Yesterday afternoon I could not resist the chance to again take my recently purchased JM Marlin 336 CS in .35 Remington to the local range. The weather was great – about 33 degrees, practically no wind, and sunny. The load was 200 gr Hornady FTX, 33 gr IMR 3031, Win primer, and trimmed Remington brass. Cartridge overall length was 2.51 inches for all rounds. The scope was set on 9 power.
The group on the left target was with full length brass (trimmed to 1.910 inches) FL resized. Bullets were moderately crimped in cannelures. Distance was 50 yards. The 5-shot group of 0.55 inches was very good. I then lowered the elevation 8 clicks, or 2 minutes of angle.
The 2 groups on the right target were with brass trimmed to about 1.797 inches. It had been fired in my rifle before, so I only neck sized it. I used a Lee .38 Super TC sizing die and a Lyman .357 Mag TC sizing die to be sure the shortened necks had a good grip on the bullet. The bullets were not crimped, but otherwise the load was identical to that used on the left target. A fine 50-yard group of 0.40 inches for 4 shots was obtained. (I twitched a little on the fifth shot flyer to make a 5-shot group of 0.90 inches, which was still not too bad.)
So, then I put the same target at 100 yards and fired the next group without changing sight settings -- and without twitching. The result was an amazing 5-shot group of about 0.50 inches at 100 yards!!! (I think it may actually be slightly less than 0.50 inches, but who cares about a few thousandths?)
It’s looking more and more like the rifle is a keeper. I plan to take it deer hunting this fall, but only when the weather conditions are fair. Did I mention the rifle is in like new condition? And, it has the most beautiful tiger-striped walnut butt stock (both sides) I have seen on a standard Marlin 336.
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The group on the left target was with full length brass (trimmed to 1.910 inches) FL resized. Bullets were moderately crimped in cannelures. Distance was 50 yards. The 5-shot group of 0.55 inches was very good. I then lowered the elevation 8 clicks, or 2 minutes of angle.
The 2 groups on the right target were with brass trimmed to about 1.797 inches. It had been fired in my rifle before, so I only neck sized it. I used a Lee .38 Super TC sizing die and a Lyman .357 Mag TC sizing die to be sure the shortened necks had a good grip on the bullet. The bullets were not crimped, but otherwise the load was identical to that used on the left target. A fine 50-yard group of 0.40 inches for 4 shots was obtained. (I twitched a little on the fifth shot flyer to make a 5-shot group of 0.90 inches, which was still not too bad.)
So, then I put the same target at 100 yards and fired the next group without changing sight settings -- and without twitching. The result was an amazing 5-shot group of about 0.50 inches at 100 yards!!! (I think it may actually be slightly less than 0.50 inches, but who cares about a few thousandths?)
It’s looking more and more like the rifle is a keeper. I plan to take it deer hunting this fall, but only when the weather conditions are fair. Did I mention the rifle is in like new condition? And, it has the most beautiful tiger-striped walnut butt stock (both sides) I have seen on a standard Marlin 336.
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