Disclaimer - I'm Aussie.
Ok. So I have read a great deal of bad things about the "new" marlin lever actions. But however, I decided on buying one. I am a brand new item sort of person. I hate buying second hand as I like to know the history and treatment of my stuff.
Not to say 2nd hand guns are bad in any way. I just like to buy new. Each to their own.
Anyway, after much umming and arring I decided I would "bite the bullet" and order a brand new marlin 336w. I placed my order at Clayton firearms on a Friday after noon and was told they would order them in. I had to wait for my PTA anyway.
They completed my online Permit To Acquire form and sent it that afternoon. I was told up to 2 weeks for the gun to get in. On Tuesday morning I had a call - she was there, and so way my PTA. That's about a 1 business day turn around 5:00pm Friday arvo till 9:30 am Tuesday morning.
I asked him how she looked as I heard horror stories about the marlins, and explained I wanted to check her over before I committed to it. He said no problems, they had ordered 4 in. I could chose which ever I wanted.
I headed there after work and talked to the guys. They brought the first one out and straight away I was impressed. She looked fantastic. Fit and finish were superb. The blue was dark and rich. The screws were flush and perfect. The wood was fantastic. I said no need to see the others she's the one.
I picked up a redfield 3-9x40 scope and a packet each of Remington 150gr core-lokts federal 150gr power shock and hornady 160gr lever evolutions.
Took her home and cycled her and stripped her open to clean the action. The machine work on the Internals was rough. Lots of burrs left, grease was VERY sticky (packing grease I suppose) but other then that she was a beaut.
photo-2.jpg picture by kadmium - Photobucket
So I fitted the scope and all then took her to the range today. Got down there (little river) at opening time. Signed in and bought a target frame. $15 to hire, but you get back $10 if its not damaged and you return it.
So I set up at 50 yards to sight her in. I was nervous. All these horror stories of jamming, fail to fire, fail to extract fail fail fail. It was all buzzing through my head. I slowly slipped in 6 federals into the tube. Cycled the action. She took a round cleanly. With a nice mechanical sound she clipped into place, and waited eagerly for me to let rip.
I sighted in, and started the squeeze.... More pressure ... More pressure... More... "god this is a heavy trigger I thought".... More pressure. Finally the trigger broke and.... *CLICK* ..... The safety was on
Safety off, solid squeeze and BOOM she went. This is @#$%^ great I thought. Now the moment of truth. Cycle the lever forward and out flew the spent cartridge, with a *ping*. Good. Cycle back and in slid a new round. Click went the lever as she locked in. Squeeze. BOOM.
I fired off 60 rounds. Never missed a beat. The bloke at the bench helped me zero her in. He was a top bloke. We shot each others guns (he had a tikka .308 which was VERY nice) he fired my lever action. I saw the smile he had as he cycled her. His father in law has a 20 year old marlin 336 and he said they are exactly the same.
As far as I am concerned, it's a fantastic rifle. Quality, solid reliable. She's eager to shoot. I fired my last 6 hornadys as fast as I could re-acquire the target and she never skipped a beat. Smooth yet mechanical. A couple hundred rounds and I'm sure I'll be able to cycle her with my pinky.
Never did get my $10 back though...
photo-1.jpg picture by kadmium - Photobucket
Ok. So I have read a great deal of bad things about the "new" marlin lever actions. But however, I decided on buying one. I am a brand new item sort of person. I hate buying second hand as I like to know the history and treatment of my stuff.
Not to say 2nd hand guns are bad in any way. I just like to buy new. Each to their own.
Anyway, after much umming and arring I decided I would "bite the bullet" and order a brand new marlin 336w. I placed my order at Clayton firearms on a Friday after noon and was told they would order them in. I had to wait for my PTA anyway.
They completed my online Permit To Acquire form and sent it that afternoon. I was told up to 2 weeks for the gun to get in. On Tuesday morning I had a call - she was there, and so way my PTA. That's about a 1 business day turn around 5:00pm Friday arvo till 9:30 am Tuesday morning.
I asked him how she looked as I heard horror stories about the marlins, and explained I wanted to check her over before I committed to it. He said no problems, they had ordered 4 in. I could chose which ever I wanted.
I headed there after work and talked to the guys. They brought the first one out and straight away I was impressed. She looked fantastic. Fit and finish were superb. The blue was dark and rich. The screws were flush and perfect. The wood was fantastic. I said no need to see the others she's the one.
I picked up a redfield 3-9x40 scope and a packet each of Remington 150gr core-lokts federal 150gr power shock and hornady 160gr lever evolutions.
Took her home and cycled her and stripped her open to clean the action. The machine work on the Internals was rough. Lots of burrs left, grease was VERY sticky (packing grease I suppose) but other then that she was a beaut.
photo-2.jpg picture by kadmium - Photobucket
So I fitted the scope and all then took her to the range today. Got down there (little river) at opening time. Signed in and bought a target frame. $15 to hire, but you get back $10 if its not damaged and you return it.
So I set up at 50 yards to sight her in. I was nervous. All these horror stories of jamming, fail to fire, fail to extract fail fail fail. It was all buzzing through my head. I slowly slipped in 6 federals into the tube. Cycled the action. She took a round cleanly. With a nice mechanical sound she clipped into place, and waited eagerly for me to let rip.
I sighted in, and started the squeeze.... More pressure ... More pressure... More... "god this is a heavy trigger I thought".... More pressure. Finally the trigger broke and.... *CLICK* ..... The safety was on
Safety off, solid squeeze and BOOM she went. This is @#$%^ great I thought. Now the moment of truth. Cycle the lever forward and out flew the spent cartridge, with a *ping*. Good. Cycle back and in slid a new round. Click went the lever as she locked in. Squeeze. BOOM.
I fired off 60 rounds. Never missed a beat. The bloke at the bench helped me zero her in. He was a top bloke. We shot each others guns (he had a tikka .308 which was VERY nice) he fired my lever action. I saw the smile he had as he cycled her. His father in law has a 20 year old marlin 336 and he said they are exactly the same.
As far as I am concerned, it's a fantastic rifle. Quality, solid reliable. She's eager to shoot. I fired my last 6 hornadys as fast as I could re-acquire the target and she never skipped a beat. Smooth yet mechanical. A couple hundred rounds and I'm sure I'll be able to cycle her with my pinky.
Never did get my $10 back though...
photo-1.jpg picture by kadmium - Photobucket
