Levergun rescue. (Frozen Range Report) Another Keeper!

[2ndovc]

Went to Cabela's in Dundee, MI with one of the boys this morning with plans of buying some
ammo or components with a gift card I had and came home with this old Marlin 336 R.C. / 30-30.

She was in the used rack with a $175 tag on her.
No finish left ( but no pitting) and a pad added but a perfect bore and a smooth action. And
since I don't currently have a .30-30 just screamed "Take me home!"




I don't have any Marlin books but the site I looked up the serial number (HL prefix) it says 1968.
looks a lot older than that.

Wish she could talk. Sure has that been there, done that look!
Range report tomorrow.

jb

[JReed]

Way cool find.
I was at the Cabelas out by St Louis last weekend and saw a couple old levers in the used rack in need of a home. Unfortunatly my pocket book was on the thin side.

I look forward to the range report.

[salvo]

That is a cool one! That would be hard to walk away from, great rescue.

[rjohns94]

excellent rescue

[kimwcook]

Nice treasure hunting. I like the part about going to go buy some ammo and components, but came home with this. Nice try.

[2ndovc]

Nice treasure hunting. I like the part about going to go buy some ammo and components, but came home with this. Nice try.

That's funny. Sounds just like my Dad!

jb

[airedaleman]

Great save! Is that gun drilled and tapped for a scope? Judging by the wood and the front sight, I'd say that it's of 50's vintage...

[2ndovc]

Great save! Is that gun drilled and tapped for a scope? Judging by the wood and the front sight, I'd say that it's of 50's vintage...

No D&T on top but it does have holes for a reciever sight. Don't know if that's factory or not. Doesn't look like it ever had one mounted.

It does look older than '68. I hoping one of the Marlin guys checks in, the S# is HL 5664. That's supposed to be that last year for the R.C.

Can't wait to go shooting tomorrow!

jb

[airedaleman]

Definitely a 50's gun. Receiver sight holes are factory, and the receiver top should have a serrated pattern milled into it. My father had the same carbine in .32 Special. A check at Marlinowners indicates no such prefix as HL. Maybe recheck your number. H = 1951, and L = 1954

[2ndovc]

Definitely a 50's gun. Receiver sight holes are factory, and the receiver top should have a serrated pattern milled into it. My father had the same carbine in .32 Special. A check at Marlinowners indicates no such prefix as HL. Maybe recheck your number. H = 1951, and L = 1954

You're right! It's H 15664 not HL---- . The 1 is set apart from the rest of the numbers so I thought it was an L.

Insert " I are a college graduate" here!

Thanks. I sure thught it looke more like a 40s or 50s rifle! It does have the serrated pattern on top and that fat forearm.


jb

[airedaleman]

Too cool! Wish I had my Dad's. Stolen from my son nearly 30 years ago. (I DO have a couple of hundred empty .32 Special cases, though. They turn into 30-30 cases very, very easily!)

[86er]

Best of luck with it. I picked up a similar year/condition last year and it ended up being a real shooter! I hope you are pleasantly surprized with your new gun!

[2ndovc]

Too cool! Wish I had my Dad's. Stolen from my son nearly 30 years ago. (I DO have a couple of hundred empty .32 Special cases, though. They turn into 30-30 cases very, very easily!)

Sounds like a good reason to go looking for another .32 Special!

jb

[Guncase]

Very nice! I'm a little strange in that I'd rather have one with the finish worn off like yours than one that's like new.
I don't want to highjack your post, but I spotted one in town a couple of days ago for $169.00. Looked like maybe 50% blueing, and it probably was a 60's or 70's gun. I should have taken a closer look, but I knew my will would not hold out if I asked to see it.

[Sixgun]

Nice piece Jason!
Now, on to the rescue: Trim up that bulbous forearm, discard the recoil pad and give that baby a nice rust blue. It was made 3 years before I was-------1951----------------------Sixgun

[piller]

Nice buy. Be sure to let us know when you try it out.
Sixgun, I was out in Kremmling several years ago elk hunting. No luck, but that seemed to be the way with a bunch of people around there.

[Paladin]

Great deal, I got one last September and set it up for the youth hunt here in WV. When I get a chance I will post photos of both the marlin and the 14 year old I took hunting using it. I try to take a different kid every year to my farm where I know it is safe and full of deer.

[TedH]

Great find!

[2ndovc]

Up early and off to the range.
Only 25 degrees but no wind for a change.

Target on the right was Winchester factory 170 gr. JFP ran 2 1/2" at 50 yds.
Left target was my hand loads of Rem. 170 Gr. JRN and 28 grains IMR 4895. Two
seperate groups on this target running about an inch and a half each.


I know that she'll do even better if I slow down and take my time. That and a new
receiver sight. I had to take the elevator out of the rear sight just to get it on the paper.
Guessing about 2-3 inches high at 100 yds.
I've had probably a half dozen 30-30s over the last 20 yrs but this is the first one I've
really enjoyed shooting.

Did some off hand practice with my Rossi 92 357 until I couldn't feel my fingers anymore.


Can't wait to try some cast loads!

jb

[WCF3030]

Nice find!!

[Guncase]

Looks like fun. Glad to hear that the old Marlin will shoot. I just ordered a Williams 5d from Midway yesterday for one of my '94's. They are on sale for $27.99! The only problem is my rifle is missing some finish like yours and it will have a black anodized new looking thingy hanging off the side. Maybe I can "antique" it somehow.

[2ndovc]

I was thinking about that too. I'd love to find an old Redfield or other '50s vintage sight. Until I do I'll probably order a new one. Shouldn't be
that hard to "Antique" one.

Sixgun's suggestion of restoring it has crossed my mind but I like the way it looks.



jb

[JReed]

Glad the old girl still shoots. Looks like she has taken a liking to your hand loads. I wouldnt restore it she has to much character for that.

[salvo]

I thought that puppy looked older
The wavy top is called a waffle top, my first rifle is a 336A from 1949 it has the waffle top and is factory drilled and tapped for the side mount receiver sight.

[GEOFF]

I think you have a KEEPER there for sure!

I LOVE my 1948 336RC in .30-30. Ballard rifled, pretty doggone deep. The wavy top. Found mine for $200 a couple of years ago. Does it look like they cut the stock when the put that recoil pad on???? Hopefully not.

No slam on Winchester, cuz I love my 1892 but this 336 of mine made me forget all about my pre64 model 94 Win. carbine. It carried nice and light but my 336 Marlin holds so much steadier and I shoot it much better.

Geoff

[Tycer]

[Sixgun]

Sixgun, I was out in Kremmling several years ago elk hunting. No luck, but that seemed to be the way with a bunch of people around there.

Pillar, Is that right? Some years nothing is even sighted, let alone harvested. My son and I have done pretty decent, scoring twice in 6 years, hunting on public land ----with no horses

I do get a kick out of the town of Kremmling though. A few gas stations, one big food mart, and a dozen bars!-----------Sixgun

[marlinman93]

That's a great buy on an early Ballard rifled 336! I don't care if it does have very little finish. I think it's really got class, and shows someone enjoyed it, and used it! Good snag, at a great price!-Vall

[airedaleman]

Up early and off to the range.
Only 25 degrees but no wind for a change.

Target on the right was Winchester factory 170 gr. JFP ran 2 1/2" at 50 yds.
Left target was my hand loads of Rem. 170 Gr. JRN and 28 grains IMR 4895. Two
seperate groups on this target running about an inch and a half each.


I know that she'll do even better if I slow down and take my time. That and a new
receiver sight. I had to take the elevator out of the rear sight just to get it on the paper.
Guessing about 2-3 inches high at 100 yds.
I've had probably a half dozen 30-30s over the last 20 yrs but this is the first one I've
really enjoyed shooting.

Did some off hand practice with my Rossi 92 357 until I couldn't feel my fingers anymore.


Can't wait to try some cast loads!

jb

It's great that you had a chance to shoot that Marlin already! I never let a little cold keep me from an opportunity to shoot when I lived up North. (Matter of fact, there were times when I had no choice: we had the first of our semi-annual qualification rounds in January - at an outdoor range, and our course of fire included a night-time session. We went through
many Boxes o' Joe from Donkey Donuts. The good old days - I guess.) I'd leave the old girl like she is. Kind of like a handsome older woman who has no need of a facelift. I bet that recoil pad is a Ranger pat. no. 105358. Looks just like the one my Dad put on his Model 10 Remington pump gun many years before I came along in 1939...

[2ndovc]

The pad is a Red Head. Doesn't look like they cut the stock but it's hard to tell, it would be really short without it.

Just spent the last hour in the basement cleaning guns and making some cast bullet loads. 8.5 gr. Unique and a 165 Gr LFPGC. Worked well in a Winchester I had.

As great as it would look reworked with a case hardened receiver and dark blued barrel and magazine tube, etc. I'm taken with
the condition it's in.
Rode hard and put up wet but she's still got it where it counts. Might have to go shooting again tomorrow.

jb

[Ysabel Kid]

Cool! Congratulations on the rescue!

[Jaguarundi]

Sweet salvage !