Yup. Got it on paper @ 50m, took it to 100 & put the first 3 high/right. Adjusted & then fired the 3 shots over the green dot.
I'm happy with that!
Cheers
Jay
Update Post 99!!! Marlin Lever Rifles for thick woods hunting. My two!!!
- Thread starter Jay
- Start date
Yup. Got it on paper @ 50m, took it to 100 & put the first 3 high/right. Adjusted & then fired the 3 shots over the green dot.
I'm happy with that!
Cheers
Jay
I've owned many Marlin lever rifles over the years and like them... I prefer the 94 simply due to my history with it and it's carry quality, but with aging eyesight the Marlin gets the nod... nice pair of deer guns, Jay... but I gotta say, those blocky, bulky scope rails really take away from the trim look of the rifle... have you tried the Talley one piece ring/mounts? (ring and base integral, but two pieces for front and back) They are a trim looking unit.
Nice rifles indeed Jay!, the 35 Rem is a fun chambering and that 336ss is a great looking gun.
I agree with Hoyt about the blocky bases, they take away from the rifles lines. However I've never been a fan of Talley's on a rifle with iron sights (if you plan on using them)
On scoped Marlins, the Warne 1- piece base is the way to go IMO. On a few I ended up reshaping them to smooth out the lines even more.
35 Rem
336xlr
308xlr
444xlr
I agree with Hoyt about the blocky bases, they take away from the rifles lines. However I've never been a fan of Talley's on a rifle with iron sights (if you plan on using them)
On scoped Marlins, the Warne 1- piece base is the way to go IMO. On a few I ended up reshaping them to smooth out the lines even more.
35 Rem
336xlr
308xlr
444xlr
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Lever action rifle cartridges for hunting big game at woods ranges have slipped from popularity, and the medium bores like the .33 Winchester, .35 Remington and the .348 Winchester, at one time thought of as big sticks, seldom attract much attention today. I admired the .35 Remington loaded the scalloped 200 gr round nose Corelokt. Years ago my imagination was grabbed by the 24" 336A Marlin in .35 Remington, sporting a pistol grip stock, a half magazine, a steel forend cap, and a 1907 sling, with a straight tube scope providing an upgrade to the factory sighting arrangement. In my mind's eye, that was the rig I wanted for whitetail deer, black bear, and moose in the black spruce swamps of south-eastern Manitoba. Today I'd opine that the rifle I admired nearly 50 years ago was poorly conceived, giving up the best features of the traditional lever action rifle, which is a short, light, easy carrying, and quick handling carbine. Its nice to see your .35 in the carbine configuration.
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that looks awesome. love the color of it. where did you get it and how much??
"Best features" yes = I like my 35Rem Marlin Marauder (16 1/4" barrel) for woods work. Killed a decent bear a few years ago with it and it worked well for that - using a "scalloped 200 gr round nose Corelokt" as Boomer describes them.
Lately I have been playing with a 44mag Ranch Hand (12" barrel) with a full butt stock added - iron sights. This one is for bow range tree stand work. It's a diversion from my 35s but should have enough thump. Hoping to get a bear with it - maybe this year(?).
If I want to up the power level and useful range a bit I can carry my 336ER in 356Win (20" tube). I have used it moose hunting but only have taken a few bears with it.
Hand load for all of these so I tailor and test loads - makes them all real effective working brush guns IMO. I love short fast handling lever guns.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
I have a fondness for Marlin lever guns myself. This 1894 in 44-40 was the first centre fire rifle I ever shot and according to my uncle, it did its 'deed' on a few Deer, Black Bear and Moose over the years.
This 444S has done well for me on a number of occasions on Moose. On trips north for Moose in more recent years, it has come along as a spare rifle. On a couple of trips it has been lucky we had it along as it's services were called on to 'help out'.
Next, a 1895GS. I never had the opportunity to use it in the field. I found the straight stock wasn't to my liking when using the hotter loads the Marlin is capable of handling, especially when using heavier bullets.
That GS went to my Son and I've since replaced it with this GBL.
This 444S has done well for me on a number of occasions on Moose. On trips north for Moose in more recent years, it has come along as a spare rifle. On a couple of trips it has been lucky we had it along as it's services were called on to 'help out'.
Next, a 1895GS. I never had the opportunity to use it in the field. I found the straight stock wasn't to my liking when using the hotter loads the Marlin is capable of handling, especially when using heavier bullets.
That GS went to my Son and I've since replaced it with this GBL.
Nice rifles indeed Jay!, the 35 Rem is a fun chambering and that 336ss is a great looking gun.
I agree with Hoyt about the blocky bases, they take away from the rifles lines. However I've never been a fan of Talley's on a rifle with iron sights (if you plan on using them)
On scoped Marlins, the Warne 1- piece base is the way to go IMO. On a few I ended up reshaping them to smooth out the lines even more.
35 Rem
Beauty! Gonna have to check out the Warne bases!
Cheers
Jay
And it an upgrade I will do on both these Marlins! Thanks for the insight!
Cheers
Jay
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
That's what I went with on my 444S and the GS. Weaver pivot mounts and the same 'may' go on the GBL although I recently mounted an XS Lever Rail system on it. I'll see how that works out first.
My two 444 bush guns - one 1977 "JM" and the other a '98 Win AE Black Shadow triple 4
I've had the JM since early '78, bought new (it's a '77 model), my brother just gifted me his '98 Win AE Black Shadow in 444 Marlin after he figured he didn't have need of it any longer (he got chased by a grizz once when up to his place in the Crowsnest - only happened once but he never went out wandering on his property outside the immediate vicinity of his cabin without it for many years after. BTW, he got away from Mama Griz by jumping into a steep ravine, and it seems Mama didn't want to leave the cubs without a sitter).
The Winnie is apparently an early '98 model, with the 1:12 twist, Winchester in New Haven changed to a 1:20 twist in very late '98. I confirmed the twist in mine by bore lighting, it seems the rotation is about 1 1/2 times down the 20" length of the barrel, and therefore it's likely I've got one of the first offs of these beauties. But the recoil is a mother - much worse than the JM.
I've shot or owned several heavier calibers for the bush, but I've found the 444 Marlin just isn't bothered by deflecting bush, etc., and is my go-to for Ontario's heavy forested deer and bear hunting.
O.N.G.
I've had the JM since early '78, bought new (it's a '77 model), my brother just gifted me his '98 Win AE Black Shadow in 444 Marlin after he figured he didn't have need of it any longer (he got chased by a grizz once when up to his place in the Crowsnest - only happened once but he never went out wandering on his property outside the immediate vicinity of his cabin without it for many years after. BTW, he got away from Mama Griz by jumping into a steep ravine, and it seems Mama didn't want to leave the cubs without a sitter).
The Winnie is apparently an early '98 model, with the 1:12 twist, Winchester in New Haven changed to a 1:20 twist in very late '98. I confirmed the twist in mine by bore lighting, it seems the rotation is about 1 1/2 times down the 20" length of the barrel, and therefore it's likely I've got one of the first offs of these beauties. But the recoil is a mother - much worse than the JM.
I've shot or owned several heavier calibers for the bush, but I've found the 444 Marlin just isn't bothered by deflecting bush, etc., and is my go-to for Ontario's heavy forested deer and bear hunting.
O.N.G.
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freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Since your not really using your Marauder I would be happy to help you with it and use it for you.......on a long case bases
I've never been a big lever gun guy but have shot-in a few for friends over the years and found that (In my experience) the Marlins were more accurate than the 94s and seems to be easier to sight in with less drama.
Based on that experience, I did recently buy a 1950 336 in 30-30 with 24" bbl. and undrilled waffle top. I have been looking for a proper vintage receiver sight for the 336 and have found that they are now very collectable and worth a pretty penny. A Lyman 56LA has been offered to me for $160US. <gasp!!>
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Paul, I have a friend with a similar view of lever guns. He classifies mine as "Minute of a Moose rifles".Hey Guys;
I picked up a 1991 Marlin 336 in 35 Rem & liked it so much that I had to get a 30-30... So I grabbed a new production Marlin 336ss in 30-30.
I topped the 1991 with a period correct Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5x20 and then I topped the stainless with a VX-III 1.5-5x20. I think they look perfect on a lever gun, not to mention that my aging eyes 'need' a scope... Chuckle
I'm waiting on the arrival of a BearTooth Mercantile cross bolt safety delete & a hammer spur for the stainless...
I am considering installing Wild West Trigger Happy Kits on both guns... Anyone got any experience with them?
Who else loves LEVER guns for thick woods hunting?
Cheers
Jay
P.S. The stainless will eventually be given to my daughter. I hope she's interested in this stuff... If not, I'm keeping it for myself! Chuckle
Here is how the 35 Rem shoots... Hoping the 30-30 is as good... Time to hit the range!
Paw had installed the wwg trigger happy kit on a marlin 1895 ggs and a couple of 336s.
Crisp, clean let off with no creep.
From 3-4 # trigger pull (rcbs gauge).
Expensive though.
If you know what you're doing you can polish the stock marlin trigger sear and get a good result but neophytes shouldn't mess with triggers.
We also like wwgs bear proof ejector which drops the ejects right at our feet instead of propelling them into the next county.
We both cut our teeth on pre safety marlins so the safety delete kit installation was a foregone conclusion.
