While my case is not as severe as some I am a confirmed rifle loony and am proud of it. I've tried several rifles through the years but Marlin lever actions from 357 magnum to 45/70 have been the rifles most often reached for in the thickets and creek bottoms I tend to hunt the most. My favorite 336 Marlin has long been a plain Jane regular carbine chambered in 35Remington. A hand loaded 200gr RN Core-Lokt has accounted for all of the deer its taken but one.
For years I kept records of every deer I felled and I found that my average shot was just a little over 60 yards. One day while hunting I got to thinking about such things and realized that I was somewhat overgunned with a bolt action 25/06 and a 100gr Nosler Partition at 3400fps. Especially that day as I sat in a climbing stand in a thicket where 40 yards was a long way. The next year found me hunting with my now much beloved 35 Remington. I've been a fan of Marlins ever since. I've got several now but keep coming back to my 35 time and again. There's nothing wrong with the rest and I do enjoy my M375 a lot but there is now room for one more.
I have just put together a Glenfield model 30 in a JES rebore to 356. I figured if the 35 Rem worked so well then an additional 300+fps ought to make them "more dead." My model 30 is the half magazine version that was only cataloged for one or two years it has the feel of being lighter all around even though it just removed a few ounces out front. The rifle has a one piece base that incorporates the bottom half of the rings made by Monstrum. In the rings sets my favorite scope, a Leupold 2.5-8x. I'm was thinking of sending it in to have a #4 reticle installed as I find the regular duplex a bit fine when trying to get on a running deer in the timber or, the first and last few moments of shooting hours but Leupold is no longer doing custom reticles.
While many of you may chuckle at the thought this is the closest thing that I'll ever have to a custom rifle. It fits me and the way I choose to hunt quite well. It's fast to the shoulder and my eye is behind the sweet spot of the Leupold when it lands. All my Marlins handle well but this one now is "mine" ...it's the way I want it. (I will attempt to take and post some pictures some day soon)
358Goat
For years I kept records of every deer I felled and I found that my average shot was just a little over 60 yards. One day while hunting I got to thinking about such things and realized that I was somewhat overgunned with a bolt action 25/06 and a 100gr Nosler Partition at 3400fps. Especially that day as I sat in a climbing stand in a thicket where 40 yards was a long way. The next year found me hunting with my now much beloved 35 Remington. I've been a fan of Marlins ever since. I've got several now but keep coming back to my 35 time and again. There's nothing wrong with the rest and I do enjoy my M375 a lot but there is now room for one more.
I have just put together a Glenfield model 30 in a JES rebore to 356. I figured if the 35 Rem worked so well then an additional 300+fps ought to make them "more dead." My model 30 is the half magazine version that was only cataloged for one or two years it has the feel of being lighter all around even though it just removed a few ounces out front. The rifle has a one piece base that incorporates the bottom half of the rings made by Monstrum. In the rings sets my favorite scope, a Leupold 2.5-8x. I'm was thinking of sending it in to have a #4 reticle installed as I find the regular duplex a bit fine when trying to get on a running deer in the timber or, the first and last few moments of shooting hours but Leupold is no longer doing custom reticles.
While many of you may chuckle at the thought this is the closest thing that I'll ever have to a custom rifle. It fits me and the way I choose to hunt quite well. It's fast to the shoulder and my eye is behind the sweet spot of the Leupold when it lands. All my Marlins handle well but this one now is "mine" ...it's the way I want it. (I will attempt to take and post some pictures some day soon)
358Goat
