Marlin 336 Basic Overview and Discipline Check

The reintroduced Marlin 336 Basic, chambered within the everlasting .30/30 WCF, continues Ruger’s profitable streak with the enduring model. We had the 336 within the combine throughout our new rifle take a look at early this yr the place it went toe-to-toe with a stacked area of extra trendy choices but emerged with our Editor’s Selection award as the most effective rifle of 2023.

For the skeptics on the market, this wasn’t performed out of some sense of misty-eyed nostalgia. Sure, we’ve a keenness for conventional rifles, however we additionally absolutely embrace the brand new applied sciences which have remodeled our rifles and our marksmanship. So, regardless of these tendencies, the Marlin prevailed.

In brief, the Marlin 336, just like the 1895 SBL, is an instance of recent manufacturing processes pulling on the oars to make the most effective lever actions to ever put on the Marlin bullseye and horse-and-rider emblem.

• Motion: Lever
• Inventory: Walnut
• Caliber: .30/30 Winchester
• Capability: 6+1
• Weight: 7 kilos, 1 ounce (measured)
• Set off: 8 kilos (measured)
• Barrel: 20 inches with 1:12 twist
• Size: 38.5 inches
• Value: $1,239

Marlin 336 Basic Match and End

Even earlier than you set a single spherical via the 336 you’d need to be a dim bulb to not pay attention to how good this rifle appears.

The very first thing to leap out is the standard of the wooden and metallic work, that are each beautiful. The inventory is fabricated from a darkish, richly hued walnut whereas the metallic is polished and blued to a deep luster.

Inventory

Marlin isn’t providing the 336 with upgraded wooden—no less than not but—however what they’re utilizing is sort of engaging and a step above the usual, uninspired wooden that almost all rifles at this worth level put on.

The checkering sample on the grip and alongside the fore-end is conventional and effectively executed. The diamonds level up properly and are contained inside engaging panels that place the feel proper the place it advantages the shooter most.

Since it’s fabricated from wooden, the 336 needs to be dealt with with further care, as we came upon when the rifle took a spill on the vary, dinging the fore-end and eliciting a collective wince among the many take a look at workforce.

Different touches on the inventory that we favored embody the brown recoil pad that’s efficient and good wanting, and the grip cap, which includes the Marlin horse and rider emblem. Considerate components like this elevate the rifle’s aesthetic impression giving it a cultured air.

Metallic

One space the place a discerning eye can entry the workmanship in a firearm is the metalwork. Take sprucing, as an illustration. On a blued or stainless motion with a lot of flat surfaces a whole lot of talent is required to appropriately polish the metallic, which must be performed by hand if it’s going to be performed proper.

There’s a advantageous line between extreme sprucing, which can spherical off the sides on the border of the flats and diminish the rifle’s visible impression, and sprucing that’s inadequate to convey the metallic to a lustrous sheen. Our Marlin 336 Basic was polished appropriately and seemed as proud as a boss rooster greeting the solar.

One other indication of the craftsmanship that goes into these Marlins is the match between the metallic components and the match between the wooden and metallic. Credit score has to go to the product engineers who took the time to verify the CNC equipment in Mayodan, North Carolina, was churning out components that match snugly but didn’t compromise the lever-action’s reliability. Lever weapons, being inherently complicated, are way more finicky with their functioning than bolt actions.

In case you have any doubt about this, take any Marlin made in North Haven, Connecticut, and examine the 2. It pains my Yankee coronary heart to confess this (I spent most of my childhood simply exterior of North Haven), however when you flip the weapons over you’ll see a a lot bigger hole between the set off plate guard and receiver on the Connecticut rifle versus the North Carolina Marlin.

Marlin 336 Basic Dealing with

The hallmark of the lever motion—and one purpose the platform endures—is its popularity for nimble, quick dealing with, particularly when wielded by a shooter with a modicum of talent.

The Marlin 336 Basic delivers on that promise in a seemingly easy method. The rifle is only a contact over 38 inches with its 20-inch barrel and, with no scope, weighs 7 kilos 1 ounce.

That places it smack dab within the candy spot upon which lever actions earned their fame. Paired with the mild-mannered .30/30 you find yourself with a rifle that drops sport, doesn’t beat up the shooter with recoil, is a pleasure to hold and maneuver in brush, and is a pure pointer.

Even when scoped, which barely diminishes its stability and really feel, this rifle stands head and shoulders above most new bolt-actions on this class. Throughout our gun take a look at we discovered ourselves operating the Marlin 336 Basic onerous and quick for the sheer pleasure of experiencing its dealing with.

Marlin 336 Basic Accuracy

Coupled with its superlative dealing with was moderately good accuracy, definitely as much as snuff for the shot distances one would count on whereas searching with a .30/30.

The general accuracy of the ten finest five-shot teams was 1.627 inches at 100 yards. We shot 4 completely different masses via the rifle, and the Marlin appeared to love three of them specifically.

The highest two masses by way of accuracy have been Winchester’s Tremendous-X 170-grain Energy-Level (1.631 inch common), and Hornady’s 150-grain Spherical Nostril Interlock (1.506 inch common) of their American Whitetail line, although Winchester’s 150-grain Deer Season XP carried out effectively too (1.909 inch common). All three of those masses are inexpensive. With a little bit digging, yow will discover them for $26 to $30 for a field of 20.

From the angle of terminal efficiency, all these masses will deal with any whitetail inside 150 yards, and can deal with bear and even elk underneath most circumstances.

Different Chamberings—Not So Quick

Whereas it made excellent sense to reintroduce the 336 Basic in .30/30 there are any variety of shooters—together with me—who’re eagerly anticipating the arrival of different cartridge choices. Specifically, I’m wanting ahead to the .35 Remington being reintroduced, as that was my go-to Northwoods spherical in my outdated Marlin 336.

I wouldn’t say it’s a given, however I’d be shocked if we don’t see the 336 Basic chambered in Remington’s 360 Buckhammer, given the variety of deer hunters within the straight-wall states who’re pining for a pleasant lever motion to take afield.

Marlin has indicated that, on the very least, the .35 Remington is within the pipeline. However as a result of demand for the .30/30 is past what they will ship, they’re holding off on new chamberings.

“Each .35 Remington we’d make is one much less .30/30 we’d ship,” a Marlin govt advised me. “It’s a matter of which group will we piss off the least.”

Marlin 336 Basic Ergonomics

The dealing with we’ve praised a lot is integrally linked with the Marlin’s glorious ergonomics. The geometry of the inventory, the sleek working motion, the benefit with which we might load the rifle—all contributed to our optimistic impression.

For those who’ve run many lever weapons with a side-gate loading port you’ve little doubt encountered the tendency of some rifles to pinch your finger as you slide rounds into the journal. One other challenge that crops up is when a spherical slips free from the lifter and needs to slip again into the receiver, which might trigger complications.

The Marlin 336 Basic prevented each these snafus and gave us no hassle in any respect. By the way in which, a great tip to keep away from pinched fingers whereas loading a lever motion is to shove the cartridge about two-thirds into the loading port after which drive it house with the following cartridge. This retains your fingers out of hurt’s method.

Downsides

Whereas we have been enthusiastic about the 336 Basic, the rifle isn’t excellent. Although crisp, the 8-pound set off pull is extreme. Whereas the set off on a 336 won’t ever be as gentle as that on a goal rifle, it may be higher. I’d like to see Marlin get this right down to 4.5 kilos or so, as an inexpensive compromise.

The crossbolt security, which Marlin launched on the 336 within the early Eighties, is an answer to a non-existent drawback and an irritant those that desire a lever-action with clean clear strains—however it’s a function we’re caught with. I wouldn’t categorize it as an actual disadvantage, however a man can dream and picture a Marlin 336 Basic with out this mole on its face.

Marlin 336 Basic Value and Worth

It’s attention-grabbing to me to see feedback on-line concerning the $1,239 price ticket on the Marlin. I don’t know what these individuals are smoking, however they appear mortally offended that lever actions don’t price $350 anymore.

Just a little perspective on this. First, 1983 was 40 years in the past. Second, the Marlins and Winchester 94s being made at the moment have been rattling items of junk. All it’s important to do is examine the engraving on the barrel of a Mayodan Marlin to a North Haven pattern. The execution of the lettering is evening and day.

The actual fact is that the Marlin 336 Basic is price each little bit of the cash they’re asking for it—and if the resale worth of the rifles on-line is any indication, loads of people are joyful to shell out fairly a bit extra for the possibility to get one.

Whether or not $1,239 is in your finances is its personal matter. However at this worth the Marlin is a heck of a great worth. The craftsmanship, high quality of the supplies, and efficiency utterly justify the worth.

Marlin 336 Basic Professionals and Cons

Professionals

• Glorious workmanship
• Lovely dealing with
• Good worth
• Return of an icon

Cons

• Set off is excessively heavy
• In brief provide

Last Ideas on the Marlin 336 Basic

There’s no purpose to belabor the purpose, apart from to say that underneath Ruger’s possession the Marlin model has taken wing and its future prospects are brilliant.

The Marlin 336 Basic will not be solely a worthy iteration of this lengthy standing fixture within the American deer searching scene however is a notably improved model of what got here earlier than. On this case the phrase “they don’t make them like they used to” couldn’t be extra apt. These are the best manufacturing facility Marlins ever.