Marlin 336 Build: Barrel Length and Cartridge Options

[Sask_Hunter]

I would build it like a guide gun. 18.5” barrel with a trimmed up mag tube on it and a decent set of sites. I could go either way 30-30 or 35 rem for a project or even 375 win.

 

[freddyfour]

Building a classic Marlin 336, with squared lever, straight deluxe stock and forend. Barrel and cartridge options currently are 35 Rem in a 20" barrel, or 30-30 in 16.5". Mag tube can be full legth, or button.
Which is preferred and why?
Any other options to look at? 32 Win, 38-55?
Octogon or Round?

Thanks!
R.

What about a 25-35? I don't think Marlin ever chambered that cartridge.

 

[450yukon]

Marlin had the 25/36 just to be different than Winchester for a while.

 

[freddyfour]

Marlin had the 25/36 just to be different than Winchester for a while.

That's right, and it never really took off, did it?

 

[kamlooky]

This is what I wpuld build, a 16" 35Rem
View attachment 1063231

Yeeee-upppp
7-30 Waters is a kewl kewcumber too

 

[boxhitch]

35 Rem in a 20" barrel, or 30-30 in 16.5". Mag tube can be full legth, or button.
Which is preferred and why?

longer barrel for longer sight radius
mag length choice for balance

At one time or another, the 336 also came in 44mag, 219Zipper, 32Special, and .356Win 'extra range' models

 

[boxhitch]

a little more modern, yet unique, you could go with the 338 Marlin Express..

I like O'Connors original vision for this cartridge, the new version is pretty hot

 

[Rman]

All great ideas.

Forgot about the 338MX.... The common theme with all of the larger bore cartridges seems to be a 250 grain bullet around 2000 fps...
Even the old 38-55 can get there in a Marlin.
The 338MX would be top consideration followed by the 35 Rem, with the 338 getting the nod for bullet selection... Hawk used to make a flat or round nosed 180 grain... Barnes does make a 180 Flat nose for the 35 Rem tho...

Any experience with 338MX and the 35 Rem?
Thanks!

R.

 

[DGY]

Wow that 338mx sure looks great!! Didn’t even know it existed . I wonder why we don’t hear about it more? A total fail in terms of marketing it?

 

[freddyfour]

All great ideas.

Forgot about the 338MX.... The common theme with all of the larger bore cartridges seems to be a 250 grain bullet around 2000 fps...
Even the old 38-55 can get there in a Marlin.
The 338MX would be top consideration followed by the 35 Rem, with the 338 getting the nod for bullet selection... Hawk used to make a flat or round nosed 180 grain... Barnes does make a 180 Flat nose for the 35 Rem tho...

Any experience with 338MX and the 35 Rem?
Thanks!

R.

Most accurate load in my 35rem is the 200gr FTX over a full case of LVR. However I really like the Speers 220gr Hotcore over as much LVR as you can fit, I get 2100fps out of a 20" barrel. I recovered one of these slugs that shot through a dead Ash tree and the weight retention was impressive for passing through an 8" piece of Ash

 

[freddyfour]

Have a look at this before and after of a 336 from Grizzly Arms

 

[Lee Enfield]

That's right, and it never really took off, did it?

The 25-35/25-36 seem to have been much more common in the east - apparently the deer tend to be smaller than out here.

7-30 Waters is a really cool cartridge - Ken Waters developed it on a Marlin 336A rifle (24" barrel and 2/3 mag)

I always thought that had Winchester put it into a M64 Angle Eject it may have had a better shot at survival.


The Winchester 7-30 Waters 24" full mag carbine seemed kind of wonky.

I had the same gun in .30-30 and traded it off.

I understand that after Winchester presented Ken Waters with a custom 7-30 Waters M94, he rebuilt the original Marlin 336A into a .25-35 Ackley Improved.

 

[keith mokry]

338 marlin