Seventy-five years ago, right along with the first wave of Baby Boomers, the Marlin 336 was born. Of course, like most Baby Boomers, its American heritage had even deeper roots; Marlin was originally founded in the late 19th century, and its lever guns helped tame the West. Very little about the Marlin 336 changed until the company's ownership did, and following a bankruptcy, the fate of the iconic lever gun seemed uncertain. Thanks to Ruger, it's now back in production ... but it is it the same Marlin our NRA testers remember?
"On the range, we sampled myriad ammunition types, from tipped bullets to traditional round-nose projectiles," noted American Rifleman staff, "and the Model 336 Classic functioned flawlessly." (That's a good sign for a firearm based on a design that predates many of these loads!) "The gun’s tubular six-round magazine took rounds through the loading gate with ease," they continued, and our testers noted that "the walnut stock felt great in the hands, thanks to its high-quality checkering along the fore-end and wrist."
The Marlin 336, they couldn't help but notice, retains all of its legendary beauty, boasting American black walnut furniture. The only performance changes seem due to Ruger's focus on enhancing the gun's performance. The company has tightened manufacturing tolerances, using high-grade materials. This makes for a high-quality gun that retains the classic look and lines of Marlin's past.
Nimble and easy to carry at a slender 7.2 lbs. unloaded and a 20.25" cold-hammer-forged alloy-steel barrel, our testers noted, "We found the gun is quick to handle, shoots great and has the looks Marlin owners of the past have come to love." This firearm is well-suited for hunting, with its beefy .30-30 chambering, and it looks handsome on the firing range as well. For more information, please enjoy this great video from our friends at American Rifleman and visit MarlinFirearms.com!
