336 in 44 mag

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Woodsloafer2
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336 in 44 mag

Post by Woodsloafer2 »

Anyone have any experience with a Marlin 336 in 44mag? Thinking of picking up a lever gun in 44. Thinking of either an 1894 or 336. Kind of leaning towards the 1894 but would consider a 336. With the 336 longer action i wonder how the feeding works? Thanks for any info you would like to offer....
TraderVic
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by TraderVic »

The 336 has never been made in the shorter pistol calibers, but in rifle calibers such as 30-30, 35 Rem, 32 Spl, 375 Win, 38-55. Seems like I've left one or two out, but...
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Grizz
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by Grizz »

Woodsloafer2 wrote: Mon Jun 20, 2022 4:58 pm Anyone have any experience with a Marlin 336 in 44mag? Thinking of picking up a lever gun in 44. Thinking of either an 1894 or 336. Kind of leaning towards the 1894 but would consider a 336. With the 336 longer action i wonder how the feeding works? Thanks for any info you would like to offer....
we made a lot of meat with an 1894. it's a straight shooter. box stock 240gr jsp is a deer hammer.. easy carry and handling. no complaints EXCEPT the slow twist rate. if you shoot heavy for caliber you might not find a suitable twist barrel for the 1894. I've not seen 44 in the 336, but have shot my son's 444. got a kick out of that one.
Rockrat
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by Rockrat »

Actually, Marlin DID make a 336 in 44 mag. I had one with the sticker still on the forearm, Never did shoot it before someone wanted it more than me.
TraderVic
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by TraderVic »

Rockrat wrote: Mon Jun 20, 2022 6:50 pm Actually, Marlin DID make a 336 in 44 mag. I had one with the sticker still on the forearm, Never did shoot it before someone wanted it more than me.
Interesting ! I've never heard or read of these. Thanks for the heads up.
Vic
Bruce Scott
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by Bruce Scott »

TraderVic wrote: Mon Jun 20, 2022 6:58 pm
Rockrat wrote: Mon Jun 20, 2022 6:50 pm Actually, Marlin DID make a 336 in 44 mag. I had one with the sticker still on the forearm, Never did shoot it before someone wanted it more than me.
Interesting ! I've never heard or read of these. Thanks for the heads up.
Vic
There's some discussion about them here:
https://www.levergunscommunity.org/view ... hp?t=40817
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yooper2
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by yooper2 »

I had a 44 mag 336 for a while. Mine wouldn't run with anything much over SAAMI OAL and didnt like SWCs at all. Marlin dropped the chambering when they reintroduced the 1894 and I'd go that route if I wanted a Marlin 44 mag. The 336 is more rifle than needed for the chambering, you're just toting extra wieght.

Eric
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by JOG »

I've seen three or four of the 336 in 44 mag for sale in the past 15 or so years.
They last made them in the 60's. I know they were a commercial failure.
Some were good, some were bad! From memory I think they were made for four or five years.
The receiver was a bit to long for a pistol bullet.
I would roll the dice and purchase one due to the rarity of the model.
I passed up a unfired 336 in 44 mag. made in the mid 60's with a saddle ring for $800.00.
In hindsight I wish I had bought it!
I'm sure someone with much more gun smarts will be along soon to fill in the blanks.
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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

TraderVic wrote: Mon Jun 20, 2022 6:39 pm The 336 has never been made in the shorter pistol calibers, but in rifle calibers such as 30-30, 35 Rem, 32 Spl, 375 Win, 38-55. Seems like I've left one or two out, but...
I don't think this is correct. I have seen a number of the 336 guns chambered in .44 mag.

If it was me, I would find a good 94. I have one in stainless with a Skinner sight setup. Great shooter but mine likes jacketed bullets more than cast.
Rockrat
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by Rockrat »

I was sooooo tempted to re-chamber mine to 445 Super Mag, but figured the pressure of those loads would have been way more than the 336 would handle and didn't want to have brass with two different pressure level loads. Course, with that said, I have to do that with my 357mag because of my FA 353 Casull
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6pt-sika
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by 6pt-sika »

I’ve had a pair of the 336-44 carbines . They’re micro groove and I shot cast in both . Some said they didn’t feed well and jammed . I suppose if you wanna be Chuck Conners as the Rifleman that may very well be the case , but if you work the lever in a more sane fashion I saw no issue .
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OldWin
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by OldWin »

I've seen a couple 336's in 44 but never owned one. I've heard they can be balky feeders but I can't confirm that. I have a 94 Winchester in 44. I'd heard the same about those, but mine feeds like greased snot, so who knows.

Like mentioned above, if I saw a deal on one I'd buy it. Give it a try, and if it doesn't do it for you, flip it for a profit and buy something else.
All things being equal, I'd rather the 1894 Marlin if I wanted a 44. It's more compact, and perportioned to the cartridge.
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Pisgah
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by Pisgah »

The 336 in .44 was problematic. The action could cycle the shorter cartridge, but everything had to line up j-u-s-t so, and essentially you never knew if you were getting a "good one" or not until you shot it. In the end, they weren't manufactured for long and the 1904 was reissued. They are rare enough to be considered somewhat collectable, but I wouldn't buy one for a shooter unless I could shoot it first because getting the wonky ones straight was not easy.
Woodsloafer2
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by Woodsloafer2 »

One just sold on Gunbroker for $2100. Guess I won't be getting one of those! I will have to take a look at the Winchesters but the 94 seems the way to go right now. Thanks for all the input!
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by piller »

Unless you are really not wanting a Henry, they do have a .44 Mag levergun that seems pretty good. They are not cheap.
https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/big-boy ... side-gate/
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FLINT
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by FLINT »

piller wrote: Thu Jun 23, 2022 8:52 am Unless you are really not wanting a Henry, they do have a .44 Mag levergun that seems pretty good. They are not cheap.
https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/big-boy ... side-gate/
yeah, they aren't cheap but it seems like last time I checked the used marlins were going for a lot of money on gun broker.

I think a less expensive alternative would be a Rossi R92.

I think both Rossi and Henry have 44mgs in several configurations (barrel lengths, etc.).

I bet Winchester (japan) has a 44 mag 1892 as well.
Woodsloafer2
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by Woodsloafer2 »

Thanks for the input!
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by JOG »

A good JM Marlin 1894 in 44 mags the way to go!
Good shooter and minimal weight.
The prices on them have skyrocketed the past few years!
Especially the 1894 in 357!
Woodsloafer2
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by Woodsloafer2 »

changing my tune on the next purchase. I have always thought the 35 Remington as an ideal Maine woods cartridge. Ran a Contender in 35 Rem for a while but never a rifle. Have had a 348 around all my life so never really needed a 35 Rem. Still have all the stuff to reload for the 35. I have always liked the look and feel of the 1950's 336SC. Anyone out there have any experience with them? Would love to hear your thoughts on them if you do......
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Sarge
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by Sarge »

Woodsloafer2 wrote: Sun Jul 03, 2022 12:06 pm changing my tune on the next purchase. I have always thought the 35 Remington as an ideal Maine woods cartridge. Ran a Contender in 35 Rem for a while but never a rifle. Have had a 348 around all my life so never really needed a 35 Rem. Still have all the stuff to reload for the 35. I have always liked the look and feel of the 1950's 336SC. Anyone out there have any experience with them? Would love to hear your thoughts on them if you do......
Search my posts for results & pics of my 1955 Ballard rifled Texan in 35 Remington. I am loading it to just under max 30-30 pressure. It's really everything I love about lever actions, rolled into a neat little package and I could hunt with nothing else for the rest of my days.
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Woodsloafer2
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by Woodsloafer2 »

Read those a while back Sarge and re-read them last night. That is a very good set-up you have there. Plenty of power and range in a very handy package. I want to find a well used SC and maybe even shorten the barrel to make a trapper type set up. I spend a lot of time in the western mountains of Maine. Lots of big ups and downs. Always carry a handgun but would like a good portable rifle too. This time of year while exploring and scouting I like to do a little practice as well. Lots of dry firing under hunting conditions but now and then I will fire a shot and bag a stump. Thanks for the comments!
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OldWin
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by OldWin »

I have two RCs, but both are in 30-30. One from 1948, one from 1950. I've never has a 35, but agree it is a good cartridge for our locale.
I have, however, had a pile of 38-55s. It was a very popular cartridge here in Maine. I would venture to say more so than 35 in its time.
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Sarge
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by Sarge »

Woodsloafer2 wrote: Sun Jul 03, 2022 5:27 pm Read those a while back Sarge and re-read them last night. That is a very good set-up you have there. Plenty of power and range in a very handy package. I want to find a well used SC and maybe even shorten the barrel to make a trapper type set up. I spend a lot of time in the western mountains of Maine. Lots of big ups and downs. Always carry a handgun but would like a good portable rifle too. This time of year while exploring and scouting I like to do a little practice as well. Lots of dry firing under hunting conditions but now and then I will fire a shot and bag a stump. Thanks for the comments!
Them stumps ought not to be lolly-gagging around where a man is dry firing. Serves them right.

Thanks Woodsloafer. I would love to drag this old Texan up to the Northwoods and pot a moose with it.
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marlinman93
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by marlinman93 »

The Marlin 336's in .44 Magnum were made in 1963 first, and simply called the 336 .44 Magnum. Then the next year it was renamed the 336T. It was last sold in 1967, and was never a big success. When I had my FFL I got several guys asking me to get their .44 Magnum 336T's to function reliably, and I could make them much more reliable, but never got one 100% reliable.
Marlin collectors want them now simply because they're such a rare variation on the 336, so they pay big bucks for them.
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Grizz
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by Grizz »

the 444 addressed all of that, once they figured out that 44 mag bullets weren't stout enough
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by JB »

I had one. As mentioned, they aren't the most reliable guns, but at the time I was collecting Marlins, so just had to have one :)
FLINT
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by FLINT »

When this topic was started I had a memory that I had seen a video where the 336 in 44mag was mentioned. Just happened back across it so thought I would share.

https://youtu.be/QMKNbptNFDI
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Re: 336 in 44 mag

Post by Walt »

I bought a post-JM Marlin model 1894 in .44 mag several years ago when everyone was complaining about their poor workmanship. I certainly experienced that too. Before I even fired it (it was new, unfired) I looked down the bore and found a 4" section of machining chatter marks several inches down from the receiver. I sent it back to Marlin and I believe they replaced the barrel; the bore looks great and it shoots very well. Nice, compact, lightweight gun. One of my favorites.
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