Why I haven't bought a Marlin 336 ......

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J Miller
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Why I haven't bought a Marlin 336 ......

Post by J Miller »

OK, so now I've got to say this about that.

The reason I haven't bought a Marlin 336 is that every one I've handled had way too much wood in the wrist area and forearm, and the cheek area on the pistol grip stocks battered my cheek so badly after the third shot I was flinching. Something about their shape that does not fit me.

The straight grip stocks as found on the 1894s and the Cowboy models is great. I've had a number of 1894s in both .45 Colt and .357 mag and they fit me just fine.

So if Marlin or Marlington or Remlin or what ever you wanna call it would made a nice trim straight stock, thin forearm version, carbine or rifle ............. I'll look it over. But I won't touch their cheek bashing pistol grip versions even to check their quality. I'm just not interested.

I'm not anti-Marlin, I just know what hurts me when I shoot it.

So, that's my story and I'm stickin to it.

Joe

NOTE: Edited to better reflect what I wanted to say.
Last edited by J Miller on Fri Jan 22, 2016 8:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by Ragnor »

A fun project for you, would be to fit it to your liking with a rasp and refinish, custom for you. There was a long gone gun writer/hunter named Francis Sell who lived I think in the Pacific Northwest. He hunted with his custom fit to him Marlins and wrote about it from time to time in the Gun Digest.
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by marlinman93 »

otteray wrote:You can buy a straight stock!
http://www.precisiongunstocks.com/conte ... s/d49.html
Yeah, but you need a straight grip lower tang to use it!
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by Pete44ru »

marlinman93 wrote:
otteray wrote:You can buy a straight stock!
http://www.precisiongunstocks.com/conte ... s/d49.html
Yeah, but you need a straight grip lower tang to use it!

Not really.............

I've converted a few, and when I did the 1st conversion, I found that ALL Marlin 336's use the same length tang screw - which means that the only difference between a Marlin 336 straight tang and their PG tang is the extra external thickness necessary to make up the PG curve.

Soooooo, I simply ground the external surface of the bottom metal's lower tang down to a straight grip config, B 4 finishing the re-shaping with files (etc).

After that, rasping/sanding the PG off the wood, then refinishing the stock & bluing the new lower tang surface resulted in a Texan clone.


.
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by mikld »

"Customizing" a gun to fit one is OK, but one should be able to use the gun before "customizing". Long ago I gave up buying stuff for it's "potential", or what I could make of it. If it don't work for me now, without modification or a fix, I ain't gonna buy it...
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by AJMD429 »

My first Marlin 1894 had the buttstock eaten by mice when I was in college (I'd taken the metal and greased it up then wrapped it, but kept the stock in the basement), so I had a local gunsmith fit a new one. He refinished the forend to match, and while doing that, slimmed it to just the diameter of the front end cap.

At first I was a bit bothered that he did it without even asking me, but then I got to liking it...

He also had to parkerize the metal, as it had rusted, despite my precautions.
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by sore shoulder »

Pete44ru wrote:
marlinman93 wrote:
otteray wrote:You can buy a straight stock!
http://www.precisiongunstocks.com/conte ... s/d49.html
Yeah, but you need a straight grip lower tang to use it!

Not really.............

I've converted a few, and when I did the 1st conversion, I found that ALL Marlin 336's use the same length tang screw - which means that the only difference between a Marlin 336 straight tang and their PG tang is the extra external thickness necessary to make up the PG curve.

Soooooo, I simply ground the external surface of the bottom metal's lower tang down to a straight grip config, B 4 finishing the re-shaping with files (etc).

After that, rasping/sanding the PG off the wood, then refinishing the stock & bluing the new lower tang surface resulted in a Texan clone.


.
So then would the opposite be true, you could fit a pistol grip stock to a straight grip tang, it would just be recessed? If thats true im kicking myself in the seat of my pants.
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by Blaine »

I recently sold a really nice, '81 336 in 30 wcf. After I got my bucket list '51 94 the 336 felt like a big club...
With the 336 I had to work a little to get a good sight picture. With the 94, I could close my eyes and when I opened them the sights would all be in their proper places. (Incidentally, my Marlin 1894, and Mountie are the same way and I have no reason to sell those two wonderful rifles).
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by earlmck »

Different strokes.... I love the fuller feel of my Marlins: they fit me just perfect. You guys must be built funny.
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by gcs »

Mine has the pistol grip, but the wood is not chunky, (a 71 year model) and without checkering.
I've seen some that looked like a 2x6...They ain't all the same.
No problems with mine, but I have a neck.... :D
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by Blaine »

earlmck wrote:Different strokes.... I love the fuller feel of my Marlins: they fit me just perfect. You guys must be built funny.
Hey! You talkin' to me? :lol:

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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by gamekeeper »

BlaineG wrote:
earlmck wrote:Different strokes.... I love the fuller feel of my Marlins: they fit me just perfect. You guys must be built funny.
Hey! You talkin' to me? :lol:

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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by TedH »

earlmck wrote:Different strokes.... I love the fuller feel of my Marlins: they fit me just perfect. You guys must be built funny.
Me too. The perfect levergun is the 336 with a 2/3 magazine and pistol grip. 8)



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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by J Miller »

I was a lot skinnier when I shot the cheek bashing Marlins. I've become like mikld, if it doesn't work for me now, I won't waste my time with it.

As for the sumo wrestler guy, I'm with Blaine, I sorta resemble that ... :(
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by Pisgah »

J Miller wrote:OK, so now I've got to say this about that.

The reason I won't buy a Marlin 336 is that every one I've handled had way too much wood in the wrist area and forearm, and the cheek area on the pistol grip stocks battered my cheek so badly after the third shot I was flinching. Something about their shape that does not fit me.

The straight grip stocks as found on the 1894s and the Cowboy models is great. I've had a number of 1894s in both .45 Colt and .357 mag and they fit me just fine.

So if Marlin or Marlington or Remlin or what ever you wanna call it would made a nice trim straight stock, thin forearm version, carbine or rifle ............. I'll look it over. But I won't touch their cheek bashing pistol grip versions even to check their quality. I'm just not interested.

I'm not anti-Marlin, I just know what hurts me when I shoot it.

So, that's my story and I'm stickin to it.

Joe
I'll be sure to let them know. They'll be crushed! :lol:
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by AJMD429 »

If they could make a truly 'interchangeable' forend (a change in the forend cap mount anchoring system could really facilitate that), they could offer user-interchangeable forends, and this would become a non-issue.
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by J Miller »

AJMD429 wrote:If they could make a truly 'interchangeable' forend (a change in the forend cap mount anchoring system could really facilitate that), they could offer user-interchangeable forends, and this would become a non-issue.
With the CAD and EDM manufacturing systems I'll bet they could ... if they wanted to.

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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by Ben_Rumson »

The only reason I can figure you want a Marlin for is so you can mount a scope :lol:
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by Griff »

Ben_Rumson wrote:The only reason I can figure you want a Marlin for is so you can mount a scope :lol:
Yep. Love my 1978 mdl 375! But, the scope needs replacing... thinking of a 1-4 in lieu of the fixed 4 power. I guess, if I REALLY disliked the forend, a rasp could fix it!
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by JohndeFresno »

Love the Marlin Levers -

Price, quality for the $ (I have the "older" thutty-thutty and 45-70)
Side loading AND ejection
Microgroove barrel
Tapped for scopes

As for changing the stock, couldn't you afford that with the money saved in the purchase price, versus other American brands?
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by J Miller »

JohndeFresno wrote:Love the Marlin Levers -

Price, quality for the $ (I have the "older" thutty-thutty and 45-70)
Side loading AND ejection
Microgroove barrel
Tapped for scopes

As for changing the stock, couldn't you afford that with the money saved in the purchase price, versus other American brands?
Yes, probably could afford to do it if I was good at stock work. I'm not.
Don't want to have to modify a rifle just to shoot it. Had enough of that nonsense with the MR-7. Never again.

What other American brands?
Henry? Not a chance. Way to heavy and that tube magazine loading system is a joke. Not interested in the least.

Mossberg? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Joe
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by JohndeFresno »

"What other American brands?"

I was thinking of the Henry's (of which I'm not a fan, either)...
And the great old, but still expensive when sold "used," Winchesters and Savages.
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by AJMD429 »

J Miller wrote:What other American brands?
Henry? Not a chance. Way to heavy and that tube magazine loading system is a joke. Not interested in the least.

Mossberg? :lol: :lol: :lol:
OK...save your money and get a Big Horn Armory levergun... :wink:

Image

http://www.bighornarmory.com/catalog/1/ ... -products/

It will cost what three Marlins, or Four Henry's or Five Rossi's would cost, but you won't find anything flimsy, shoddy, or poorly fit...
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by JohndeFresno »

Truly beautiful pieces.
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by piller »

If we all were the same, and fit the same guns, it would sure be boring.
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by Frank V »

J Miller

While I like the Marlins 94, 336, & 95, (same as the 336) not all rifles fit all people. If a gun doesn't fit you you won't shoot it well & if it batters you you will shoot it worse.
If you like leverguns maybe you could find someone who can fit it to you.

Have you considered or tried a Win. 86?
Good shooting.
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by J Miller »

Frank V wrote:J Miller

While I like the Marlins 94, 336, & 95, (same as the 336) not all rifles fit all people. If a gun doesn't fit you you won't shoot it well & if it batters you you will shoot it worse.
If you like leverguns maybe you could find someone who can fit it to you.

Have you considered or tried a Win. 86?
Good shooting.
Frank,

Sadly, and I'm serious, I've never had the opportunity to shoot an 1886 in any caliber. I held, and fell in love with, a full rifle version chambered for 50-110 years ago, but have never had the funds to get one on the very rare occasion one was was near enough for me to know about.

The Winchester straight grip (non crescent but plate) stocks fit me just fine so that's my choice so far. I'd love to shoot a Marlin 336 with the straight grip stock to see how it fits, but haven't had a chance to.
The Marlin 1894s fit fine so if the 336 stocks are similar they should too.

I doubt I'll have the funds to have a rifle custom fitted to me. Social Security just doesn't leave one any room to play.

Joe
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Re: Why I won't buy a Marlin 336 ......

Post by Frank V »

J Miller wrote:
Frank V wrote:J Miller

While I like the Marlins 94, 336, & 95, (same as the 336) not all rifles fit all people. If a gun doesn't fit you you won't shoot it well & if it batters you you will shoot it worse.
If you like leverguns maybe you could find someone who can fit it to you.

Have you considered or tried a Win. 86?
Good shooting.
Frank,

Sadly, and I'm serious, I've never had the opportunity to shoot an 1886 in any caliber. I held, and fell in love with, a full rifle version chambered for 50-110 years ago, but have never had the funds to get one on the very rare occasion one was was near enough for me to know about.

The Winchester straight grip (non crescent but plate) stocks fit me just fine so that's my choice so far. I'd love to shoot a Marlin 336 with the straight grip stock to see how it fits, but haven't had a chance to.
The Marlin 1894s fit fine so if the 336 stocks are similar they should too.

I doubt I'll have the funds to have a rifle custom fitted to me. Social Security just doesn't leave one any room to play.

Joe
J have you looked into Boyds Gunstocks? They offer a lot of stocks & just might have what you would want and it might be cheaper than having someone customise one for you?
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Re: Why I haven't bought a Marlin 336 ......

Post by Malamute »

I think the stocks are probably close in the comb area between the pistol grip and straight grip type on the Marlins. If the comb is too high, which it sounds like, just getting the rasp and sandpaper out may work. My dad has taken a rasp and sandpaper to some pretty fine shotguns to get them to fit him correctly. Like Browning Citoris, and other finer grade guns. When he was done, you couldn't tell hed done anything to them. He refinished them with Caseys True Oil.

I've rasped down a couple of the thicker Marlin fore ends. I liked them much better afterwards. That was in the days before they had checkering.
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Re: Why I haven't bought a Marlin 336 ......

Post by Booger Bill »

Ive had a few marlins. The 39A and a Mountie I shouldn't have let go of. The 39A just struck me as being a lot bigger and clunkier than it needed to be for a little 22. In 22`s I have always liked the Winchesters, always sleeker and lighter in the 61, 62 and 63`s and 9422 of which I had/have examples of all. I own a 94 I bought new back in 1956, a 64, 88, 95 carbine and a couple of 92 clones in 357 and .44 mag. They all feel good and don't have that clunky heavy look of marlins.
Somehow I have always equated Marlins to Winchesters like I have Rugers to Colts and Smiths. Both Marlin and Ruger seem to have that stronger but cheaper look compared to the OLDER Winchesters, Colts and S&W`s. Very functional and strong but not as sleek and cheaper wood, metal polish and finish. I DO own a few Rugers but no Marlins right now. But I also don't own any Winchesters newer than way before 1964. My newest ones are from the 1950`s.
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