O no...I done it now, now what?

[freebullet]

Well I have avoided like the plague getting a lever gun. Shot my father's levers as much as possible growing up. I didn't want to start down this slippery slope.

I went to lean on a guy who is way past due on an invoice with me. He gave me what he could and then offered a couple goodies as part trade. I had to begrudgingly decline the first goody, but the second I couldn't help but latch on to it. Like a moth to flame, it just didn't matter.

My wife is quite gunny, not just guns all weapons really. Guess I'm lucky in that regard, never being hounded on about them. In fact I'm the one who has to show restraint on those purchases, and that's an absolutely ridiculous plan. She has been after me to get her a lever for some time.

132305

So this marlin 336w w/a sling and 41 factory loads came home as part trade. Now is where my trouble begins. I bring the rifle in the wife comes running out. She says "Nope, don't bring that in here, don't you dare set it down". She knew my intent would be to turn this rifle in to cash before any attachment or love was formed.

Next thing I knew she was holding it. I was apprehensive about letting her shoulder it. Then the unthinkable happened. She absconded with it, running off in the bedroom. Wait wait wait... get yer mind out the gutter fellers. As I opened the door my worst fears were realized, there she laid (fully clothed), hugging the rifle and our pup. There she was cuddling with a lever gun I had no intent to keep. To make matters worse the pup seems to have a strange attraction to the sling.

So obviously I should have snuck this one in the house or hid it in my truck. Long story short I can't sell it unless "I get retail for it". I may still sell it, but it's doubtful now.

So I have an mp311150hp mold I think will work with this, but no dies yet. I would like to get opinions and experiences with a lighter and heavier mold recommendation.

In addition my ability to focus is gone due to cataract surgery, that leaves me using scopes on everything longer than a pistol to avoid glasses. I'm considering a standard scope, but the possibility of a scout mount seems like it might make for a fast handling woods gun for deer hunting. I'd like to hear opinions and experiences on that as well. I'll try to get a poll for this one at the top.

I guess if anyone has some extra brass and/or a set of dies cheap it looks like I may need them.

[btroj]

You will enjoy that rifle. Mine currently wears a receiver sight. Try around 16 gr of 2400 with that bullet.
i have both RCBS and Lee 30-30 dies. The RCBS doesn't size the area just below the shoulder enough to allow easy chambering in my rifle, the Lee does.

A 30-30 is just about the perfect cast bullet rifle. I just shot some MP 308 hunting bullets cast from range scrap and water dropped in mine. Shot well enough.

[freebullet]

As always excellent tips btroj. Thank you!

[pworley1]

I have never been able to get comfortable with a scout scope. Nothing against them, just me.

[Fatdaddy]

If you go with some of the 1-4X options it is as quick as a red dot on 1X and good magnification for long shots at 4X.
Check out the Leupold 1-4X Hog.

[btroj]

Sorry but the entire scout scope thing is silly. I can't stand the look of them and just don't get the fascination.

[NavyVet1959]

My old eyes have a problem with the common blade and notch type of sights that you see on most rifles these days, but not so much with the aperture type sights. The small aperture helps to increase the focal length of the eye like a high f-stop does on a camera. Those are the only type of iron sights I can use anymore. Otherwise, it's just a case of putting trying to center the blurry front post between the blurry back notches while holding it on the blurry target.

[Guesser]

I have an opinion but no slot to vote it in on the poll. I'd put a receiver sight on it an keep it handy and balanced. Scope it and it becomes unhandy and out of balance. My levers don't wear scopes for that very reason.

[bigarm]

I didn't vote but I think you should consider a peep sight. Skinner makes very nice sights (as well as other companies) and it is amazing how much it improves the sight picture for older eyes.

[tdoyka]

I didn't vote but I think you should consider a peep sight. Skinner makes very nice sights (as well as other companies) and it is amazing how much it improves the sight picture for older eyes.

what he said

[Bodean98]

I have no real input here other than to say I would vote for the peep/aperture sight as well. They are hard to beat.
What I really enjoyed was reading the story of bringing it home to the wife! That is awesome and every man should be blessed with such a woman! Kudos to you sir!

[725]

I don't have a dog in this hunt, but my son has that rifle and it has a forward mounted scout scope. Works like a charm. Some here think every lever action should look like John Wayne's '92, and that's their prerogative. I prefer the look myself. However, when old eyes need a little more to make it work right, there is nothing wrong with that. Better to have a clean, one shot, humane kill than yield to fashion. Do what you have to or want to, it's your rifle (well, maybe yours after the better half says so). In any case the scout set up is a proven winner.

[runfiverun]

I love peep set-ups on my lever-guns.
they are far more accurate than open sights, and not as cumbersome as a scope.
they also help focus your eye on the front sight.

if I were gonna use a scope I'd just buy whatever I could get that's got clear glass and is easy to acquire the sight picture with.
a leupold 2x7 would fit the bill nicely.

[Jack Stanley]

It's hard not to like a standard scope with the right magnification for the purpose at hand .

Jack

[TXGunNut]

My Marlins wear low-powered compact scopes or dot sights. A compact 2-7 (?) Weaver is on one 336, a dot sight on the other. I won't scope a Winchester but all my "shooters" wear some type of aperture sight.

[Fatdaddy]

My 336 and 1895 wear low power scopes but my 1894 44mag has a set of XS ghost rings that is a vast improvement over the factory buckhorn. I have to admit to this making a handy configuration.

[highnoon]

I didn't vote but I think you should consider a peep sight. Skinner makes very nice sights (as well as other companies) and it is amazing how much it improves the sight picture for older eyes.

+1 for the Skinner sights. I put a set on my 1895gs and absolutely love them. Waaaaay better than the buckhorn set-up that came on the rifle and they look good too. Most of my rifles are scoped, but I never really cared for a scope on a classic lever action.

[freebullet]

I tried the large peeps. The x ring is interesting, but due to vision I'm gunna have to use a scope. I really enjoyed open sites, but aside from handguns my open sight days are behind me. I don't want to rely on having glasses to use the gun. I wish I could use them on a rifle, it would be the cheapest option. I learned shortly after I could walk on pellet rifles with similar sights and did well. Today it's a fuzzy mess, can still make hits but just won't have the accuracy I want.

I'm thinking I will probably go with a standard scope. It's not like this rifle is a classic that would be buggered up with a modern scope. I will see if the local stores have a scout I could at least peer through, never had one myself.

I would like to get a mold in the 100gr area for gallery loads and something around 170-180grain for heavies. Any suggestions on that would be helpful.

The wife already wants a larger lever loop cause her hands aren't gunna fit in there with gloves on. If I sell it at this point she'll want it replaced with an authentic lever of old. Scoping this sounds cheaper.

[btroj]

The NOE ranch dog 165 works well in mine but I do need to trim cases a bit short to get them to chamber.

[rintinglen]

I warn you now--the darned things multiply like crazy. Next thing you know, the gun case will be crawling with them. I would not scope one, I vote with those who hold with receiver sights.

[runfiverun]

the ranch dog at 311 should work very well for everything you need done with that rifle.
lyman makes a little 120ish gr boolit [311359] it takes a gas check, mine makes 311+ and is slated for a few of my 30 cal rifles shortly.
it comes in a 4 cavity and makes boolits super fast, it's a heavy little bugger though.

[bikerbeans]

If your name isn't WILCO it is against forum rules to start a Poll.:bigsmyl2:

BB

[Bodydoc447]

I have that model with a Nikon 2-7 Prostaff. Works great on hogs. I prefer a 170 gr bullet or boolit but have never had a 150 fail. I just like the slightly heavier bullet.

Doc

[MT Chambers]

I'd go with good peeps such as the Skinner sights, with a Fire sight up front, even without perfect vision you would be amazed at how well they work.

[freebullet]

Bikerbeans my poll skills pale in comparison to our master poll maker Wilco. I make no claim as champion of the poll.

My wife does have a sister gents, but they are polar opposites. Funny how that happens.

Thanks for the mold recommendations. Over the summer I'll have to get a light and heavy for it. I will play with the mp150 as soon as I find some brass.

I'm lined up with dies and a standard scope base. I'm going to pirate a cabelas lever scope off another gun that is not a lever. I have boolits made and powder on hand. If I can get brass I will be testing this out soon.

[Rick Hodges]

I have a scout scope setup on a Marlin Guide Gun. It is much quicker than a standard scope...mine is a 2.5X Leupold.....but: It does make the rifle front heavy and feels awkward until you get used to it. Take your pick it is easy to do either standard or scout set up on a Marlin. Mine also wears a Williams receiver sight and the scope is in Warne QR rings so it goes on and off in a flash. (yes it returns to zero too)

[rond]

Ask your wife what she wants on her gun.

[Kestrel4k]

Just a FYI but the rifle can have both a standard scope and a Skinner Lo-Pro aperture sight underneath.

As the scope setup is already utilizing low rings, the scope must be removed to use the aperture sight (which is as it should be), but the combined configuration is a viable option overall.

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/Kestrel4000/RimfireCentral/Marlin%20336T/IMG_7478.jpg

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/Kestrel4000/RimfireCentral/Marlin%20336T/IMG_7479.jpg

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/Kestrel4000/RimfireCentral/Marlin%20336T/IMG_7486.jpg

[freebullet]

The wife wants a scope aswell. She has astigmatism and has always struggled with open sighted rifles. I can't even see through those peeps anymore, it's just a blurry mess. The big open circle like the xs might get me by, but I'm partial to scopes anyway.

Nice lookin rifle there. I like the straight stock on yours better than the semipistol grip on ours. Real wood is a nice touch over the fake wood look laminate on this one.

The scope I'm going to mount seems large for the size of the gun, but it will at least get me started. I've got brass on the way also. I'm feeling quite impatient to shoot this, it's been way too long.

[Lonegun1894]

I prefer plain irons, but apertures come second. Having said that, I would much rather see you shooting a scoped levergun than sitting at home looking at it wishing you could. I prefer standard scopes on bolt-actions if a scope is needed, but haven't tried a lot of different scout scope set ups. The few I've tried just seemed a bit unbalanced.

[NavyVet1959]

The wife wants a scope aswell. She has astigmatism and has always struggled with open sighted rifles. I can't even see through those peeps anymore, it's just a blurry mess. The big open circle like the xs might get me by, but I'm partial to scopes anyway.

Actually, the smaller aperture works best for when you have bad eyesight. The large aperture is not much better than just regular sights... Well, slightly better since if it is close to your eye, you don't have to worry about the rear sight, you just have to put the front sight on your target. But with old eyes, if you have a large aperture on the rear sight, the front sight is likely to still be blurry.

[TXGunNut]

Nice rifle, Kestrel4k. Nice pics. Thanks for sharing. What magnification is the scope?

Stick to your guns on the scope, freebullet. Get a good scope so you and your wife can use your new treasure. A full-sized scope does look a little odd on a 336 but as you said, it's a start.

[ammohead]

Most gun shows have a good selection of used scopes. A K3 Weaver looks like it just belongs on a marlin lever IMHO.

[Kestrel4k]

Nice rifle, Kestrel4k. Nice pics. Thanks for sharing. What magnification is the scope?
Thanks, it's a Leupold Compact 2.5x, perfect for the .44 Mag.
My wife got a nice mule deer with it a few years back. :drinks:

Also have the same exact setup for my Marlin 444T:

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp33/Kestrel4000/RimfireCentral/Skinner%20sights/th_Sights003.jpg (http://s395.photobucket.com/user/Kestrel4000/media/RimfireCentral/Skinner%20sights/Sights003.jpg.html)

[freebullet]

I finally got to take this out for a shoot.

The base, dies, and brass arrived. I did some poking around here seeing if I could find any surprises. Low and behold I found 1 of my father's old scopes. It's an old Redfield wide field 3-9xsmall oval...lol...it has some really sweet glass that makes it look foggy in bright sun. The little 600yd sliding indicator in the reticle is partially melted. The windage no longer clicks. I removed it from a well used 270 where it wouldn't hold a zero anymore. It layed tucked away for years. I always thought I would send it off to iron sights or another scope rebuilder, and I still will someday. The scope is way too long for this lever. A little more looking netted me a pair of camo'd Warne qd rings I had forgotten about. So to say it currently looks interesting would be an understatement of sizable proportions. I didn't want to rush into a scope purchase without some thought and testing, up until a couple years ago I wouldn't have put a scope on this rifle.

With that ugly heavy mess mounted I made some ammo. This gun had about 19 rounds through it before I got it. We shot 80+ just in initial load work ups. We tried the mp312-159hp with red dot, 4227, and 7383. All boolits sized .309 and tl with 5050 because I already had them ready. The Rd rounds were naked base and the other were checked.

Red dot at 7gr somewhere around 1100fps. Proved to be a really pleasant and accurate pistol range/pest round. Of course I was out shot by my wife. She claimed best group of the day, but I did better at longer range.

133978
Red dot loads at 2.480 oal with the boolit off the lands for easy feed and lever closure.
133979
Her 6 shot group with the red dot loads at 30yds.

Next we shot the imr 4227 loads from 16.5-20gr. They were seated at 2.535 with good engraving on the boolit. I shot the best 50yd group at about 1.25" with the 18.5gr loads.
133980
I like that one and will investigate it further. The next round of testing we will try at 100yds. The imr 7383 loads went from 26.5-27.5gr and all left powder in the bore with no pressure signs. I will continue upward carefully and see if I can get a clean burn before accuracy or pressure stops progress.

[lovedogs]

My lever guns all wear Williams aperture sights. Even with aging eyes and some vision problems I can install whichever aperture I can see well with and shoot pretty well. But I have used scopes on my lever guns, mostly for working up loads. With a scope it's possible to see so much better and tell which loads are the most accurate which is more difficult if only using irons. I have hunted a little using scopes just to see how well it worked. No question...scoped works better. But I still like the handiness of irons on a lever gun so that's the way they are now. Just as a comment...a few years ago one of my sons got an old Weaver 300 in a gun deal. It has the old post reticle. But the scope wasn't adjusting correctly so I sent it to the guy (can't remember the name) who fixes old Weavers. He installed a new erector assembly so it is now better than when it was new. It works beautifully. I don't think you can find a better set-up for short-range or woods hunting. I've seen several of these old 300's at gun shows so if you find one you may want to pick it up and send it in for repair. If you have vision problems or just want the best woods scope extant this is an excellent option.