Anyone have a Marlin 336XLR?

Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray

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Hey guys,

I was at Epps the other day and i got to handle one of these babys in .35 remington and i fell in love with everything except the price tag. I ended up getting a Remington model 14 in .35 instead because it was lots cheaper. I just want to know if any of you have one(doesn't have to be in .35) and how do you like it?

Dorian
 
336xlr

Yup sure do have one in .444, Love it, great gun to shoot, the recoil is minimum even my daughter likes to shoot it. Course who doesn't have a soft spot for a good ol lever?
 
That XLR in 35 Rem is an excellent price - been watching that one for months on Epp's online listings. Often XLRs go retail for a thou or better when new. Although it still is almost twice what a 336 in 35Rem sells for - so definitely I see what you mean.

I saw that little 14 on their used listing too - it wasn't on long before it sold. They are a fantastic little bush rifle I gather. I've not owned one yet but they point well I've been told. Lots like like em for doggin and shooting running deer. Did you know that spiral mag permits use of pointed bullets? That's my understanding anyway. Have fun with it - seems like a good one.
 
That XLR in 35 Rem is an excellent price - been watching that one for months on Epp's online listings. Often XLRs go retail for a thou or better when new. Although it still is almost twice what a 336 in 35Rem sells for - so definitely I see what you mean.
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Thats exactly it Whelen. I think they had a used one for 700-800ish awhile ago but i couldn't find it when i was there last week. If i had, i'd of picked it up for sure. The only one they had in 35 was brand new with a thousand dollar price tag and after a vacation in london last week it would have been tough to afford.

Did you know that spiral mag permits use of pointed bullets? That's my understanding anyway.
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Yeah thats what i've read about them. I still like my 200gr blunt ones for that extra little bit of thump though. I bought a box of remington core-lokt 150gr pointed bullets and a box of 200 grainers but i haven't had a chance to fire the 14 off yet so we'll see what she prefers. Thanks for the imput guys.

Dorian
 
Thats probably good advice pharaoh. I've heard of guys using pointed tip bullets in 336s' and i always thought it was stupid/dangerous. Plus my dad has a good supply of 200gr round tips that i can "borrow". :D
 
Updatezzzz...

Time for an update boys and girls:

So i fiddled around with my remington model 14 a little bit. I carried it everywhere with me for about 8 hours one day so i could get the feel of how it would be to carry around during a hunt and well....i just didn't dig it. It's a very nice rifle but i just couldn't get used to the pump action. I think it's because i've used lever rifles my whole life (with the exception of my BRNO ZG-47 and my grampas No. 1 MK. III Enfield, which is now my enfield.)

So today went something like this:

My father woke me up at 5:30 a.m. I'd had only 4 hours of sleep. I was slightly hungover from a little too much vodka and i work night shift ( 4 on, 4 off) so just being awake during the day is a challenge for me. We get into his dodge caliber , go to tims for coffee, then we hit the open road. We're headed for Orillia. I live in a little town near Timmins, Ontario so Orillia is, give or take, a 6 hour drive south. We arrive at Ellwood Epps at noon.

I had my heart set on this 336XLR in .35 Remington and i had saved my pennies over the last little while. I had a Remington 770 in .308 and my previously stated Remington 14 with me for trade. My father had an old Cooey repeater and a Springfield repeater for trade. We both walked in with our rifles and were served rather promptly, even though it was a very busy day today at Epps. I had called them yesterday and asked them to hold the XLR for me and to tell them that i would be in today. I got exactly what i thought my 2 rifles were worth and these trades chopped the price of the XLR in half. My father got exactly what he thought he would get for his 2 .22's and we both walked out of there with nice, new guns.

My fathers' new one is an IGA single shot .410. Fixed full choke with a 28 (i think) inch barrel. He needed a small shotgun for when he showshoes through the thick bush that we have around here. I got my 336XLR in .35 Remington that i've been dying to own for probably about a year now. We both were treated very well. No complaints from me. I have yet to fire my XLR and my dad hasn't fired off his .410 seeing as how it was a 13 hour round trip today just to get these new babies. If it doesn't storm all day tomorrow, which it is predicted to do, I'll go fire them off and let you folks know how that went.

We got home around 7:30 and i'm having a hard time putting down my rifle but i figured i would just for this post. :D Then i'm going back to fondle her some more. Thanks to all those who posted. I think you guys pushed me over the probverbial edge and i think i thank you for it. :p

Dorian
 
A new rifle makes a good spring tonic I think - especially so when in 35cal IMO. Congrats. That shooter should be a good one for you. That XLR has Ballard rifing too.

I'm with you in that I think the 200gr Remington Corelokt RN bullet is the best there is for the hunting big game with the 35 Rem. But maybe (???) that new flex tip ammo designed for the XLR series may (???) be better for you.

Let us know how it shoots.
 
or if you want the xlr like the look, you could do this

this my new Marlin 444

444asdelivered.jpg


and with some new XLR stocks

Marlin444BlkLaminate.jpg


makes for a real appealing package, the 336 will use the same stocks

Gord
 
Alright folks, here it comes:

So i took the XLR out a few times with me now to the sandpit and it shoots like a dream thus far. It cycles well, it's accurate, the recoil is minimal and it's a very nice gun to carry for extended periods of time. My buddy and i only got about 10 rounds through it before it started to rain the other night so we decided to pack it in and try again the next day. On the second day, we found a few bunnies on the way to the sandpit and let me tell you, it sure does a number on them. The first one i shot was a little too low and when i walked up and found it, there was only the back half of the rabbit left. Which was ok by me since most of the meat is on the rear legs anyway. The next one i shot, was in the head and when i went and found it, there was no head left on the little bugger. If anyone tells you a .35 Remington isn't a suitable caliber for moose then you can tell them that you know a guy who will let them try one out first hand so they can see for themselves. This thing is a dream come true so far. Hopefully I have many, many more fun trips with it. Any of you who are in the Timmins , Ontario region and want to check it out, PM me and we'll see what we can put together.

Gord: That 444 looks awesome man. I've never fired a 444 before. Does it kick like a mule or is it a joy to shoot? Is it at all like a 45-70? I hope you can nail a nice big moose or bear with it one day.

Sir Springer: Thanks for the tip. I'm not too fond of the trigger but hopefully it'll grow on me. I can't afford a new trigger at this point, plus the gunsmithing fees. I'm still somewhat of a noob when it comes to gunsmithing type stuff and i'm too scared to screw with it on my own.

Whelen B: I was hoping they would throw in a box of the hornady flex tip stuff at epps but all they "threw in" was a gun sock that i'll probably never use. I think the price tag for the LEVERevolution ammo is around 44$ a box and i can't justify paying that much for ammo right now. When the visa bill has shrunk considerably, maybe then i'll go buy a few boxes.

Anyone ever use the LEVERevolution ammo? Is it really worth the price? Let me know.

Dorian
 
Dorian

the 444 does have a pretty good kit in fact it might be to much for my old shoulder, i am waiting for a Limbsaver to try it out...i am using the Hornaday LE 265 ftx and i like it, i am not into over loads, factory ammo is fine as far as i am concerned

Gord
 
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I've got one in 30-30. Teamed up with Leverevolution ammo and it's the first true MOA lever action I have ever seen. Feed it some Remington Corelocts and it's an instant 3" gun. It pays to experiment. I agree with one of the prior posters. Mine has a creepy heavy trigger. I bought a Wild West trigger but I have not installed it yet. Over all, it was a great purchase.
 
Dorian...

I won't use anything but LeverEvolution in my 30.30. Not only did it turn it into a legit 250 yd rifle, it groups around an inch now. IMHO, no other way to go, not even close.

My smith charged $20 to install the trigger, it's snap for them. And you're right, don't try it yourself. Messing with triggers is, IMHO, too risky. Something goes wrong, lawyers will have an unqualified (and uninsured) installer paying for it for life. The Marlin isn't nearly as tricky as most others, true enough, but still not worth it just to save a few bucks.

Enjoy your lever gun! They're lots of fun!
 
It's nice to hear from you guys about the leverevolution ammo and how accurate it is. I thought it was mainly just hype or another marketing gimmick like how we all new pimped out super amazingly powerful short/regular/ultra magnums to kill anything bigger than a grouse. I have a hard time buying into that kind of stuff. Any more comments on this ammo and type of rifle would be greatly appreciated.
 
Dorian...
I was at Epps between when you reported buying your 35Rem pump and when U later picked up that XLR. I almost asked to see that XLR to look it over - but I didn't. I thought better of that because I have another rifle I'm paying for right now on layaway there (Ruger77 on 358Win). I didn't want to put any temptation in my way as I also already own two Marlins in 35Rem. But if I had got it into my hands for a look over I might be its proud owner now. But its really best that you got it. As things are now I've got more than enough 35cal distractions. Enjoy that shooter. Hope you thump lotsa bigger critters than those long ears with it.

Regards,

Whelen B
 
So you bought the used 77 SS in 358. I was super close to picking that up for myself. Being a fellow 35 junkie, I'm now seriously thinking I need a 35 Rem. 760 pump chopped down to 18.5" with a low power scope on it.
 
I've considered having it rechambered although I'd only be using it for close cover deer. I have my Whelens for bigger or longer applications. I'd be real interested in how the 77 in 358 shoots. What are you going to do with it?
 
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