Was at the range shooting/sighting in my .35rem with leverevolution 200gr. 1st 2 rounds were touching 1" high and 2" left 3rd round was 3" low! Shots were done in under 3 minutes. Let things cool down for about 10 minutes while making scope adjustments. Next string, 1st 2 rounds were bullseye appx 1" apart 3rd shot 4" low. shots fired appx 1 minute apart. This is my hunting rifle and in case I miss?! I don't feel right asking a deer to stand there while I wait for the barrel to cool down. Is there an easy fix or is this a gunsmith problem? AJ B
Marlin .35rem possible heat problem
- Thread starter Burat1600
- Start date
Burat -
Howdy !
Can I ask a couple questions ?
Is yours a micro-groove M-336C, or..... ?
You were shooting @ 100yd, I surmise ?
What were the wind/WX conditions ?
What is your " load " ?
Can you tell us your brass prep & re-loading practices ? For example.... you use a Lee collet NS die ...... you use a Hornady bullet seater.... etc.
I have loaded for and shot a variety of .35 cal bullets and assorted powder in a M-336 XLR .35 Rem. I'd be intersted to read your inputs.
With regards,
357Mag
I would think that 3 shots in 3 minutes isn't all heat causing it. Most barrels take a shot or two just to warm up. If it was the first shot going out I would say cold barrel. In hunting guns I only worry about the first cold bore shot. This is a simple fix for this, Don't miss the first shot. LOL Matt
Lots of things could cause this. Were you shooting off a solid front and rear bag support? Did you jerk the trigger? Did you have the same hold on the rifle every shot? You really need to shoot more than three shot groups. Five shot groups will tell you a bit more. If shot 4 or 5 moves back to your first two shots then most likely it is the shooter and not the rifle.
357Mag,
1) yes it's a micro groove barrel (10 rounds dirty)
2) yep 100yds
3) clear 9am, temp 67deg, no wind
4) factory hornaday leverevolution 200gr
Hope it sheds some light.
AJ B
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2506,
Was shooting off a bench using a makeshift bag (my car cover). Rifle was balanced just in front of the
lever mounted against my shoulder. Held the rifle as close to the same (without having a sled).
Going to the range again on friday and will shoot 5 shot groups and see, though I don't think it was me ( i'm perfect lol)! Will update the post sometime on saturday!
BTW is the 2506 because it's one of your favorites to shoot? AJ B
effendude
Gold $$ Contributor
If you are worried about a third shot being 3" low and missing a deer because of the third shot being low, you seriously need to hunt for bigger deer!
While we tend to be accuracy seekers on this forum, I honestly think a 3" group at 100 yards with a Marlin lever gun is quite acceptable. I have found that 2 in and the third shot out scenario is most often caused by the shooter anticipating recoil/noise and the anxiety of possibly shooting a "wow, look at this group".
Scott
While we tend to be accuracy seekers on this forum, I honestly think a 3" group at 100 yards with a Marlin lever gun is quite acceptable. I have found that 2 in and the third shot out scenario is most often caused by the shooter anticipating recoil/noise and the anxiety of possibly shooting a "wow, look at this group".
Scott
Scott,
The deers be from low country South Carolina. They b s m all!! When stationed in Maine, shot one that dressed at 165lb and was told that it was a small one! I also might agree to the "wow, lookie what I'm doin'". 2 shot 1 hole and maybe concentrate too much and blow it! AJ B
Were you holding on to the forend? Many times sporters prefer that. Try different bench techniques to see if it changes. Certainly lose the car cover and try a tripod, lol
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snert
Silver $$ Contributor
lever guns with two piece stocks and a magazine tube attached to the barrel are notorious for such groups. Add to that the point of balance on a rest and eye releif/head placement when using a scope on a gun designed for irons and a 3 inch group is ok. Not great, but I certainly do not think it is barrel heat. I hate to suggest this but in such a case I might just put up a 4 inch pie plate and hammer it until I was certain I hit it every time.
On another note, you might try a different 35 rem load, even some standard Rem or Win loads. Microgrooves tend to sometimes be finicky. I would hoot and holler with a 2 inch group!
On another note, you might try a different 35 rem load, even some standard Rem or Win loads. Microgrooves tend to sometimes be finicky. I would hoot and holler with a 2 inch group!
Burat -
Howdy !
Thanx for the input on your shooting ammo, rifle barrel; and WX conditions @ the time.
Do you reload .35 Rem, at all ? Just curious.
Pics show my best 5 shots @ 100, shooting my M-336 XLR .35 Rem.
The two flyers were my fault.
With regards,
357Mag
Attachments
Burat -
Howdy, once more !
Previous reply had errors in the attached pics. I appologize !
Let me try, again.....
With regards,
357Mag
Attachments
357Mag,
Not reloading 35rem yet. Right now just reloading 45acp and 38spcl. Have
a Lee Classic 4 hole turret. In the process of turning the spare bedroom into the man cave
and will set up reloading (incl rifle) in there. AJ B
Burat -
Howdy again !
My recommendations:
- IF you weren't shooting w/ a scope, I'd have said put a scope on the gun; and try it like that.
- IF shooting a variable-power scope set @ a lower power, I'd suggest you try shooting groups
w/ the scope set @ max magnification.
- IF you are shooting w/o using a " wind flag ", I suggest you try a simple wind flag(s) made out of a stick and a length of " surveyor's tape ". Best groups typically come when one can " read the condition "
and aim the rifle to compensate for breeze/wind.
- Please consider re-loading and shooting your own .35 Rem loads.
One reason I say this is......you can " prep " your cases to remove variances like case over-all length, neck wall thickness, primer pocket depth; and so forth. I have always used Remington brand .35 Rem brass. These I have found to have fairly common conditions like inconsistent neck wall thickness, burrs due to flash hole broaching process, varying primer pocket depth; and sometimes even over-size flashholes or off center flash holes.
The existence of neck wall thickness variance on factory brass may play a part in what you are seeing. These variations can negatively effect things like bullet centering in the chamber/bore, and neck tension on the bullet. LEE Precision makes a " Collet Neck Size " die set, that also includes a bullet seater for .35 Rem. For a modest cost, LEE will take .001" off the diam of the standard factory
.35 Rem " mandrel " for the collet NS die. That is pretty clear evidence of the need to properly neck size .35 Rem brass AFTER it has been " outside neck turned ".
Whatever you do, I ask that you consider not leaving your .35 Rem brass behind @ the range.
.35 Rem ( especially Remington brand ) brass is in comparative short supply.
- Use a good " rifle rest " set up, whether that be 2 individual bags ( front & rear ), or a more mechanical means like a fwd rest and " rear bag ".
Please let us know about your progress.
With regards,
357Mag
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