Rebarrel a Marlin to .25-35

[Bill in Oregon]

Guys, I have a 1949 Marlin 336 SC in .30-30 that I'd like to rebarrel to .25-35. Any suggestions on smiths to do the work, and whose barrel to use? This may just be too expensive to fool with, but I sure miss the old Model 94 octagon rifle I had in this caliber.

[Hobie]

6ptsika was investigating a similar project (to 7-30 Waters) a couple of years ago. The cost was "up there" due to the need to machine the "hood" on the Marlin barrel. That would be a cool gun though!

[44LVR]

If machining the hood is expensive, what about just relining a 30-30 barrel?

That would be something I would be interested in too.

44

[mescalero1]

Some years ago ( not too many ) I contacted a few of the guys who advertise re-lining in the popular magazines, and it was pretty pricey.
One of them ( don't remember which one ) had stopped doing it.( in 25-35 ).
I came away with the impression I would be better off re- barreling.
I really want one in .25 Bullberry.

[6pt-sika]

I have talked with Regan Nunneman about rebarreling to 7-30 Waters and his cost for rebarrel , installation and reblue was $550 if memory serves !

I have also talked with a guy in the north west about relining some rifles and it seems to me price for an easy reline was about $250-300 . But my memory on that one is a little more hazy

I still have intentions of doing the 7-30 Waters , I just keep procrastinating about tearing apart a perfectly good 30-30 .

Just for reference , I have talked with Regan about doing a Marlin 1895G to 50 Alaskan for mea and his price for that was about $900 , new barrel whole 9 yards . I have since talked with WWG about doing the same without all their bells and whistles and they rebore for about $600 .

To many this will seem stupid , but I have a Marlin Glenfield 36G sitting here waiting for transformation into a 7-30 Waters , a NIB Marlin 1895G waiting to be turned into a 50 Alaskan and a LNIB 1895G sitting here for transformation into a 475 GNR . I just hate to tear them apart

I had a NIB Marlin 1895CB that I had planned to reline to 40-65 WCF . I waited long enough with that one that I finally acquired an "original" Marlin 1895 (circa 1897) in 40-65 WCF !
So I traded that rifle to a friend !

[6pt-sika]

As far as barrels go , for the price I would have to say go with Douglas . Matter of fact thats what Nunneman told me would use in the projects I mentioned in the previouse post !

Some of the barrel makers will not make barrels for lever actions and a couple have told me Marlin barrels for some reason are more of a pain in the butt (not sure why).

[6pt-sika]

The guy I talked with in the north west about relining told me he could reline and chamber for either the 25-35 WIN or the 25-36 Marlin !

Being a complete Marlin NUT , his ability to reline to 25-36 Marlin was of intrest to me ! And again I acquired a Marlin 1893 in 25-36 Marlin before I ever went that route .

He also told me he would not gaurantee his barrels if some one were going to shoot mostly jacketed bullets . He did however say he stood behind his work with "normal" cast loads .

[BenT]

The two gunsmiths around me quoted $250 for rebarreling a glenfield to 25-35 AI . That is using a Shaw barrel. A douglas barrel will cost about $75 more and up depending on what grade of barrel. Neither commented on Marlin barrels being a problem. I have seen rebarreled marlins from the one smith.

Now if your not set on a Marlin . Browning still list 25-35 barrels available for 94 AE .But they must be factory installed . What factory that would be I don't know. Ahlmans in MN I think does factory work for Winchester. http://www.ahlmans.com/ They also do rebarrel jobs with a good explaination of different grades of barrels. I have not heard any bad info about Ahlmans and I know that they have 6 gunsmiths working there. They also have the local SASS shooting range on their property. I have bought parts from them and they also have a few hundred new and used guns to look at in there shop.

[Bill in Oregon]

Guys, thanks for the posts. I see Brownell's carries a Wind River octagon barrel for Winchester and Marlin lever guns in .25 caliber, but the twist is 1:10. Part of the .25/35's sterling accuracy reputation was based on the 1:8 twist in the original barrels, I believe. The Wind River tubes are $234. Tempting, but anyone shoot blunt nosed bullets at .25-35 velocities and get memorable accuracy?

[Hobie]

I really want one in .25 Bullberry.

That would be neat!

[mescalero1]

Hobie,
Thanks, a kindrid spirit!

[jnyork]

Tempting, but anyone shoot blunt nosed bullets at .25-35 velocities and get memorable accuracy?

I have a Winchester saddlering carbine, very very used, I use if for prairie dogs occasionally, has a Lyman tang sight, I use the Hornady 60 grainers and any PD within 100 yards is meat in the pan. I sight in at 75 yards and the rifle will shoot better than I can see, I have gotten some 3 shot groups almost touching.

[mescalero1]

You eat prairie dogs?

[Bill in Oregon]

Jn: That's the kind of accuracy the .25-35 is famous for, and if yours is an original barrel, it should have the 1:8 twist.
Care to share your favorite PD recipe?