New to me elusive 1973 336A in 35 Remington

[Noah Zark]

I found this 1973-vintage 336A in 35 Remington at a semi-local funshow recently. It's as-new and appears to have been fired but very little. Not a speck of wear to blueing or wood finish, and no rust. In keeping with my Marlin collecting policy of acquiring uncommon and low-production leverguns, given that the 336A was made in 35 Rem only in the year of reintroduction (1973), and that it was 35 Remington, I had to have it.



I took it out a week ago and fired it with 200 gr Remington factory Core Lokts, and was able to hit claybirds on edge at the 100 yd berm, open sights, offhand, which is my standard shooting test for rifle accuracy and my ability.

Hard to say what it cost me as I traded a clean Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08 even-up for it. The Model 7 cost me ~$300 to $325, based on what I traded for it and other guns at the time of their acquisition. I had no use for the Model 7, and at $325 trade value the 336A is a steal, IMO. I was so excited when the seller said "Deal" that I was p__ing my pants.

Noah

[gamekeeper]

You certainly find some good deals!....

[Old Savage]

Will you shoot it? Like to know what it chronographs with Remington 200 factory ammo.

[madman4570]

I have that exact gun!(same year, same gun)bought it new in 1973!

That gun is a bear killing machine! (and deer)

Do not ever part with it (hard as heck to get)

The quality that year Marlin was absolutely impeccable.

That is a score-----ever want to get rid of it-------------------PLEASE---contact me!
It out shoots the heck out of my 336C (and a lot other guns)
Think when I bought it---New(paid $105)??? The forearm tip is cool instead of bands and you won't need the 7rds with that gun/caliber(usually one will do)

In my gun shooting 200gr Winchester factory loads I believe I was getting 2230fps with the longer barrel in the A model
The Winchester stuff ran about 80fps faster than the Remington stuff too!

Some Interesting info I found----accuracy of it (not guaranteed)

Most people don't realize what they have in a 35 Remington when used in a Marlin rifle. For example, the Shooter's Bible lists a 356 Winchester at 2460 ft/sec muzzle velocity and a 358 Winchester at 2490 ft/sec muzzle velocity with 24 inch barrels. Subtract the rule of thumb 50 ft/sec per inch for a 20 inch barrel, the 356 is 2260 ft/sec and the 358 is 2290 ft sec.

Now for the interesting part. The 35 Remington was developed for a weak action Remington semi-automatic and is loaded for 30,000 lbs pressure. Marlin uses the same receiver and action for the 35 Remington as they use for the 30-30 Winchester and 375 Winchester. Both the 30-30 and 375 are loaded to 42,000 lbs. Many people take advantage of the stronger Marlin receiver and action and reload 35+ P cartridges to get more velocity. My reloads run 2224 ft/sec average. Their are other people who reload to higher velocities.

Basically, the 35 Remington is equal to a 356 or 358 using a 20 inch barrel. The 358 Winchester advantage is the ability to shoot pointed bullets. This is somewhat offset with Hornady's foam tipped bullets. In my opinion, the Remington Core-Lokt is the best bullet.

One more food for thought, there are several gun smiths that will rechamber Marlin rifles to 356 Winchester. The 356 Winchester cartridge is a 60,000 lb pressure cartridge. They consider the 356 Winchester perfectly safe in a Marlin rifle and the things Wild West does with a Marlin rilfe is unbelievable.

[Hobie]

We just had a .30-30 come into the gunsmith's hands. He is willing to sell it.

[madman4570]

We just had a .30-30 come into the gunsmith's hands. He is willing to sell it.

That would be a great gun for sure, for myself its got to be the .35 Rem cal (mfg. year date 1973 and in the "A Model" )

[Griff]

I've never done much trading... Hate letting one go, which seems to be a requirement in a "trade". But, Noah, cutting back on the coffe can help with that continence issue!

Great trade BTW!

[Chuck 100 yd]

The 336 A was my first big game rifle and still my second favorite configuration.
Right behind the 336 SC .

Nice rifle!!!

[Old Savage]

In the interests of accuracy, with all due respect, the reloading manuals I check including the 356 in a 20" show about 2500 fps for a 200 gr bullet. And the same for a 358 in that barrel length. With about 25% more capacity it must be so that there is a velocity advantage to these cartridges without any pushing of the limits. Apples to apples and all.

Of course this does not detract from the effectiveness of the 35 Remington as history has proved in the ranges it best is suited for.

[earlmck]

A fine score, Noah. That 336A is my favorite configuration. Just for grins, here is a shot of my 35 Rem 336A (1950 model) along with lil' brother 336RC from about 1987. They didn't change much for the reintroduction.

Marlins336Aand336.jpg

I've done a modest amount of chronographing of both rifles. And I'd have bet money that the 24" 336A Ballard rifling would be noticeably faster than the 20" microgroove. And I'd have lost the money. Virtually identical velocities with any given cartridge, and whatever difference there is is generally favoring the 20" barrel. Go figure.

And for OS, Remington factory went 2130 in the carbine, 2140 in the rifle.

[Old Savage]

Thanks Earl for the info. I fill mine with 39.0 gr of 4064 for pretty much a factory equivalent of about 2050 +/-. Hobie likes 4895 iirc. that is with a 200 which seems to be the natural bullet for it.

[madman4570]

In the interests of accuracy, with all due respect, the reloading manuals I check including the 356 in a 20" show about 2500 fps for a 200 gr bullet. And the same for a 358 in that barrel length. With about 25% more capacity it must be so that there is a velocity advantage to these cartridges without any pushing of the limits. Apples to apples and all.

Of course this does not detract from the effectiveness of the 35 Remington as history has proved in the ranges it best is suited for.

OS----think that guy was probably using this type comparison???? With the exception of the H-335 powder they are pretty close with that table?

http://www.loaddata.com/members/search_ ... licID=1076

Where are you getting 2500fps in a 20 carbine???(200gr)and if so is that a max loading?

[Old Savage]

An obscure, little known, hardly used publication - the Sierra 50th Anniversary Rifle Reloading Manual using the BLR 20" 358. Velocities to 2550.

The general ballistic rule is 25% increase in powder for 9% increase in velocity and that seems to hold true here and agrees with Ken Waters pet loads.

[madman4570]

An obscure, little known, hardly used publication - the Sierra 50th Anniversary Rifle Reloading Manual using the BLR 20" 358. Velocities to 2550.

The general ballistic rule is 25% increase in powder for 9% increase in velocity and that seems to hold true here and agrees with Ken Waters pet loads.

How bout the 356 ????

I think what it is is that the BLR is rated for high pressure.
Notice that using H-335 in the 35 Rem (over 35000 CUP)is 2400fps in a 22 inch barrel (200gr)

I bet some of the guys shooting the Marlins(shoot that hot stuff)?????? (at their risk)
http://www.loaddata.com/members/search_ ... header=.35 Caliber Reloading Data

Either way 2400fps(200gr)out of a 35Rem is smoking!

[Old Savage]

I see the Marlin is not mentioned in the list of rifles those loads are for.

Hornaday 26 shows 2383 fps for 40 gr of 4198 in a 20" barrel, does not state the pressure of what kind of barrel. I an not inclined to accept sources such as mentioned as safe particularly in changing rifles. The 35 Remington does not come close to the powder capacity of a 356 or 358 and so cannot come close to equaling it in like comparisons, EVEN IF someone did it in their rifle with some over pressure load.

[madman4570]

The factory 35 Remington loadings from the big three at least of Remington, Winchester and Federal are all underloaded to even the current SAAMI spec. This is because of older Remington model 8 (I think) and other pump guns that were chambered in 35Rem. These actions are weaker than say a modern Marlin 336.

The exact same 336 action in a 30-30 is I believe 42,000. Also the 336ER in 356 win Marlin produced also used the exact same receiver. There are many myths that the 336 ER was a different receiver with heat treating etc but as far as I've been able to research there is absolutely no proof what so ever that it is any different than any other 336 receiver.

So while it is true that extrapolating data is not necessarily 100% accurate. It is also true that in modern Marlin 336 actions there is sufficient strength in the action to go above the 35 Rem factory SAAMI spec. There are people on other forums that are in fact doing pressure testing on the 35 rem. The testing so far proves that the factory rounds are well under the SAAMI spec even for an "underloaded" 35 Rem.

Given above accurate loading of 40,000 (CUP) of say H-335 in a 24" barrel s/b aprox. 2400fps ???????

Not by any means saying it beats or actually even equals a stout .356/.358 loading-----but for a 35 Rem(that is Hot)
Before shooting something that hot-----I would have to research this much further.
And------shooting a 200gr @ 2200fps is just dandy for me.
I see the Buffalo Bore has their 35 Rem hot load for a 220gr out of a 18.5" Marlin at 2200fps ????
So, that right there tells me (that gun can handle pressure fairly well)

Honestly OS though you might think I am nuts---------------With my 336A and factory Winchester 200gr ammo(there is nothing in NA I would not hunt)even big bears(with a guide)
Truly though what I have seen that gun/ammo do----------------if I did my part etc.-------that gun would do the job!
It's just one of them guns that kills better than the numbers show on paper!

[Noah Zark]

. . . Honestly OS though you might think I am nuts---------------With my 336A and factory Winchester 200gr ammo(there is nothing in NA I would not hunt)even big bears(with a guide)
Truly though what I have seen that gun/ammo do----------------if I did my part etc.-------that gun would do the job!
It's just one of them guns that kills better than the numbers show on paper!

That's why the 35 Rem was and still may be the "National cartridge of North Central Pennsylvania." I'd bet that 50% or more of factory 35 Rem cartridge production is sold in NCPA each year.

Noah

[madman4570]

. . . Honestly OS though you might think I am nuts---------------With my 336A and factory Winchester 200gr ammo(there is nothing in NA I would not hunt)even big bears(with a guide)
Truly though what I have seen that gun/ammo do----------------if I did my part etc.-------that gun would do the job!
It's just one of them guns that kills better than the numbers show on paper!

That's why the 35 Rem was and still may be the "National cartridge of North Central Pennsylvania." I'd bet that 50% or more of factory 35 Rem cartridge production is sold in NCPA each year.

Noah

Noah, my friend just shot a huge moose in Newfoundland Canada yesterday, been hunting since last week-------weapon of choice his 20" Marlin 336 .35 Rem

One shot and it dropped where it stood. The Guide told him(that 35 Rem caliber) just is about the perfect caliber for Moose/Bear hunting up here. He was using Remington factory 200gr ammo.
Oh, and the guy----he is a Defense Lawyer from Central ??????------------------------------------------------Pa (Pa born and bred) Like me!

[jd45]

I have an earlier generation of this rifle & chambering, designated 36A, with ballard rifling, made in 1951. It has a plain buttstock, that is, no cap on the pistolgrip, otherwise, it's outwardly identical to yours. jd45