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Ranch Dog
04-02-2006, 10:50 PM
I've got a neat little Marlin 336-44 that is a sixties vintage rifle, built back before Marlin reintroduced the 1894 in 44 Mag. I've always just loaded up the bullets and shot them without much fan fair. I've decided that I would go ahead and pay a little attention to this fine shooting rifle and start by seeing if the bore needed to be lapped.

Holy cow, this rifle has quite a bore on it...


Reference: Distance Diameter
Rear sight Dove Tail 04.50 0.4328
Aft Barrel Band 09.00 0.4331
Front Barrel Band 17.50 0.4327
Front Sight Taps 19.25 0.4323

Gonna study it some more and probably fire-lapp this puppy before I get serious about loading up some of the TLC432-285-RFs for accuracy and hunting.

Dale53
04-04-2006, 12:59 AM
Michael;
I'd shoot it before I did any "fixin' ". You know that old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". You may be surprised.

Dale53

Ranch Dog
04-04-2006, 08:19 AM
It's shooting pretty good Dale but I'm always messing with something! Actually my plans changed this week for the rifle. I've got some hog hunters on the ranch and one fellow is using it.

Right now I've got it loaded up with the Beartooth 290-grain LFNGC and it shoots very well. Killed this critter with it...

http://home.awesomenet.net/~ranch-dog/Hunting/2005/Hog112405_003b.jpg

20.5 grains of H110 gives me 1550 FPS with that big bullet. While shooting the chrony work, a 5-shot group measured .92" at 100-yards.

Jack Stanley
04-04-2006, 05:07 PM
Those really are neat rifles . I got silly and sold the first one ..... but I think I'll keep the one I'm using .:mrgreen:

Jack

Frank46
04-05-2006, 12:53 AM
Jack, I have 1894's in 357 mag and 44 mag. Both I got fairly cheap, the 357 is OK,
but the 44 mag rocks!!. Better trigger on the 44 and those little carbines really let you know when they go off. Frank

Dale53
04-05-2006, 08:07 AM
MIchael;
>>>While shooting the chrony work, a 5-shot group measured .92" at 100-yards.<<

That is fine shooting. I TOLD you to leave that rifle alone:mrgreen:

Lever action rifles won't shoot - your statement is proof, NOT! I have three Marlins, a 45/70 (1.5" at 100 yards with minimal workup), a 25/20 (NRA 50 yard target ten ring accuracy), and a 30/30 (new) I have never shot. I use cast exclusively in the levers.

Good rifles.

Dale53

Ranch Dog
04-05-2006, 08:11 AM
Here is proof that levers shoot. This is from my 2005 Postal Match...

http://home.awesomenet.net/~ranch-dog/PM/III/Scoreboard_Top_Ten.gif

These 5-shot groups are referenced from the center of the target! Open sights are shot at 50-yards and scopes at 100-yards.

Lloyd Smale
04-05-2006, 09:03 AM
if you ever want to part with it let me have first grabs at it!!!!!!

Jack Stanley
04-05-2006, 09:14 PM
I was out driving the 357 the other day using 38 wadcutters one at a time through it . At 25 yards it was ripping the center out in a most boring fashion . The other load uses a LBT 185 grain flat point , just a little more push on the shoulder . I don't recall the figures using that bullet in the 357 case , but then how much does it take to drill through a whitetail down in the swamp ?
I try to keep the 357 loaded light , if I need more smack downrange there's the 336 chambered in .44 or the 1895 using the 45-70 :-D ..... and the M1A for a lot of it in a hurry .

Jack[smilie=1:

26Charlie
04-15-2006, 06:26 PM
Any gun that will shoot less than an inch at 100 yds. is Target Grade IMHO; wouldn't do anything to it myself. Take a look at what the best targets look like from a 100 yd. smallbore match - groups around an inch or a little less - and these guns weigh 12 lbs and have a 24X scope on them or Redfield Palma & Olympic iron sights.

Ranch Dog
04-15-2006, 08:45 PM
Loyd... it took a while to find it and just this week my wife asked if she could start shooting it as she would like to try to kill a hog.

My bride of one year is a city girl moved to the ranch and she is slowly taking a shine to the shooting sports. I had bought her a 39A and taught her to shoot while dating. It was quite a moment for her because she has been a victim of gun violence brought on by an abusive ex-spouse. I'll never forget her words after the first session with HER rifle... " I will never be a victim again!"

There is always room to make them more accurate. I shot less than an inch last week with the TLC432-285-RF boolit after hand lapping some of the restrictions in the barrel.

Dale53
04-15-2006, 09:14 PM
Michael;
You are braver than I :mrgreen:. If I had a pistol caliber lever action that shot less than an inch at 100 yards I would do NOTHING to it. At any rate, I am happy for you that your improvement DID work out.

Dale53

Ranch Dog
05-17-2006, 10:07 PM
I continue to work with my little 336-44 as I work on the pressure trace stuff for the TLC432-285-RF group buy...

I'm thinking my pet load is going to be 21.0-grains of H110 for the rifle. I shot this target and data today...

http://home.awesomenet.net/~ranch-dog/Casting/TLC432285RF/Data/44RM/Target_21.0_H110.jpg
100-yard target

http://home.awesomenet.net/~ranch-dog/Casting/TLC432285RF/Data/44RM/PT_21.0_H110_Target_Stats.jpg
Target Stats

http://home.awesomenet.net/~ranch-dog/Casting/TLC432285RF/Data/44RM/PT_21.0_H110.jpg
Pressure Traces

http://home.awesomenet.net/~ranch-dog/Casting/TLC432285RF/Data/44RM/PT_21.0_H110_Stats.jpg
Pressure Stats

I'm really begining to like my Mini-444!!!

Four Fingers of Death
05-18-2006, 03:50 AM
Ranch Dog, thats a cool printout, can you explain what the set up is?

Ranch Dog
05-18-2006, 07:06 AM
It's RSI Shooter Lab and Southwest Products Pressure Trace soft and hardware. (http://www.shootingsoftware.com/index.htm)