Does this rifle exist?

[Jason]

Jason,

The exact wording of the rule for the CLA Rifle is:

"Any lever action rifle .25 caliber or larger with a tubular magazine of original manufacture or a replica thereof........" The rifle as I described would, IMO certainly qualify as a replica. Again though, it would require a lot of expense and work. Not something I was willing to try just to get a pistol grip. Before Remington bought out Marlin, you could send your 20" round bbl Marlin 336 back to Marlin and they would convert it into a 24" CB for under $200.00 + they sent you back all the original parts. A friend of mine got the last one they did. When Remington took over, that stopped. It all comes down to how much money are you willing to spend to get what you want/need?

I'm specifically referring to section 3.1.3.b.:

Stocks must be of original configuration. Recoil pads, replacement buttplates, and removable cheek pieces are allowed.

I think that rule means that the stock must be the original configuration for that individual rifle as it came from the factory, whether it was an original or a replica, and the only modifications from that original configuration are recoil pads, buttplates, or cheek pieces. However, as I said above, I don't really have a problem with anyone else using the more liberal interpretation of the rule.

[Jason]

Are you saying that any purchases you make online or out of state that are shipped to you via your FFL gets taxed by the state at the amount you paid for the rifle and the shipping charges too? If so, Ouch! I just go by my FFL's house to do the paperwork and give him a $20 for the service when I pick up transfers.

Dee

Sorry I forgot to answer this earlier, Dee. Yes, that's exactly what I mean. If I buy a rifle from out of state and have it shipped to an FFL here to do the transfer, the FFL is required to charge sales tax (typically around 9%) on the cost of the rifle and the cost to ship it here. Yes, it's a ripoff.

[3Shastas]

The rifle you are seeking does indeed exist. It meets every one of your requirements except C&R. It is the Winchester Legacy model, produced around 2004-2005. It is an angle eject model with scope mount holes already drilled and tapped in the receiver. It could be had in 30-30 or 38-55, round or octagon barrel, blue or case color receiver, and came standard with a checkered pistol grip stock and a Marble's tang rear sight. Originally priced around $850, they now command $1,400 for a new-in-the-box one on Gunbroker.

I have one in 38-55 with octagon barrel. The biggest drawback for this rifle was its tang safety-rebounding hammer features that cause it to have a very heavy trigger pull. I cured the problem by switching out the hammer and lower tang internals with those from a 1980 vintage Winchester Model 94. The parts were purchased off ebay for less than $50. Yes, that is a lot of trouble to go through, but now the rifle suits me, has a two pound trigger, and shoots very well.

3Shastas

[fwt1712]

Have a look for Marlin's Zane Gray commemorative - you will have to look a little bit to find one, but they're not too dear and pretty much fit all your requirements. The only difference is they're 22" but with an octagonal barrel they hold very nicely and shoot well.

[the ex pom]

"In answer to your original question "Does this rifle exist?" I'm pretty sure the answer is "No" but the 336CB is about as close as you're going to come."

I'm pretty sure the answer is yes. Marlin 1893 deluxe in 30-30 with an octagon barrel. here is an example
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =316838578
This may not be the ideal one but they do show up as complete rifles not takedowns.

•Suitable cartridge for CLAS: Absolutly
•Longer barrel: Generally can get them with 26" round or octagon barrels
•Pistol grip stock: Yes the delux models have pistol grips
•Solid top for scope mounting: Yes perfect to mount a scope
•Octagon/heavy barrel: Yes
•Full-length magazine: can be found with both variations, full and half legnth
•Reputation for reliability and accuracy: over 100 years of being one of the most accurate lever rifles in the world.
•No barrel band: no barrel bands on rifles only carbine variations
•Drilled and tapped for receiver sight: Some are some are not. Not to hard to drill and tap though.
•Eligible for C&R FFL: yes if you buy one that is old enough

I currently am shooting a 1893 in 38-55 with lead bullets and am still able to shoot my master grade scores easily. I love the old marlins and dont have any issues with them
Dave McCarthy

[Shandy]

This is the 38-55 I recently got from the US Dave. After getting my hands on yours it was inevitable. The picture is cut off but there is a full 26" there.





Care to discuss what loads you are shooting and which casties? What sights are you running on yours? I'm still to get it set up and looking for a tang. MVA will likely be on order later today. Send me a PM if you want.

Doc

Sorry for the hijack

[Jason]

IMHO the rifle that comes the closest to what you want is the Marlin 336CB. 24" octagon bbl, full length mag tube, 30-30, BUT a straight stock. They are great to do trigger jobs on. Mine are all under 1lb and they hold that nicely. These are hard to come by and expensive $1,000+ but they do appear once in a while on GunBroker.com or GunsAmerica.com. Marlin did make the 336CB with the pistol grip but I've only seen ONE factory manufactured rifle in that configuration.

You could buy the 336CB and switch the butt stock, lever and trigger guard plate with a pistol grip 336 and make a pistol grip 336CB. It would of course require some fitting but would be legal for competition since they were manufactured in that configuration. LOT of work and money but......

My own interpretation of the rule is that the stock has to stay as the original configuration of that rifle as it originally came from the factory, not the configuration of other rifles of the same model may have come. I don't really have a problem with someone else using your interpretation, but I wouldn't do it myself. That said, I've never seen one of the 336CB rifles with a pistol grip stock and wasn't aware that they ever came that way. I have fairly limited experience when it comes to centerfire cowboy rifles, though, which is why I started this thread.

My apologies, PhxShooter. It was indeed my lack of experience showing here. I talked to a guy today who said that he actually has one of the Marlin 336CB rifles with a pistol grip stock. According to him, they really aren't all that rare. He said that he got the idea from someone else he saw with one and just ordered it from Marlin that way. Has anyone else heard of doing this? I didn't know that was an option before Remington bought Marlin. I wouldn't do it now even if it were still an option. It makes sense that it wouldn't be that had for Marlin to do, as it would just mean sticking a different stock, lever, and floorplate on the rifle like you wrote above, right?

Anyway, that means that it did indeed originally come from the factory that way and would conform to the rules as such, so I stand corrected. The guy I talked to today wasn't interested in selling his, unfortunately. He says that he doesn't really sell any guns, but I might try trading him out of it. I suspect that he knows what he has and I'd basically have to give him a deal that he couldn't pass up, though.