Marlin 36RC

[Marshall86]

Morning guys,

I've asked all of my usual hunting buddies around here, but no one can recall owning or shooting one. I've got a couple of old British bolt guns in the closet, but I'm looking to add a lever gun to the mix. Until a decent 94 drops in to my lap, I stumbled across a 1949 Marlin 36RC in .30-30 in the gun library at work. Haven't had a chance to pull it out and give it a look through yet, but does anyone have any experience with these? Google's a great resource but I prefer first hand tales any day! Anything I should be looking out for as far as possible failures or weak spots? We've got it listed for $499.98 -- externally it appears to be in very good condition, but in your opinion is it worth this price tag?

This may be an ignorant question as I know 1949 isn't 1849 as far as barrels and steel goes, but would this mule handle the pressures of modern ammunition?

Any light you can shed on this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Mike Webb]

Is it a model 36 or 336? Does it have a square bolt? The reason I ask is that the new 336 Marlin was introduced in 1949 replacing the square bolt model 36. They are both fine rifles and VERY well made, far superior to the new offerings in my opinion. Either design is superior to the Winchester 94 and they are usually more accurate by a little bit than the Winchesters. Some don't like the beefy forends but that is a personal choice. If the metal has a lot of blue remaining and the wood is sound and unsanded(wood should be flush with steel, these older Marlins were inlet very well) the price is about right. My 2 cents.

 

[H4831]

Morning guys,

-----------This may be an ignorant question as I know 1949 isn't 1849 as far as barrels and steel goes, but would this mule handle the pressures of modern ammunition?

Any light you can shed on this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

For your information.
Modern 30-30 factory ammunition and the hand loads made using the data from most modern reloading manuals, has much lower pressure and greatly reduced velocity, as compared to the factory loads of 1949 and the hand loads created using data from 1949 reloading charts.
The 30-30 was designed to drive a 170 grain bullet at 2200 fps. The odd old factory cartridge from the general era of 1949 that I have tested on a chronograph actually did make right around the 2200 fps.
Modern factory loaded 30-30 ammunition with 170 grain bullets, with one exception, will likely be in the range of 1850 to 1950 fps, as will hand loads using information from modern manuals.
The exception is Leverevolution cartridges which are probably very close to the 2200 fps range.
I have tried Leverevolution powder in the amount shown in Hodgdon on line information and it gave nearly 2200 fps., but by some miracle, the peak pressure must be lower, or else they wouldn't use it.

 

[zeddy32]

I've killed more deer than I can count with my hand-me-down 1954 336rc 30-30. It's still my go to rifle for deer and bear.