Author Topic: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!  (Read 1223 times)

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Offline Siskiyou

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Marlin makes a fine rifle.  I have been preparing for Thursday for the last couple of months.  Actually now that I look back it has been more then two months because I ordered a 2-7x-35mm Burris scope for my Marlin 30-30.  After receiving the scope I Laser sighted it.

My enthusiasm was up and I got busy reloading an accumulation of 30-30 bases.  I would have to do a recount but I loaded over one hundred rounds.  I have not loaded the 30-30 in a long time because I would buy a few boxes every once and awhile on sale.  Most of my purchases were 150-grain Remington C-L.  The rifle seems to like them.  I play close attention to my loading and when I get setup for a round I like to load a hundred or more rounds at a time.  This especially true of bullets that require crimping; I want to get it right.

I inquired about crimping on this forum.  I consider proper crimping critical when loading for a tube fed lever action.  I had crimped before with my bullet seating die, but after reading some information in my latest Sierra Manual I thought I would look at other ways of doing things.  This was brought on because I was given a handful of miscellaneous factory 30-30 ammunition.  One of the bullets in a Remington case had been pushed back some.  Based on recommendations I started looking for a Lee Factory Crimp Die for the 30-30.  I could not find one at any of the local shops so I ordered one.  I put the new factory-crimping die to use.

In the mid 1980’s I developed a load using the 150-grain Hornady Round Nose, IMR4320 powder, and CCI 200 primers.  It was good then and it is still good today.  The downside is that I just killed the last of an eight-pound keg.

The plan was to use the old miscellaneous loads I had to get on paper and then find tune with my handloads.   My first shot was with a Remington 150-grain load.  It hit the target about 2 ½ above the bulls eye.  I lost the second shot and had to walk down to the target.  I thought I had missed the target.  It was touching the first shot.  My rifle likes those Remington factory loads. 

I had a change of plans, and switched to my handloads.  I fired two rounds and they group in just under the to factory loads.  I could not have been more pleased.  I switched targets.

During the day I switched back and forth between a .270 and the 30-30.

I enjoyed handling the Marlin and appreciated the smooth working action.  Some people might look down their nose at a 30-30 lever action, but it is a fine piece of work.  The 2-7 power Burris is an upgrade and with the new Hornady flex tip round I feel better prepared for 200+ yard shots.

At the end of the day I fired four of the new flex tip rounds.  I have to admit I was caught a little off guard.  I had fired thirty handloads, and that handful of factory loads, the recoil was about thirty percent greater with the flex tip rounds and the muzzle blast was equally greater.  Point of impact was about four inches higher with the flex tip.  I adjusted the main crosshair to point of impact for the flex tip rounds, because that is going to be my hunting load.  The next time I get to the range with the Marlin I will try my reloads and standard factory loads using the first Reticle Subtension in the Ballistic-Plex crosshairs and see if that adjustment will give a common point of impact.

Marlin makes a fine lever gun, I like being able to remove the lever, and slide the bolt out, removing the extractor and setting them in a tray for cleaning.  The disassembled rifle is now setting on a bench with bore cleaner in the barrel, and the other parts ready for cleaning.  While out on the range I appreciated how the action smoothly fed the factory and handloads into the chamber.  Extraction of the fired rounds was always positive.

I spent a little time using the R/L sided hammer extension I installed on the hammer.  It is a good addition for the hunter who shoots from both sides.  Marlin recommends the use of a hammer extension when a scope is installed.

Hopefully I will get out a few more times with it before fall, but if thing get busy I will be ready come hunting season.  If time allows my efforts at the reloading bench will pay off.  I am well enough supplied with reloads for the 30-30 to take care of my needs for sometime. 

My next goal with the Marlin is to make a trip to the high country once the snow melts.  I want to set up the Chrony at 6700-foot elevation and fire standard factory ammunition, my reloads, and the Hornady flex-tip.  I am thinking that I need to prepare a new drop card based on ammunition fired from my rifle, at an elevation common to areas I hunt. 




 
There is a learning process to effectively using a gps.  Do not throw your compass and map away!

Boycott: San Francisco, L.A., Oakland, and City of Sacramento, CA.

Offline 223Shooter

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2009, 03:48:30 PM »
"Marlin makes a fine rifle"...I couldn't agree more. I have 2 Marlin 336's. A 35 Rem and a 30-30. I handload for both and they are BOTH very accurate. I love my Marlins.

Offline Siskiyou

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2009, 07:59:37 PM »
[quote author

The plan was to use the old miscellaneous loads I had to get on paper and then find tune with my handloads.   My first shot was with a Remington 150-grain load.  It hit the target about 2 ½ above the bulls eye.  I lost the second shot and had to walk down to the target.  I thought I had missed the target.  It was touching the first shot.  My rifle likes those Remington factory loads. 

I had a change of plans, and switched to my handloads.  I fired two rounds and they group in just

[/quote]



I had plan on posting this picture with the orginal post by I had software problems and had to do a full system recovery. :(  In between downloads, and updates I clean the Marlin and the .270.  I had fired about 35 rounds from the 270 and around 40 from the Marlin.  I ran a bore brush with a patch and military bore cleaner into each barrel a couple times during the session.

Both rifles are now clean and oiled, but I made an observation in the cleaning process at home.  The Marlin barrel was dirtier then the .270 barrel.  I had fired 150-grain bullets in both rifles except for the four flex tip bullets in the Marlin.  1967-grains of powder was burned in the .270 Winchester and approximately  1400-grains of powder was burned in the 30-30.  Does the Micro-Groove rifling in the Marlin create more fouling?

I have cut down an old kitchen table into a portable reloading bench, and re-arranged the legs.  My wife cut off some old pants legs and sewed one end shut.  I have them filled with sand and use them to steady my rifle.
There is a learning process to effectively using a gps.  Do not throw your compass and map away!

Boycott: San Francisco, L.A., Oakland, and City of Sacramento, CA.

Offline Halwg

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2009, 01:40:35 PM »
I am a Marlin aficianado.  I currently have 7...2 - 30-30's, 2 - 35 Remingtons, a 444, a 357, and a 39A 22.  They are definitely my favorite guns.  I have Remingtons, Rugers, and Savages and I like the Marlins best.

Why is the bore dirtier.  If you were using the same powder, I would suspect lower pressure and incomplete ignition in the 30-30 vs the 270.
The older I get...The better I was.

Offline Siskiyou

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2009, 08:12:10 PM »
I was burning H4831 in the .270 and 4320 in the 30-30 handloads.  Primers came out of the same carton, CCI 200 large rifle.

The 30-30 factory loads were Remington, WW, and Hornady.
There is a learning process to effectively using a gps.  Do not throw your compass and map away!

Boycott: San Francisco, L.A., Oakland, and City of Sacramento, CA.

Offline chucky52

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2009, 07:25:18 PM »
After Marlin burned me on a couple, I gave up and went to Ubeti's. I still have two older marlins which are fine, just no more new ones for me. Oh, yea, they make a nice .22.

Offline no guns here

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2009, 12:57:48 AM »
Nope... ain't hugged 'em in over two years.  Probably be 14 more months until I can... I'm in Germany and they're in Kentucky.  I'm crying now... thanks... you just had to bring it up didn't you???

NGH
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Offline chucky52

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2009, 06:53:18 AM »
I stopped hugging my Marlins and have traded all but a 1960's model 39a (which works great.) I hugged a 32 H&R Mag goodbye for three trips back to the factory and traded it at a gunshow. I could offer the details but it's a long list. Then there was the 3030 that jammed on the first round it ever fired, back to the factory and is working ok, now. However, I know of two 38-55's factory new which had to be reamed by a gunsmith brand spanking new. Marlin sold the guns and it beats me how they could possibly have even test fired it.

Didn't mean to rain on your parade; but, Marlin quality is a sore subject with me and I will not buy another. O yes, My son has a 44M which is great. I guess I can say I do know of two good ones in the world.

Offline Wyo. Coyote Hunter

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #8 on: April 30, 2009, 04:59:37 PM »
 ;DChucky, someone at Marlin must have it in for you >:( 8) ??? ::) I have never had a bad one. Amazing how stuff like this happens. Rugers are my peeve, some folks love em. :D

Offline chucky52

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #9 on: April 30, 2009, 05:40:43 PM »
Well, my marlin could only chamber shells via the marlin jam. I slugged the barrel which was way bigger than .312. Marlin failed to fix it 3 times and gave me the choice of a new gun or the same one returned. I had it sold and took it back. Like I said I have a 39a, a 25-20 and a 30-30. Something on those days, on that rifle...they really blew it and it costs me a year or more of time failing to make it shoot.

Offline Wyo. Coyote Hunter

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2009, 03:49:49 AM »
 :D Just did a quick check using a Horn. book. the o6 shot in 3" high with a 165 will drop about 40 in. at 500, the same bullet out of a 300 drops 25. If you are happy with more drop so be it. I have shot enough elk in open country to know the added flat traj. is valuable.  Up to 500, I can hold on top of the spine and still kill my elk. ;) In open country where many of the special permits now occur, this is a valuable aid. If You hunt heavy timber the o6 will do fine. As you also said many people are not able to take advantage of the added benefits of the flatter shooting rifle. I would guess if you shoot less than a 1000 rounds per year at long range, you had best shoot at less than 200 yards. ;)

Offline brianscott12

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #11 on: May 02, 2009, 06:05:49 AM »
I guess I can say I do know of two good ones in the world.
Hey Chuck, make that 3, I have an 1895gs that i bought new bout a year and a half ago and it has functioned flawlessly since. ;) :D
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Offline chucky52

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #12 on: May 02, 2009, 01:17:41 PM »
More than three, I hsve a .22LR a 25-20 and my son has a 44 Mag. It's the three trips to the factory hugs plus two friends with gunsmith chamber reams on new guns that have to make me wonder. The bulk of North Tx silhouette shooters have gone over to Uberti's

Offline Siskiyou

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #13 on: May 02, 2009, 01:50:09 PM »
It is good to hear from those who have not had a good experience with a Marlin.  It puts future customers on notice that while there are satisfied customers there those who are not.

I am not even sure now, but my Marlin 336 was bought as a package gun which included a cheap 4x scope in 1971 or 72, it was in the Spring.  It has been a smooth operating machine for a lot of years.  Initially it liked 170-grain Federal ammunition over Remington and Winchester.  A few years ago I started buying a lot of Remington C-L on sale at Wal Mart.  I also bought some current production Federal, and Winchester.  Currently it prefers Remington 150-grain C-L.  I setup three targets side by side testing factory loads and the Remington 150-grain C-L consistently produced the best groups.  The new Hornady flex-tip bullets seem to be accurate of it and feeds reliable.  It has never failed to function; it feeds rounds from the magazine into the chamber like a well maintained sewing machine.

I have hunted with three other lever action rifles.  A Savage 99 in .303 Savage, a M99 in 300 Savage, and a 25-35 Winchester 94.  The two Savage rifles were a hundred percent reliable.  The Model 94 had a problem, on an occasion a load round would end-up jammed in the mechanism.  I spent some time out on a hillside working the round out with my knife.  I switched to the .303 Savage at that point. 

My Dad had a Winchester Model 64 in 32 Winchester Special with a Lyman Tang sight. (1950) He liked it, but traded it off for a rifle that he could mount a scope on.  At a tender age I followed in my Dad’s tracks with a BB gun in hand.  I recall seeing Dad shoot at a buck on a distant hillside.  He missed a few times; Dad had poor vision and realized he needed a rifle he could mount a scope on. The Model 64 is another version of the Model 94.

The next picture I take will show a different scope, a Burris 2-7x35MM.

There is a learning process to effectively using a gps.  Do not throw your compass and map away!

Boycott: San Francisco, L.A., Oakland, and City of Sacramento, CA.

Offline Mt_Sourdough

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #14 on: May 02, 2009, 06:36:15 PM »
Here are some pics of a family outing with our Marlins and a picnic (marinated whitetail backstrap on the barbecue).  I was firing some hand-me-down 265 grain remington corelocts 444 ammo from the 70's.  After some early dificulties, my last group was a sub 1 inch 3 shot group at 100 yards with open sights.  My girlfriends oldest son,13, shot the 444 for the first time and he took a shinning too it mighty quick.  A little gopher hunting thrown in and a good time was had by all.
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Offline Siskiyou

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Re: Marlin Makes a Fine Rifle! Have You Hugged Your Marlin Today!
« Reply #15 on: May 03, 2009, 04:16:17 AM »
Looks like a great day for you and the boys to remember.  The 444 sure puts a big hole in the target, good shooting. :)
There is a learning process to effectively using a gps.  Do not throw your compass and map away!

Boycott: San Francisco, L.A., Oakland, and City of Sacramento, CA.