So after a slew of posts about Marlin 336 levers and tang sights and Armslist, I finally bought a .30-30.
It's a Western Fields branded 740A 20" model with a walnut stock. The serial number starts with AD, so if the serial numbers for the W.F. guns are the same as the actually 336 guns, it was made in 1968.
It has a great bore, and a pretty smooth action, though it suffered from "falling lever syndrome" until I cleaned up the lever plunger.
I took it out to the range today and ran about 20 rounds through it. I shot some Winchester 170gr Super-X. I'm not sure if it was just me warming up up to the gun or something, but the Super-X did not shoot well. I was checking out the rounds and the seating depth varied quite a bit. That being said, I only ran 10 rounds.
I switched to American Eagle 150gr and put down this group at 50 yards from the bench with open sights.
I brought the target in to 25 yards and shot another group offhand.
Maybe the gun likes 150gr, I'm not sure. I'm really impressed with the accuracy. The sights seem really crude, but they seem to be working for me. I'd like to install a Marbles at some point, but given the accuracy I'm getting at the moment, I'm in no rush.
Seriously guys, buy a Marlin 336. What are you waiting for.
It's a Western Fields branded 740A 20" model with a walnut stock. The serial number starts with AD, so if the serial numbers for the W.F. guns are the same as the actually 336 guns, it was made in 1968.
It has a great bore, and a pretty smooth action, though it suffered from "falling lever syndrome" until I cleaned up the lever plunger.
I took it out to the range today and ran about 20 rounds through it. I shot some Winchester 170gr Super-X. I'm not sure if it was just me warming up up to the gun or something, but the Super-X did not shoot well. I was checking out the rounds and the seating depth varied quite a bit. That being said, I only ran 10 rounds.
I switched to American Eagle 150gr and put down this group at 50 yards from the bench with open sights.
I brought the target in to 25 yards and shot another group offhand.
Maybe the gun likes 150gr, I'm not sure. I'm really impressed with the accuracy. The sights seem really crude, but they seem to be working for me. I'd like to install a Marbles at some point, but given the accuracy I'm getting at the moment, I'm in no rush.
Seriously guys, buy a Marlin 336. What are you waiting for.