Would it be a sin to rechamber a 1952 Marlin 336 RC?

[O.S.O.K.]

Not too long ago, I wouldn't even have thought about this, but now... I'm thinking this might be a bad idea.

What I'm thinking of is having a 1952 336RC in 30-30 rechambered to .307 Win. This is a simple rechamber - no mods needed to the bolt face, etc..

It's got a straight grip buttstock.

Makes it into a whole nuther ball game (150 grains at 2,600 fps easy) ... but it's a collectible... not especially valuable - less so in fact than a brand new version. But... I would never alter a German 98K, one of my SMLE's, my 1961 Win 94, etc...

I know it's my rifle and I can do whatever I want to, but I thought I'd ask your collective opinion.

After all, this could be done with any Marlin 336 in 30-30...

ETA - BTW, I'd have this done by Regan Nonneman ( http://www.leveractions.com ) - he checks everything over with a fine tooth comb and guarnantees his work... and charges less than getting the reamer and doing it yourself! Hard to beat that!

[Hobie]

I'd wack you across your bottom...

Seriously, there's lots of reasons not to do this but nobody ever pays attention so I no longer waste my breath. Still, it is better than converting to .308 Winchester.

[O.S.O.K.]

Good article. I see that you are against the conversion in general for all the reasons listed in your blog.

I must say though that there are plenty of reports by people that have had this done (specifically by Mr. Nonneman) and report excellent function with normal factory ammo. I'm speaking of the .356 Win here. I've also seen information indicating that the factory chambered .356 Win Marlins have the same...everything as the 35 Rem versions including the outside diameter of the barrel over the chamber. No special mag tube, no special lifter, interupter, etc. - just stock.

I must admit that I haven't researched the 30-30 to .307 Win conversion like I have the .35 Rem -.356 Win... but I'd not use .308 brass or loading data - it'd be .307 Brass and data for sure. I was planning on doing this before ordering the work done - though after speaking with Mr. Nonneman, I'd be surprised if he'd do the work if it weren't advisable to do so.

I guess I was really asking about this being "bubbadizing" or not...

[Terry Murbach]

LISTEN TO HOBIE ON THIS !! IN SPADES !!

GO BUY A NEW ONE TO CONVERT INSTEAD.

[1886]

I agree with Hobie and Terry. 1886.

[BenT]

You can get a Glenfield for less than $200. I'm not sure what kind price your vintage Marlin would sell for. There still is a lot of Marlins out there. I would leave your RC just the way it is and pick up a different one for a this project.

[O.S.O.K.]

Well, like I said, not too long ago I wouldn't have even thought about this but I think I'll leave this one a 30-30.

[Don McDowell]

Would it be a sin? NO.
It'ld run more along the lines of ignorant.
If you think you need a bit more zip the the 30-30 can do then go with the 30-30 ai. If that won't do it, spend the bucks on a rifle BUILT for the 307, or just pickup a blr,savage 99 or win 88 in 308 and get the full force and ballistics of the 308 case,and be done with it.

[Hobie]

I've a great deal of respect for Mr. Nonneman but a 1952? No, no way. A 2008 to .307 or .356? Maybe. The thing is that some guys are rechambering to .308 and .358. That is just begging for trouble, if not for the knowledgeable originator of the rechamber for some fool down the line who can't reason and has just enough knowledge to get a set of dies and get on-line to ask for .308 or .358 Win handloads.

[Mannlicher]

Heck, I rechambered my 1954 Marlin to 30-30 Ackley. Marlins are for shooting.

[O.S.O.K.]

Well, I'll leave this one as-is. Here are a couple pics of it:





I just won it on gunbroker! $305 (plus shipping - no transfer as I'm a C&R)

I guess if I really need to posess a 307 Marlin, I'll buy a more recent copy and "do" it.

This will most probably get the Lyman aperture sight that is currently on my 35 RC (1968) that is with Mr. Nonneman and the new 356 Win will get an XS aperture sight that I just ordered for it....

That't it - fun money expended for the time being....

[Hobie]

A "T", heck no! Glad you're not going to do it. Good price on that! Congratulations.

[1886]

Good looking shooter. Congtrats. 1886.

[O.S.O.K.]

A "T", heck no! Glad you're not going to do it. Good price on that! Congratulations.

Thanks 1886 - Hobbie - what's a "T"? I'm not a very astute on old Marlins... Does it say "pitty thu fool" when you work the lever? I guess they lost the big gold chain that comes with?

[Longfin]

I watched that auction on Gun Broker all day but just could not bring myself to bid even though I could have picked it up from the shop. I have two of the 336 SRC Texans and have rebored one to 38-55. I'm very happy with the conversion as it gave me a classy rifle in a caliber that I have wanted for a long time. You got a nice looking rifle there. Congratulations.

[O.S.O.K.]

Thanks Zack. And you're right - it's coming from Georgia all right. But you shouldn't have mentioned that rebore job.... oh no, now you're a marked man.

[Hobie]

A .38-55 isn't so bad. Great cartridge well within the capabilities of the action and with the gun's internals as is. A .38-55 loaded to .30-30 pressures is formidable.

[O.S.O.K.]

A "T", heck no! Glad you're not going to do it. Good price on that! Congratulations.

Thanks 1886 - Hobbie - what's a "T"? I'm not a very astute on old Marlins... Does it say "pitty thu fool" when you work the lever? I guess they lost the big gold chain that comes with?

[Don McDowell]

Thanks Zack. And you're right - it's coming from Georgia all right. But you shouldn't have mentioned that rebore job.... oh no, now you're a marked man.

No not really, nothing wrong at all with rebarreling/chambering to something the gun was built for right from the get go.

Just a little food for thought , the 308 and its offspring hit the commercial market in or about 1955, that's a bit past 50 years, and a person would thing that if Marlin somewhere along the line ever believed their leverguns were capable of safely containing the pressures generated by those cartridges they would of shipped them from the factory so chambered.

[O.S.O.K.]

Thanks Zack. And you're right - it's coming from Georgia all right. But you shouldn't have mentioned that rebore job.... oh no, now you're a marked man.

No not really, nothing wrong at all with rebarreling/chambering to something the gun was built for right from the get go.

Just a little food for thought , the 308 and its offspring hit the commercial market in or about 1955, that's a bit past 50 years, and a person would thing that if Marlin somewhere along the line ever believed their leverguns were capable of safely containing the pressures generated by those cartridges they would of shipped them from the factory so chambered.

They did once the 356 Win hit the market. They made a few 307 Win chambered guns too from what I understand but decided not to market them - probably based on the 94 AE's poor sales (?).

And the point (missed) was that he had a "collectible" Marlin that he rechambered.

Hobbie - still wanting to know what a "T" model is...

[Longfin]

I'll jump in for Hobie on this question. "T" for Texan model. Straight stock, sometimes with a saddle ring. barrels from 18 to 20 inches.

[O.S.O.K.]

Yeah - thank you I was just doing a search and came accross a site with an old ad for the rifles - showed two variations available- standard and straight gripped "Texan". Then I came back here and you had the answer confirmed.

Well no wonder I took a shine to it

[Longfin]

Glad you got the rifle. A Texan will be headed to Texas. Sounds appropriate to me. Your new rifle was made in the same year that my wife was born. Both still beautiful and with a lot of class.

[Chuck 100 yd]

The T is for "Texan" (straight grip) ...... Much more rare than the pistol grip RC`s and much wanted by many folks!!
You did good, Keep her origional and shoot her a lot!

[O.S.O.K.]

The T is for "Texan" (straight grip) ...... Much more rare than the pistol grip RC`s and much wanted by many folks!!
You did good, Keep her origional and shoot her a lot!

Thanks, I intend to do both

[Hobie]

Sorry, I didn't get back to you, too busy I'm afraid. I have a .30 WCF with the square lever loop and an earlier .35 Remington gun with the rounded lever loop like yours. Nice guns!

[O.S.O.K.]

The only bad thing is that I've "discovered" that the older ones are C&R.... which means I can buy and have shipped to my door. That could lead to a growing collection of old Marlins.... and there's so many variations- square and round levers...

And Hobbie - no sweat - the other guys filled in for ya

I do have another question though - this was made in 54. They started using microgroove rifleling about then - do you think this one has the micro or previous type rifling? Or is it a transition period and I'll find out when it gets to me?

[Hobie]

IME, Microgroove barrels are marked as such. Is it?

In truth, microgroove rifling was Marlin's attempt to make a big deal out of newer, button-rifling technology. Simply pulling the rifling button (a rod with the rifling "negative" shape) through the bore of the barrel blank was cost effective and provided a smooth barrel but not the depth of grooves some might expect. I'm sure the marketeers got their two cents in and saw an opportunity to make money on a production cost saving method of rifling.

[O.S.O.K.]

You mean it doesn't really distort the bullet less and give far superior accuracy?

And this is the only pic I have of the markings - isn't it usually stamped in this location?



If so, it appears that mine is either unmarked or has the older rifling. I would think that quite a few 54 production year 336's would have the older style as they used up barrel stock.

The patent for the microgroove rifling was approved in late 53 from what I've read....

ETA - found another pic of the stamping on a 336:

[Hobie]

Quite possible yours isn't. I believe they have missed a few but not the early ones, too much money to be made with the "improvement".

In the .22s nobody doubted for a minute that Microgroove was fantastic but centerfires... Some were doubtful. To my mind an accurate barrel is accurate and it doesn't matter a hill of beans how it was rifled. I will say that I've never had an inaccurate Microgroove barrel.

[O.S.O.K.]

Thanks - I'll find out for sure when I get it. It's on the way to me right now from Georgia.

I think its very cool to have one of the last non-microgroove barreled 336's. This will definately stay as-is... not even going to add sling swivel mounts.

[Hobie]

The nice thing is you can add a classy receiver sight like a Lyman or Redfield to enjoy and yet return it to original condition very easily. Mine both wear a Williams FP.

[O.S.O.K.]

The nice thing is you can add a classy receiver sight like a Lyman or Redfield to enjoy and yet return it to original condition very easily. Mine both wear a Williams FP.

That's what I'm planning actually - I have the 336RC coming from Nonneman and it has a Redfield installed - that will go on the Tex and I have a nice XS that's for the RC.

I like the apertures too. My 47 year old eyes really like em.

[KCSO]

If you brought that gun to me and wanted it rechambered I'd whack you with a ball peen hammer!

No, #1 the gun was not designed or warranted for those pressures and eventually the gun would develope excess headspace. #2 the gun is just too nice as it is to even think of ruining it's value.

If you want a 307 or even the new Marlin 308 sell that one and you'lll likely get almost enough money to buy a new gun in the caliber you want.

[O.S.O.K.]

If you brought that gun to me and wanted it rechambered I'd whack you with a ball peen hammer!

I warn you Sir, I am armed. No whacking allowed.

And you can't get a 336 factory chambered in 307 Winchester.

Do a search for this topic - it's been coverd.

And I've already determined that this rifle stays as-is. In fact, I'm ordering a correct wide rear sight riser for it- just have it complete.

[Hillbilly]

I'd have to think about it...there are a whole lot of beater 336's out there that could use some wood and metal work.

Yea.. I'd look for a beat up later 336 and go for it. But I'd do it in .38-55... good heavy bullet-high accuracy round with lower pressures that a .307
Jeff

[O.S.O.K.]

Well it arrived - here's the thread that I posted about it - its actually a 1952!

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7851

And Hilbilly, I have a 68 RC coming to me after being rebored to .356 Win - so, I've got a big bore whamper already... not to mention the 45-70 1895.

The .307 Win was just a thought. Probably best done on a newer 336 if I decide to.

Right now, I'm done for a while.

[awp101]

not to mention the 45-70 1895.

Fun aren't they? Is yours a CB or regular?