I'm interested in buying a Marlin 336 30-30 to use as a deer rifle. I know Marlin has an excellent reputation for ruggedness and longevity of life, but i recently was told by a trusted source that the marlins found in Wal-Mart and some of the major sporting goods stores such as Academy Sports and Outdoors are not of the same quality as those purchased from smaller dealers who order directly from Marlin. Truth or misconception? Any thoughts on this are appreciated.

I'm interested in buying a Marlin 336 30-30 to use as a deer rifle. I know Marlin has an excellent reputation for ruggedness and longevity of life, but i recently was told by a trusted source that the marlins found in Wal-Mart and some of the major sporting goods stores such as Academy Sports and Outdoors are not of the same quality as those purchased from smaller dealers who order directly from Marlin. Truth or misconception? Any thoughts on this are appreciated.


Its not true. The guns are the same quality. All meet SAAMI specs. Some firearms, may be specially produced versions, but all are the same quality. However, Walmart and most of the others wuill; just look at you funny if you have a problem, where the extra few bucks at a dealer buys you a great deal especially if your not experienced enough with firearms to solve your own minor or major issues.

I have a dealer i use for most purchases but do buy specific guns at Walmart. Ex the base Ruger 10/22 is cheaper there.

Doc is right...

The same guns you buy anywhere else except they have had some special runs. They only stock the 30-30's around here but they are less than those offered through Davidson's on-line dealers. If year of production is a big deal to you, become familiar with the serial numbers as they seem to be about 1 to 2 years behind. May be they buy old, new inventory but I don't know that for a fact.

Michael

I think the Walmart 30-30's use a cheaper hardwood than Walnut. But, they shoot good. Also, I noticed that the one Walmart 30-30 that I purchased has a rought bore. Copper fouling has been a problem. I have been intending to fire lap it to smooth the bore.

You need to get a new "reliable source"!! Ive bought two different marlins from walmart...one in 30-30 and one in 45-70...they are in fact just as high quality as marlins from other shops. They get them from marlin, just like other shops so there is absolutly zero difference between the two except price. Both of them are real walnut and the wood is very well done...cant beat their prices either...i only paid 239 for my 30-30 brand new.

thanks alot, all the comments have been very helpful. ps: i found a 336cs 30-30 in a local pawn shop today for $199. i feel like I got a good deal as the gun is 99.5%. metal is perfect with only one very small blemish on the stock. I would guess only used for one or two hunting seasons. What is the difference between the 336cs and the 336 c. I dont know what the "s" stands for.

It sounds like a great deal, but always check the bore with a bore light, and remove the lever if allowed and check out the wear and the fit of the bolt as well. Always check to see if the serial number and date of manufactur is in line with the amount of wear.
Been burned after coming home with pawnshop "steals", so I've learned to be critical and ask questions, some of which, if are declined to be answered have saved me money and grief.
thanks alot, all the comments have been very helpful. ps: i found a 336cs 30-30 in a local pawn shop today for $199. i feel like I got a good deal as the gun is 99.5%. metal is perfect with only one very small blemish on the stock. I would guess only used for one or two hunting seasons. What is the difference between the 336cs and the 336 c. I dont know what the "s" stands for.

It sounds like a great deal, but always check the bore with a bore light, and remove the lever if allowed and check out the wear and the fit of the bolt as well. Always check to see if the serial number and date of manufactur is in line with the amount of wear.
Been burned after coming home with pawnshop "steals", so I've learned to be critical and ask questions, some of which, if are declined to be answered have saved me money and grief.

how do i read the serial number to determine manufacture date?

and do you know what the "s" in 336cs means?... how is it different from a 336c?

I'm interested in buying a Marlin 336 30-30 to use as a deer rifle. I know Marlin has an excellent reputation for ruggedness and longevity of life, but i recently was told by a trusted source that the marlins found in Wal-Mart and some of the major sporting goods stores such as Academy Sports and Outdoors are not of the same quality as those purchased from smaller dealers who order directly from Marlin. Truth or misconception? Any thoughts on this are appreciated.


fender817

I can't comment to the Walmart sourced guns but it occurs to me if Marlin makes the gun and it is the same model they currently advertise it has to be the same quality gun. I would think anti-trust/comsumer protection laws would call that fraud.

I have a very nice Marlin 336C outfitted with a Nikon UUC fixed 4X scope that I would consider parting with if the price were right but I won't separate the two (scope and gun). The scope is adjustable to correct for vision deficiencies. It's also the extended eye relief model. The gun is the microgroove version, no checkering, pistol grip handle. It was new, old stock, never fired, when I bought it in 1993. 100 rounds would be an over estimation of the total number of times fired. I have only ever shot hand loads through it and it groups under an inch at 100 yards. I've shot several 3-shot groups that I can cover with a dime. In fact, I'm going to use it to enter Ranch Dogs shooting contest. I just printed my targets yesterday and I hope to take it to the range tomorrow.

The 30-30 is a great gun but I favor my 45-70.

Next day

Stopped off at the range on my way home from work.

http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v69/GuideGun/30-30_100_yards.jpg

I pulled one, this is at 100 yards. Here's the rig.

http://img23.photobucket.com/albums/v69/GuideGun/Marlin_336C_30-30.jpg

I checked my Walmart 30-30. The stock and forearm are not walnut. It is a lighter wood that has been stained to look like walnut. I think this is why Walmart can sell at a cheaper price. Whatever wood it is, I don't care. It shoots good groups and that's what I care about.

Taylor,

Look closely at your gun, and you'll certainly find that it's marked model 30AS or 366AS, which indicates Marlin's birch-stocked model of the 336. All stocking dealers generally have this version as well as the 336C or CS models which have genuine walnut stocks. The A or AS models are promotional guns that give the same high quality Marlin reliability, and servicability as their other models, but at a significantly reduced price point due to the stained birch stocks. This model is not unique to Wal-Mart merchandising.

Your rifle is every bit as accurate, and durable as any other 336 available, it just doesn't have the walnut handle!

God Bless,

I am reasonably sure that the "CS" stands for "c"arbine (length of barrel) and (cross-bolt) "s"afety. It's no big deal, just part of the model nomenclature.

I know there's a thread on this board that tells you for sure how to determine the date of manufacture, but I can never remember it for long, so I THINK (not sure mind you), that your subtract 2001 from the first four digits, unless it's really old and has a alpha prefix. I'll try to look up the exact formula later, if someone hasn't replied to it yet.
how do i read the serial number to determine manufacture date?

and do you know what the "s" in 336cs means?... how is it different from a 336c?

I've heard from several folks who've refinished the birch stocks to make them look a little nicer, and they seem to be pleased, plus birch is actually a more stable a resilient wood than walnut, just not very pretty with it's tight grain structure. Still, places like Boyds make unfinished/semi-finished stocks from walnut in various grades to curly maple and points in between that are pretty near drop in with only minor fitting needed, so you could turn your Walmart 336 into a real nice shooter and project gun.
I checked my Walmart 30-30. The stock and forearm are not walnut. It is a lighter wood that has been stained to look like walnut. I think this is why Walmart can sell at a cheaper price. Whatever wood it is, I don't care. It shoots good groups and that's what I care about.

Check here for dating your Marlin.

http://www.lts.net/~aw/homepage/datingamarlin001.html

Wal Mart can also special order about anything you want. I have done this a couple times.

I knew somebody smarter than me would know where this link was! :rolleyes:

Check here for dating your Marlin.

http://www.lts.net/~aw/homepage/datingamarlin001.html

I knew somebody smarter than me would know where this link was! :rolleyes:

Nah!!! Not smarter! I just asked the question so much that I finally saved it in my favorites - that is my memory enhancement.

I was recently told by an owner of a small gun shop that even the ammunition sold by Wal-Mart is cheap inferior stuff. The shop owner was just trying to get me not to shop at Wal-Mart to keep the small guy in business. I was dropping off a 742 woodsmaster carbine to have the extracter clip replaced and promptly left and took my business elsewhere after I was told that the "Wal-Mart" ammo was most likely the culprit of my gun's problems. I would be inclined to shop at a small business owner's shop because of the service but not this person's shop. I was turned off by the blatant lie about the ammo and the other "inferior stuff" sold by the "big guys." If the Mfgr's packaging is the same, then the merchandise is also the same. Honesty and good service will get my business, lies and price gouging send me out the door. I recently got some 2 2/4" 12 gauge slugs from a big store that were on special for 99 cents for a box of 5. The same "lying" store owner was selling lesser (lower velocity) slugs for $5.99 per box of 5. I don't even stop in for the "time killing" look at the merchandise anymore.

While it's true that the small shop owner can't possibly compete with the "Marts" due to volume buying, price gouging doesn't endear the local clientel to the small shop. The only edge that little local shops and small manufacturers have to offer is honesty and outstanding service that goes above and beyond differences in pricing as valued by the customer.

It always saddens me when I hear of shop owners destroying their credibility through dissemination of mis-information and deceit, as the trust they may have once built with their customer base is destroyed by a wagging tongue.

As you say, you don't even stop in to look anymore. Is it any wonder?

While Wal-Mart is cheaper, they do not carry many items that the small shops carry. They order the popular items in large quantities, and get a cheaper price. the items are tha same as the small shop receives, but at a lower cost to them, and with a lower mark up than the small shop their items are cheaper. When I was operating a small shop, most of our sales were the items that Wal-Mart and the other Chain Stores didn't carry, such as odd caliber ammunition, and special order items that Wal Mart would not order. Most of our business was Repair and reconditioning, as well as some custom work. Many times I have told customers that we could not compete with Wal-Mart on some items, and that they were available at Wal-Mart. Some customers went to Wal Mart to get the items, but more of them just paid the extra, and I usually saw the ones who went to Wal Mart back in for other items, so Honesty with the customer is definitly the best policy. Most people understand and will be repeat customers in the end.

Lee L.

M1894 is right. I have gone to local shops in every town I lived in. Most would actually recommend going to Wal-Mart for the items that were so much cheaper that they didn't even bother to stock. For example, plain Jane Remington shotguns.

And yes, I purchase the other stuff at the local stores. It's called "market niche" and it is what it is.

Same goes for mail ordering. If the price plus shipping is significantly cheaper, I'll order from Midway. In fact I have called Midway and asked them to run the total price of an order plus shipping. They were very polite and gave me the facts. I saved less than $2.00 by buying locally but that's what I did. I appreciate honesty and good service whether it comes from Wal-Mart, Midway, or Joe's Gun Shop.

Walmart has monopoly on good prices.. But I do still try to do my best to buy from the small shops..
I can't pass up 50% off on ammo sales. but I do still buy at small places all I can.

Again, I know we're not supposed to get political here, so I'll merely say -

I'll shop at Wal-Mart all the time. Free enterprise is the American way.

For great prices on ammo, they're tough to beat. Other than Wal-Mart, Natchez shooters supply is a good place to look.