Tried out my 'new' Marlin 30-30 made in 1975

Win 38-55

Win 38-55

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Another lever gun arrived in the mail yesterday, bought from a fellow CGN'er ... a Marlin 336 30-30 carbine made in 1975. I've wanted a nice Marlin 336 ever since I was a kid and saw one at the neighbours'. Figured I'd give it a try on the way home from my eye exam. He put these drops in my eyes and everything was hazy and ten times brighter and I couldn't see worth a hoot and the cool plastic sunglasses they gave me as I groped my way out the door didn't help much, but I just had to find out how it shoots so I stopped at the range on the way home. I figured it would be a preview of what my eyes would be like when I'm 100 anyway. Well, when the smoke cleared and I felt my way down to the target, I got a 5-shot group at 100 yards of 1 & 9/16" and that counts the dad gummed flyer (my fault). Without the flyer, it is a 4-shot group of 5/8" at 100 yards. I'm pretty happy with my new 30-30. Here's a couple photos of the carbine and the target ....

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Win 38-55
That is a darn fine marlin you got there. Don't ever let her go. I just bought one just like it from another CGN'r. Mine is a '74 which is awesome for me because it's my birth year.

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Take good care of her and she will never let you down.

Shoot straight. And don't sweat those pesky "flyers"
chrisco
 
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kamlooky said:
I have your twin and she is a fine shooter.
There is an old Redfield on it and the glass is quite nice.
Makes for a neat, tidy little package.
The 94 folk haven't discovered the amazing accuracy of these old gals.
Either that, or their stubborn kritters.
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The latter...
 
Quote from Win 38-55: "I couldn't see worth a hoot and the cool plastic sunglasses they gave me as I groped my way out the door didn't help much, but I just had to find out how it shoots so I stopped at the range on the way home. I figured it would be a preview of what my eyes would be like when I'm 100 anyway."

With such success . . . next time you will have to take your white cane!
 
horseman2 said:
With such success . . . next time you will have to take your white cane!
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LOL! Maybe I should go back to the range and make sure it was my target that I managed to find down at the 100 yard stops. Nice Marlin photos, fellows! Keep 'em coming.
 
Nice shooting and a nice rifle,Win38-55.Back in the mid 1970's I had a Marlin Model 1984 in .44 Remington Magnum.It was a very accurate rifle and I should not of sold it.However one at times has to part with something to get something else.Sad ,but true.
 
Looks like a shooter Win! I've found they normally are.. here's its older cousin once removed. lol

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Model 36 circa 1947 I think it was. It got lost in the back row for a few years but 10 yrs ago I shot it a fair bit and it shoots better than I can with the buckhorns which isn't the best I was getting 2 1/2 and 3 inch groups. As you see she's on the bench for a little love'n and a brand spankin new Lyman sight and I await a taller front as we speak then we'll see if it won't do a little better!
 
Lovely older Marlin & typical decent accuracy with the old gal. Only reason I didn't keep my 30-30, .44 mag,, .35 Rem., .357 and 45-70's from them years was the Micro-Grove barrels....not lead boolit friendly.:(
 
SHELL SHUCKER said:
Only reason I didn't keep my 30-30, .44 mag,, .35 Rem., .357 and 45-70's from them years was the Micro-Grove barrels....not lead boolit friendly.:(
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I was reading about this on the web a few days ago. The fellow who wrote the article said that one must size his cast bullets to .312 for the 30-30 microgroove barrels and then they shoot like a laser. I had some sized to .309 but I figured I'd try them anyway. Got a 5-shot group of 3 & 3/8" at 100 yards. Given everything I've heard about how bad the microgroove bores are with cast bullets, I was surprised that I got a group that small. I have a .311 sizing die but no unsized bullets, so my cast bullet experiments with this Marlin will have to wait a bit.
 
I've read 2 thou over or so is the ticket with MG rifling. I did a bit of cast shooting in a 375 Winchester which Marlin says is .375 with .375" hard cast bullets. This is the only cast I've tried I ended up with horrendous leading trying to drive them too fast ended up with pretty good results at 1600 ft/s iirc. I'd like to give it a go again with about .377 boolits if there is such a critter
 
Win 38-55 said:
I was reading about this on the web a few days ago. The fellow who wrote the article said that one must size his cast bullets to .312 for the 30-30 microgroove barrels and then they shoot like a laser. I had some sized to .309 but I figured I'd try them anyway. Got a 5-shot group of 3 & 3/8" at 100 yards. Given everything I've heard about how bad the microgroove bores are with cast bullets, I was surprised that I got a group that small. I have a .311 sizing die but no unsized bullets, so my cast bullet experiments with this Marlin will have to wait a bit.
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Back then, we didn't have the speedy information of the net. We just shot what the rifles seemed to prefer, which in the case of Marlins, was jacketed. For us shmucks that tended to buy a rifle every payday, it was no big deal to move on to something else. Ah youth....I miss it....somewhat.:)
 
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