The new 336 is everything I expected and more. It's better than the originals....and I have a bunch of them made from 1899 to 1980's models.

 

They are quite good. Really. Obviously while I was at Marlin I got to look at quite a few...new and old alike. Ruger is doing a fantastic job with the brand and rifles.

 

Ruger makes good guns

 

He talked Remington several times, but avoided any reference to Connecticut JM Marlins. I don't know who he is, never heard of him before this, and really wasn't impressed with his knowledge, experience, or presentation. The "get a boresnake" was the kicker for me. He could have spent 3 to 4 minutes explaining bolt removal and breech cleaning, one of the biggest and best selling points of the Marlin design over Winchester for the last 125 years.

But I'm 100% sure the Ruger made 336 is better than his review. JMO, yours may vary.

 

He talked Remington several times, but avoided any reference to Connecticut JM Marlins. I don't know who he is, never heard of him before this, and really wasn't impressed. But I'm 100% sure the Ruger made 336 is better than his review.

JMO, yours may vary.

I didn't mean to avoid any reference to the JM stamped Marlins, it wasn't intentional. I did talk about Remington multiple times because they were making the Marlins for over a decade...so it's quite relevant. As far as the JM stamped Marlins, obviously those were great. That said they were difficult to produce and were not very consistent because of the antiquated equipment Marlin used. There was a lot of variance in the fit of the parts. It's not meant to be derogatory, but the new Ruger produced Marlins are just going to be better guns as whole, that's just a fact. If you want some insight as to why, you might check out the interview I did with Eric Lundgren, the Marlin Product manager. He is now with Ruger, and was also with Remington, so he knows what he's talking about.

As far as who I am, I was the Director of Marketing for a short while at Marlin before and through a bit of the Remington purchase. I also came up with and pushed the 1895 SBL into production. Bu in general I'm no one special and no one you should necessarily be impressed with.

 

Well, I gotta give Ruger kudos on appearance, they look very nice. While not necessarily Ruger's fault, they are certainly spendy!

Let's go brandon.

That said, thanks for the review ORHunter.

Jack

 

Thanks Jack. Yeah...they're spendy...but when you compare how much more work goes into these guns vs some high end ARs that are priced quite a bit higher, it doesn't seem so bad.

 

I am going to go with the Ruger being equal to or better than JM based on my ownership of multiple Marlins through the years and my two Ruger built Marlins in .45-70, they are better on the inside and they are at least equal on the outside to equivalent JM models and I suspect the same for the 336. Thanks for the review. I do not need another 336 right now at least until there is a stainless model or a Texan.

 

Great video! I just purchased a new Ruger/Marlin in 44 mag, beautiful gun and smooth as butter!
I have several older Marlins from 22lr to 45-70 and they are all shooters.

 

Wow...busting his chops over a recommendation to get a Bore Snake?
Didn't mention JM branded original Marlins?

It's a review of a new gun, not a comprehensive account of the companies history. Nor is it a disassembly and reassembly tutorial or cleaning guide.
Just take it for what it is.

Good video, thanks for posting it.

 

add the link to shot shot video you referenced ~Chaser11~~

 

I have and use a bore snake on all my rifles.

 

A bore snake is a neat way of keeping the breach clean of debris but eventually you have to do a deep cleaning and take the bolt out if you shoot the gun a lot.

 

I always carry a caliber specific bore snake while hunting

 

If I had a wish it would be that there could be a discussion of the new production rifles from Ruger without going back through all of the anti-Remington and CBS rants. Of all the Marlins I have owned, about a dozen now and over the years several dozen more that got traded off the two Remington built rifles I have, a 336SS and a 1895SBL, are the best two Marlins I have owned until I bought a Ruger 1895SBL and 1895GBL. And among the several 1895s I have owned the Remington built SBL remains the most accurate by a hair and my favorite. And the .30-30 I will reach for if I decide to drag myself out into the cold for a deer, it will be the Remington 336SS. And as soon as Ruger builds a 336 in the .360 Buckhammer or a stainless steel Texan in .30-30, I will purchase one proudly and I will not care one iota why the Kenna bunch sold off their legacy for $ and who did what to who in the interim between then and now. It is water under the bridge, let it rest.