Marlin 336 Classic Review

Younger shooters out there may ask, “Do they still even make lever-action rifles? Why?”

They sure do! Lever actions are selling better than they have in years, with new models being introduced and old models coming back.

In 1948, Marlin created what would become one the best-selling levers of all time — the 336.

Marlins remained at the top of the lever-rifle heap due to their combination of affordability and quality. But in March of 2010, Marlin filed for bankruptcy, and the 336 disappeared along with the company.

Luckily, Marlin is now back under new management, and with it, the 336 Classic. We got our hands on one, and today, we are taking a look to see if the new 336 lives up to the near-century-long reputation of the original.

Why You Should Trust Us

I’ve been a shooter, bullet caster, and reloader for almost 50 years. I started in the late 1970s, with an Iver Johnson .22 revolver and a Ruger Blackhawk .45 and progressed from there. I was a member of a club in Terre Haute, Indiana, at the time and have continued shooting to this day, at my home 100-yard range.

I’ve had experience with handguns, long guns, archery, air guns, and just about every other thing that shoots.

Marlin 336 Classic Specs & Features

Specs

• Caliber: .30-30 Winchester
• Action: Lever-action
• Length: 38.625″
• Barrel Length: 20.25″
• Capacity: 6+1
• Trigger pull weight: 7lbs. 3oz. (tested)

Features

• Forged alloy receiver, lever, and trigger guard
• Adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight and hooded front sight
• Cold hammer-forged steel barrel
• American black walnut stock

History of the Marlin 336

In September 2020, Ruger bought out Marlin from the defunct Remington Outdoor Company. Finally, some new skin in the game!

When Ruger took over, they moved 150 tractor/trailer loads of equipment from Marlin’s Illion, NY location to Ruger’s Mayodan, NC facility.

I’ve heard that very little of what they moved was able to be used, as Marlin’s tools and machinery were pretty worn and were not a match for the newer, shiny lines at Ruger.

While the Marlin 336 was America’s best-selling lever-action from the 1980s through the 2000s, the resurging popularity of .45-70 in the 2010s pushed Ruger to choose the model 1895 as the first rifle for the newly resurrected brand.

It took a year from the acquisition until the 1895 hit shelves, after which the Ruger Board of Directors communicated that the 336 would be next.

And so it was. This past March, Ruger/Marlin revived the old bread-and-butter deer-buster 336.

Who Is This For?

The 336 has always been about putting meat on the table. Hunters have always appreciated its reliability, accuracy, and ease of scope-mounting.

Others who might buy this gun would be folks who want a mid-power rifle cartridge in an easy-to-handle package for a brush gun or even home defense.

It also has the advantage of not being a “black rifle,” which means it is usually not subject to gun legislation that restricts its use. Ban state residents, rejoice!                          

Fit & Feel

Since I am not six-foot-four with matching arms, I tend to appreciate easy-to-handle rifles.

The 336 comes to my shoulder like it was fit for me, and mounting this rifle is “smooth as butta.”

Let’s face it…we’ve had over 150 years to get lever-action ergonomics right. If the 336 was unwieldy to shoot, it would’ve been dropped faster than a Twinkie disappears after a Weight Watchers meeting.

But the burning question everyone has is, “How does it compare to the original Marlin-Made 336s?”

Here are a few differences that I tracked down. There are probably more, but this is a start.

• The rifling is different. Ruger is using 6-groove, 1:12 rifling as opposed to Marlin’s Micro-Groove rifling of years past.
• The loading gate is burr-free, unlike many older Marlins…it’s easy to press.
• The walnut fore-end seems just a bit slimmer than the previous 336 fore-ends were.
• The older Marlin black-and-white “bullseye” inlay in front of the rear stock swivel stud is now red and white. (see photo below)
• The Ruger-built guns use a gold-colored trigger, unlike older Marlins.

It is purely subjective, but I think the new Ruger/Marlin just looks nicer than many of the older ones I’ve seen in terms of fit, finish, and material quality.

The polishing on the metal pieces is excellent, with a deep luster, unlike some older 336s I’ve seen. These newer models cost more than their older counterparts did, which would support what appears to be Ruger putting in more effort to market them as a more premium version.                          

How Does It Shoot?

I’ve shot several different brands of .30-30 ammo through various lever actions over the years, so I thought I knew what to expect here.

I grabbed a box of Federal Power-Shok 150-grain .30-30 ammo and got to work. Well, it wasn’t my best day at the range, although that was mostly my fault (but some of the gun’s too).

The 7-pound trigger was very heavy and seemed to stack the further I pulled it. Once or twice during shooting, I was left wondering if I’d released the safety or not, only to realize it was just a balky trigger.

I did the best I could under (excuses start here) sweltering, humid conditions. Keeping the sweat out of my eyes was a chore.

I shot a few targets, but none were what I would call stellar. Admittedly, I’m not the best shot around, especially with a semi-buckhorn rear and brass bead front sights. My eyes had trouble with the bead, and If I were to keep this or a similarly-sighted gun, I’d opt for something different.

I shot at 50 yards and noticed the group was at the top of the target. This tells me that these sights are zeroed at the factory for 100 yards, which is appropriate for most hunting applications.

Vertical stringing is evident, but I can’t blame that on the gun. The gun did print three shots in about 2 inches, more than good enough for 100-yard shots on deer.

But the more I looked at that awful target, the kickier it got. So, I went back out for round two when it was a bit cooler.

This time, the results were more in line with what we might expect out of this rifle. If you ignore the flier at the top, the other four are grouped in roughly an inch.

That means that you should get 2-inch groups at 100 yards. If only the trigger were a bit lighter, this group might even be smaller, but this is more like it!

Do I think this rifle is capable of tighter groups? Sure. I tried the one load I had available. With a better shooter, the right load, and an optic, this gun has the potential to produce great groups.

What Sets It Apart

The new Ruger Marlins are of higher quality than most older versions I’ve seen. Deep, evenly blued finishes and seamless, high-quality walnut stocks seem to be the norm.

This is so unlike the guns that came during the Remington/Freedom Group era. Instead, we get quality construction and assembly, mondo attention to detail, kick-butt reliability, and solid accuracy. Finally…the 336 is back!              

Marlin 336 Classic FAQs

How much is a Marlin 336 Classic?

MSRP is $1,239

Is a Marlin 336 Classic a collector's gun?

It's been offered in a lot of configurations over the years so some gun owners might appreciate the history and varieties out there.

Is the Marlin 336 discontinued?

The Marlin 336 came back into production in March 2023.

Final Verdict

After hearing that Ruger bought Marlin, many shooters I know started quivering in anticipation of the first rifles making their way to local dealers. The wait was worth it.

Ruger is producing finely finished, accurate, reliable guns that would make John Marlin himself proud. For rifle whitetail hunters and lever action enjoyers, the woods and the range just became a more fun place to be.

What are your thoughts on the new Marlin 336? Do you have any experience with older models? Let us know in the comments below! Be sure to check out our list of the 10 Best Lever Action Rifles of 2023!