Home Forums Lever Action Central Marlin 336 Lever Actions Hunting with the 336

Didn't take a buck, but spent some time last week hunting with my little .30-30 Marlin. Thoroughly enjoyed time afield with the levergun. Hadn't hunted with a levergun in two years, except small game and varmints with my .22 Marlin 39A. Was out for mule deer here in Washington State.



Sure was a lot handier in the thick stuff than my .300 mag!

A class act! I have a special feeling for the old Marlins. I admire you for showing your rifle even though you didn't take meat with it. That has happened to me so many times over the last 50 years. It goes to show that you don't have to take game every time to enjoy being out with a fine, class act rifle. I like the way they carry without a scope but I ended up recently putting a scope on my 336-A in .32 Special because I just can't see well anymore. Anyway, thank you.

I sure was missing my Marlin today, crawling through a bunch of salmonberry, ferns and 12' tall reprod hemlock. My Marlin's stock is cracked and I've got it all apart to try to fix it, and I've been carrying the Mauser/.35 Whelen instead. Mostly it's been fine until I dive into a bunch of thick stuff, and then I really wish I was carrying the Marlin instead.

Guy, Way to cool..

I traded my new birch stock 336 today for a Savage 223. Then on the way home I pickup a pristine walnut stock model to replace the one I just traded.


Reggie

love my new old marlin .35 wacked a nice 178lb 7 pointer last week in vt hit the ground like a rock dead in its tracks

I too am a great fan of Marlin leveracton firearms. Somehow they seem to fit me and the way I hunt so well. I've spent most of my time afield this season with a 1982 model Texan with an 18-1/2" barrel that has been re-bored to 38/55. I really love this little carbine though I have taken only one buck with it and that was last year. I will likely spend the rest of the season with a Marlin M-375. I have really begun to appreciate the "Sporting Carbine" look and handling as well. Normally I hunt creek bottoms and the edge of thickets where most shots are under a hundred yards and many much closer. The last couple of years have found me hunting a few spots where I could possibly stretch out to about 250 yards which is well past the point I am comfortable with the 30/30,35,38/55 or the 375. All of this extra was said to point to the "need" I have for a longer reaching levergun. I have a BLR and gave serious consideration to another. But, the truth is that I am a Marlin man through and though and as such see a 308 Marlin Express in my future. I had one and sold it to my brother who has got a good string of one shot kills going with it.
There is just "something" about the way a Marlin carries, handles and shoots that nothing else does for me. Long live the Marlin leveraction!!!
Goat

Goat

I'm with you on the Marlins.I too use a 38/55, I had rebored on a 30AS that I also restocked with walnut. with a 282gr.GC it sure is death on Whitetails out to about 150 yards.

Wandering through one of the local shops, noticed a NIB 336C 345rem with a real nice walnut stock. Mounted a Leupold 1.5x5 short tube on see thru mount/rings. Scored a nice eight point a few days later in the heavy woods with a Rem 200gr soft point. The 336 is a nice light rifle that points fast and gets on target even faster.

Call them old school, but they are a classic and do just fine!

I carried my grandfather's old 336 opening day here in Maine. Saw 6 deer including a nice buck. Carried a FN most of the rest of the season. Last day I decided to carry the 35 again, saw 3 deer including a 3 pointer that I killed. Might need to carry that rifle more often next year.