Home Forums Lever Action Central Marlin 336 Lever Actions Missed a fox tonight

I've had that fox on camera off and on for a few months. Late this afternoon the little dude comes trotting into my feeder area and stands there at 25-yards facing me. I get a bead on him and "clank". The hammer drops onto the cross-bolt safety!!! He tears out of there so fast he was in the next county before I could regroup.

Guess I never have gotten used to that stupid safety. My first 336 only had the 1/2 cock, which was always good enough. I sold that old beater years ago (mistake) and replaced it recently as I love lever guns and guess I always missed having the old beater around.

My first chance on a fox ever. Likely he'll never give me another chance.

Anybody ever remove the cross-bolt on a 336?

Just pull the stock and tighten the allen screw that controls spring tension on the crossbolt until it bottoms, it'll be on the left side. Safety can't be engaged.

Disclaimer...You're on your own if you do it...

I did it to my Guide gun after I clicked a deer.

Sounds simple enough!

I have faith in the 1/2 cock safety.

This works to:


https://beartoothmercantile.com/basic-safety-delete-for-marlin-rifle/

Push the safety to the ''off '' postion & roll a small rubber faucet washer over the left side.Safety will stay " off " without messing with the internals.

I wish they would do a middle ground if they insist on having them on rifles. Maybe push it to fire a twist it too lock it while hunting, then untwist it put it on safe while shucking shells out at end of hunt.


They are butt ugly and I detest them but a lot of the complaints, from situations exactly like the OP are what drive a bunch of the hatred for them.


Mike

Couple of good options there. Thanks. I'll stick on a 0-ring for the short term and look at replacing the cross bolt after the season

Thanks for the tip! Just got done putting three in.


Mike

Patron saint of many game animals.
The cross bolt safety.....

Spend some more time learning to use it. I like the safety for loading and unloading. But other than that, I deactivate the safety and go with half-cock while hunting.

I bet working the action with your finger inside the trigger guard has caused more accidental discharges than the half-cock ever did. Watched a nitwit on the running deer range put 2 in the dirt working the lever wrong.

i had it happen on a wood chuck i had been after for 3 months and that was a easy shot too , but i fixed the problem killed that dang wood chuck 3 weeks later.

Or, just don't buy a lever gun with a cross bolt safety on it.

The hammer and your brain oughta be plenty of safety.