What to do with a Marlin 336

shaman · Post by **shaman** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:08 pm

I have a Marlin 336. I have a lot of other good deer rifles, and I have to admit I was quite underwhelmed with 30-30 when I tried it on whitetail deer. For a lot of years, it was my sons' first deer rifle. Now they are all grown and shooting 30-06. I'm thinking of doing something with the 336.

1) I might get it reamed out to 30-30 AI
2) I might get it reamed out to 307 WIN
3) I might just leave it on the rack and wait for the grandchildren to start coming online.

What do you all think?

BTW: I've got no particular hatred of 30-30 or the 336 as it is. It's just that my preferences in deer rifles have evolved to where I prefer something in a 300 Savage on the low end and 35 Whelen on the top end, and a lot of 30-06 in the middle.

BrentD · Post by **BrentD** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:17 pm

I think you should go back to hunting deer with it as is. It's a fine deer cartridge and not a bad elk cartridge for that matter.

But I wouldn't AI it. I can't see that doing anything except maybe giving you chambering issues.

You could bore it out to 38-55 however. But the deer won't be any deader.

horsesoldier03 · Post by **horsesoldier03** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:20 pm

keep if for the grandkids. They are going to need a gun, and they wont get any cheaper, and future Marlin 336s will not be the quality that yours is.

OR Box it ups and send it to me. The 30-30 is my favorite cartridge!

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 1:39 pm

The AI conversion is worthwhile, and I'm pleased with mine, but I'd only do it if you want something to tinker with. No deer is going to notice another 200 fps. It sounds like you have other preferred rifles anyway, so I'd probably just stick it in the back of the safe and wait for the grandkids.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:05 pm

I can't imagine anything that grows in CONUS needing anything more than a well placed 170 grain Green Box to make it DRT.....Taking into account, of course, the range limitations of your shooting. We don't get long shots here in WETstern Washington rain forests....

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:23 pm

I agree with those who said save it as is.
The early 336`s with their square cut barrel threads are not suited to the .307Win.
they had to be modified to V threads to handle the .308MX round.
The .30-30 AI is a fun round but the ballistic improvement is not all that great for the cost and trouble. Save it for the kids or sell it and buy something you want.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:32 pm

.

If you no longer want to use it, I'd opt for door #3 - The grandchildren will be ready before you know it. (I have two - one now 23 y.o., and his cousin 2 y.o.)

I've never had my .30-30 (Winchester 94 Trapper) fail me on a whitetail deer (or anything else I shot at).

.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:34 pm

Trade it for a .35 Remington. The .35Rem has become one of my favorites, accurate and hits like a freight train.

I've never been a big fan of the .30WCF. I know that's blasphemy on this site but the round has never really "Done" it for me. And yes I've hunted with it and still own two of them.

I know I'll get lit up for this one!

jb

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 2:38 pm

2ndovc wrote: I know I'll get lit up for this one!

jb

Naw, everybody has their preferences. We'll just think you're the "weird guy".

There was a good long period of time where I didn't own a single 30-30, or any 30 caliber rifle for that matter. Now I have 3, 30-30's a 308 and a 30-06.

shaman · Post by **shaman** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 3:25 pm

The vast majority of folks I tell about this think it's some defect in the hunter. It might be; however, I stopped using the Marlin myself over 10 years ago, because I was tired of shooting deer at reasonable distances and having them just look at me. Granted, we finally got the situation under control back in 2009; my son shot a nice doe with it during yute season. Still, despite several changes in bullet and load, I just could not get it to perform well for me. My one son took a deer with it after a few failed attempts and then switched to the M1 Garand and has been shooting 30-06 ever since. #3 son, Angus, got one doe with it and then switch to 30-06 as well.

Here's an example:
Like a Dog Returneth. . .

Since then, I've stuck with 308 WIN and 30-06 and 35 Whelen for the most part, and I've been quite happy and successful. This year, I started using 25-06, and was quite pleased with that. I'm a boiler-room shooter. I usually aim for taking out both lungs and the top of the heart with a broadside shot.

BTW: the load that finally worked for me was 150 grain Win Powerpoints over a full-house load of H4895.

GonnePhishin · Post by **GonnePhishin** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 3:46 pm

I agree; leave it be.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 3:53 pm

"...reasonable distances..." That could be the key.

I've shot deer with a 7mmRemMag and had them just look at me. Didn't happen when I hit them. Same as the .30-30. Dead deer from 25yds to over 200. But it requires a good hit! In the boiler room; heart/lungs. Neck shots can be iffy, IMO.

What BrentD said.

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 4:05 pm

Griff, Ya mean ya have to hit em??? Maybe that`s what I have been going wrong.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 4:17 pm

Griff wrote:"...reasonable distances..." That could be the key.

I've shot deer with a 7mmRemMag and had them just look at me. Didn't happen when I hit them. Same as the .30-30. Dead deer from 25yds to over 200. But it requires a good hit! In the boiler room; heart/lungs. Neck shots can be iffy, IMO.

What BrentD said.

I've seen the '06 shoot through the little blacktails we have out here without opening up. Those CoreLoks open up quite nicely at about any range.... Yes, there is such a thing as too much gun.

EdinCT · Post by **EdinCT** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 7:25 pm

I would leave it be. I have had more 30-06 deer run with no reaction to a hit than 30-30. We always used the 170 gr corlokt though.

vancelw · Post by **vancelw** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 7:37 pm

TedH wrote:
2ndovc wrote: I know I'll get lit up for this one!

jb
Naw, everybody has their preferences. We'll just think you're the "weird guy".

......who doesn't know that "dirty" is not a synonym for D$#@%%^!!!

1894 · Post by **1894** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 7:51 pm

I'd go with the folks that said door # 3 .

ps. Is Angus still piping ?

Merle · Post by **Merle** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 8:07 pm

horsesoldier03 wrote:keep if for the grandkids. They are going to need a gun, and they wont get any cheaper, and future Marlin 336s will not be the quality that yours is.

OR Box it ups and send it to me. The 30-30 is my favorite cartridge!

This gets my vote - either option!

shaman · Post by **shaman** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 9:34 am

1894 wrote:I'd go with the folks that said door # 3 .

ps. Is Angus still piping ?

I'm thinking more and more like I might just take door #3 too. My hesitancy to shoot 30-30 is wholly based on illogic, but then so is deer hunting, right?

Angus? He stopped piping for a brief time-- concentrated on the banjo, then the fiddle, then the guitar, then. . .
When he goes back down to the KY/TN to hang with his hillbilly kin, he can sit in with them now. He's an amazing kid-- zero to Orange Blossom Special in less than 2 years.

He started piping again at the end of the summer. In the meanwhile, the bad he'd been competing with won the Worlds in Glasgow. When he found out, he was a little dejected.

"Look at it this way, son." I said. "You could have been the schmuck who tripped over his shoelace and screwed it up for everyone."

That made him happier.

He got his first deer all on his own this year-- first year hunting as an adult.

See The Last Weekend

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 10:24 am

Now there is a young man to be proud of!

Post by **Old Savage** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 10:31 am

As is, they aren't making any more.

shaman · Post by **shaman** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 10:44 am

OK.
So, let's say I leave it alone. What would be a good circumstance for doing a 30-30 AI or 307 WIN conversion? Or has that no longer a good option?

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 10:47 am

There is quite a bit to be said for the well-placed shot.

I have never met a dead deer that could tell the difference between a .30-30 and a .30-06.

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 11:18 am

Or you could send it to JES Reboring and have done up in 35-30/30, 356Win, 38/55 or 356 Win.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 1:00 pm

TedH wrote:The AI conversion is worthwhile, and I'm pleased with mine, but I'd only do it if you want something to tinker with. No deer is going to notice another 200 fps. It sounds like you have other preferred rifles anyway, so I'd probably just stick it in the back of the safe and wait for the grandkids.

What he said...

shaman · Post by **shaman** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 1:31 pm

3leggedturtle wrote:Or you could send it to JES Reboring and have done up in 35-30/30, 356Win, 38/55 or 356 Win.

I thought of that, but why 35 instead of something like .307 WIN?

earlmck · Post by **earlmck** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 1:33 pm

Us big fans of the 30/30 are mostly cast bullet shooters: for cast bullets the standard 30/30 is close to perfection.

I wouldn't rechamber for anything you could do in 30 cal -- if you aren't impressed with the standard 30/30 you won't be impressed with the AI version either. For that matter, now we have LVR powder you can't beat the standard version very much with the AI version anyway (I get close to 2400 fps with the 170 grain bullet and the LVR powder, which is pretty much AI ballistics).

A great way to introduce a young shooter to larger cartridges would be loading the old 30/30 with either cast or plinker bullets at around 1300 fps. Full power loads out of the little carbine belt a young shooter more than I would want for such an introduction to "deer rifles", but the light loads are really really fun!

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 5:43 pm

"I thought of that, but why 35 instead of something like .307 WIN?"

Winchester beefed up the 94 to handle the .307. Early 336`s wont handle the pressures it produces for long.

BC in TN · Post by **BC in TN** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 7:04 pm

[quote="jnyork"]There is quite a bit to be said for the well-placed shot.
I concur.

shaman · Post by **shaman** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 8:32 pm

OK, so if I get the general consensus correctly, 307 WIN conversions are dangerous, 30-30 AI is useless, and either you gotta love 30-30 for what it is or you just can't shoot straight?

BrentD · Post by **BrentD** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 9:32 pm

that sounds about right

Merle · Post by **Merle** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 10:08 pm

shaman wrote:OK, so if I get the general consensus correctly, 307 WIN conversions are dangerous, 30-30 AI is useless, and either you gotta love 30-30 for what it is or you just can't shoot straight?

Personally I wouldn't say that the AI conversion is useless, but I would question how much of a benefit it is - that plus a whole new set of reloading dies, etc. Years ago I had a 257 Roberts done up in AI, and it wasn't worth it to me, YMMV.

DerekR · Post by **DerekR** » Sun Dec 07, 2014 12:36 am

I have never found the 30/30 lacking, but I do reload with Barnes TSX bullets and it takes the old 30/30 to a new level.
That is a heck of a bullet.

mikld · Post by **mikld** » Sun Dec 07, 2014 12:40 pm

Chuck 100 yd wrote:Griff, Ya mean ya have to hit em??? Maybe that`s what I have been going wrong.

Yep, it's really hard to scare a deer to death...

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Sun Dec 07, 2014 12:50 pm

You sound bored. Buy a flintlock!

N.

BrentD · Post by **BrentD** » Sun Dec 07, 2014 12:53 pm

Nath wrote:You sound bored. Buy a flintlock!

N.

+10

shaman · Post by **shaman** » Mon Dec 08, 2014 9:30 am

It's funny you say that. I had not thought of it that way. Bored? I suppose. My youngest just got his first deer as an adult. I've spent every season since 2001 helping my sons. Now I'm looking at a sizeable hiatus until the first grandchild comes online.

It's also funny you mention flinters. I was looking at getting one a while back as a joint husband and wife shooting project. KYHillChick finally had to admit that she really does not have time for it at the moment.

Oh well. Maybe just trying to get the 336 back into the rotation as it is will be challenge enough for now. I'd be the first to admit I did not give it a fair shake.

FLINT · Post by **FLINT** » Mon Dec 08, 2014 4:47 pm

its all relative.

I grew up chasing deer with buckshot and old school slugs.

When I moved to a rifle county as an adult, I bought a Marlin 336 in 30-30 and thought that it the most incredible deer slayer imaginable. Killed many deer with it and none have required a second shot. I'm not even sure that any have required tracking now that I think of it. Of course I don't think I've ever shot over maybe 80 yards at a deer either. Often a shot longer than that means that the deer is on someone else's property anyways.

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Mon Dec 08, 2014 5:24 pm

Enjoy it as a 30-30 it will be a great rifle for the grandkids to learn on and for you to pack in the woods. danny

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Mon Dec 08, 2014 5:38 pm

JES doesn't go smaller that .338 and i like anything on the 30/30 case. Wanterd him to do a 38WCF on a NEF Handi-rifle but he only does .410 diameter and not .400 or .401. Plus I just like .35's and and .375's. I have plenty of other 30/30's and a 308 to play with.

Panzercat · Post by **Panzercat** » Mon Dec 08, 2014 7:34 pm

throw it in the closet. The deterioration of Remington all but guarantees it will be a classic eventially.