Having been raised with a strong bias towards short action bolt rifles, I'm fairly late coming to levers. Since discovering the Campfire a few years ago, my interests have broadened and just found an old enough Marlin 336 locally for a fair price. Wondering what kind of accuracy to expect? I have a 1910 Win 94 that to me is fairly worn so I only shoot powder puff loads through it, nonetheless, it's a fifty yard carbine. I have two types of ammo for starters, Winchester PowerMax bonded 170gr and Federal bluebox 150gr. My new 336 wears a Williams FP but I intend to play with a scope too.

What's generally to be expected?

I find 336's are very easy to get trigger work done on. I feel they are very accurate, they shoot better than I do. I really like my triple 4 for accuracy, I also think the microgroove barrels are way cool.

Thanks John. Hopefully will get to try it out soon. In our circle, years ago, there was nary a mention of these, but then a new Remington was something to be proud of too.

My Guide gun (same action, different cartridge) will do under 2 MOA easily.

And I'm betting the Federal Blue box might surprise you with accuracy.

I've shot 1" groups with my 336. Its from the 60s but. It sure exact year. It shoots best with plain Remington 150 grain core lokts.

I have a 1951 model 336 RC. It shoots 150 grain blue box at about 1" to 1 1/2". It shot the early make of Leverevolution under an inch. I kept a target of a 3/4" 3 shot group that it shot a few years ago. It shoots the newer Leverevolution ammo at around 2", and it shoots them a little high. What is up with that new stuff?

Back from second range trip and very pleased with the ol' JM 336SC. Typically getting 1.5-1.6" three-shot groups with blue-box Fed 150s and WW 150 Power Max loads. With a Leupold VX-R 2-7x33 Ballistic Firedot on it, some high tech with the old. I think it's a dandy match.

Velocity averages
Federal Power-Shock 150gr 2293 fps
Winchester Power Max 150 gr 2266 fps
Oddly, the slower load impacted higher.

Enjoy those 336s!

I have a 1952 336 RC 30-30 with an old Weaver Classic 400 scope that will shoot the 150 grain Federal blue box stuff under an inch every time. I also have a 1961 336RC 35 with a Leupold 1-4x that will shoot just about everything under an inch. I have had many that would shoot right around an inch and many more that shot under 2". Only had the odd Marlin over the years that would not do at least 2" with proper load development and scoped. I don't know where the old addage about leverguns being inaccurate came from. It is not true about Marlins from my experience.

Up for the curious. Just mounted a different 2-7 scope on this carbine, made a few adjustments, then bam bam bam under an inch with the Federal Power-Shok 150s. Cool!

Congrats on the accurate Marlin! Mine like the Federal Blue Box too. Load up and go hunting!

Which is more accurate 30-30 or the .35

I am going to say the 30-30, just more factory ammo options and reloading component availability.

Doc

A buddy of mine had two rifles, a Remington 742 .30/06 and a Marlin .30/30. I took them to the range just before deer season one year, as he didn't have the time to check them.

The Remington worked (marvel of marvels) but wouldn't shoot for schitt, dunno if it was the scope or rifle/ammo incompatibility, or if it was just the POS I think they are.

But the 336 would shoot 1" with factory 150CL ammo, no problems at all.

He got the 742 from his late father, so he wasn't going to sell it, but he hunted with the Marlin from then on, and as far as I know, still is using it.

Rather than a new thread, figured I'd just ask here.

Is there concensus regarding the need for crimping for the 30-30 336?

Going to try loading up some Hornady 160 FTX rounds, gotta tinker you know.