kinda at a loss over this one.

I traded an acquaintance a savage 30-06 for a JM stamped Marlin 336 in 30-30

showed some wear but otherwise looked to be in good shape for a knockabout gun which is what I wanted it for. I topped it with a leupold Vari-X II 2x7 which is about the perfect scope for that rifle.

I had a few boxes of green box remmy 150 grain which is a pretty standard load for a 30-30. they seemed to shoot well in my old model 94 although I kept that gun open sight and never really shot it at the bench.


I am having problems getting the gun to group. after I did the swap, I took the gun apart and noticed what appeared to be a few pits in the rifling but otherwise it was clean and bright. this gun probably hadn't been cleaned since it was bought. anyway, I cleaned it up and although the suspect pit marks remain the bore otherwise shined up nice. my uncle has an older .270 that has some significant pitting in it and it still shoots about 1 1/2 in groups so I wasn't overly concerned about it.

I took this rifle to the bench and I just cannot get it to group. i'm talking about getting 3"-5" groups. its all over the 10 ring...enough to not really be able to sight it because its just such a random pattern. I know its not gonna be a one hole gun but what is considered acceptable accuracy for a 336? I am gonna change the ammo to see if that helps at all, any suggestions on what these guns with the micro groove barrel do and don't like?


I like the gun but i really would like it to be more than a 50 yard rifle, even if that's as far as i ever shoot it at game

I have a mid-2000's produced 336 and it too has a 2-7 scope. I got much better results out of the hornady leverevolution stuff, much closer to about 1.5-2" at 100 yards.

I would get rid of that rifle.

I get much better groups out of my 336 using 170 grain bullets. I shoot the Federal blue boxes, but Remington groups almost as good. My rifle hates the Hornady Leverevolutions. I really wanted them to work well. The ballistics are much better, but I just couldn't get decent groups.

My Dad's old 336 was a great hunting rifle that he NEVER cleaned. And one year we went to sight it in and it shot wash bucket sized groups. The Micro Groove rifling was too far gone. He got it rebarrelled and all was good.

The shallow rifling in your bore might be nearly past it's useful life. Maybe. But don't give up on it yet.

BTW, I installed a Wild West trigger and it shoots a LOT better now. Also, make sure your forearm ring is not tight. That will make it shoot all over.

That's the next step. I'd leave it fouled before doing so.

Please explain the forearm ring not tight. It comes from the factory tight as well as the ring at the end of the bbl/magazine. Thank you. P_102

its not shallow at all. i can see all the lands clearly....i don't think the rifle had more than a box of shells thru it when i bought it

changing grains is gonna be my next step.


for what its worth i know several guys which 336's and leverevolution and they can't get decent groups with the micro-grooved barrel in that ammo style

That's funny. I was about to tell you to try LeverEvolution. I've only fired it from 3 rifles, but it's been the most accurate ammo for all 3. Two Marlins and a Mossberg 464.

I have no question that it's quality ammo. My particular rifle just didn't like it. Why? I have no idea.

I spent a little time getting getting acceptable accuracy out of a Marlin 1894 44mag. It was a little irritatin at 1st to say the least.

1st, try different ammo. No telling it doesn't like what your other gun likes but thats the way it is. Also since you never scoped the Winchester and didn't group it off a bench you can't be sure it wasn't running 3-5" groups also. 2nd, make sure your rings and bases are torqued right. 3rd, lever guns are different critters, if you are loading a full magazine and running through them every round you shoot and eject changes the weight hanging off your barrel and therefore the harmonics. Might try loading one at a time. 4th, since your barrel isn't floated any change in position, pressure, etc off the bench will show more in your groups than it will a decent bolt rifle.

Finally, most importantly, understand these guns aren't target rifles. Redefine what you think accurate should be in your mind - understand they were engineered to handle well as opposed to group well. Find some ammo you can get 2-3" or so and smile every time you roll a critter.

If the change in ammo doesn't work, read Paco Kelly's article on accurizing a lever gun.

my friend has a brand new rifle that wouldn't group

i took a look at it and noticed a bulge in the barrel

probably from shooting a squib load followed by a full load

check your barrel

also , check the muzzle , if it's whacked that could be another source
of your random pattern - that's an easy fix: cut and recrown

Everyone I've been around 2-3" consistently.

It's crazy how you can take 2 consecutive rifles off the same assembly line and they will like completely different loads. Guns are goofy.

Same here... couldn't even keep it on paper with my Marlin 336.

I'm betting you will find something it likes. But it's not likely to ever meet bolt gun accuracy standards.

Like others have stated, my Marlin only likes 170 gr.. My Winchester seemed to like the Leverevolution. Go to Marlinowners.com. Great accuracy tips there. Good group. My Marlins amaze me when I pay attention. I have a 30-30 and a 444. Both are more accurate than the WIn.

I have a '67 336 that belonged to my grandfather. It was kept clean and has good rifling but I have no idea how many rounds have been through it. It groups great with the cheaper Winchester power points-with a 4x scope I can hold 1.5 to 2". The last time I shot out a 1" bull at 100 yard but I didn't track how many rounds it took. I have had great luck with Winchester ammo in all of my rifles. My 30-30 along with my bolt guns hate Remington ammo.

I'd clean it, shoot a magazine worth through it and then shoot for a group with different ammo and a cold barrel.

Thanks for the tips guys

Brothers 4570 will cut the same hole at 75 yards iron sight... but that's easier when the holes you make are a 1/2 inch wide

Like you said I would try the 170's. A lot of people I know that shoot a 3030 say they like one or the other not both.

From Paco Kelly chap. 23. Something may help
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/chapter23.htm

I installed one of these on my 336 and I'm very pleased with it. http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/triggers-parts/triggers/trigger-happy-kit-prod16630.aspx

It eliminates the "Marlin flop" and lightens the trigger pull to about 3 lbs. It breaks much cleaner with very little creep. On mine after installing the trigger, it has just the slightest creep to a point, with a slight wall before it breaks. Almost like a 2 stage trigger but more subtle. Some dry fire practice with a snap cap and now I know that break instinctively.

It's an easy install if your are at all handy with tools. Much better than the factory trigger. At $100 though, I would try everything else first.