hi all,
i have had this on order for over 2 months and it finaly arrived in.
so i have mounted a leuplod 2x7 and off to the range to give it a test.
i clean it all up and shot some highland 150g factory, it sprayed all over, grouping the size of a dinner plate off the bench at 100 yrds. so i try some 170 grain pmc factory. it was about 10 inches lower than the 150g highland but grouped around 2 inches, thats more like it! ill be keeping the shells for reloading later.
the action is quite tight and not very smooth so i have lubed it up and worked the action about 100 times, this has helped and now feels smoother but i find the lever catches every now and then esp if i work it slowly. it only drops bout an inch and the bolt wont retract. i need to then press it right back up and then down quickly or it will catch again, i am a bit worried about it cause if i get a pig want to go me due to a poor 1st shot, i dont want to be fiddling with the action, or club the pig with the butt of the gun cause i cant reload it quickly!!!
is this normal for a marlin? i have never used one before. so dont know what to expect. figure it may need more working to loosen it up?
thanks for any advice
greg

Glad to hear she grouped tighter with the heavier bullets.
When you work the lever do it like you mean it. Don't go slow, do it quickly and with authority. Your rifle will feed just fine.
Good choice on the rifle and scope. I never had a "bad one" from either manufacturer.

Greg - Was this one of the new XLR stainless models?

Was this one of the new XLR stainless models?
no. i am on a budget and this is actualy a gift from the wife, she got a gift voucher from my local, for our aniversary so had to get someting to remember this. i think i got her trained!!!!
so its the basic 336 in 30 30 ( boring i know) but it tis practical for the pigs we chase round here (darwin, oz) the 170g should whack a fair hole in anything im shooting.
all the best, greg

You have a classic rifle and cartridge. Fun to shoot, and highly overlooked.

You'll find friendly company over at :
http://www.marlinowners.com/board/

Go to the 336 board.

Not sure what your "sticking" problem is. Try the question over on marlinowners.com Could be some tightness against the extractor and the bolt. Put a drop on oil on that extractor groove. You may need to take the bolt, lever and extractor out and just break the sharp edges with a stone, to remove a burr or two. You'll be polishing, not really removing metal or round things out. Just smoothing things out.

You can also take a thin groove-filling file, or pice of wood wrapped with very fine sand paper and work the sides and bottom (and edges) of the extractor cut in the bolt. Progress to 400-600 grit emery paper to smooth

My Marlin 336A (1970's version with 24" micro groove barrel, and 2/3 magazine) shoots darn near MOA with Speer 170 grain bullet, and 32 grains of Winchester 748.