[JAM61]

Hello everyone,
First post here and it will proably be the most important one too. I'm going to be celebrating my 50th B/Day in a few months and my wife/kids were asking what I wanted. I've been wanting a marlin 30-30 for a couple of years now and thought now would be a great time to get one for my birthday.
Can I have some recommendations of which one to get? I'm not sure exactly which ones are better than the others. I've read the 336rc has a better stock than some, which means it will last longer. Right??
I'm looking at something that will become a family heirloom, that I can pass down to my children as it will have sentamental (sp??) value.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
JAM61

 

[LuckenbachTexas]

If its an RC its already lasted forty years minimum and is an heirloom. ;D

That old walnut is some hard stuff man. Find you one used from your birth year.

Happy Birthday

 

[xbones88]

A real heirloom would be one of those Cowboy models, with the octagon barrel. They usually have very good wood and I'd figure that they would pay special attention in their assembly. That would make it a real keeper, in my opinion. Happy B-day big 50!

 

[tlc361]

Any 30-30 from the Marlin line would work. But what makes it a heirloom is one that becomes the one that "Dad" used and with time it becomes "Grandpas" gun and on and on down the line. After all heirlooms are made by their use and the history you make with them. I always tell my kids, never sell it keep it for your kids.

My son now has four heirlooms from his grandfather and one day my grandkids will have mine, my kids (adults now) still talk about shooting Dads guns when they were small.

 

[Brian in FL]

Any Marlin will become a family heirloom just because pop/grandpop used it. I would opt for a nice older Marlin with a smooth walnut stock. An SC (Sporting Carbine) would be just terrific, but a standard C or RC would be fine as well. There are a lot of fine older Marlins out there for sale. One from your birth year would be really neat. Check out gun stores, pawn shops or Gun Broker.

But, if you opt for a new rifle, be sure to examine it thoroughly before buying. They're still having a bit of a quality control problem at the new Ilion factory.

 

[Lonnie]

Buy one you like (birth year is a good idea, Texan, etc) and use it. The stories that go with the rifle will make it a heirloom. Such as "That's the gun Dad used to kill that big 8 pt buck" or "Remember we gave Dad that gun and he killed 3 deer that first year with it" or "That was your Grandfather's favorite gun". Use it and pass along the rifle and the stories with it , Lonnie.

 

[deermafia]

I recently did the same thing. I checked out gunshows, and finally found one at my local gun shop. As soon as I held it I knew it was the one. The look of the stock, it was calling my name. So check a bunch out, see which one calls you out, and make that part of the family!! But you will want to buy more, lol.

 

[biggog]

I'd go with one from your birth year. That will lead to the year you got married, the year you graduated from high school and on & on. Remember Marlinitis is uncurable. Welcome to the insanity.

 

[1895Gunner]

Welcome to MO from central Florida!

Start going to gun shows & Pawn Shops to start handling some older Marlins. Find what makes you smile and grab it. Any older Marlin that has been maintained will end up being a treasure for you and your kids, especially after you use it.

Good luck on your hunt for the right rifle and have a happy birthday.

 

[glockmeister]

JAM61, first of all welcome to MO!!! Which Marlin to get, look around and find one you like, an older one will likely be smoother in the action department, one made in your birth year would be great. When it comes to a gun's history that will be up to you. Someone else's history does not count, it will be your history with the Marlin that counts. Others have stated, ''Dad's gun,'' or the one Dad shot the 8 pointer with, that is what makes the history. Good luck on picking out a Marlin for your birthday, again welcome to the forum and keep us in the loop about your Marlin. Take care, John.

 

[Abel]

There are a bunch of 336s out there. Most all have either birch or walnut, and both of those woods make super stocks. Walnut just looks better. There are over a dozen configurations of the 336 and the best ones were made between 1948 and 2008. That's a whole lotta guns. Here are some great ones that come to mind:

30TK ....(my favorite)
30GT ....Glenfield brand
336C
336RC
336A
336ADL
336SC ....(on my wish list)
30 .....Glenfield brand
30A ...Glenfield brand
30AW
336LTD
336SDT
336SDG
336XLR

Here is a link to the 336LTD:

http://www.auctionarms.com/closed/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=9903231.0

Its about the nicest one you could find, with walnut and stainless with a shorter 18.5" barrel. I like the 30TK a little better myself.

 

[roboskittle]

I picked up my first Marlin couple weeks ago. It is a 30AS in 30-30. I have yet to shoot it but there is something that I just love about it. I hope to shoot it this weekend when the rear sight arrives for it. Best thing about it was the price 125 out the door. I couldnt run to the car fast enough thinking I stole the gun haha.

 

[Tele-Caster]

Re: The Coolness Factor

Part of the coolness factor of the 336 is that it hails from an era where real men and women shot real guns made from real ordinance grade blued steel and walnut that were assembled by real people who really cared about the quality of the work they did and the end product they produced.

Take away the walnut, or the high level of build quality in terms of fit and finish, and the coolness factor goes away in a big hurry.

You see, it's in the details of the look of the thing; the even polish of metal and even bluing, the precise wood to metal fit, the slickness of the action when you cycle it, the crispness of the trigger..... And it's in the shooting, too. They're probably out there, but I've never shot a 336 that wasn't a 2 MOA gun or less. Mine will shoot MOA with ammo it likes and 1.5 or a tick less with ammo it doesn't care for so much.

New, current production Marlins aren't something I'd recommend -they're "MINOS," or "Marlins in Name Only." They don't exhibit the same level of fit and finish. They feel rough and unrefined when cycling the action. Triggers are heavy and gritty. Where is the joy in that?

My advice to you is that you read the sticky by Tomray about buying a 336. Then take what you'd spend on a new one to a gun show or two or three and apply that towards the cleanest "pre-owned" example you can find. I'd also recommend that you consider getting in to a 336 SC or Sporting Carbine because I think that bobbing the magazine tube has a positive effect on accuracy with these guns and that they're slightly more accurate with 1/2 or 3/4 mag tubes than they are with full length ones. I also think they look cooler. With the SC, you still have the handy 20" carbine barrel and compact size. If you can live with a longer barrel, look for a 336A. Or, if you like the more common 336RC or 336C configuration with 20" barrel and full length mag tube, you'll find plenty of clean used ones to choose from.

The right 336 for you is out there. Let us know when you find it.

T-C

 

[JAM61]

Thank you for all the help, knowledge and insight. I really do appreciate it! It looks like I've got a lot of researching to do. There are a lot of gun stores in the KC area so I'm going to be making phone calls to see what they have. I saw some nice ones at Cabelas last night when we went there but they were so busy I couldn't get waited on. I wasn't going to buy one, I just wanted to hold one. Maybe next time.
Have a great day,
JAM

 

[Abel]

Take away the walnut, or the high level of build quality in terms of fit and finish, and the coolness factor goes away in a big hurry.

I cannot imagine a reason that you would run birch into the ground like this. It is a fine stock material. Marlin sometimes tries to stain it too dark and mask its true beauty.

 

[Halwg]

I cannot imagine a reason that you would run birch into the ground like this. It is a fine stock material. Marlin sometimes tries to stain it too dark and mask its true beauty.

I agree with this. I have refinished 3 birch stocks, and got rid of the "orange-ish" finish Marlin had put on them, and they all looked very nice. Not walnut, but a better alternative than plastic!

 

[marco]

My favorite Marlin just happened to be my least expensive one. My friend owns a pawn shop and she alerted my wife to it. I got it for Christmas. A nice used but not abused 336. My first Marlin is a guide gun but the 20" carbine is my favorite. I don't know if I'll even refinish it. I will however replace the bullseye and put a sling stud in the correct location. I have a Glenfield Texan and a 336 ADL in .35 as well and the carbine just seems to balance better for me. I'm kinda glad that the .30-30 is so underrated around here. You can find them inexpensively if they decide to be parted with. Every time I bring the .30-30 shooting someone is amazed at the distance I can hit targets without a scope. After a few tries they usually can hit just as far vision permitting. When you don't feel like reloading you can head out to Wal-mart and pick up a box of Federals for 11.47 and keep the brass. I used to overlook these rifles too until I found this site and had to buy one...and then another and another on layaway. 8)

 

[blue today]

Have your own identity. Don’t get someone else’s heirloom. What better gift is the one that your family gives you? The new ones are very good. Just pick your model. The second Marlin, the third and the fourth will come later but not as prized as the birthday gift.

I am working on my third Marlin. ;D Just my two cents.

 

[Abel]

The new ones are very good.

I disagree. I think the new ones will be lacking in fit & finish for a couple more years. There are a bunch of used 336's out there that need to go to a new home.

 

[marlin-x]

Get a 336SS, 336C, or an XLR.