Marlin RC 30/30 groups about 2 inches at 100 yards

[ba_50]

I bought a like new RC (made in 1968) and put my Weaver V12 on it. With either Speer 150's or Sierra 125's it shoots about 2 inch groups at 100 yards from a bench. I used 3031 powder. Scope and base screws were double checked and found to be tight.

I believe it should shoot better than that even though it would be ok for deer.

My Winchester pre-64 30/30 with open sights could shoot 1" groups.

Looks like it might need accurizing. Just thought someone might be interested.

[Graybeard]

You are joking right?  :eek:

While I won't say you didn't ONCE manage a 1" group at 100 yards with iron sights I'd hazard a guess it was a two shot or at most three shot group and that it was never duplicated and won't ever be in your life time. No one can see well enough to shoot such groups consistently and likely not 1% of the lever guns out there will do it even scoped.

If 2" makes you think the gun has problems you really need to get a bolt rifle.

[ba_50]

Bill,
I'm not suprised I got a response on the 1" group. It was a long time ago when my eyes were sharp and believe it was a 3 shot group. I believe another group later on was about the same  I don't know how consistant I would be as I don't want to wear out that 94 on paper.

When you are used to 1/2 to 1 MOA rifles it's hard to adjust.

I take it that is the average accuracy of these rifles then, even with a scope. My centerfire lever action shooting is very limited.

[tom ga hunter]

This summer i bought an as new in the box 1969 336a in 30-30.I put a bushnell 3200 2x7 on it. It shot 3" with all my reloads but shot 2" with factory federal 170 walmart rounds. I'd love to get it down to 1" but will live with 2".

[VTDW]

ba_50,

There was a Postal Match held this year on another forum.  There were 55 folks that entered the match.  This particular portion of the match was for open sights.  The top 20 entries were under 1" and the top 42 entries were under 2".  All were lever guns. I will post some of the 30 cal. results below:

1.   Medicine .35 Rem              0.440
2.   Dr. A  30-30 Win               0.470
3.   Big Medicine .32 H&RMag   0.500
6.   SMK 38-55 Win                 0.550
7.   John Kort  30 WCF            0.560
8.   1894CL .35 Rem               0.570
11. TubbyTheTuba 30WCF       0.660
13. SteelBanger 357 Mag         0.780

Targets were scored by measuring from the center of the target to the center of the hole farthest from the center of the target, 5 shot groups.  These guys are serious shooters and most reload.

Dave  

[victorcharlie]

That's plenty good enough for the short ranges I hunt at these days......I do think you might be able to improve it some......

Have you tried factory ammo?

Have you removed the magazine tube and forearm and fired the rifle rested on the action as a single shot to see if the groups improve?

If they do:

Have you tried loosening the front and rear barrel bands?  These don't need to be tight.........I relieved some of the wood on the forearm and freefloated the barrel........

Here's and article that offers a few suggestions:  http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/chapter23.htm

[Bryan Elderkin]

2 inches sounds good to me. But I know that my 336 .35 Rem @ 100yds is M.O.V(Minute Of Venison) with factory sights.

[victorcharlie]

My .35 will average about 2" as well at 100 yards with iron sights........I don't shoot it much at this range as my hunting situation doens't allow me to see that far.......so I practice mostly between 50 and 75 yards.

I can get my .35 better at 100 yards if I shoot it single shot with 1 round loaded in the tube.  Again, this is the way I hunt, as there is a small possibility of a second shot, but not much likely hood of a third shot.  I carry 3 more rounds each in a seperate pocket, so I don't have to worry as much about loosing all of them.......

I've fired the rife loaded a bunch of different ways, and if I fill the tube completely with 6 rounds and put one in the chamber and start firing the groups open considerably......thinking about it, every time a round is ejected and new one loaded in it's place, it changes the spring tension inside the tube and affects the tube, barrel relationship.  If I put one in the chamber and one in the tube, fire a round, eject and then load one in the tube........wait a few minutes for the barrel to cool completely and repeat the process I can get pretty good groups.....I've tried firing with a full tube, ejecting and slipping another round in the tube to keep it full but this doesn't make for the best accuracy in my gun either......I've also tried 5 in the tube........etc. etc.....

Doing things to isolate the tube from the barrel, and loading and shooting the same way every time seems to be where the largest gains in accuracy can be had.......followed by loosening the barrel bands, then  relieving the forearm from the barrel and improving the trigger.  Good handloads would likely make a difference as well.

Again, I think you can improve your groups, but do you really need to?

[gunoil]

i got one of this should have it friday win did they start and stop this marlin r.c mine is the 30-30 win thanks worm  :eek:

[retrieverhunter]

I have a 336 Texan model with an 18 1/2" barrel and straight stock that CAN DO 1" groups CONSISTENTLY at 100 yards scoped with a Leupold VariX II 3-9x40.  I am shooting 150 gr Federal Classic round nose soft point ammo.  Between my son and I, we have killed 5 deer with it this season.  I have a gun safe full of Encores, Rugers, and Blasers, and I have as much confidence in my Marlin as any gun in the safe.