Home Forums Lever Action Central Marlin 336 Lever Actions 336 back in the field after 20 years

My first deer rifle was a Marlin 336 30/30 when I was 14. I used it till I was 19 when I graduated to a bolt 7-08. After 20 years I am now hunting with the 336 again and loving it. I hated shooting this buck when he is only one year away from being a really good buck, but he was 20 yards away and the 30/30 hadn't been shot at a deer in over 20 years, so it was time.

Nice one ! What kind of sight are you using?

It's the Williams 5D. It's simple, cheap, and works well.

Great job, its nice getting back to your roots. Oh and there ain't nothin' wrong with that buck.

whats wronge with that buck nice rack how big is it?

The rack is fine, but I would put the age at 2 1/2 yrs. The meat is great but I think he would have grown into a really nice one. I was not going to shoot, but he was so close and I hadn't shot a deer with that rifle in so long, I just couldn't help myself.

I really wish one of my kids had been with me to shoot it. I had hunted with them the two previous days with my daughter getting a spike and my son holding fire against many doe.

i knocked down a deer this weekene with my 30/30 as well. good times! Also a marlin 336!

I need to get one of those.

Everyone should have at least one.

Good on ya!

Joseph

Nice buck Kodiak ! If I'd have cut a notch for every deer I killed with my old Marlin .30-30 there wouldn't be any wood left on it. It'll do all that ever needs doing to any deer in the woods.

Well done. A classic rifle, not ever retro or old school!

Great rifle, light to carry, shoulders/sights on fast and ideal calibers 30/30 or .35 rem. I like the .35 rem 336 with see through base/mount and a low power scope for the woods wiht the iron sights at on at 50y and the scope at 100y.

Well done!! And maybe it would have grown bigger, and had a nicer rack, but it's destiny was to fall to your 336 .30-30 back in the woods for the first time in 20 years. The truth of it is, your .30-30 deserved that buck!

I went in the same direction a few years ago. I own a blueprinted 700 in 308 with a Hart barrel. Spent lots of $$ on it. And every year something "better" would come out. So it was never done. Finally I said screw it - I am done with the "arms race" and I went back to my roots. I bought a Marlin 30-30 and put a fixed Leupold scope on it and that's all I have used for the last 4-5 years. I am quite happy with my decision as where I hunt shorter shots are the norm. Haven't spent any more $$ on the 308 either.

At least you saw the light below spending more Marlin money.

Doc

I have owned 3 Marlin 336's, 2 in 35 Rem and one 30-30. I have also owned 2 Marlin's in 444. Yes there is always something better I wanted and sold off the Marlins and have also sold off the something better. I am now back on the hunt for a 336 in 35 Rem and another Marlin 444. I want the Marlins for bush hunting. My 338-06 and 257 Roberts will cover the rest of the field.

Thanks for sharing your photos.

What ammo did you hunt with?

Sherwood

Well I just got a Marlin 30AS 30-30 with a Marlin 4X32 scope that is going to be taking a few walks with me this spring bear season, and the up and coming fall hunting season.

Next one to cross off on the list is a 35Rem.

Screw the wait a year on that deer! Sounds like an AWESOME TIME! What a trophy

Watch those marlin 30as's they tend to like to jam on the last round. A couple buddies of mine have them and they all have the same problem. That last shell just doesn't like to feed.

Never had my 336 jam! I shoot my 336 often and I hunt with it every year. I acutally hunt with it every time the forecast does not call for rain. The gun was made in 1953 and it belonged to my Grandpa, so it doesn't go out in the rain. It is by far my favorite gun!

This dandy muley was taken with my older Glenfield 30GT carbine. Shooting distance was approx 125 yards or so after a long stalk in rough country. Location: Black Hills Nat'l Forest, South Dakota.

30-30 is a KEEPER!!

Sherwood

Nice buck!

My son has a 336 RC 30/30 that my father-in-law had for years. He kept the gun in his closet and every time my son was over there when he was little he'd ask if he could see it. My father-in-law gave him the gun when my sone was 14 and I had it reblued and did the wood over myself as the finish was flaking on the stock. I had it D7T's and put a Weaver 2.5X on it for him. It came out sweet and my son killed 5 or 6 deer with it including his first buck but he's moved on to a T3 in 300 WSM as he had magnum fever! It isn't going anywhere though and I suspect it'll kill a few more deer for him sooner or later...