Hi,

I got a used 336CS in 30-30 micro groove last week. Am a newbie to civilian shooting and got a question.

I was zeroing it in with the previous owner on 50m. The first groupings were satisfactory horizontally and vertically. We fired some 60 rounds. The longer we shot, the more the groupings wandered upwards. Horizontally they were still as good as before, but I overshot. The seller told me, it is because the gun is intended for hunting and therefore doesn't handle heating well. The barrell quickly got so hot you couldn't touch it. Therefore it shoots higer than cold, he said.

Is that correct? Is there any self-loading or retail ammo that at least delays the effect? Or did I buy a lemon?

Thx,

raptor


Great gun nonetheless!

That's pretty normal for any rifle with barrel bands or unfloated barrel. Best way to do it is to let it cool between shots. Try to let it get back to ambient temperature. My 3030's do it and my 45.70's do it. My 26 inch barrel 45 70 cowboy is much worse than my 18.5 inch guide gun. They aren't match rifles. They will be accurate but the groups will string as they heat up and cool down. Zero to a cool barrel then when you use it hunting it will be right on. Be cool, be calm, have a good time.

Thx, I'm having a good time with it. Nice feel. Kicks more than an assault rifle. Kinda Harley shooting compared to rice cooker shooting.

Every one of my rifles vertical strings to some degree the hotter they get. They're all hunting rifles made for 1 to 3 shots in a row and you're done. If you wait 2 minutes between shots and run a dry bore mop through it about every 6th shot it probably will not verical string, at least not as bad. But, it's dang hard to sit at the range with a Marlin Lever action and not shoot faster than every 2 minutes.

Raptor,

Also when you shoot um hot like that you tend to get much worse copper (asssuming cooper bullets) fouling, making clean up much more difficult...

So, slower/cooler is better for other reasons as well.

best o luck

nate

Thx, I'm having a good time with it. Nice feel. Kicks more than an assault rifle. Kinda Harley shooting compared to rice cooker shooting.

I understand ya bro!! :D We call em rice grinders in this part of the country. ;) Welcome to the world of lever guns and their quirks. Have fun.

Dave :cool:

Raptor,

Also when you shoot um hot like that you tend to get much worse copper (asssuming cooper bullets) fouling, making clean up much more difficult...

So, slower/cooler is better for other reasons as well.

best o luck

nate

Dunno about copper. Got a stock of Winchester Super X CPX2 catridges from the previous owner. As I do he also kept it for home defense. Hence the CPX2 (deer) slugs, I suppose.(?)

What would generally be the theoretical cadency/time when the barrel would start to melt? Or the glowing barrel would incinerate the woodenstock or the chamber would be so hot the charge fires form the heat?

Hoot!! :D :D :D

So? .......................

Every one of my rifles vertical strings to some degree the hotter they get. They're all hunting rifles made for 1 to 3 shots in a row and you're done. If you wait 2 minutes between shots and run a dry bore mop through it about every 6th shot it probably will not verical string, at least not as bad. But, it's dang hard to sit at the range with a Marlin Lever action and not shoot faster than every 2 minutes.


I guess this is the justification that I need to buy another Marlin lever!!!!!!!!!!! That way I can shoot one while the other cools.

Come to think of it three Marlins is starting to sound good :D

I guess this is the justification that I need to buy another Marlin lever!!!!!!!!!!! That way I can shoot one while the other cools.

Come to think of it three Marlins is starting to sound good :D

Yes sir that's exactly what I do ... three 30-30's, two Marlins and one NEF Handi. Shoot one, let it cool while I shoot another. A 17 HMR is good for those in between shots too if they'll let you on the 100 yard range with it.