Quick and dirty on the 336 please

I just measured three marlin barrels. The action was opened and a dowel rod was slid down the barrel until it reached the breach end of the barrel. No barrel hoods or inverted feed ramps were included. I measured a 357, 44 mag and 30-30 barrel.

The 357 mag barrel measured 18.5" just as advertised. The 44 mag and 30-30 both measured 20.25" not less than advertised. So it looks like marlin is giving you just what they are advertising. And maybe a little more.
 
My next rifle will be a 336 in 35 rem. A truly underrated round that fits perfectly between the 30-30 and 45-70 in the power range.
 
I just measured three marlin barrels. The action was opened and a dowel rod was slid down the barrel until it reached the breach end of the barrel. No barrel hoods or inverted feed ramps were included. I measured a 357, 44 mag and 30-30 barrel.

The 357 mag barrel measured 18.5" just as advertised. The 44 mag and 30-30 both measured 20.25" not less than advertised. So it looks like marlin is giving you just what they are advertising. And maybe a little more.
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Well, at least you got what you paid for.

Every Marlin 336 or 444 barrel that I have ever measure came up short (when compared to advertising matching the time of production).
For "20 inch" barrels, the length was 19.5" +/-0.125".
For "22 inch" barrels, the length averaged 21.6" (or less).
And the one "18 inch" barrel that I shoved a dowel down came in a hair under 17.6".

Similar measurements have been shared, time and time again, on the MarlinOwners forums.
Perhaps more recent production rifles are now using barrels of proper length; but through at least 2008, the majority of rifles seem to have been advertised with a false barrel length.
 
First gun I ever used for deer hunting was my uncle's Marlin 336 in .35 Remington. This was in the mid-60's, and the Marlin was already "vintage". It was a beautiful rifle: dark, checkered walnut and factory peep sights. To me, a skinny runt (I've made up for that in quadruple spades since!), the gun kicked like a mule.

A similar gun is on my bucket list, and like a previous poster said, it falls in between the .30-30 and .45-70, which I happen to agree with, as a PA deer hunting line-up, for our type of brush hunting.
 
Perhaps more recent production rifles are now using barrels of proper length; but through at least 2008, the majority of rifles seem to have been advertised with a false barrel length.
Click to expand...

30-30 made in 1988.
357 made in 2001
44 mag made in 2006

All made before 2008 and all have barrel lengths as listed by Marlin.

Maybe everyone should get their marlins and measure their barrels and post the length here.
 
ratshooter,

I have a:
1947 36 A-DL 30-30 with a 23.750", should be a 24" barrel

1974 336 30-30 gold trigger with a 20.5", should be a 20" barrel

1976 Golden 39A with a 24", actually is a 24" barrel
 
Guv this is the first (and last) time I have ever measured a barrel on a marlin. It is what it is and nothing I can do will change it. I just buy 'em and shoot 'em. If they hit the target thats good enough for me.:)

The OP wanted to know about marlins and he should have some good info by now. Frankenmauser seems to have a lot of good information on them. But his post are always good. And even if marlins barrels don't always measure exactly as stated well thats OK. I learned a long time ago that a 2x4 aint really 2" by 4" either.

The OP might do well to check out www.marlinowners.com There is no better place for the lowdown on marlin products.
 
I've got a 1953 Marlin 336RC, it shoots exactly where I aim it.

However, it also has a slightly canted barrel...Marlin engineering was 5-degrees off that day.
Luckily, its canted in the right direction, as it actually helps lock into my shoulder into the stock better!

Marlin's always made some sort of slight goof over the years, its inherent with inexpensive rifles...
but JM also built 'em like Tiger Tanks...tough as heck, last lever rifle you will ever need...
you'll be able to pass it down to yer grandkids and they'll be able to shoot it!!
Unlike the "Presentation" Winchesters (safe queens)...or the Mossberg 464's that use questionable metal alloys...

I do prefer the pre-2005 Marlins, date code is the first two serial numbers minus 100.
If it is marked MM or MR, then a serial, it is a New Remlin. They have come a long way from the takeover...
I'd call the current ones as decent as the crossbolt safety models of the 90's...
However, Inspect a new Marlin as you would any new/used weapon.

Meaning...I'm a suspicious fella by nature. In God I trust, all others are suspects ;)

Have a couple Snap Caps in .30-30 or .35-Rem, whichever caliber you plan to buy to check action function with.
Look for obvious and not-so-obvious faults. Start with the action, then the barrel, then the crown,
then work your way from crown to buttplate checking fit & finish.
Aim it, preferrably towards the ceiling ;) Check the barrel/sights for cant & warpage.

Newer Marlins...ok, just get the 336XLR if you are going to do it. Worth Every Penny.
They get extra care on the assembly line, as they are the Top Of The Line. It'll last several lifetimes.
Not to mention a really sweet deluxe recoil pad which makes a .30-30 feel like a .260 ;)
http://www.galleryofguns.com/genie/default.aspx?item=336xlr

Used JM barrel stamped ones...one month AFTER hunting season ends they start popping up in every gun & pawn shop...
just as quick as someone needs cash fast...some lose their pawns, to our benefit!
Many have deluxe pads, smoothed actions, some with big loop levers, ghost ring sights, etc...
all in what the previous owner wanted to do...
I look for old beaters...scratched-up stocks with smooth actions...usually the interior parts are spotless,
but the outside looks like crap, like a beat-up old farm truck, that's what you want ;)
Lower cost if its rough, chances are it'll shoot like a dream.

The ones that have obviously not been internally cleaned in 5-6 years...those really go low.
Great news is, they can be cleaned up rather well...steel wool & gun oil ;)
Again, built like a tank, so you just scrub the surface rust off and make it pretty again!!
I love stupid people who will literally shoot a gun until its too dirty to function properly...
then they say "Something's Wrong With it" and sell it cheap...and I buy it cheap...
clean the daylights out of it, refinish or replace the stock, new deluxe recoil pad, and have a great shooter :)

Hope that helps!! Good Luck!!
 
Guv this is the first (and last) time I have ever measured a barrel on a marlin. It is what it is and nothing I can do will change it. I just buy 'em and shoot 'em. If they hit the target thats good enough for me.

The OP wanted to know about marlins and he should have some good info by now. Frankenmauser seems to have a lot of good information on them. But his post are always good. And even if marlins barrels don't always measure exactly as stated well thats OK. I learned a long time ago that a 2x4 aint really 2" by 4" either.
Click to expand...
Well put.
And, thank you.
 
Used JM barrel stamped ones...one month AFTER hunting season ends they start popping up in every gun & pawn shop...
just as quick as someone needs cash fast...some lose their pawns, to our benefit!
Many have deluxe pads, smoothed actions, some with big loop levers, ghost ring sights, etc...
all in what the previous owner wanted to do...
I look for old beaters...scratched-up stocks with smooth actions...usually the interior parts are spotless,
but the outside looks like crap, like a beat-up old farm truck, that's what you want
Lower cost if its rough, chances are it'll shoot like a dream.

This is what I have in mind. Don't care if it's well worn on the outside as long as it's mechanically perfect on the inside.

Thanks everyone for all the good information!
 
Frank you are welcome. I have read lots of your post and learn from them. Thats why I get up every morning because I learn something new each day.

Big Shrek the last part of your post is just what I like to do. Have a pocket full of cash and hit the gun stores and pawn shops. Especially about 30 days after Christmas when everybody's credit card bills start landing.

And I don't mind a rough looking gun. It gets the price down and saves me the trouble of scratching it up myself. :eek:

Turtlehead you started a good thread. Welcome to the forum.
 
I have some other manufacturer rifles and am going to see what they measure. I would bet a slight variance from advertised is not that uncommon.;)
 
From what I have seen, the more recent Remington-built Marlins are nice. There was indeed a year or two where things were REAL bad, but it seems like they have things nailed down. I'm sure a bad one still gets out here and there, but the old Marlin was the same way.

I'd buy one these days, as long as I got to look it over first. They are great, timeless guns.

Get the 336C model, it's worth the little bit extra.
 
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