336-219 zipper

[hunter718]

Anyone have a 336-219 zipper? Was in a shop last night and saw one for sale. Asking $1195 which seemed high to me. Any thoughts out there on this?? It looks all original and is in very good condition. Any comments on accuracy on the 219 also appreciated?? Thanks

[oso45-70]

Anyone have a 336-219 zipper? Was in a shop last night and saw one for sale. Asking $1195 which seemed high to me. Any thoughts out there on this?? It looks all original and is in very good condition. Any comments on accuracy on the 219 also appreciated?? Thanks

Hunter718,

The 219 zipper was very popular in the 30s and 40s, If memory serves me most of them were in winchester 94 rifles. The case of the zipper was made from the 25-35 necked down. They were the cream of the crop for a few years until some of the wildcatters got going. The price seems a little high but you never know it might bring it. Not too sure  when Marlin started putting the zipper out in the 336. I would love to have the little jewel but not for the price they were asking. You asked about accuracy. At the time mentioned above they were the top money gitter at the rifle matches. Have a good day Sir .........Joe.......

[smk]

I owned a 336 SC Zipper for a while - just sold it 2 weeks ago. $1195 is way high. I have seen very nice original ones for sale at gun shows for $650 in the past year. Mine was not very accurate. It also has a heavier barrel so what you have is a sort of heavy varmint gun that really doesn't shoot like a sort of heavy varmint gun. The reason these never really caught on was due to the so-so accuracy. It shot about as good as my other Marlin levers, but is that good enough for a varmint rifle? It wasn't for me. Each rifle shoots differently, though. It was a kind of fun and unique rifle.

[GTaylor]

I recently aquired one- With handloads (and a scope) it shoots on par with a remington 22-250 at 100 yards (1/2"-3/4" groups for two different shooters)  Don't know about further out, but it is on par ballistically with the 223.

ammo availability is a bit hit or miss, but we have found it simple to run annealed once fired 30-30 brass through a 25-35 die, trim it, and run it into the zipper die.

I would mention that the gun came from a semi-retired smith, and he admitted to a trigger job, and my have done more tuning.