marlen 336 to 356 winny

[nekshot]

I have a marlen I am getting bored with as a 30-30. It has a 18 inch barrel. I don't want to go the 35-30-30 because I don't know enough about it. You never see dies for it in most catalogs. I like the idea of 356 but realise that also is a reload only option, but dies are available. What are the pros and cons of this conversion if you have one?

[rockrat]

Pros--great bullet and boolit selection. Plenty of "thump"

Con--Brass harder to come by.

[pietro]

38-55 with a 1-12" to 1-16" twist



+1 - Sent it to Jes, for a rebore to .38-55:

http://www.35caliber.com/


.

[nekshot]

38-55? I like the idea but I thought barrel is to short for a 38-55. Sure would make a lite gun!

[Idaho Mule]

The only problem with the .356 Win is brass, or lack of. It is same as .358 Win other than the 30-30 rim added to the common .308 case. I have heard that one can run .358 brass in most .356's with no troubles but I have not tried it. Would be no pressure issues or anything like that, just a matter of whether or not the ejector would grab the rimless case. And with all that being said, I got to add that I love the .356 I have in a 94 Big Bore, it's just fun to shoot and it works great. 38-55 would be fun too. JW

[357maximum]

356RIMLESS = 308Win brass is pertnear free...well pretty cheap any way.

[rockrat]

308 brass convefrted to 358 and run in my JES converted 30-30 to 356 works OK for lighter loads.

You will like the 38-55 too

[OverMax]

Here's the options you have with a Jes re-bore. Still you need to consider brass availability. The cartridge that intrigue me the most is the 405 Jes. I wonder just what cartridge brass he use's for that caliber? If its parent brass is available in stores. I'd have the 405 Jes done. "If you intend on having a Jes re-bore job done. Think bigg'in right from the get go would be my advice."

336 Marlin_ 30-30 & 32 Special__ to 356 Win, 375 Win, 38-55, 405 JES, 444 Marlin

[bgmkithaca]

Powder Valley has .356 Win. brass at the moment and has had it for a few weeks. If you want a .356 get er done and don't look back, as much as I like the 38-55 it just can't do what a .356 does.

[nekshot]

I never though out all the options jes has. I had a early marlin 444 and liked it but it went down the road. Missed it and got a win timber rifle 444 and could not believe the comparison(the marlin was a clunker compared to the timber rifle). I have molds for 35 and I wanted to reach out with minimum hold over and I think the 356 is right for that. I don't hear any complaints of the conversion so that is emboldening me to move forward!

[Tatume]

The cartridge that intrigues me the most is the 405 JES. I wonder just what cartridge brass he use's for that caliber? If its parent brass is available in stores, I'd have the 405 JES done.

The 405 JES is based on a shortened, necked down and tapered 444 Marlin case.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?178438-Marlin-336-in-405-JES

Take care, Tom

[RPRNY]

CH4D has 35-30-30 dies in stock. Great old wildcat cartridge. Just 30-30 brass necked up to .358. in theory you could get your 30-30 dies rechambered and swap out internals for 358 Win. Don't know that it would be cheaper than new dies.

JES will do the rebore/rechamber on the rifle.

Good info here:

http://levergunscommunity.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46854

[357maximum]

356 should be excellent if you can get brass. The 356 Rimless is a conversion done on 35Rems.

A real gunsmith can do it on either...no big woop.

[AnthonyB]

I use reformed 308 brass in both my Winchester and Marlin 356 Winchesters with no problem.
Tony

[williamwaco]

38-55 with a 1-12" to 1-16" twist

This is a spectacular cast bullet cartridge.

[longranger]

38-55 with a 1-12" to 1-16" twist

Would that not be the 375 Winchester ? Ability to load down to 38-55 levels or heavier loads.

[taco650]

I've read that the 375 Win runs at much higher pressure than 38-55 so the brass was thicker near the base to compensate. IMO, anything 35 that would fit in your Marlin would shoot flatter than the 38-55/375.

[Idaho Mule]

If the .356 is calling you, go for it. It is an excellent round to work with and your Marlin would be a great launch platform for it. You are a caster, you are a handloader, so any load issues be damned. Get it converted, get your brass, and go like the wind. I have had a blast with my .356. JW

[OverMax]

Thinking bigg'in right from the get go may be bad advice after-all. Being the 405 Jes with its use of 444 brass according to Tatume. Isn't one brass I would consider being consumer friendly in its acquisition these days. The 38-55 although liked is indeed headed slowly into obsolescence. I'm thinking keep that (carbine) as is. Why bother with new expensive custom dies, hard to find brass, or swaging parent brass up or down to suit your needs. Why not go on enjoying what you have. A dandy old 30-30.

[JFE]

In a Marlin rimless 308/358 cases should work. Winchesters may or may not feed rimless cases (mine doesn't) but since Marlin chamber for 35 Rem, the 336 can handle rimless cases. Not sure whether the extractor for the 35 Rem is different, but if it is, that might be all you need to change and then no issues with sourcing cases.

[Gtek]

Can you not just push out 307 brass? GB has some on it new at not a silly price.

[nekshot]

ok, thanks for all input, 356 it shall be. I do have a 358 bolt and in the seventies I had a 358 browning and regretted letting it go so this will be my attempt to make a wrong right. I really want to shoot 220's from 1900-2200 fps with out souping up the cartridge.

[Tatume]

I really want to shoot 220's from 1900-2200 fps with out souping up the cartridge.

See my thread. I'm running the RCBS 35-200-FN (210 grain actual weight) at 2250 fps without leading and excellent accuracy.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?231192-358-blr

Take care, Tom

[tommag]

I've had this idea for a couple of months, just haven't been serious enough to ask the questions. I like the Marlins, but didn't want to pay the price for a collector item. I read on a guys blog about .358 misfiring in his .356, and figured it was a matter of him pushing the shoulder too far back in the dies.
Given the brass availability problem,it seems like making the .358 work in a Marlin would be the way to go.
Tonight, the .356 conversion popped back into my head, and I wandered into this section to ask all of you what you thought about it, only to find this thread. Maybe it's a sign?
Now, to find a suitable model 30/36/336....