The Resurgence of the Marlin Model 336 Part II

Spring is here, but spring temperatures are not. Skippy has a grapple related malady. Of course, the only accessory on the tractor not made by the John Deere elves. It isn’t the grapple itself, but rather the small associated wiring harness added to the tractor in support of the grapple.

Worse than an out and out failure, the problem is intermittent. Coming and going as it pleases, it usually malfunctions when the grapple has a mouth full of tree limbs and branches then, like a dog with a favorite chew toy,  it won’t let go. However, the greater problem is that, while repairs are covered under warranty, transportation back and forth to the dealer is neither cheap or timely.

Best I can tell, to alleviate the transport problem, I would have to hire Jason Statham, or spend $6,000 for a suitable trailer and $50,032 for a truck. No, I am not a math wiz, but simple subtraction and a little long division says gaining tow independence would be a bad decision… for approximately 56,032 good reasons.

Perhaps John Deere should have taken into consideration that most people who buy these subcompact tractors do not run a landscaping business with transport trailers. Oh… perhaps they did?

I drove Skippy to the end of the driveway, helped loaded him on the dealer’s tilt bed truck, then waved goodbye as they disappeared down hill. This is the first time he has been away from home. They grow up so fast.

Marlin 336… Accommodating

Yes, that is a scope mounted on the Marlin. It was installed so the rifle’s mechanical accuracy could be determined without consideration for my less than eagle eye vision. That said, the 336 is actually very flexible when it comes to sight systems and owners should mount what suits them best. The idea is to kill game cleanly, not to impress friends and family with your native hunting prowess.

(L-R) A simple adapter mount secures a red dot. Williams makes a precision peep sight, with interchangeable apertures and a fiber optic front sight combo. XS Sights makes a rail that runs across receiver top to rear sight dovetail. In addition to mounting any Picatinny compatible accessory, XS Sights include a detachable ghost sight and appropriate front sight. High visibility Fire Sights replace dovetail mounted factory sights.

Setting up – Ammo selection

There are currently, approximately, 37 factory loads for the 30-30 WCF, an accumulation of 11 brands. Bullet weights range from 125 grains to 190 grains. Velocity is both supersonic and subsonic. Expanding bullets are offered in conventional lead core, jacketed types and solid copper.

Pictured L-R with manufacturer rated muzzle velocity:
Hornady American Whitetail 150 Gr 2390 FPS
Hornady LEVERevolution 160 Gr 2400 FPS
Winchester Power Point 170 Gr 2200 FPS

The LEVERevolution cartridge features a higher than typical ballistic coefficient 160 grain bullet, hard lead core and special polymer soft tip that can safely be loading into a tubular magazine without concern for accidental discharge. The other two utilize more conventional bonded, soft lead core jacked bullets. 30-30 WCF handload data.

The most accurate Marlins ?

Funny, to read comments in social media regarding accuracy, or lack of the same, it’s as though there is no shooter, no person responsible for pulling the trigger. So when a person can’t hit a target at 100 yards, the question posed immediately becomes, “What is wrong with my gun?”. Never entered the person’s mind it might be the person pulling the trigger.

Pictured, best group, shot with Winchester power Point 170 grain. However, the new Marlin 336 30-30 WCF is not ammo picky and shot all three types nearly as well. For me, this degree of accuracy is a major achievement on the part of the new Marlin producing organization.

I grew up with lever action rifles from Marlin and Winchester that delivered 2″ to 3″ hundred yard groups. Within the past dozen or so years, accuracy improved to some sub MOA capability with Marlin’s Guide Gun and the 45-70 Gov’t cartridge. All of the Ruger manufactured Marlin 45-70 guns shoot like a good action rifle.

The 30-30 WCF seemed never to perform at that level in rifles, including original and Remington built Marlins, or even single shot silhouette pistols. So I am happy Ruger got there with this modern reintroduction of the 336 Classic. Overall performance with the three factory loads is compactly, conclusively and concisely represented on the table below:

And then, some 30-30 WCF handload data

The four bullets selected for this article, left to right, appear on the data table below in top to bottom order. They represent lead free, lead core spire tip and traditional lead core, copper jacked round and flat nose soft point. There are additional loads listed in the Real Guns rifle and pistol handload sections.

Warning: Bullet selections are specific, and loads are not valid with substitutions of different bullets of the same weight. Variations in bullet length will alter net case capacity,  pressure and velocity. Primer selection is specific and primer types are not interchangeable. These are maximum loads in my firearms and may be excessive in others. All loads should be reduced by 5% as a starting point for development where cartridges have greater than 40 grains in capacity and 10% for cartridges with less than 40 grain capacity following safe handloading practices as represented in established mainstream reloading manuals. Presentation of these loads does not constitute a solicitation for their use, nor a recommendation.

The 30-30 WCF is an easy cartridge to handload. However, loading FTX bullets requires some additional consideration as the poly tips are soft and deform with head-on pressure from a seater plug and not return to original form.

Hornady die users can purchase, “30 Cal .308″ 160 gr. (30-30 Win) 397115″ as the proper seater stem. I make my own seater die plugs/stems for FTX bullets on the lathe from 1/2”-20 grade 2 threaded rod (Grainer $3.60/foot). Size/thread may varies with die manufacturer.

Ezra

Being old and all, and writing about firearms for a very long time, I have had the good fortune to work with many. The overwhelming majority are very good and some are genuine standouts with a distinct personality. Not being a collector, and not a person of exceptional financial means, I own only a handful of firearms and keep them over the long haul.

I am now the owner of a Ruger made Marlin Model 336 Classic, which is parked in the safe next to my 65 year old Model 336, which is now semiretired. I decided to name him Ezra because, after all, Ezra killed Ole’ Slew Foot. Maybe I will get to do the same in the fall.