Marlin 336, Pre-84, 35 Remington Purchase

[Kevinakaq]

Thought I would share with my enablers. I picked up a Marlin 336 at the LGS a few minutes ago. It is something I've been looking for a while. It's a Pre 84 (no safety) in 35 Rem. As for condition I would rate it in the 90's. Wood has no obvious scratches/dents and same with the bluing. Was definitely well taken care of and looks incredible especially for a rifle made in 1981. Scope is an old Bushnell Buckhorn that with see through mounts installed. I'm probably going to put a Weaver Classic 4x and some low mounts on her. She's about to be taken completely apart and inspected/cleaned/oiled/scrubbed/fondled...

Never shot this cartridge and really looking forward to working up some loads! So any and all information you can share is welcome (and I will be doing some research as well, already have the cast bullet handbook opened up). Only thing I don't like is the Micro Groove barrel and the 1600 fps limitation, but then again I'm happy hunting with my 45-70 at 1300 fps. Guess I will be ordering a Lee mold or two later in day and hunting for some brass and dies.

I couldn't afford this rifle at the moment, but don't see them often and couldn't pass it up. I have a practically new Savage in 7mm Rem Mag that I picked up at Walmart for 200 on clearance last xmas. How could I not buy that rifle at that price? I put a Boyd's classic on it and sold the factory Tupperware for 95 dollars on Fleabay. At end of day I have 250 in that rifle and figure I can sell it for around 450 plus especially if I part it out...so that gun will go to pay for this one and I can put a few dollars in my pocket for reloading components. I definitely consider the 35 Rem and upgrade and as far as I know Marlin isn't making any pre-84 35 Rem..lol!

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/67729401/2014-05-13%2011.18.18.jpg

Kevin

[RickinTN]

Nice looking rifle. I know you'll enjoy it. Don't pay much attention to the "1,600 fps limit" as It really doesn't exist. With a properly sized bullet out of the proper alloy and the proper powder it is easily exceeded. I'm not familiar with a mold that Lee makes for 35 caliber rifles. They do make many 35 caliber handgun molds and some of these may work OK as a plinker. The RCBS 35-200 bullet or it's copies is quite popular in the 35 Remington and rightfully so. I have 4 35 caliber rifles and only one 35 caliber rifle mold and I don't see the need for another. Mine is the NOE copy of the RCBS bullet and it works well. I would suggest sizing to .360" for your rifle to start and see how that works for you.
Take care, and enjoy your new rifle,
Rick

[454PB]

That "1600 fps limitation" is not true. I shoot the RCBS 200 cast boolit to 2000 fps. with no leading and excellent accuracy in my 336 microgroove .35 Remington.

[Kevinakaq]

Yeah, that is what I'm reading as well on the 1600 fps limits. I have been casting pistol for quite a while and recently started casting 45-70 for my first foray into rifle. Since I was setup to do pistol I wasn't using a sizer/luber and instead was doing the old tumble method which works great for pistol and 45-70. Well I guess it's time to invest in a lube-a-matic and accessories...and you are right on the no lee 35 rem mold unless you count the 38 specials that some people use. RCBS seems to be the way to go for this bullet.

Thanks for the info!
Kevin

[madsenshooter]

NOE makes a version of the RCBS bullet and I see they have a few in stock.

[high standard 40]

Accurate Molds also has a copy of the RCBS 200 (36-210B). I have one and it is a great mold.

[Tatume]

The RCBS 35-200-FN has been great in my 358 Winchester BLR. The RCBS 0.359" sizer die has also been perfect. If you really need a 0.360" die, Buckshot can make one for you.

[Kevinakaq]

If anyone has any dies/brass up for sale please let me know (I will post on swappin and sellin section as well). If anyone has a hundred or so cast bullets for this rig I can try out before purchasing the mold I'm willing to pay 'fer' your troubles.

[digger44]

I have the exact same rifle, You will love it..
Lyman Ideal 358315 204 grn CG 50/50 WW/PB full dose of 2400 @ 1800 fps.

104794

[MrWolf]

Beautiful. I just started looking at the 35 myself.

[avogunner]

....... Lyman Ideal 358315 204 grn CG 50/50 WW/PB......

[/ATTACH]

I too like the 358315 for mine. Yes, the RCBS 35-200 is the standard but this boolit is my hog medicine over a suitable amount of 748. If you'd like to try it, PM me and I'll send you a handful to load up.
Semper Fi

[TXGunNut]

Congrats on a fine rifle in an excellent cartridge. Good call on the scope and mounts. With boolits sized .359-360 you'll have no trouble getting to 2000fps with a 195-200 gr boolit. If you can find a Ranch Dog TL mould 359-190 you won't have to bother with a lubsizer right away. NOE's making that one as well.
Enjoy, you've purchased a rifle I could happily hunt the rest of my life with. Grab up some brass first chance you get, RP discontinued it awhile back but Winchester works just fine.

[Kevinakaq]

Thanks for the positive comments guys and the helpful advice. I am a research guy but i like to put it all together by listening to some experience.

Got rifle apart and didnt really need much to clean. Two patches down the barrel, no brush, and she came out bright and shiney with zero imperfections that I could discern. All internal parts showed very little wear and some gentle toothbrush action and CLP brightened them right up. As far as I am concerned she is good as new with only extremly minor handling marks.

I may be rethinking that scope choice as I currently have it on my rem 760 in 300 sav that i just finished restoring. Might stick with the buckhorn and leave it at that. My eyes arent what they were by a longshot but I just think it feels right to keep her open sighted and besides it will give me something to aspire to. Maybe i will reconsider, but for now I'll give it a try. After all I grew up so poor I could only drool over those fancy glass tubes...maybe some of that swamp shooting/crawling is still in me...haha.

I will slug her on the morrow to verify bore dimensions.

[Kevinakaq]

just got done slugging the barrel and the micrometer reads .3571 groove to groove. I expected .358 so was a little surprised....so I did it again and reads same.

[Kevinakaq]

Wanted to say thank you to 'avogunner' as well who is sending me three different cast boolits to try out on this gem. Is very generous of him and the main reason I like this forum and the people around so much as they are always willing to help a brother loader out.

I scored 123 pieces of oncefired brass for under 30 shipped which was a steal and have a set of lee pacesetter dies and a universal expander on the way. I'm in business in the short term and hopefully will be ready to buy some equipment in a bit.

Thanks again brothers,
Kevin

[izzyjoe]

I Have a '81 marlin 35 also, it's my favorite close range deer rifle. I have a Redfield revolution 2x7 scope on mine, and I absolutely love it, it's the perfect size for a levergun. Toss those over under mounts, and get a std. weaver base, and mounts. The RD 359- 190, is a great boolit at top speed, it'll make you forget you have that 7 mag!!

[Kevinakaq]

Yeah those mounts are already gone!!! First thing to go. As for the scope I'm going to shoot it a while without and just use the buckhorn. I've shot 336's in 30-30 with a Williams Peep and Scoped in past and it is time I stick with the basics. All of my other deer eligible rifles have scopes on them so I think this will be my swamp/brush gun. Main reason I prefer a scope as my eyes aren't what they are and we have the four inch rule on bucks here and it makes it easier if you have a scope when you see them coming a ways off. I wouldn't have a problem hitting a deer at 100 with buckhorn, but identification might be difficult if it's a small rack.

Kevin

I Have a '81 marlin 35 also, it's my favorite close range deer rifle. I have a Redfield revolution 2x7 scope on mine, and I absolutely love it, it's the perfect size for a levergun. Toss those over under mounts, and get a std. weaver base, and mounts. The RD 359- 190, is a great boolit at top speed, it'll make you forget you have that 7 mag!!

[sandman228]

ive got an older 35 marlin I picked up from local classifieds there a great gun mine is a 1964 model and not near as pretty as yours lol but still a great gun . I use the lyman 195 lrn over a medium charge of herco for plinker loads . I think midway still sells Winchester brass for this caliber but its not always in stock and its a little costly . i did buy 100 or so of them a while back along with 100 or so rounds of factory ammo mostly just for the brass. i did get lucky about 5 months ago and snagged 250 rounds of once fired brass from same classifieds for 50$

[Djones]

That "1600 fps limitation" is not true. I shoot the RCBS 200 cast boolit to 2000 fps. with no leading and excellent accuracy in my 336 microgroove .35 Remington.

I think lyman forgot to put a hornady gas check on when they came up with the 1600 rule.

Maybe the checks were on back order.

[2ndAmendmentNut]

Nice looking rifle. I used to have a Marlin XLR model in 35 rem. I put a Leupold Scout style scope out on the barrel and that was a dandy brush rifle. In a weak moment I traded it off. For cast I had a Ranch Dog 35cal 190gr RNFP that shot really well and made very clean kills.

[badge176]

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/fryxell/35_remington.htm

[Kevinakaq]

just scored some 4895 powder at the local ammo store. 3031 was my first choice, but they didn't have any and I was happy to find the 4895! All supplies are on the way and can't wait to test her out.

[wrench man]

I haven't ever shot any cast boolits out of mine?, it's a '50 vintage "A" model with a Ballard barrel, but it sure likes a case full of H335 behind a Remington 200grn Core-Lokt!, it was drilled and tapped when I got it, so I slapped a Weaver K4 on top, it's a SHOOTER! for sure, gota LOVE the 35 Remington in a 336!

[KirkD]

That is a beautiful carbine you have there. I'd definitely sell the Rem 7 mm to pay for that one!