completely down for it's first major cleaning and found that the barrel unscrewed from the reciever with only hand tension. Now, upon reassembly (finger, not hand tight) it has developed a vertical string on target. Hundred yard windage is less than 1 inch, and the vertical string is sometimes 24 inches. Can't tighten it further, as the barrel would be misoreinted. What am I to do? Any lever guys out there have the same experience?

[Bullshop]

I would try wraping the threads with something like teflon tape or masking tape or maybe even aluminum foil.
BIC/BS

[jtaylor1960]

Sounds like the dirt was holding that gun together. If you could turn the barrel a full turn yet still have the correct headspace to allow the lever to close you would be OK. If not I would get the gun looked at by a gunsmith before shooting it any more.You could have a serious problem.Hope you get it figured out.Jeff Taylor.

[725]

Marlin 336SC
Thanks Bullshop & jtaylor1960. Thread wrap might get it done. Since my post, I started thinking about a washer the thickness of whatever an 8th turn would measure between the barrel and reciever. Better pick up a go/no set. At least as it is now, it will be easy to disassemble. Regards.

[tall grass]

725

I'm not a gun smith but if it were mine I would loc-tite it on there. You might even get away with the blue removeable stuff. The #271 red loc-tite is called stud lock and sets up real good. Just my 2c worth.

Jim