Good Deal on an older Marlin ........??

[GeorgiaDave]

Hello,

   I just acquired an older Marlin 336 R.C.  30/30 which is in very good shape, and appears to be untouched by add ons. It is a very good looking gun with one of the best looking straight grain Walnut stocks I have seen on a Marlin. The rifle has never been drilled for a scope, and does not even have sling swivels on it. The sights are original and the finish, while a bit dirty is also in good shape. I looked up the serial number which begins with "J" which designates it as a 1952 model, which makes it 17 years older than me. I got the rifle on a trade in which I had $100 invested in my end . I do not think it was a bad deal, especially considering the condition of the original configuration. I will likely shoot it a bit today, with both 150 gr. and some 170 gr. rounds to see how it does. I have plenty of scoped rifles to do business afar, but this one here will never get a piece of glass and will probably be used as a short range swamp and thicket gun. That is, if a "raggedy old 30/30" is still enough gun to kill a deer at 50 yards. I personally think it will.

  So what do you think, did I get whipped or maybe did a decent deal this time. I feel pretty good with it. Thanks, and have a great day.


Dave

[billy]

Sounds like a good deal to me plus as long as you are happy that,s all that matters,good luck .

[wreckhog]

IMHO in unmodified condition, these are somewhat rare, more desirable and worth more $ than a current base model gun. Check Gunbroker. I bet that you profit around $300 after your cost. Most guns of that vintage have been bubba'd with scopes, swivels, etc. I would not hunt it unless it had some value to you other than being cheap.

[Rangr44]

Hopefully, it's side's already factory prepped for a peep - the best of all worlds with one of those puppies.

Nice score, BTW.

.

[brianscott12]

I would have given that in a heartbeat. You did real good.

[Brian in FL]

Sounds to me like you got a good deal, but, with my old eyeballs, I'd have to put a receiver sight on it at least. But most of my rifles are scoped. That's why I passed on a nice undrilled and tapped Marlin .30-30 at the last gun show I went to. I bought another scoped .35 instead. Enjoy your new old rifle. I'm sure you'll be happy with 'er.

[cwlongshot]

Don,t sell the grand dad 30-30 short!!  If it shoots inside 4" @ 100, it will easily drop any whitetail at at least that far!!! It works just as good today as it did when it was the fastest kid on the block.

It sounds like a good deal to me too!

I picked up one 30-30 years ago from an old neighbor. One Sunday morning, he showed up on my door step, saying I knows I work at a gun store, and did I buy guns? He said, "I drink too much and worry I'll do something I wouldn't normally." WELL, I felt it was my civic duty to rid this lush of his very nice, Marlin saddle ring, straight stocked 30-30 rifle!! LOL
 
You do your part and the 30-30 will not let you down.

CW

[Dillohide]

I've got a 336 30-30 made in 1948, the first year they made them which makes it about 6 months older than me and that is old  . It even has a prior model 24 inch barrel on it. Marlin didn't throw parts away they could use just because the model number changed. It out shoots my newer Glenfield Marlin (which shoots great). It is scoped and I use it all the time. At 100 yards it groups almost as well as my Winchester Model 70 3006 and not nearly as heavy. I bought it from an estate sale for $165 18 years ago. Don't know what that would equate to today but it was worth every penny.

[bustedknee]

You done good.

Here is another 1952 Marlin (and one of them other lever actions).

It just so happens I was born in 1952.  I will leave these two rifles to my two grandsons.

[FredWT]

GeorgiaDave, to answer your one question, I do not think the old .30-30 is any good for deer killing anymore. Ya, it use to do really good 100 years ago, 50 maybe even 20 years ago, but now the magazines say you need something bigger, more powerful than that. Just take it out and shoot at a deer with it at 50 yards. You'll see, right guys?