Marlin's Dark Series Model 336

04/07/2024 – Yes, the storm picture is a little blurry. But then, so am I. I got up at 4:30 AM, for no particular reason… other than the incessant beeping from the computer to let me know power had gone out and the generator was running. Eventually I wandered out into the garage, opened the near door so I could survey the first few hours of the current snow storm. Crap.

The ground was bare and dirt brown and grass green when I turned in last night, and temperatures were in the 40°F range. The forecast is snow all day today, snow all day tomorrow, then rain to make snow removal almost impossible.

Is the Marlin Dark Series considered controversial?

Posting photos and writing about the Dark Series Models 1895, 336 and/or 1894 gets one of two reactions. The first suggest it is an affront to tradition, American History, and… tradition again. There is no walnut, the original proof and identification stamps are different, the brass bead front sight and brass plated trigger are not present. These are the same folks to direct that no man shall ever mount a scope on a lever action firearm.

The second group, compares the Marlin Dark Series to the traditional model version, and realizes that the Dark Series will make their hunting life easier. It is not an attempt to tactical… fy the lever action, it is attempt to accommodate the hunter.

I was always in the first group, until I watched the news, lived in today’s world, and accepted optimizing a lever action rifle for hunting is not what is threatening American tradition. I was also getting tired and broke from buying overpriced third party parts and accessories to prep my Marlins for hunting.

Within Marlin’s rifle history, the Dark Series was introduced during Remington’s stewardship. All of the Marlin rifles, including the Dark Series, have since been overhauled under Ruger.

Remington’s Dark Series was a thinly disguised , heavy handed attempt as cost reduction. Ruger’s rendition has gone the other way with upgraded design, materials, manufacturing, and performance. A pragmatists hunting rifle. Connoisseurs of walnut and blued steel Marlins are accommodated within their Classic versions, so traditional firearm philosophy is also accommodated.

Snow storm break… I think they are now calling it a blizzard

Sorry, stepped out for a moment to make a first pass at snow removal. It was 15″ of accumulation so far in the low areas, and 24″ in the high areas. Wet heavy snow that was over the top of the tractor’s snow blower. The town snow plow wake was 4′ high and packed. It is still snowing hard, but I will not make another pass until tomorrow.

Central Maine Power is dealing with downed trees and lines, and high winds that hamper repair. Over 325,000 people are without power. CMP has no estimates of uptime, however, their spokesperson indicated some people will be without power until the beginning of next week. Maine is such a special place. Perhaps if the state put more money into infrastructure rather, than in its far left agenda that has been ported from California it might, once again, be a nice and easier place to live.

A bit more firearm specificity

The current Dark Series butt stock is Nylon reinforced polymer with M-LOK® attachment slots for mounting of accessories and checkered at the grip. Its drop at the comb and heel are the correct geometry for the ghost/fiber optic combination sights. Pop on the comb riser, as pictured, and the comb is elevated for proper eye alignment with optical sights.

The Remington version had a fixed comb, budget rifle type hardwood stock, that was spray painted with spider web black, with no checkering. The Remington Dark Series forearm was the same; hardwood, spray painted spider web black, with no checkering.

The current version utilizes an anodized aluminum handguard with M-LOK® attachment slots to mount accessories. Good for a mounting a sling, good for a steady hold, good brush protection for the magazine and barrel. The Ruger produced Marlin with stock changed, front an rear, brought the weight down, compared to the Remington Dark Series by 3/4 lb.

The The Remington version of the Dark Series 336 had 1:10″ Micro Groove rifling. The current Ruger version has 6R grooved hammer forged rifling with a 1:11″ twist. The Ruger manufactured Marlins are infinitely more accurate, across the board on bullet weights, than the Remington era guns. I’ve owned a number of Micro Groove rifles Marlins, dating back to late 1956… 7? and they never seemed to deliver the performance attributed to the feature, and they required judicious cleaning.

While the Remington gun had a rear ghost ring sight, it had an all black plastic, patridge front sight. The current Ruger produced gun has a Tritium outlined, bright green fiber optic front sight that contrasts with virtually any background.

Both the early Dark Series Model 336 and current Dark Series Model 336 have a 5/8″x24 threaded muzzle, and both had/have thread protectors. However, the current gun is equipped with a radial muzzle brake and readily accepts other muzzle devices. Yes, like a silencer.

As time goes by, and ears decline, I find I am willing to accept the additional rifle overall length that comes with a silencer. My ears, and even distant neighbors appreciate its use.

The old Dark Series has a Parkerized finish. It held up OK, but the matte finish was a little… stove pipe black looking. The new Marlin Dark Series major components are Graphite Black Cerakote®. The bolt has a nitride finish.

The application process and material have really evolved. Cerakote® is excellent corrosion resistant finish, it is durable, and resistant to abrasion and chipping. It currently looks as good as a satin black oxide finish.

When Cerakote® first came out, I didn’t think it was that great. In those days, the finish easily wore off at corners and edges, look a little thick, and unlined holders easily rubbed it off. Those days are long gone. Improved product and process have turned it into a high end finish for firearms. Now it is on performance automotive engine parts where aesthetics are important, and it is on my favorite fry pan with a finish I can’t wear out.

In past years, both Marlin factory and Remington, carelessness in assembly was evident. Scratched screw heads, poor metal to wood fit, rough metal edges, uneven finish, bad recoil pads. None of that has been present since the change to Ruger manufacturing personnel and facilities.

Handling and Performance

The walnut stocked Marlins are a bit nose heavy. Not overly so, but tracking across the horizon, there is a bit of inertia following, but that is also very sight steadying. The Dark Series Model 1895 is pretty much the same, probably due to the short, heavy barrel. The Dark Series Model 336 has a neutral balance. Still steady on target, no following inertia.

There is no roughness to metal parts when cycling the rifle. No hangups with rounds feeding from the magazine, or when a round is lifted to feed the chamber. The lever loop is of the moderately large variety. No cartoonish, giant, made for TV/Movies piece, and no too small for a human’s hand loop to struggle with at the most inconvenient time.

Ruger has done an excellent job with recoil pads on all of the Marlin lever guns. I especially like the one on my Model 1895. When the Marlin factory was producing the Guide Gun version, I loved the rifle, but hated the brick like recoil pad, so that was the first thing I would change. The Ruger Marlin pad is resilient, energy absorbing, but it holds form. The same for the pad on the current Dark Series Model 336, even though the 30-30 Winchester has a a light recoil.

The range is buried in deep snow and fallen trees, but I did manage to few rounds at 50 yards, utilizing the ghost sights. Off a rest, it was pretty easy to shoot the hearts out of a row of 1″ rimfire targets. I would have liked to have mounted a scope and stretched out to 100 yards, but it is too cold and too wet for me to drag my butt out and back with targets.

The preliminary shooting with open sights suggest the level of 100 yard performance would not be disappointing. I will hold onto the rifle and make a range run when weather and range improve.

But isn’t the 30-30 Winchester too light for squirrels

I hate context pictures, but I cannot resist taking them. No, I do not know why. L-R 223 Remington… 5.56 NATO is you are of a military mind persuasion, 30-30 Win Hornady American Whitetail 150 grain, 30-30 Win Winchester Power Point 170 grain, 30-30 Win Hornady LEVEREVOLUTION 160 grain FTX, 308 Winchester Federal Power Shok 150 grain, Remington Core-Lokt 30-06 Springfield 150 grain.

So if you have not worked with the 30-30 Winchester, surely you have seen one of the others, and now know the 30-30 Win’s relative size. For people hunting  in areas like most of New England, or any place dense tree and shrub growth make for modest shooting distances, the 30-30 Winchester is good for any thin skinned game through elk or moose. Deer and Hogs? No problem. I have been able to hole punch large pigs with 150 grain loads.

Based upon empirical data, I have no idea why some folks suggest the 30-30 Winchester round is not OK for large whitetail deer, and why they persist. There is no way that anyone, with a modicum of marksmanship skills, and has actually hunted with a 30-30 Win, would make that comment.

150 grain, 170 grain, 160 grain bouncy tip FTX all do about the same job. For factory ammo, I hunt with 150 grain anything inexpensive. For handloads, 150 grain jacketed softpoint bullets… unless I am bored, in which case I sometimes handload 190 hard cast. No, I have no good reason for doing so, other than the process of casting bullets is calming.

I did manage to shoot the 30-30 Win ammo types pictured in the Dark Series Model 336. As a combination, they all got along just swell, they all produced the previously noted accuracy, and I would not pick one type over the other, as a subjective or objective decision.

And again, the title goes to…

I am so glad the Ruger picked up Marlin. They are manufacturing it with respect for tradition, while letting it also evolve. The quality is great, the conservative marketing is great and, because of them, future generations will be able to experience Marlin lever action firearms. The newer look, the new tech, will assure younger shooters are not left out.