Inside workings of a Marlin 336

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 3/5/2018 | J Hines

[w1n1]

For those that own a Marlin 336 rifle its such a nostalgic rifle to have for those cowboy days. Chambered in a .30-30 caliber is perfect for whitetail hunting.
May be the second most popular lever action rifle behind the Winchester 1894. If you’re strapped on cash this rifle is reasonably priced, powerful, accurate and easy-to-use. These qualities help make the Marlin 336 one of the most prolific hunting rifles in north America. Hunters have fell deer, elk, bear and feral hogs with this little .30-30.

Marlin 336 shines greatly in thickly wooded area where the ranges are much closer.
Here’s a cool video animation that shows a cutaway view of the interior workings of a Marlin 336 as it goes through the firing process.

It shows the gun from several different angles and with various components highlighted to give you a thorough and complete understanding of how the rifle functions. See the full inner workings of a Marlin 336 footage here.

[BobinIL]

I would take one of these over a winchester 94 any day. Smoother operation and way easier to clean.

[NFHale]

It’s a damned fine lever gun, and a lot of fun to shoot. Love mine.

Also the 1895 Guide Gun in .45-70 (ouch...)

[Paladin2]

Cleaning a takedown model ‘94 doesn’t seem too tough....

[Jeff Chandler]

Early Assault Rifle

[Yo-Yo]

I would take one of these over a winchester 94 any day. Smoother operation and way easier to clean.

I own a 336C in .30-30, and the side ejection allows for a drilled and tapped receiver top for a scope rail. Every deer I've ever taken was with that 336C.

[Mariner]

Most folks don’t realize the two critical differences in the Marlin and the Winchester:

- You can put a scope on the Marlin, red dot or otherwise.
- You can add rounds to the magazine of the Marlin before it’s empty...continually refreshing it. You have to wit for the Winchester to be empty before adding.

And those two things make it a reasonably effective, poor-man’s assault rifle.

Shh!

Don’t tell the gun grabbers.

[farming pharmer]

Elk and Bear would be the last things I'd be shooting with a .30-30.

That said, I've always wanted a lever action in a 45 Colt or a .45-70.

[davidb56]

.444 marlin or 45-70. for bear or Elk (if you can get close enough because of the drop.

[Texas Fossil]

For cheap operation with cast lead bullet reloads the Winchester 30-30 is excellent. I revisited this a few years back while Obozo was threatening gun ownership and supply of ammo. I bought new press, additional dies, and bullet molds so I could reload everything I own. You can shoot 30-30 reloads almost as cheaply as you do 22 rimfire ammo.

In my opinion the Winchester rifling is less prone to leading with cast bullets. (assuming proper bullet sizing and lube)

And it is very accurate out to 150 yards, and at that range a receiver sight gives very good accuracy.

Very reliable.

[CommerceComet]

Elk and Bear would be the last things I'd be shooting with a .30-30.

Keep your shots to under 200 yards and a .30-30 is fine with these animals, assuming the bear is a black bear. Hunting the larger bear species with a .30-30 would be asking for trouble.

That said, I've always wanted a lever action in a 45 Colt or a .45-70.

My wife gave me a Marlin 1895 GBL in .45-70 for Christmas. Actually, she told me to go buy the rifle I wanted. Because money for the gun comes from a joint bank account, I haven't bought it yet because I'm hoping for a sale. The weather's turning good so I might lose patience and buy it sale or no sale, so I can go out and shoot it.

[farming pharmer]

Elk and Bear would be the last things I'd be shooting with a .30-30.

Keep your shots to under 200 yards and a .30-30 is fine with these animals, assuming the bear is a black bear. Hunting the larger bear species with a .30-30 would be asking for trouble.

My father-in-law shot a big Elk bull out in Utah. He used a .270 Winchester and it took a few chest shots to anchor the animal.

There's a lot of dead white tail deer from the .30-30, but personally I wouldn't use it on anything like an elk. YMMV.

[MHGinTN]

.357 lever rifles are dual purpose; can bring down deer, and anything on two legs in North America. Of the two I have (a Marlin and a Winchester) I prefer the Winchester action for smooth.

[ExpatGator]

As a gunsmith for a couple of decades I much prefer the 336. It is mechanically much more robust and less prone to breakage or malfunction than the 94.

[T-Bird45]

A BIG DITTO to all in the thread so far. One poster’s experience mirrored mine in that every deer I’ve taken has been with the 336. Trying to remedy that now with a crossbow. And here I thought I was the only who had figured out the quick reload on the 336 makes it a very effective provider of large volumes of fire, if needed.

[CommerceComet]

Several of my extended family members have taken elk with a .30-30 without incident. It’s not a good weapon for elk but adequate as long as long-range shots are not taken. Good shot selection, good shot placement, and good bullet selection are factors to be considered as there is not a lot of margin of error with a .30-30 on elk. However, if I were deer hunting with a .30-30, had an elk tag, and I could get within 200 yards of an elk, I’d shot it and fully expect to take the elk home without any drama. I think people underestimate a .30-30 - it’s not impotent. Like all calibers, its limitations need to be kept in mind.

[Bonemaker]

“You have to wit for the Winchester to be empty before adding.”

Not that I’ve noticed. By the way, be sure and get a pre Remington Marlin.

[WayneS]

Marlin makes some fine rifles, but I don’t happen to own any. Maybe I should remedy that situation.

[shotgun]

It all depends on the type of hunt, open range or thick brush when huntung Elk. I was raised on a 30-30, and 30-06. Not much open range hunting for elk in Washington State. Typically its all done in the pine forest and open sight at 70 to 120 yards is all you need