Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Opinions on the 336

Zeroed the 35 Rem in the picture above this morning and then began testing some handloads using A2015; the 34.0 grain/Speer 180 HotCore/CCI-200 load is shooting three round, 3/4" groups at 100 yards! The load measured 2056 fps with my Beta Master Chrony set at 10' at 82 F. These M336 Marlins blow my mind, outshooting many of my bolt guns with no more tweeking than a scope and a handload. I think I am going to swear off bolt actions and go completely to Marlin leverguns.

The Marlin 336 is a proven winner, made its bones a long time ago and has been serving sportsmen for many years with success..If one has a bad one, it would be my guess somebody has been monkeying with it at some point..I have never had one jam and have owned a number of them over the years..Not my favorite rifle but certainly a great rifle.

Ray's advice sums up Marlin 'Thutty thuttys' quite nicely...especially the last line.....one's favourite rifle might be a fullwood AAA grade walnut stocked M 98 custom whatever....... but when its dusty n' dirty and the huntin's rough... you're going to reach into the gunsafe for the Marlin...

I like them, and I'll always have more than one. They're well built, good looking, very accurate, and reliable. A friend recently got me interested in reloading, so once I get that all set up, it should make them even more fun.
All I own in centerfire rifles any more is 336's, 1894's in .357 and .44, a 95 in 45-70, and a Savage 99 (love them too- more of those would be VERY nice, like a .358 )
The only bolts I have left are rimfires (and I think somewhere, Grandpa's old JC Higgins 20 guage )

I�ve owned and used a 336 for over 40 years. I currently own 3 and have as many as 5 at one time. A 336 was the only rifle I used for about 20 years. In all that time I�ve only had one jam and it was my fault. I was loading the rifle with gloves on and let a cartridge slip back under the loading gate.
They are well built and the actions are very strong.
They are heavier and quieter than a M94.

Sherwood, I had on I one those but mine didn�t have the pressed checkrein. I got used in January 1968. I bailed I friend out of jail on DUI charge and he gave me the rifle. He bought it new in October of 1967 from Sears for $80. It cost me $50.
I killed a truckload or two with that rifle. But in a weak monument I traded it and $150 for a new M700 in 1987.

Boy did you get took HaHa

Marlin Pro's & Con's ???
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I'm "Pro" on just about 'Everything' Marlin.

I'm "Con" on (maybe) the 'thickness' and the 'checkering' of stock on some Marlin models. Also, whether 'straight grip" or "pistol grip" configuration, on some models.

Otherwise, NO real complaints!

I have two Marlin 336 lever rifles, a 336-Y "Spikehorn" (30-30 Win.) and a 336-C (35 Rem.) - Great little hunting rifles to 'carry' when walking through tall-grass and brush.

The modern '336' round-bolt design is of a stronger and superior design than the old "94" actions. But, ALL the Marlin lever guns are built 'Strong', IMO.

I also have Marlin M-1894's (.357 Mag, and two .41 Mag's.) And one Marlin 1895-GS (45-70 Govt.)

I have found all of my Marlins to be 100% reliable and accurate right out-of-the-box ... and if that's just "luck"? , I'll take it.

I do regret having ever sold the old Winchesters that I have owned through the years ... as they were all good rifles too.

Most M336s dont do anything for me, but I want to own
every 336SC that I see. Dont have one now, but want to
get a drilled and tapped "shooter" in .35 Rem.

Marlin 336's are great guns. I have several. Most issues like jamming or letting a 2nd round in can be because of loose action screws. (loading gate). They are a little heavier then a Win 94. Just as well made and usually more acurate.(at least the one's I have owned) They really come into there own if you want to scope them, it's a natural fit.
Karl

I haven't owned a lot of 336's but have owned at least a couple .30-30's (one sold by Montgomery Ward under their brand name--it was my dad's and I shot my first deer with it), a .32 Special and a .35 Remington. All functioned perfectly and shot well.

I've heard them called meat guns, that they don't have the range of a .30-06 etc. Frankly, they are ideal guns for much of the deer habitat in the eastern U.S. but certainly a 200-250 yard gun at most. They are light, carry and handle well and scoping them is a slam dunk.

They seem sensitive to hard primers so reloaders must be careful. I think I had trouble with CCI's while federals worked every time. The .35 Rem is perhaps the most popular and reloaders must not set the shoulder (what shoulder?) back, affecting headspace.

I've owned and sold several like a fool, including a Maurader. As a young hunter I listened to all the arm chair experts. Well, I own another 336 in .35 and this baby ain't going anywhere.

Other than scope and swivels, the rifle is ready to go right from the box. Pleeze don't ruin the thing with a recoil pad. If you can't handle the recoil of a .30-30 or .35, you have no business in the woods.

I get a kick out of brousing the used gun racks and finding
Marlin 336s with huge variable power scopes on them. 4x12,
6x18, etc. Give me a K4 or Leupold 2-7 any day.

I have had a .308 Marlin Express for a couple of years and love it. No problems with it at all. I put a 3x9x40 on it and it has proven to be very accurate out to 300 yards. I would also like to get a 336 in 44 mag.

I have had a guy hunt with me at my place for the last couple years. His gun? A Marlin 336 in .35 Remington with a Bushnell Banner 4x12 power AO with lenses so filthy you could probably watch a solar eclipse through the thing without fear of damaging your eyes.

Opening morning of firearms whitetail season I put him in a new spot I had scouted out but never hunted. He spotted a nice 6 pointer slipping thorough the thick stuff about 20 yds. away. He tried to get his crosshairs on it but had left the scope turned up to 14x and couldn't see a thing. Last year I put a new scope on it for him, a handy little 2x7 power.

Terrible rotten rifles they are those marlins. For the cost of shipping I will dispose of those aberations they call rifles.

"I get a kick out of brousing the used gun racks and finding
Marlin 336s with huge variable power scopes on them. 4x12,
6x18, etc."

Ditto. But most of what I see are scopes in those abominable "see through" mounts that require the shooter to hold his head up like an alert turkey. Big scopes and such high mounts tend to negate a lot of the value of those excellant and handy snap-shooting rifles.

Probably the best bang for the buck around is a Marlin 336 of one sort or another and in 30-30 caliber..I like the Winchester 94 better but that is because I was raised on a big West Texas ranch and I was tought the 94 was the only gun in existence, its a cowboy thing you see! but on the QT, the Marlin is probably a better gun and God save me if my dear departed family members hear this..I inhereted a sack of Winchester lever guns and I really lik'em also...