Home Forums Lever Action Central Marlin 336 Lever Actions .307 reaming job, gunsmith?

I'm looking to convert my 336 30-30 into a .307 winchester
does anyone know of a reputable gunsmith who will do the job for a reasonable price?

Regan Nonneman, as he said "I charge what I charge" you decide if it is reasonable.

http://www.leveractions.com/

Not safe IMO.

why wouldn't it be safe?

Take a look for posts by Seattleloader. He has two converted Marlins. The Marlin will not take the maximum loads but it does very well with loads under maximum.

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=62496&highlight=.307+winchester

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=53835&highlight=.307+winchester

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=44322&highlight=.307+winchester

Wouldn't the LE .30-30 rounds be just as effective as light loaded .307s?

His loads are not that light. He gives up about 100 fps. This puts between the 30-30AI and the 307 Winchester which is a bit more than the 308 Marlin Express. You will never know the difference on game.
The 308 Marlin Express is the way to go today unless you want a custom rifle as Seattlloader did. Mr. Nonneman has built him two very accurate and powerful leveraction rifles.

For another avenue of discussion, would the 308 ME be a better rechamber than the 307 win? They are still on the 336 frame and probably will be better supplied for brass and ammo by Hornady, vs the forgotton stepchild of Winchester.

I would keep the 30-30 and save my pennies for the 308 ME.
My 308MX is a very accurate rifle. Marlin appears to have taken extra care fitting the locking bolt to the sliding bolt and worked a few other bits of �magic� to enhance the accuracy of the rifle. You will be hard pressed to build a lever action rifle with the same accuracy potential.

Which is a better conversion though, 307 win or 308 ME? I understand the XLR being tweaked for distance.

The 308 Marlin Express cartridge operates at lower pressure than the 307 Winchester and this would be my reason for choseing it for a �home conversion.� I don�t believe either cartridge is a good home conversion candidate. This is because I believe the locking bolt should be carefully fitted to the sliding bolt. I believe this is work for an experienced home hobbyist or gunsmith.
I also believe you are better off, when starting with a Marlin 336, to ream the barrel to an improved cartridge shape. Campfire member, Seattleloader and gunsmith Mr. Nonneman have worked up a wildcat based on the 307 Winchester shortened by about .10� and blown out to an improved shape. I believe this cartridge will prove far more practical for the standard Model 336 action than either the 307 Winchester or the 308 Marlin Express due to reduced bolt thrust.
I do believe a Marlin 336 can be converted to 308 Marlin Express but the 308MX rifle is not terribly expensive and a standard 30-30 is a nice thing to have. If I were looking for this level of power in a home converted standard 336, I would go with the 30-30AI

what about going to the 30-30AI?

I think the 308 Marlin is a modified 307 case, slightly shortened. Regan advertises transforming the 336 into a 50 Alaskan, 33 WCF or 38-56. I can't imagine the pressure difficulties with these compared the the 307 or 308 ME.

I have an older action 336 because of the obvious absence of the cross bolt safety. That would be my reason to alter the old 30-30 vs buying an XLR.

http://www.leveractions.com/leveractions.htm

Colorado, the 30-30AI is a fine choice. Trying to decide my direction also... I like the option of fireforming factory stuff.

The 20� 30-30AI will easily deliver 3,000 fps with the 100- and 110-grain bullets, 2.700 fps with the 125- and 130-grain bullets, 2,500 fps with the 150-grain bullets and 2,300+ fps with the 170-grain bullets. The 30-30AI requires more care in reloading but is a very satisfactory conversion for the 336 Marlin and the Winchester Model 94.

thats probably what I'll end up doing, its funny because I brought that subject up a couple months ago and lots of guys tried convincing me to do a 307, now that I bring up the 307, I'm hearing its a bad idea just kinda funny

I think I will go with the 30-30AI, I already have the dies, and a ton of brass.
I'm really thinkin about getting into bullet casting, if I do, I'm thinkin some bullets in the 120-130 range would be nice out of it

Don�t take anything I might say as negativity. I am looking at this as a home project. For the home hobbyist I believe the 30-30AI is the best route. If you are sending your rifle off to a professional gunsmith such as Mr. Nonneman to have it reamed, he will work over some of the important pasts of the locking mechanisim and this may prove to be a better conversion for you. The 308 Marlin Express and the 307 Winchester are easier cartridges to load (from a mechanical standpoint) and they perform their magic at equal or lower pressure than the 30-30AI.
I do not suggest using �used� 30-30 brass for full power Improved loads. For the 30-30AI loaded to high pressure I suggest using new brass loaded to a full power standard 30-30 charge for fire forming. New cases will last a very long time loaded to full power in the 30-30AI. 30-30 cases which have been loaded three or four times as standard 30-30 or shot in more than one rifle will crack at the pressure ring within four shots when loaded to high pressure for the lever action rifle.

Shooting the Lever Evolution bullets in a 30/30 essentially duplicates what the 180grain 307 load does. I actually sold my 307 win thinking i would replace it with a 308 marlin. Havent done it yet. A reloaded 307 shooting 160 grain LE bullets made for a 30/30 would be a nice round. And, i wouldnt convert a marlin unless i was converting a 308MX to 307. The V threads and the higher tolerances make it a better candidate than a typical 336.

Another vote for the 30-30 AI. On the other hand why not build a light weight 308 Winchester and keep your 336 a 30-30?