Marlin 336 what kind of accuracy should I expect ?

B

btmj

New member
I just recently sighted in my 336C in 30-30 (actually it is my wife's gun). It has a 20" barrel and a Leupold 2.5x scope.

It seems to make a consistent 1" group at 50 yards, 2" group at 100 yards. It does this with just about any 150 grain ammo I put through it. But I can't get the groups to tighten up beyond that.

Is 2 MOA what I should expect for this rifle? It is plenty accurate for hunting, no question. But I have become spoiled by my bolt gun and my AR-15, and I am just wondering if 2 MOA is the reasonable limit of this gun.

Jim
 
Individual rifles vary, but that is in the norm for that rifle. About the same as mine. If you go back and read Jack O'Connor from the 1940s, he thought 2 inch groups for his beloved Model 70 was just fine. We are really spoiled with the accuracy of many of today's rifles.
 
I have a new Marlin 336 with a williams FP-336 aperture sight installed using the stock front blade.

From a solid rest, the rifle will pattern less than 2" groups at 200 yards.

It's sub-moa.

I've been very pleased with it.

I recall last year (new last year) embarrassing a friend at the range would couldn't group into 3" at 200 yards with his scoped bolt action rifle. His face literally turned red when we were standing at the 200 yard target boards and he looked at my target.

Usually, it's the indian more than the arrow.

YMMV.
 
It took me years of load development to get 2" at 100. The 336 only does it with Sierra 170gr bullets, Winchester primers, and a very specific COL.

Note I'm shooting five shot groups, none of y'all are saying how many shots in your groups.

I think your 336 is a keeper.
 
With the quality control (or lack thereof) of the newer Marlins, 2 MOA is great. I have an early 70's 336 in .35 rem that shoots MOA, but only with Hornady Lever-evolution ammo. Corelokts are about 1.5-2 MOA. I haven't got around to reloading for it yet, my bolt actions get most of the attention at the reloading bench.
 
What you are seeing is typical. If you handload it might be possible to get a little better. It is the rare lever action that consistently shoots under 2" @ 100.
 
Thanks all,

I was pretty sure I knew that answer when I posted. but hey, it is nice to hear other folks experience.

Weatherby Fan... sounds like you have an exceptional rifle. Don' sell it...

With my Vangaurd in 243 I can shoot a 0.8 inch 5 shot group... Notice I say I can... meaning I have done it on several occasions.... typical for me is a 1.2 inch group. But if I am having a really good day and everything is clicking... I can get the groups under an inch. I am sure I am not shooting at the limits of this gun, but the very fine trigger makes me think that perhaps I am shooting close to the limit.

With the Marlin? I'm not sure if the inherent accuracy is 2 MOA, or if the heavier trigger pull and the longer lock time mean that 2 MOA is the best that I can shoot with it. For all I know, the gun is capable of sub MOA, but I can't do it due to the trigger and locktime...

Jim
 
2" @ 100 is fine for just about anything that needs shot with a 30/30.

It wasn't meant to be a benchrest gun- it has more practical uses.
 
Wby fan, I would have to disagree with it "usually being the Indian and not the arrow." This same Cherokee Injun can shoot a 10 shot group with my bench rifle that looks like three or four elongations on a hole. It does not look like a clover leaf, it looks like a ragged hole. Having said that, my Marlin 336 is not going to shoot under 1.5@ 100 come hell, high water, drought, and any ammo you want to put through it. With most ammo, it shoots close to 3". I would be thrilled if my 94 Winchester would shoot a 3 moa group.
 
Sounds like I got lucky with my Remlin :)

Although shooting a bench rifle is totally different than shooting a level with a heavy trigger. Totally different skills required.

Shooting aperture sights is different than shooting with a scope, too.
 
With Leverevolution (if you do your part of course) you can be drop dead accurate out to 200 yards. I frequently take hogs out to that distance.
 
Wby Fan, Shooting my 336 off a bench and shooting my BAT off a bench are not very different. The only major difference is round vs flat bottom and 2 oz vs 1.2 pound trigger. The 336 has a custom trigger. The trigger and the round bottom are not the major differences in group size.
 
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Plenty good enough considering the effective range of the cartridge.
I've seen those rifles vary in POI and group size depending on how many rounds were loaded in the mag(among other factors).
 
My son's Remlin 336W shoots 1" with 150 gr Core-Lokts after I did some serious polishing on the bolt and action and installing a Happy Trigger. Now that he has reached full growth a 30-30 is beneath him, he shoots his AR or 30-06. It sports a Vortex Viper 2-7 and has found a happy home as my truck gun.
 
If you are getting 2 inch groups at 100 yards with a Micro-Groove® barrel, I'd consider that outstanding (compared to what I've seen). Check out the picture below.

keyhole.JPG


This was a .30-30 at 25 yds. We got the same result with several different brands of ammo. Needless to say, the groups got MUCH worse at longer distances. ALL of the ammo we tried produced keyholes like this. This rifle is getting a new barrel as you read this.
 
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