Marlin lever action in 35 Remington

[CZ284]

I have a virtually new Marlin Model 336 in 35 Remington. My dad gave it to me years ago and I'm thinking about trying it out this year. It is not tapped for scope mounts, has the adjustable open sights only.
Does anyone have any practical experience with something like this? I've heard they're a bit better than the 30-30.

My thinking is it might be a neat short range, thicket hunting type of rifle... opinions appreciated.

CZ

 

[skynimrod]

The newer Hornady Leverevolution seems to have a exclusive hotter powder, with better bc compared to the regular ammo. You might want to try some. My microgroove 30/30 likes it. From what I have heard the 35 rem is a great deer killer with around 200 grains of projectile. Shorter range is the norm around here. No worries.

 

[Whelen Man]

That must be an old one if it's not tapped for scope mounts. They've been doing that for quite some time now but I don't know the exact date of the change. With iron sights it should get the job done just fine for about as far as one can shoot with iron sights. With iron sights you probably don't even need to spend the money for the Hornady fodder with the plastic tips for extended range. Load up some good old cheap 200 grain round noses and drop em. It's been done a lot in the past.

p.s. If you ever decide to part with that rifle and it's in the shape you say let me know.

 

[CZ284]

WM,
Thanks for the input. I doubt I'll part with it since my dad got it to hunt in the NY Adairondack monuntains, then decided he didn't want to do it any more as he got older so gave it to me, intending to pass it on to one of my boys. Now that my older son is getting a much stronger relationship with my dad as they get to know each other more, I suspect he'll want it. It probably doesn't have two boxes of cartridges fired through it, and two very small scratches on the wood, mainly from being moved from closet to closet. No bluing wear, rust or metal scratches, just not new in box clean.

It may be a fun thing to unt with, will get some cheap 200 gr. loads for the brass, then start reloading after that.

Thanks guys.

 

[cdw338]

I bought a Marlin 336 in 35 remingon in 1970, paid 83 dollars for
it. Still have the gun. Started loading for it with a lee loader. Have shot a bunch of deer and hogs with it. I used it
mostly when still hunting and a very little stan hunting. Never
had a problem with it. Puts them down and out fast, what else
can you ask for.

 

[Whelen Man]

You and the boy will enjoy using the rifle not just because of the caliber but also because of it's history. I've got a 16 gauge shotgun that probably isn't worth $50 but to me it's worth a fortune just because my dad got it as a boy and then I inherited it. Have a good hunt with it and take care of it for another generation. I think any ammo you find at the store at this point and time should do well.

 

[CZ284]

Thanks all for the input. We'll have fun experimenting with it, may not add up to DAs harvest numbers (I took 15 last year, my son only 3), but will see how it works on a few does for sure!
Look for report back in late November.

 

[Tikkabuck]

I had one that filled the freezer full manys times over, I sold it. Dumb move on my part. Just by chance I found one that was a basket case and I'm just about done putting it back together,I'll get some before and after pictures up soon I hope. Great gun.

 

[CZ284]

Tikkabuck,

Were you shooting open sights? I've never hunted with an open sighted rifle. What were your typical ranges you shot at?
I'm thinking most would be under 100 yards. Anything over that (and we have a lot of places on our lease you can go over 100) would probably leave the Marlin at home and go with the scoped rifle. I hunt a lot out of the same setups I use during archery season during firearms, so a lot of times the shots would be under 50 yards. Open sights should work great there, no?

 

[Tikkabuck]

I had my old one sighted in dead on a 100 yards with open sights,I put a ghost ring on it for awhile but I never could get used to them,what I used it for was thickets for deer and close up on hogs. I used 200 gr Remys back then. This one I'm putting back together now will have a scope on it as when I hit the big 50 my eyes went farther south than I did.

 

[Plateau Hunter]

The .35 Rem is a great classic old round having come out in 1906 with another old more well known classic. I have several .35s- a few Marlins, Rem 760, Encore, and a Rem Model 81. I have killed several(12-15) or so deer with the .35 too. It is softer recoiling and quieter than most of the typical high power 'whitetail' rounds and is very effective. Inside a 100 yards especially it really puts the whack on whitetails.

One of my cousins uses a .35 Marlin occasionally and he has had the same experience with great knockdown, big blood trails(if they go anywhere) and handiness in the woods.

I load my own ammo using the 200g Rem or Hornady bullets over IMR 3031. I think my ammo is a little hotter than the standard factory stuff but isn't overly hot. It can be loaded with the Speer 220g flat points for a real whacker of a load also.

I have a first year of production(1950 I think-G prefix) .35/336 SC with the shorter magazine tube and ballard type rifling. It is a great old rifle but was drilled and tapped at some point-if yours is pre 1956 or so it will have the standard and not microgroove rifling. I like the ballard style rifling better. If yours is not d&t I wouldn't alter it. Just get a Lyman or Williams receiver sight and go hunting. The .35 will do the job. Nice rifle. Plateau Hunter

 

[CZ284]

Thanks Guys, really appreciate the insight. I cleaned it the other day and it does not appear to have the micro-groove rifling. I'll check again to be sure.(I've had a Marlin bolt action 22 with the MG rifling since I was 16- worn a couple flat out!) It is definitely not D&T, so will look into the other sights if the factory ones don't work for me.
Tikka, understand the 50s thing... going through it myself but not so bad that I've had to make adjustments while shooting yet. Fortunately I'm not in bifocals!

I'd rather reload, so will pick up a couple boxes for initial sighting in and brass, then cook my own later on.

Again, thanks. Your insight and ex[erience has been very helpful.

 

[Tiny]

I have a first year of production(1950 I think-G prefix) .35/336 SC with the shorter magazine tube and ballard type rifling. It is a great old rifle but was drilled and tapped at some point-if yours is pre 1956 or so it will have the standard and not microgroove rifling. I like the ballard style rifling better. If yours is not d&t I wouldn't alter it. Just get a Lyman or Williams receiver sight and go hunting. The .35 will do the job. Nice rifle. Plateau Hunter

Excellant info,was going to mention some of that myself.I don't Think I would drill it either my uncle goofed and drilled a 30/30 of that era IMO.Of corase he wasn't worried about collector value only user value.

The Hornady LeverEvoluation loads should shoot well in that 35 they did in the above 30/30 and do in my late 60's 35 with mirco grooved rifleing.

If you reload or know anybody that does close to you the Speer 180 gr makes a dandy deer bullet in it from what a few have told me,the blame deer didn't/don't want to play with me when I have had it in hand though.

May you fair better with yours.

 

[8pointbetter]

I got one I love it for thiket hunting shot through any thing I shot the new hornadays in it

 

[CZ284]

Curioisity got the best of me so I called Marlin on Friday. They looked up the serial number, turns out this gun was built in early 1953. I'm for sure not going to modify it, just shoot and enjoy it, then pass on to my son.

 

[.444 Marlin]

best medium bore caliber ever imo.

 

[CZ284]

Cool- I'm really looking forward to playing with it this season!

 

[Locksley]

I bought a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington in 1967 I had to pay 120 dollars for then. Still have the gun also. I have shot a bunch of deer with it, I used it mostly when still hunting and a very little stand hunting . I never bought a stand till 1975.

 

[CZ284]

I'm going to try it out this weekend when I go to our lease to bush hog. Hope it shoots good!

 

[firefox]

I had one about 10 years back. I only used the iron sights and factory ammo. When a deer came across my path out to 75 yards on a cloudy day I could see it and the sights. On a sunny day I could only make shots out to 30 yards. Whenever I close my non-firing-eye I can only see out to half my both eyes open depth. Bright sunlight makes it worse. Limbs and the natural camoflauge of the deer make sighting difficult for me. Hopefully you'll bust at least a ten point with it this coming season