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whats the best group at 100 yrds anyone has got with a 336 in 30-30? i can get about 2 and a half inches usin170 grain core lok hps. you think i could tighten up some by loading my own? im pretty happy but just like women tighter is better

1.5" to 2" is about right at 100 yards for average shooting conditions.
You can tighten your groups several ways. Canting is the hardest thing to control when shooting lever guns from the bench. I use white target base paper with dull black squares for the aiming point. I cut the squares 5" X 6" or even 6" X 6". I align the cross hars along the edges of the square and aim for the corners. By aligning the cross hairs along the edge of the square I at least reduce canting.
On the hard kickers I use a wedge for the buttplate which kicks the toe of the stock out about 3/4". You can make these from balsa or buy them from Brownells. They are not for hunting as they in effect reduce the drop of the stock and slow it coming to your shoulder.
For iron sights i cannot shoot well with the factory round bead front sight. they reflect light at odd angles. Lyman, Williams and Marbles all make good replacements. With round beads I cut a half circle in the bottom of my black paper aim point and bring the bead up into it. It helps me....
If you can control canting you will instantly reduce the size of your groups. If you are shooting factory ammunition it is hard to beat Winchester 170 grain power points for accuracy.
Brownells has told me that they are trying to have copies of the Redfield Sourdough front sight made. If this happens you will then have a very fine sight available for both hunting and target shooting.

My 336's best 3 rounder at 100 yards was 3/8 inch center to center. The load was 37 grains BL-C2 powder,Remington cases(neck sized),CCI 200 primers and Hornady's 150gr round nose seated to an overall length of 2.6".She wears a B&L Balfor scope in Leupold rings and bases.I had the mag tube shortened to hold 1 shot because the cartridges are too long to crimp.I put the sandbag under the reciever instead of the forend.Of course that group was exceptional(!) but she normally shoots any of the loads I developed right around an inch at 100.

My 336 in 30-30 (actually my son's now) also normally shoots 1" or less from the bench with pretty much any load, it does tend to favor the remington 150gr softpoints.
My 336 in 35 Rem shoots 200gr rem softpoints from the bench into 1"- 1.5" some handloads will do slightly better.

My 336 likes Hornady bullets. Both 150 & 170g shoot very well .

http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=1057735

I've only used Varget in 30-30 and it seems to work just fine.

I have a load for my 336 carbine that uses the 170 grain Sierra at 2,095 fps that groups five shots in 1 1/16" when the rifle is scoped with a 1 3/4 x 5 x 20mm scope. Not real fast but a sure nough shooter!