Home Forums Lever Action Central Marlin 336 Lever Actions 32 Special Marlin pricing?

A local auction house has several lever guns on sale this month. A Marlin 336 in 32 Special is going for about half of comparable 30-30's.

I'd likely pay a premium for the 32 Special. Do most consider it such a pain in the arse that it is worth considerably less?

It was that way until recently. All the way back to the 90s I could pick up a 32 Special cheaper than a 30-30. Now every 32 Spl I see is priced higher than comparable 30-30s

for a 32 Win Spl, the price goes up one year and the next it goes down. whether it is a Marlin or a Winchester. its been that way since i can remember, 1970s.

Ammo availability...

I think the ammo availability is the cause for most buyer's concerns. Factory ammo is expensive, but if you can get a rifle you like at a good price, buy it. Speer and Hornady have produced bullets for it lately and 32 Win. Spl. cases are easy to make from 30-30 brass.

I bought a Marlin 336SC last year for $425.00. I like it and I'm glad I didn't pass it up. Below are a few quick links that could help get you set up.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1011278027?pid=145518

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1016833587?pid=133420

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/dept/reloading/rifle-bullets/-point-321-dia/traditional

I think a marlin 336 that is factory drilled and tapped in 32 WS should be at a premium

I paid $1085 1950 tear if manufacture, 24” barrel, safe queen, that was last year.,

Handloaders live in their own Kingdom under 'other' ammo rules. As a generalization for the rest of us... And nowadays in spades considering ammo costs, to buy such as a .32 Spl it would need to be predominantly a safe queen. Ones I've acquired in the past had to come to me as super condition specimens at a very attractive price! Due to the other side of the coin...

The combo of exactly the same gun, condition, etc in 30-30 Win, predominantly my hands-down winner. A safe queen AND a shooter, to me a definite 'sweet spot' combo. The "Walmart Rule" of ammo availability where "meat & potatoes" chamberings!

Always some few exceptions of the past such as my preference for .35 Remington (as in "limited production" era) and never did get a .35 in the Marlin Marauder 16" barrel. But a couple of such genuine among fakes aplenty, in 30-30, just fine! Even exotic chamberings haven't stopped me where no alternatives commonly available and 'pants wetting' syndrome'!

Last, speaking of "Trends". Such very term-definition describes an inherently variable creature. A collector, I bought for long tern, never for profit. Rather for the intangibles of collecting pleasure as of course, semblance of "minding my wallet"!

Just my take.
Best!
John