Accuracy comparison: 336 vs Sks?

D

dyl

New member
Folks, I've been pondering a question for a future rifle purchase.

Which has the better accuracy potential: marlin 336 in 30-30 or SKS?

I hand load if that helps.

Background: I shot my first deer with a friend's Norinco SKS a few weeks ago. I generally dislike rifle recoil - 80 grains of Pyrodex from my ML doesn't hurt but it's not as pleasant as my bolt action 22.

I've heard that the barrel band on the Marlin will limit its accuracy.
I've heard that Russian ammo will limit accuracy in an SKS, and premium rounds are available at same prices as 30-30 ammo.

Please feel free to mention average group size at 50-100 yards.

I appreciate it!
 
In my experience the 336 will be more accurate. Of course with good loads the difference may well be pretty close. With irons I can get pretty close to 2" groups with my Marlins @ 100. Can often get that pretty close to 1" with a scope the few times I've tried it. Around 3"-4" is the best I could hope for with the SKS I used to own. But once again, with good hand loads It might be interesting to see how much difference there is.
 
Jmr40,

was the 3-4" from the SKS with a scope or iron sights? That's pretty darn good as I had heard the stock SKS sights weren't the easiest to work with.
 
My 336 is chambered in 35 Remington. With the LeverEvolution I put 3 shots close enough to cover with a quarter at 100 yards. That was with a 2-7 scope
 
Jevyod, that's a great group. I'm assuming 30-30 is capable of similar grouping except with more bullet drop.

The two of you had great accuracy out of the marlin 336 yet for some reason I remember getting the general impression
to "keep in mind: this is not meant to be a 1 MOA rifle" and other similar disclaimers

Did you have to modify/free float/bed/trigger job the Marlins?
 
I have never tried to figure out exactly how accurate our two 336 rifles are because I know they are accurate enough for hunting around here.

Most of the shots you will get here are less than 80 yards. I shot a doe with a very old 336 .35 Remington and shot placement was perfect using iron sights at 60 yards. Its a rifle that is about as accurate as you are with iron sights out to 100 yards.

I like the 336. We have two of them.
 
DYL, using Leverevolution in the 30-30 will produce less bullet drop than 35 Rem, and I can get 1 MOA from both my 336c and 94 using handloads and peep sights. The biggest obstacle to accuracy is the buckhorn rear sight.
 
My Yugo SKS shoots pretty well and averages about 3-4" off of sand bags at 100 yds with Wolf ammo and iron sights. My 336 in .35 Rem averages about 2.5" at 100 yds off of bags with a Williams 5D receiver sight and Remington ammo. So the 336 is the better shooter although the SKS is a whole lot cheaper to shoot.

Stu
 
And just to be clear - none of you had to glass bed the actions? That seems like great accuracy to me from the 336 - maybe good enough to put up with some recoil. Maybe.
 
I have a Marlin 336CS that I bought new in 1994 and it has been a great deer rifle. I reload for .30-30, and benchrested can get one inch groups and sometimes less with my handloads at 100 yards. It is a very accurate rifle, and easier to shoot accurately especially if you improve the trigger a bit as they usually are gritty and heavy.

I also have two Russian SKS's, but I do not reload for 7.62x39 so shoot mostly cheap Wolf and Tula. Average groups benchrested at 100 yards are around three inches or so. Sometimes they open up a bit, but I blame the ammo. I am sure if I reloaded I could get better groups.

Bottom line, the Marlin will be more accurate.
 
not only

You will also scope a 336 easier,and much more solidly, than any SKS. And it will be lighter and shorter than a standard SKS too. I'm bettin it will have a better trigger too. All conducive to good accuracy.

With a US based support net.

Not to mention a more powerful cartridge, with a wider range of slugs available.

The SKS was a stop gap for the AK. Once the AK hit the scene, the SKS, longer and heavier than it needed to be, for what it really was, was disposable. If you need a beater, a disposable rifle, that you can't scope easily or reliably, and is longer and heavier than it needs to be, get an SKS.

The 336 is a time proven deer, black bear, and sometimes even bigger game hunting rifle.
 
The only mods I did was reblue the barrel and redo the stock and forearm. I didn't mess with the barrel or trigger. I didn't need to. Oh and by the way, that quarter sized group; it was out of a 1950 336. So even the old ones can shoot!
 
Glass bedding is useful with a one piece stock where the action might shift in the barrel. wouldn't make any difference on the 2 piece stock of the 336, the buttstock is bolted tight to the receiver and can't move, while the handguard shifting won't make any difference.
 
Here is what a Marlin 336 30-30 can do at 100 yard w/ 150 gr Honady bullets.
Using 33gr wc844 (or use 33 gr H335)
This is a 1958 Marlin w/Ballard refiling.

100_8543.jpg


My Son with his 1st deer using the Marlin. ( not the 1st for the Marlin:)

DSCN0634.jpg


Nothing wrong with a Norinco SKS ether. I have one of those too.
Just not as accurate as my Marlin.
100_7902.jpg


For a little more fun and the use of pointy bullets pick up a Savage 340 in 30-30

100_7887.jpg
 
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both rifles are well made and both cartridges have nearly identical ballistics information however the 7.62x39 can take pointed bullets while the tube magazine on the 336 requires a flat point bullet so the x39 would be able to use bullets with higher ballistic coefficients and be better suited to hunting in my opinion.

however the 336 is lighter and would be a better brush gun and is easier to mount a scope on. pick you poison.
 
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