The matte finished/laminate stocks is the newest model 336W, the one with the birch/blued is a little earlier production.

Whichever one you get look it over real good before you buy. Make sure the wood fits the metal with no gaps, the sights look straight on the barrel, and the action feels good, though it will be stiff on a new gun.

It is hard to get the birch stocks to look good, even if you refinish them they will still look like birch stocks. You could always replace the stocks with walnut later on. If it's a hunting gun it will probably get some bumps and scratches in it anyway.

If you have a Dick's Sporting Goods nearby you should check out the 336A. You might like how they look better than the 336W but if you decide to get the W model I would go with the older, blued model. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Birch is hard to stain, well I should say hard to stain in the normal way where it looks good. Look at Ruger theyve been applying an opaque, paint looking stain finish on their crate wood stocks for 40+ years. If you have to strip one and refinish it you will see what I mean. The birch always looks blotchy to me using clear stains and oil finish methods.

 

I've been reading and I didn't think the new ones would be that bad. I guess ill go to walmart today and take a look at how bad they really are. I can't bring myself to get a matte finished laminate gun, its too hard on my eyes. Id like to get a used but everytime they appear on local swap shop site at a fair price their gone within a few minutes, I missed out on one for $300 last Wednesday.

 

jj5685, welcome to the MO Family, enjoy yourself here. The pallet wood stocks are very plain and hard to stain. You might want to try a water based stain, get in powder and use wood alcohol, will penetrate better and you can apply several coats of stain to gety what you want. You said you wanted to refinish thte stock, look for an older, somewhat neglected Marlin with a Walnut stock, when refinished they come out beeeuitful. Refinishing will help the grain pattern to stand ou. Good luck with your choice and keep us in the loop, pictures of the refinish would be appreciated. Take care, John.

 

Ill keep you up to date. i'vs still got a week until ill have the money, and trying to make up my mind on which one too

 

From a use stand point birch is a good stable gun wood, just plain, plenty of mil-sup rifles have birch stocks. Old Glenfields have birch stocks and their owners love em'.

 

I went to walmart a minute ago and looked at the marlin - they had a lock covering half the reciever, trigger, and lever - I couldnt work the action. I asked the lady if she minded taking it off so I could see what kind of quality of the action, she said no its their policy, but ill get it took off after I buy it. I told her im not going to buy it untill I can look it over. she wouldnt take it off, so i walked out

 

called the store back and spoke with the manager and she says they cant take a lock of the trigger inside the store "thats crazy absoulutley not", and she also said she doesnt know enough about guns to know what im talking about. I can legally carry a handgun inside walmart but I cant look at the action of a rifle?

 

A near by "DICK'S" treats customers the same way, me included. I'm no longer a customer!

 

you dont have to call the employees DICKS, have a little respect :biggrin: only joking hahaha:congrats:

 

Keep shopping around, the older ones look a whole lot nicer and if you're like me the crossbolt safety spoils the look of the rifle. Don't let the money burn a hole in your pocket. Keep shopping until you find the rifle you're looking for. Gun shows usually have a few of them in the racks and most of them seem to get over looked from what I've seen at the shows. They're usually passed by for Winchester lever guns and Milsurp stuff. I picked mine up 2 weeks ago at a show for $340+ tax after shopping around for 6 or 8 months. Eventually you'll find the rifle that speaks to you.

Stu

 

I just found one, Im not sure how old it is, but it has walnut stock, checkering, white line spacers, scope rings, and some kinda scope. I told him I would give him $320 for it if its as good as he says,and he said he'll meet me tommorow morning. Havnt looked it over yet but it does look nice, in good condition as far as ive seen, ill post a pic if I can figure out how... he was asking $375

 

are those scope rings on right? What year do you think this is

 

I think you need to remove them and give them to Hal,Lol. Then get yourself some lower mounts. Some guys do like them but normally they are both pointed in the same direction.