Marlin 336 in 30-30 and cast bullets

[DDJ]

I am soon to receive a JM 336 30-30 and was planning on shooting cast bullets. I posted this on the Marlin site also. This is a Gunbroker purchase and won't receive it until later next week. However since the purchase I have heard that the Micro groove rifling and cast bullets aren't the best combination, I cast bullets. Does anyone here have any experience with cast bullets and the Marlin 336? I much prefer Lee molds. Most of my shooting is just fooling around type of stuff. If I have to buy-God Forbid-factory rounds for hunting I may have to do that. Thanks Dave

[Winger Ed.]

I've heard the micro-groove barrels work OK if you keep the speed down a little with cast.

[reloader28]

It may or may not. You wont know til you try.
Cast works perfectly fine in mine

[GregLaROCHE]

I’ve shot a lot of cast boolits out of my .45/70 micro groove barrel. Lubed or PCed with smokeless and BP. Never had any problems. I’m just using iron sights and most of the time from a standing position. Maybe someone shooting bench-rest with a scope can tell if there’s a difference.

[Land Owner]

It is a self-fulfilling prophesy. If you fear the answer you seek you will not find the answer you need.

The use of cast boolits in micro-groove barrels has been written about in many previous CBGL.com posts. Do a little homework.

Cast boolits work just fine in my Marlin 336's. Why would you purchase factory rounds rather than work up an alternate load for a jacketed bullet if cast doesn't work out for you?

[trapper9260]

I have my shoot great for me of the same model and cart. You need to make sure you fit the boolit to what the gun needs not what one say .Slug your gun when you get it. I shoot .310 in my .need to check yours

[gpidaho]

My 336 30-30 is pre micro-groove but the Lee C309-150-F feeds best. I've found a lot of common 30cal. bullet moulds throw bullets with nose too long to chamber in my rifle. I'm sure there are plenty of bullets that will work but the 150 works best of those I've tried. Gp

[higgins]

I have no experience with Lee rifle molds, but if you cast a bullet at least as hard as wheel weight, size about .310 with a good lube, and use a gas check, you'll probably get good results. I've successfully fired cast bullets in both .30/30 and .44 mag. microgroove.

[Maven]

ddJ, Posts #4 & 5 are right on the money! Also, google search of the site revealed this: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/google.php?cx=partner-pub-6216953551359885%3A1942134700&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=microgroove+rifling+and+cast+bullets&sa.x=8&sa.y=10&siteurl=castboolits.gunloads.com%2Fshowthread.php% 3F394905-Marlin-336-in-30-30-and-cast-bullets%26p%3D4813119%23post4813119&ref=castboolits.gunloads.com%2F&ss=9292j3025238j36

Moreover, my Marlin #336/Microgroove was especially accurate with certain CB's, especially Saeco #315, sized to .310". My .45-70, also Microgroove, is just as accurate.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

The 'right size' bullet is the key to Marlin micro-groove.A .310 or even .311 usually works in the 30-30. To get to 'full velocity' 30-30 load levels, 170-180 grains at 2000fps, a gas check will be needed.
Bullet fit is important, but you should be able to get close 1900-2000 fps with a little fussing. I would expect accuracy of 2 MOA, 2" or smaller groups at 100 yards in most Marlins with good sighting equipment (scope or really good eyes). I mostly shoot Micro-groove 35 Rem, 444 Marlin and 45-70. All easily do 2" 5 shot groups at 100yards. That is with a scope of 6 plus power with my 70 year old eyes, a 2-7, 2.5-8, or 3-9 will get you there. Prone over a bedroll sometimes works as well or better than benchresting Marlin's. The are many bench techniques for leverguns that are different than bolt guns. They are available here and other lever gun sights.

[DDJ]

Thanks for all the replies! I'll get it figured out-I don't even have the rifle yet. Good info!

[wmitty]

Get the lee TL 314-90-SWC mould and a can of 700 X and/or Bullseye and have a blast!

[cupajoe]

If one listens real hard you certainly can hear that old wives tail echoing through the trees in the evening. The micro-groove barrels do just fine with cast. A fine fellow named Michael, "Ranchdog" designed a line of cast bullets for many calibers with micro-groove barrels. There were at least 2 or 3 designs that fit the Marlin barrels chambered in 30-30 depending on when the rifles were produced as the throats changed a bit over the years. Over on the NOE forum, there was a thread in which Michael explained which bullet design fit which guns. Lee cut the original molds and NOE later started cutting them. I was lucky enough to buy a 6 banger from Michael and it drops a great bullet that fits my 336 and my Win. 94 to a tee.

[trapper9260]

I got my to shoot like a 22lr with 32 cal boolits ,beside light loads with it. You can have it do what you like as long you do your part on it , also do not forget tube feed for the nose of the boolit you will load.

[MSD MIke]

Mine has been fine with GC bullets sized to .311, COWW alloy and shot up to 1850 FPS. Never tried it any faster but I think it would work fine. I have shot both PC bullets and with traditional 50-50 lube. Both worked fine.
I was also nervous after reading about all the trouble with Microgroove barrels. It turns out it just wasn't an issue for me.

Thanks
Mike

[gumbo333]

When I had a couple Marlin 30/30's, both microgroove, they shot purchased Beartooth 173gr .310 GC boo!its great at about 1900fps, per load data. But both liked .311 if HyTek or PC'd boolits were used. My Henry is exactly the same. Boolits sized .002 over the microgroove size are no problem. All shot .308 170gr jacketed great too, especially Speer's. Have fun.

[trapper9260]

My is a Microgroove also What ever cast I load for it is .310 no matter it is for light load or shoot like a 22lr or just 00 buckshot and have a 44 mag that is also that is a Marlin is microgroove . They shoot just fine with cast .

[Dimner]

Before I sold my 336 (stupidly) that micro groove did amazing with these two bullets sized to 0.310.

I was making low powered plinking loads because it was my first ever center fire rifle.


Lee 312-155 - Powders were Unique and Trailboss. Never went over 1500fps, but I'm sure the boolit could do that. The unique load @ 1500 was laser accurate at 50 yards.
Lyman 311467 - I tried BLC-2 to get up to 1900fps. I do not remember the accuracy, but stopped the project due to selling the rifle. However, before that it was very accurate at 1400fps with Unique.

[RickinTN]

Good advice given above. I'll also add match the powder and charge to the alloy and speed. My several micro-groove rifles shoot well with cast. One of my favorite loads in 30-30 is 15 grains of IMR4227 with a custom Accurate mold which drops at 180 grains or so and fits the Marlin throats very well.
Good Luck, and enjoy your new rifle,
Rick

[toallmy]

I'm not familiar with micro- groove in anything but 22 LR so I cannot help there , but keeping your options open on mold selection can't hurt , I understand the reasonably priced mold to try is nice , but a few bucks spent on postage asking members to sell you a small sample of what works for them in micro - groove barrels , could turn your new rifle into a laser beam . Those fancy store bought jacket bullets cost 25-30 bucks a hundred wile that fine for hunting you can knock a lot of holes in paper with the funds spent in lead , powder , and primers + trigger time is priceless .
Good luck

[Jruby38]

You can't beat 170 grain Remington Core lock factory ammo for 30 30 deer. The cheapest and worry free part of a hunt.

[DeadWoodDan]

Ranch Dog aka Michael was an authority on Marlin rifles and cast. He worked with or was associated I believe with LEE molds. You can find him at Rossi Rifleman site. If you really want that Marlin to shoot cast just ask him.
DWD

[Jkrem]

I had good experience with a Lyman 31141 sized .309 and Unique in both a 1970s 336, and a 1950s 94. They were a bit hard to chamber in the 94, but fed and shot just fine in the 336. Lube was Alox.

[Thumbcocker]

What is a reasonable expectation for accuracy with a microgroove 336 scope sighted with cast boolits at hunting velocity?

[Hickory]

I really like the 30-30 in my Marlin and have used it in 6 states and Canada, however, here in Ohio it is not allowed as a legal caliber for deer.
I sent mine off to JES and had a caliber change (38-55) I still can use it in many, if not all states and Canada.

[sghart3578]

Lots of misinformation about cast bullets in microgroove barrels, especially on the afore mentioned forum.

Here are some links to read:

http://www.lasc.us/FryxellMarlin-MicroGroove.htm

https://castbulletassoc.org/blog/article/2017/1/38/cast-bullets-in-marlin-micro--groove-barrels

In my microgroove 30-30 I get outstanding accuracy with a 150 gr GC bullet loaded over 3031. My microgroove 357 mag is an excellent shooter also. And so are all of my microgroove model 60's and model 39's.

Try it, you'll like it.


Steve in N CA

[metricmonkeywrench]

Out at the range today messing with the Marlin and 2 cast boolits, the 311291 gas checked over 3031 sized to .311 is looking pretty good. Unfortunately the 308241 sized to .309 or .311 over unique shoots minute of aircraft carrier so I'm not to sure where to go with that one.255784

[mvozz]

I have been shooting cast through several 30-30s for a while now. I started out using a Lyman 311041 that was designed for the 30-30. I load it with 8 grains of Trail Boss and everyone that shoots it just falls in love with that boolit. The only problem I have with the 336 is that the boolit is just a little too long and won't chamber smoothly. I have to just wiggle the lever a bit to get it to chamber. My Winchester just gobbles them up but I do have to say that the 336 seems to be just a bit more accurate at 50 yards.

[leadhead 500]

I shoot the Rcbs 150-FN in my Marlin 336W with Imr 4895 and size them to .310. Here is a 3 shot group at 75 yards using a 3-9 power scope

[catboat]

Alternative load until you get your cast bullets squared away...

.308" Speer 170 grain flat point /32 grains Win 748.

Shoots near moa in my 30-30 Marlin 336a micro-groove ( 24" barrel, 1976 vintage).

For cast bullet mold: consider NOE Ranchdog 165-170 grain .311" , with wide meplate.