[kev]

Found an older Marlin 336 in a local pawn shop and put it on layaway. According to the serial number, the rifle was made in 1976.

I am thinking about leaving it without a scope. The receiver is drilled and tapped. This would be an up close deer rifle.

I thought about having it cerakote coated, but not sure.

There are a new little rust spots, but no big deal.

I was looking for an older lever action Marlin, one that was made before freedom group bought them. After keeping an eye on the local pawn shop for close to a year, they finally got one in.

What would you do with it?

 

[Big Sarge]

What caliber? I hope you lucked into a 35 Remington or 38-55 Win. If it was me. I would clean the rust and touch up the bluing. I would only cerakote if the finish was trashed or if the rifle was subject to saltwater or long periods of wet condition without care.

 

[goliath4407]

Love my Marlin 336 in 35 Remington but it suffers from the Marlin jam since the day I bought it new in 1984 good luck with yours

 

[Bluz]

If it were me, the only thing I would do with it , is shoot the **** out of it. It's a working gun, and a patina on a working gun is what gives it character. I guessing it's a 30-30, I don't remember running across many .35 Remington when I lived in Texas. You know it will make a great deer gun, unscoped, for East Texas Big Thicket area.

 

[kev]

What caliber? I hope you lucked into a 35 Remington or 38-55 Win. If it was me. I would clean the rust and touch up the bluing. I would only cerakote if the finish was trashed or if the rifle was subject to saltwater or long periods of wet condition without care.

It is 30-30

 

[Blackrock]

Great gun. I had a Model 1894 in .357mag for years and it was a great gun. I made the mistake of letting my Nephew shoot it a few times when he was visiting and he fell in love with it. So when he graduated High School (3.92GPA) I gave it to him as a graduation gift. I miss it sometimes, but it's being loved and cared for.

 

[AlgoRhythms]

I have a 336 30/30 from the 1970's and have done exactly what you've done.

Its my Pennsylvania deer rifle. Put a strap on it and added a Williams peep sight.

Nice rifles.

 

[rwtrapper]

I refinished my old 336 last summer this time. I took it apart an cleaned the steel so not to have any rust or grime an I spray painted it. I then sanded any rough spots on the wood an painted it with the textured paint. It was a beater when my dad bought it in the late 80s for me an was a truck gun. I like the way it finished out.

The Marlin 336 is a fine firearm. I couldn't believe how acurate that rifle was. It will stackem in at a 100yds with irons off hand. My other marlins shoot good also but it is most accurate. I guess ya just lucky some times with one like that.

 

[AlgoRhythms]

An obvious point...

A scope doesn't make a rifle more accurate.

It just lets you see the target better.

The rest is up to you and the rifle.

 

[Nomad 2nd]

Ashley or Williams peep
Sling
Butt cuff for ammo.
Possibly a light depending on use.

 

[rwtrapper]

Hey Kev

What kind of ammo are you going to shoot out of it?

If you hand load try the hornady lever evolution. Loads good an shoot good to. I shoot irons with 30-30 but guys I know shootn a scope brag about how the groups tightened up with the lever evolution ammo.

 

[Goblin X]

rub it off with brass wool, lube it with TW25B, big loop the lever , add a vernier tang sight on the receiver, folding sight in the middle, and hood the sight on the front.
+1 on the lever revolution ammo. good hunting ammo if you dont reload.
Badgerclaw Stock cuff, with badgerclaw adjustable sling.
www.badgerclawleatherworks.com

 

[kev]

Hey Kev

What kind of ammo are you going to shoot out of it?

If you hand load try the hornady lever evolution. Loads good an shoot good to. I shoot irons with 30-30 but guys I know shootn a scope brag about how the groups tightened up with the lever evolution ammo.

I use Remington core-lokt for all my hunting rifles.

 

[gungatim]

I was looking for one as well, found a mid-80's in .30-.30 a couple years ago. $350 with case, scope, and 2.5 boxes of ammo. apparently all that was ever shot out of it as it was like new. very accurate and a great gun for the deer blind...

anyway, if the rust isn't bad, you can CAREFULLY scrape the heavier stuff away with a sharp razor blade, lightly polish with #0000 steel or brass wool, and just use cold blue to touch it up. I had a couple guns that were in good finish other wise except for some spots here and there from long term storage (one a Remington wingmaster, the other was an old bolt action) and the above procedure worked exceedingly well. blends in and leaves the original finish intact.

I would only re-coat a gun like that if it was in extremely poor shape.

good luck, I am sure you will enjoy the gun, they really are great little rifles!

 

[weaselrunner]

Got one, a 336c 3030, back in 82. Only things I did was to put sling swivels, see thru scope mounts and a Bushnell scope on it. Shoots good.

 

[RedElk]

I would oil it up and shoot it.
Load up about 500 rounds and use the tar out of it.
Great hunting rifle. Use skills, get close.
re

 

[Tad_T]

The first centerfire rifle that I ever bought was a Marlin 336 in .30-30. I bought it new in December 1978 when I was 15. Walmart had a Christmas sale on .30-30's that year. You could buy a Marlin or a Winchester, your choice, for $99. I've killed a lot of deer with that .30-30. I still have it and still hunt with it.

It's one of seven Marlin lever actions that I own. I also have a 39A and five 1894's. One of the 1894's was made in 1895 and it's in .32-20. It's a very cool rifle with a 24" Octagonal barrel. Three are in .357 Magnum and the other is a .44 Magnum.

Me, my wife, and my youngest daughter shoot the .357's as main match rifles in Cowboy Action. The .44 is my main match rifle for Wild Bunch Action Shooting.

I like Marlins. I hope you enjoy yours.

 

[Palma]

Ditch the rear sight and replace with a peep of your choice. I would do Williams or Skinner.