shortening a 336

[hillbill]

i jus picked up a sweet marlin 336 in 30-30 really cheap.since i already have 2 of these im thinking about haveing my local smith shorten the barrel to the legal limit.makeing a trapper type rifle out of it. maybe with a rear peep or scout type scope.maybe with a button mag also.what do you guys think?with the trapper type levers so high would it increase or decrease the value if done right?what do you guys think about this project?

[Dee]

Hard to say. It could be a handy little rifle, but I have a carbine, and a rifle in Winchester, and it doesn't seem to be any easier to tote the 24" barrel than the 20". It does however take away velocity, and at my age, the longer the barrel the clearer the front sight. I had to put a tang sight on my carbine so I could get the aperture closer to my eye. The receiver Lyman was just too faraway. Now the front sight is sharp and clear.
But part of this is not what you asked. I, or anyone else cannot tell you what YOU like. What will the short barrel do, that the longer won't do for YOUR NEEDS? I don't think however, it will increase the value, so I would look only at use.

[hillbill]

Hard to say. It could be a handy little rifle, but I have a carbine, and a rifle in Winchester, and it doesn't seem to be any easier to tote the 24" barrel than the 20". It does however take away velocity, and at my age, the longer the barrel the clearer the front sight. I had to put a tang sight on my carbine so I could get the aperture closer to my eye. The receiver Lyman was just too faraway. Now the front sight is sharp and clear.
But part of this is not what you asked. I, or anyone else cannot tell you what YOU like. What will the short barrel do, that the longer won't do for YOUR NEEDS? I don't think however, it will increase the value, so I would look only at use.

all very true indeed.and good points.im not really worried about the sighting radius because i should gain back what i lose with a reciever mounted peep.i think it would make a handy truck rifle to use when farming or checking cows for mostly armos and yotes. or for hunting deer in the brushy 40 acres beside my house.and also kind of a novelty as well.im kind of torn between chopping it or tradeing it for a win 94, that is something i dont have and would like to add to my collection.i like the heavier built marlins better but they just dont carry and point, to me, like the lighter win 94's.

[Savage .250]

  Once it`s altered from it`s original length,  all bets are off.   Being you already have a couple, saw away.   

[tunnug]

I remember seeing a website where the owner had cut his down to make it into a handy truck rifle, if done right it's pretty nice looking little rifle and I seem to think that the ballistics didn't change much, do it and don't forget to post the results.

[flatlander11]

I worked over an old Glenfield 30-30 a few years ago. Took the barrel to 16.5" and installed Ashley ghost ring sights . Also put a good recoil pad on it. She will do 3" at 100 yards which is the best these old eyes are capable of. It goes with me everyday,handy little rifle.

[Lloyd Smale]

I cut a 35 down to 16.5 for my wife. It made a cool litte gun for her. I wouldnt worry about ruining the value. 336s are a dime a dozen and i can pick them up for 200-300 up here all the time used. Aint like your cutting up a collectors gun.

[tattoo13]

I have a cut down work 336 in .30-30, my favorite gun in my collection.
It is just about perfect, I would like a better scout scope, the one on it is a pistol scope, and has too much eye relief.
I say do it, I bet you'll like it and if you don't someone will make you an offer. I have a few people who have standing offers if I ever get stupid and decide to sell it (not gonna happen).

[bilmac]

I cut the barrel of a 95, but not radically, so I didn't have to mess with the magazine. It was an easy job, and since I was going to mount a Williams Guide Receiver sight and was going to have to mount a ramp front sight, there was no extra work involved with the sights.

[dpe.ahoy]

You seldom get all your money back when you start changing rifles around when it involves a gunsmith, but my thoughts are if that's what i want, don't worry about it.  My kids will be worrying about the value, not me.  If you want a shorty, go for it.  DP

[Missionary5155]

Greetings
I have cut numerous revolver,rifle & shotgun barrels.  It is not that hard.  Just make sure you square the muzzle to the bore.  I have always used a machinest square for that. After cutting you can file smooth and even go with diamond laps.  The crown can be carefully cut with a round brass ball with valve lap compound applied.
Mike in Peru

[hillbill]

I have a cut down work 336 in .30-30, my favorite gun in my collection.
It is just about perfect, I would like a better scout scope, the one on it is a pistol scope, and has too much eye relief.
I say do it, I bet you'll like it and if you don't someone will make you an offer. I have a few people who have standing offers if I ever get stupid and decide to sell it (not gonna happen).

now i like that! looks very handy!

[tattoo13]

now i like that! looks very handy!

It sure is.
Doesn't get used as much as it used to, but I used to spend lots of days bouncing through farm fields and in and out of a truck all day, it made a great companion. Dropped a bunch of coyotes and armadillos.

[Lloyd Smale]

mine .35 looked alot like yours sans the scope but i just couldnt warm up to the half magazine and bought a band and new mag tube from brownells and cut it full lenght. Looks nicer to me and holds another round of ammo.

I have a cut down work 336 in .30-30, my favorite gun in my collection.
It is just about perfect, I would like a better scout scope, the one on it is a pistol scope, and has too much eye relief.
I say do it, I bet you'll like it and if you don't someone will make you an offer. I have a few people who have standing offers if I ever get stupid and decide to sell it (not gonna happen).

[hillbill]

i was thinkin about a button mag like my browning mod 53.if it will hold 3 rounds with one in the pipe im good.i dont shoot at a lot of stuff twice anyway.

[TopsBlades]

I've got a 336 with a 16.25" barrel and love it.  XS Lever Scout mount and a Bushnell Red Dot TRS 25.  All in all it is about 5 inches shorter than my 336 in 35 Remington and it is much handier and better balanced in my opinion.


Take a look...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l03mP9LlAb8&context=C3e64ffeADOEgsToPDskIBeQwFqVsgdHzrkH-OopKd


Thanks,


Rick

[bilmac]

If you like the fast feel of the Winchester, you might think about taking some of the extra wood off too. When I modified my 95, I thinned the firearm and butt stock. If I remember right I cut the weight by 1/2 pound, and it just feels better to me.

[shawlerbrook]

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/AKChurch/trappers.htm

I'm looking for an fairly inexpensive 336 30-30 to try it for myself. Good luck and good idea !!