Found a 336 chambered for .44 mag, what's it worth?

[PA_Gunner]

Hi All, first post here on GBO. 

I've been searching for a good used Marlin .44 mag and found a model 336 at my local shop.  I don't know how many of these were produced, but I've never seen one.  Cosmetically I'd give it an 8 out of 10, barrel and bore look great, some blueing issues around the receiver (not rust).  The major issue is a problem feeding ammo into the chamber.  If the rifle is held vertically it will feed 90% of the time.  If held horizontally it doesn't chamber at all. 

So... that being said I still asked if they'd sell it to me as is... but the salesman had no idea where to even begin pricing it.  It's been sitting in their shop for a year!  So... before they call me back tomorrow with a starting price I'm wondering if you fellas can help me out.  What would you pay for this gun? 

Thanks!

[Lloyd Smale]

if it was in great condition and ran like a top id say its probably worth 500 bucks but like that i wouldnt give more then 200. If you have to pay a smith to fix that feeding it could run into so money and a bluing job is 150 bucks min for  lever gun. I would low ball him and then send it in to marlin and have them fix it and blue it.

[RugerNo3]

Remember, the 1894 Marlin was reintroduced for the reasons you listed on the 336. It was not a reliable system for feeding the short rounds. Yes there are those guns that never had a problem, but Marlin thought wisely to ditch the 336-44Mag offering. I wouldn't gamble on it unless I was doing all the tinkering and fixing. I'd always have a mistrust toward it functioning properly.

[PA_Gunner]

Thank you, Lloyd and Ruger.  You make some great points... I should probably pass on this and wait for an 1894. 
I haven't seen many used ones locally, might end up spending a few extra sheckels on a new one.  It's a lifetime investment, I just need to keep repeating this to myself (and my wife).   

Lowballing him and trying to fix it myself is tempting, but if Marlin stopped making the 336 in .44 due to incompatibilities then I'm not sure what I am going to be able to do with it.  I'm not good enough to customize these things.

[PA_Gunner]

UPDATE:  Ok, so the salesman made me an offer I couldn't refuse.  I was ready to tell him "no thanks" when he called today, but he offered to sell the gun at $250... AFTER they fix the cycling problem at a local gunsmith.  How could i say no to that?  (Did I mention it's scoped already?)   

Unless this issue is mysteriously recurring (hope not) I should be ok after the gunsmithing, or so I'm willing to believe. haha.

[Graybeard]

I guess I don't know what a proper selling price for one is as mine (OK the wife says it's hers) is not for sale. It was given to me by a friend many years ago as a gift so there is no money invested in it. Ours feeds all jacketed bullets I've tried 100% and feeds cast OK IF they have a rounded nose. It does not feed SWC style cast all that well. It is a super accurate rifle and accounted for my wife's first two big game kills.

I feed ours mostly Hornady 240 XTP-HPs over 24.0 grains of W296. It is a wicked killer of deer size game with that load.

[TribReady]

UPDATE:  Ok, so the salesman made me an offer I couldn't refuse.  I was ready to tell him "no thanks" when he called today, but he offered to sell the gun at $250... AFTER they fix the cycling problem at a local gunsmith.  How could i say no to that?  (Did I mention it's scoped already?)   

Unless this issue is mysteriously recurring (hope not) I should be ok after the gunsmithing, or so I'm willing to believe. haha.

Sounds like it worked out perfect for you. Hope it functions fine after the gunsmith tweaks it up. At $250, you're still coming out AOK

[PA_Gunner]

Ours feeds all jacketed bullets I've tried 100% and feeds cast OK IF they have a rounded nose. It does not feed SWC style cast all that well. It is a super accurate rifle and accounted for my wife's first two big game kills.

I feed ours mostly Hornady 240 XTP-HPs over 24.0 grains of W296. It is a wicked killer of deer size game with that load.

Thank you, that is encouraging.  I don't load my own ammo (yet) so at this point I'm looking at mostly Hornady factory ammo.  I shoot the Hornady custom 240s in my Ruger revolver and will start there with this gun also.  Although I'd like to try out the lever-evolutions eventually. 

So a micro-groove barrel will shoot hand loads ok?  If so that's another bonus. 
*edit* - I'm not sure what you mean by SWC style cast. 

[Graybeard]

SWC = Semi wad cutter.

BTW ours shoots 300s as well as 240s which most Marlin 94 owners say theirs does not.

[PA_Gunner]

Fantastic.  Thanks for the info, I really appreciate it.

[Lloyd Smale]

im glad you got it. In no way was i trying to tell you not to buy it. Just to do some dickering. There getting really rare and i wish i had one myself. I know of two guys that have them and if anything they run at least as good as an out of the box 94. if the gunsmith cant get it running and you pass and the dealer wants to dump it cheap let me know. I know someone that can get it running for me.

[PA_Gunner]

im glad you got it. In no way was i trying to tell you not to buy it. Just to do some dickering. There getting really rare and i wish i had one myself. I know of two guys that have them and if anything they run at least as good as an out of the box 94. if the gunsmith cant get it running and you pass and the dealer wants to dump it cheap let me know. I know someone that can get it running for me.

No worries, I didn't take it that way.  I appreciated the feedback.  Will know how this turns out in three weeks or so, when it comes back from the gunsmith.  Will keep you posted.  If it falls through for me I'll tell them we may have another interested party.