7 inch groups? WTF?

mikeystew

mikeystew

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I took a "new to me" 1950 336RC to the range today for the first time. I had already cleaned the snot out of it with #9, and the old ballard rifling and crown looked alright. But man alive... At 60 yds i had 4''+ groups and at 80 it was closer to 7'' groups. With any other gun i do wayyy better than that. Interesting to note is that not one of my 30 shots taken keyholed on a couregated plastic target. now...
The barrell is very slightly canted, however both sights are perfectly alligned, and the one thing i think could be the culprit is the brass bead in the front sight was loose and a little wiggly, i've since ripped it out alltogether. Nevertheless i dont know if that would account fot THAT much wandering. Any ideas? What else could cause this bad accuracy? I'd like to cover ALL the bases before i go throw another whack-o-money at the paper before the deer.
 
The sights at an angle didn't cause the key hole.
I would say the barrel is worse than you thought.
 
My wifes brand new 336 shot factory loaded 150gr leads like that(not quite that bad, but not acceptable). 170gr leads, you can put 3 shots in a toonie from 100yds without much trying.

Before you get carried away, I'd try different ammo. I'd heard before that some of them like 150's, some 170's. We never tried any other 150's with it.
 
The sights wobble? There it is right there. Even if the barrell is canted it will keep hitting the same spot, just off centre. I would get the sights fixed then try it out.
 
Upon closer inspection, it appears as though the lands and grooves at the muzzle end are flush. this bad boy's been ramrodded to oblivion from the muzzle end. This would produce EXACTLY the results im seeing on paper. F&%K me gently bently. Im quite sure the seller did not realize the condition because he has great trader reviews, never the less i wish i'd gotten a kiss before i bought this one. Hopefully he's willing to take it back in exchange for something else. Man... I sold my only other hunting caliber rifle to buy this one, Deer season isn't getting any longer and i cant afford another rifle this year.
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well, the cleaning brush slips through the last couple of inches of the barrel without rotating. Thats proof enough for me without sending another $20 flying downrange like a monetary whiff of grapeshot.
 
You sold your only hunting rifle that worked for a 1950's rifle and put all your hunting season eggs in one basket ?:confused:

I like the nostalgia of old guns as well but as you said hunting season doesn't last forever. Hopefully things work out and you put some meat in the freezer.
Good luck.
 
It doesn't take much movement of a sight( open or scope ) to put you way off at 100 yards. Outside of that, if the bore is good I would suspect damage at the muzzle.
Marlins will usually outshoot Winchester levers as a rule. It pains me to say that because I prefer Winchesters.
 
Suka said:
My wifes brand new 336 shot factory loaded 150gr leads like that(not quite that bad, but not acceptable). 170gr leads, you can put 3 shots in a toonie from 100yds without much trying.

Before you get carried away, I'd try different ammo. I'd heard before that some of them like 150's, some 170's. We never tried any other 150's with it.
Click to expand...

I had 4 of these at one time, a 32 Win, a 30-30, 35 Rem& a 45/70. All of these rifles were minute of pieplate at 100 yards. I cleaned, tightened screws and even tried a scope on the 30-30 with not great results, they now belong to other individuals. FS
 
My only other hunting rifle was an old 303, so for me a 1950 was an upgrade. Besides, the vintage 336's are apparently meant to hold their own against the modern ones if PROPERLY maintained.
 
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I know that this sport can get expensive and its tough starting out. For me it meant taking a few odd jobs on my time off, a bit of tax refund money, and ask for ammo when the loved ones want to know what to get you for your birthday. This day and age with a little economizing and looking for a bit of extra income you can save enough for a really nice rifle in no time.

If you are a smoker just put your cig money in a jar everytime you want to buy a pack. The amount you'll have in one year will buy a hell of a nice gun and you'll be healthier to boot.

Many years back I made willow furniture and sold it off my front lawn. In two summer months I paid for a couple of toys and covered my whole fall hunting expenses.
 
Man, that is too bad about the bore. For you who believe those old Marlins can't shoot very well, my wife has one of those early 1950 Marlins and it is a GREAT shooter. She can do a 1.5 inch group at 100 yards off the bench with no trouble. That's with our handloads. I never had her try home cast in that gun or commercial stuff either. I know she bags her deer with one shot every year though with it and I took a deer with it once myself. My 6.5 was in the shop having a new scope fitted so I asked to borrow her scoped 30-30 as I figured I'd be shooting under 100 yards to the trail I was watching. I was calling that morning and a a 6 pointer came out off my left side walking across Dad's old field and knowing what the ballistics chart said on a 150grn round nose 30-30 load, I aimed high just over the top of the heart and pulled. The bullet went through the bottom of the heart( stopped in the hide on the exit side) and he never went more than 60 yards and dropped. We measured it off from the stand tree to the impact point and it was 246 yards. Made me respect the little 30-30 a LOT more since that day and I have great respect for the little Marlin 336's now!
Al.
 
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