I haven't seen it.
Was that scoped or iron sighted shooting?
I have a pair of scoped JM 30-30's that'll do better than that with my poor abilities.
Yes, the $950 MSRP sounds about right.
Though with all the crazies run around payin double just to be the first on the block with one.
It may be a year or so before they are at a reasonable rate.
No matter to me as I have plenty of 30-30's.

RP

 

The article only states that he used a Leupold VX-Freedom scope for the accuracy testing, he had some problems with having the proper rings on hand prior to going on his hog hunt in Texas so iron sights were used for the hunt.

 

2" with factory ammo is pretty good IMO. In my experience you can shoot a little better than that with a 336 by handloading, using a high mag scope, shooting from a perfect position on a bench etc.

I have always been happy with 2" or slightly larger groups with peeps and even 3" groups from field positions.

Unlike what is read on the internet not every rifle, ammo, shooter can shoot 1" groups. I see proof of this everytime I go to the range and see others shoot.

 

Don't you know everybody's rifle on the internet shoots one hole at 100 yards "all day long"!

I agree with you. I've owned a number of 336's over the years and consider 2" at 100 yards to be acceptable shooting for them, even with a scope.

 

Barrel banded rifles will often open up or walk once they start getting hot. I would not think badly of 2 inch groups. They are not very good bench rifles.

 

2” groups are more than acceptable with factory ammo. Keep in mind also that barrel band rifles accuracy can be affected by where it is supported, especially off of a bench. I‘ve read many posts here at MO where their rifles shoot better when supported near the receiver. Most of the time these writers only have a limited amount of time to evaluate a new rifle and don’t have time to experiment with the different variables that affect accuracy.

 

I support all of my guns right where my hand would be if I was supporting it and shooting it offhand. Gives me best picture of what it is going to do in the field. My 99 I support it right in front of the receiver, as my arms are on the short side. That is basically the same spot on all guns that I support when I shoot them.

 

What Two80rem said. However... having said that, I have 5 older (JM) Marlin's that ALL shoot MOA under ideal conditions (scoped, benched, indoor 100 yd range).

My guess is that they likely weren't shooting under ideal conditions.

Luis

 

I agree with all the stated issues that can keep a lever action from shooting accurately.
The rifle did have a best group of 1.58" with Hornady 160 FTX load and 5 five shot groups averaged 1.96".
Remington Core-Lokt 170 SP averaged 2.09" and Fiocchi Shooting Dynamics 170 FSP averaged 2.22"
No 150 grain factory loads or handloads were tested, this is why I said I would like to see other write ups with more detailed accuracy testing before writing off the new 336 as only capable of averaging 2" groups.

I happen to agree with Townsend Whelen, in that I find only accurate rifles are interesting, well new ones at least.

I own six rifles chambered in 30-30 Winchester, so a new $950 rifle would have to be interesting for me to make it seven.
On the other hand I do not own a 444 Marlin or 375 Winchester yet, but I would prefer them to be interesting as well.

REK

 

Don't have a 375 Winchester but I can guaranty you will find a Marlin 444 more than interesting.

 

A two inch group at 100 yards means that the furthest bullet strike is 1" from point-of-aim in any direction. Certainly adequate performance for a 100 to 200 yard kill (furthest bullet strike 2" from POI) on a deer sized animal.
Not all hunting rifles are MOA shooters as gunwriters and Urban Legend would have us believe.

A deer's heart is about 7" x 5".

 

A two inch group at 100 yards means that the furthest bullet strike is 1" from point-of-aim in any direction. Certainly adequate performance for a 100 to 200 yard kill (furthest bullet strike 2" from POI) on a deer sized animal.
Not all hunting rifles are MOA shooters as gunwriters and Urban Legend would have us believe.

A deer's heart is about 7" x 5".

Oh yeah! Even in the days of yore gun writers would occasionally spread a few grains of manure in their articles but the ones we have these days seem to really pour it on, don't they?

 

Like everyone else has already stated, a 2” group from a 30-30 is far more than minute of deer. I have eight 30-30s, a couple will shoot MOA all day long, but a 2” group at 100 yards will absolute serve its purpose for a 30-30 at the right range. You will lose in the 30-30 performance range far before you lose in the accuracy at that distance. I sure as hell won’t shell out $1,000 for one but the performance seems right there where they should be for Ruger to continue this nostalgic rifle and caliber.

 

The only lever rifle I own that will shoot MOA is my Browning BLR 358 and that only with certain handloads. My Savage 99 in 308 and my Marlin 336 in 35 rem even scoped with handloads will shoot 1.75to2.5 inch groups consistently. I think 2” groups with a 30-30 lever is perfectly acceptable and will easily kill deer out to 200-250 yards. To my way of thinking a tube fed lever action 30-30 rifle is the perfect deer hunting tool.

 

My 1950 vintage Savage 99 in 300 Savage with 150 gr Remington corelock will keep first 3 shots inside 1" and 5 shot groups under 1.5". Pretty good for a 73 year old lever gun.

 

Beat me to it. Got my copy yesterday but haven't read the article yet. There is also a side panel called "Hollywood Hardware" on Page 16 about the large lever loop 1892 Winchester used by John Wayne in "Rio Lobo" and "Stagecoach." I recently learned that rifle was also the one used by Chuck Connors as Lucas McCain in "The Rifleman." It now resides in the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in LA.

 

We hunters have wasted a lot of good ammo and components working to get a hunting rifle to under 1". The 2" group at 100 yds would do the job 95% of the time as most shots are under 200yds. Yes we have all taken shots at longer ranges and yes we have needed a longer range rifle at times. but is it worth all the effort. Just asking.
Have a great day.
Jim

 

In a word no it is not worth the chase.

 

MSRP on Marlin's site is $1239. I suppose it's possible their own listing is wrong?

 

Back in the '50's and '60's, the gun magazines would go ga-ga over 2" accuracy. Guns in general have gotten so accurate that 2" looks bad in comparison. It is not. 2" is good enough to land in the vital zone of a whitetail at 300 yards.

 

MSRP of $950? Says who? The Marlin website shows $1,239. Maybe he meant street price would be around $950?

 

2" wouldn't bother me in the least. I'd be just as happy with that number out of my Gunsite Scout in .308.
Let's also remember since 2020, factory ammo in some cases has turned to real doo-doo.

 

Lol, I just want one 🙂

 

No, but I think the 2" group at 100 yards is pretty decent for this type of rifle. It is in the kill zone at 100 yards.

 

Still in kill zone at 200 yds if hunting for deer or hogs.

 

Also remember that it's not like you can run down to the fun shop and come home with 12-different flavors of 30-30 ammo to try out.

I'm not surprised to see 2". That's right in the range of most non-bedded JM and Rem Marlins made after the 1960's. Now, I would love to see similar tests after silicone bedding the forearm of the new Ruger Marlin per M.L. McPherson.

Thanks

 

Please explain how to “bed” a tube fed lever action?

 

This older JM Texan and my Rem 336SS will do this often enough from cold at 100 yards:



I shot these 1, 3, 2 after switching scopes. About 20 minutes or maybe a little less between groups:



I think a 2 inch group with factory ammo and not spending a lot of time letting the stars align and the rifle cool down is not a bad group at all.

 

This thread isn’t going the way I planned. I shot my first deer at 12 years old and have shot more than a hundred since then. Killed them with handgun, rifle, bow and muzzle loader, from point blank to over 400 yards.
I agree that a rifle that shoots 2” groups is accurate enough to kill a deer.
Good enough is not the same thing as being impressed. Under different conditions that same rifle might be impressive, but that didn’t come through in the article. 3 random factory loads of near the same weight probably wasn’t a fair review of the rifle accuracy, and the scope power, rest setup or rate of fire were not discussed.
I would like to see a review of the new Marlin 336 by someone like Layne Simpson, his reviews usually have numerous factory loads and hand loads listed.
I do not think the rifle reviewed was bad, but I reserve my right to be impressed by the accuracy at a later date.

REK

 

This thread isn’t going the way I planned. I shot my first deer at 12 years old and have shot more than a hundred since then. Killed them with handgun, rifle, bow and muzzle loader, from point blank to over 400 yards.
I agree that a rifle that shoots 2” groups is accurate enough to kill a deer.
Good enough is not the same thing as being impressed. Under different conditions that same rifle might be impressive, but that didn’t come through in the article. 3 random factory loads of near the same weight probably wasn’t a fair review of the rifle accuracy, and the scope power, rest setup or rate of fire were not discussed.
I would like to see a review of the new Marlin 336 by someone like Layne Simpson, his reviews usually have numerous factory loads and hand loads listed.
I do not think the rifle reviewed was bad, but I reserve my right to be impressed by the accuracy at a later date.

REK

I guess Ruger didn't buy enough ads to merit a properly glowing gun-rag review. .

 

Remember, bullet spread and group size is exponential, not linear. A 2 inch group at 100 yards is a 4 inch group at 200 yards (2x2=4) and is an 8 inch group out at 300 yards (2x2x2=8). If you're confident enough and have a good levergun and scope setup, at 300 yards your Point of Impact can be as far as 4 inches from Point of Aim. Big enough spread to hit lungs, but maybe miss the heart. Some hits will obviously be closer to center of group, but at 300 yards a .30 WCF will be on the edge of accepted killing power, 800 to 1000 ft/lbs, depending on load. A FTX factory load will turn in the highest energy, a flatnose 150 or 170 will lag behind. Ethical kills are a personal choice. The test rifle in the magazine article as tested, will turn in a 6 inch group at 250 yards, the limit for most hunters with a .30-30.

 

Remember, bullet spread and group size is exponential, not linear. A 2 inch group at 100 yards is a 4 inch group at 200 yards (2x2=4) and is an 8 inch group out at 300 yards (2x2x2=8). If you're confident enough and have a good levergun and scope setup, at 300 yards your Point of Impact can be as far as 4 inches from Point of Aim. Big enough spread to hit lungs, but maybe miss the heart. Some hits will obviously be closer to center of group, but at 300 yards a .30 WCF will be on the edge of accepted killing power, 800 to 1000 ft/lbs, depending on load. A FTX factory load will turn in the highest energy, a flatnose 150 or 170 will lag behind. Ethical kills are a personal choice. The test rifle in the magazine article as tested, will turn in a 6 inch group at 250 yards, the limit for most hunters with a .30-30.

View attachment 924881

Uh, NO. Bullet deviation is generally linear. ie. 2" @ 100yds = 4" @ 200yds = 8" @ 400yds = 16" @ 800 yds, etc. WITH THE EXCEPTION of individual bullet dynamics. IF a bullet destabilizes beyond a certain range (typically due to a loss of velocity), THEN you will see additional degradation of accuracy. But it is also possible to see certain bullets perform BETTER at longer ranges than their initial accuracy at shorter ranges. ie. 1" @ 100 yds, 2" @ 200yds, 2.75" @ 300 yds, 3.5" @ 400 yds. Again, this is entirely due to a specific bullet with a specific powder charge, from a specific barrel, and isn't a given effect for every rifle.

If accuracy experienced an exponential degradation, a <4" group at 1000 yds would be literally impossible, and yet it's been done.... numerous times.

0.1 MOA at 1K — Amazing 1.068″ 50-5X Group at 1000 Yards « Daily Bulletin

Story based on report by Sam Hall Look at that target by Mike Wilson. This is one of the most remarkable displays of accuracy (and precision) in the history of long range shooting. This past weekend, Mike (aka GA. Dawg in our Forum) drilled a truly spectacular 1.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

Luis

 

I had my new Ruger made Marlin 336 out to the range last week. It's a very accurate gun. It's also the best made Marlin that I have ever held. But then I think my Remington made 1894 Marlin (2018) was before I got this one.

I put in the order through my LGS a couple months ago.

Forgive me members and mods. I know this message board runs a little different then those that I'm use to. Is there another sub forum here that I should post my RM 336c experience on?

 

That's a pretty rifle you have there. Glad to hear she's a shooter.

 

As a wise old hunter once said; "When you're out in the bush, it's the one shot group that counts".

 

That sums up my experience over 50 years of hunting.
DEP

 

I think 2" at 100 is pretty darn good, to the point I think that maybe im good enough for this gun, maybe i wouldnt sell mine after all.

Lever actions never had to be perfect and werent, they only had to get meat on the table and they did that in spades --- often in as little as 10 yards. So 100 yds doesnt interest me, how are they at 25, 50, 60? Extremely good. But even 2" at 100 is well within the boundaries of an ethical kill, absurdly so, so whats the argument in here about?

With all my heart i hope i remain good enough to maintain 2" at 100 and if anyone in here thinks those numbers arent worthy, get out of the business and send yours to me. I know how to give it a good home!

 

I have found that firing off hand, or even supported against a tree, etc, my rifles are all capable of better shooting than I am, lol... In my mid-60s shots that used to be pretty easy now take more concentration for a steady hold.

 

Like stated already a 2” group at 100yds will definitely get the job done for 200yd shots. My 356 using factory loads doesn’t do much better but my 1895MR will do MOA with factory loads. Both still group good enough for 250yd shots. Kill zone on a deer is probably 18” or more. I test rifles at the max distance I’m going to use them to determine if that load is acceptable not 100yds.