Marlin 336

[nighthunter]

I've been looking for a used 336 for quite some time. My 2 main requirements have been difficult to meet. It must be in very good shape and it must be for $250 or less. I found a carbine model this week that meets these criteria and I think I am going to go with it. It is in 30/30 and will be used only with cast bullets. I already have several molds that will be quite fine to work with, 120 gr FNGC, 150 gr FNGC and 125 gr RNPB. Do any of you have suggestions for powders and starting loads? This is a micro groove barrel and I will slug it for sizing diamiter.
Nighthunter

[jlchucker]

I would check the Lyman 48th edition Reloading Handbook. They have a lot of history with 30-30 loads with cast bullets. This would be a good starting point for you to experiment to find the best load for the rifle you buy.

[wmitty]

I'd suggest Re 7 as a powder to start with. I was firing groups yesterday at 100 yds swapping back and forth between a Rem 788 and my 336 (both .30-30's) and using Re 7 behind both the RCBS .30-180 sp and the group buy 31141 and both rifles were grouping very well.

[FilippoMo]

What is the best bullet design to be used in microrifled guns?
Filippo

[nighthunter]

I brought home the 30/30 yesterday with a set of dies and loaded up 20 rounds last night. I used bullets from the 45 2.1 .312-150 group buy from about 6 months ago. 10 were loaded with 8.5 grains of Red Dot and 10 were loaded with 9.0 grains of Green Dot. Bullets were sized .3095. The Green Dot load was by far the best performer. It shot into 1 3/4 inches at 50 yards from a very crude rest. An old Lyman book lists velocity in the high 1400's. For one of the first loads from a new old rifle I couldn't be more happy. As the weather gets better there are going to be a lot more of these bullets going down range.
Nighthunter

[GSPKurt]

That's a pretty sweet deal.

[Throckmorton]

Did you REALLY clean the barrel first.? of ALL old jacket material?
I bought a very old marlin a while back,and with cast bollits the accuracy was plus minus 3 FEET at 100 yards.
Cleaned the bejeebers out of it with copper cutter cleaners,and life was oh so sweet after that. :)

10 grains of Unique under a 170 grain boolit is a nice plinker load as well as what you have tried.

[nighthunter]

I cleaned the barrel with Barnes CR-10 followed by Butches Bore Shine to make sure I didn't leave anything too harmfull in the bore too long. Lots of old jacketed crud came out and it was squeaky clean when it shot the real boolits. I think we are going to get along just fine.
Nighthunter

PS ... The shop owner also has a real nice Krag on the same shelf but I can not for the life of me justify the price of $850. I remember when these could be had for less than $40. I should have bought a dozen.

[srayc]

8.5gr Unique and 9.0gr of T Boss is a good plinking load.

[rmb721]

I just tried some 30/30 loads yesterday. With a RCBS 30-180 FP , with 19 grains of IMR-4227, shot about a inch and one half group at 100 yards with receiver sights. Marlin 336-A, 24 inch barrel with Ballard rifling.