Here is my Marlin 336 ER in 356 Winchester. The ER stands for "extremely rare" - just kidding!
It really stands for "extended range" but the rifle is quite rare as only 2441 were ever made. I bought the first one I saw for sale and have never seen one since. I've come across quite a few Winchester big bores in 356 over the years but not Marlins.
I like it alot even though the wood and metal look somewhat worn. It was like this when I first acquired it. The previous owner claimed he had downed two moose with it. I have killed two bears with it with modified 250 gr. Speer spire points nipped off flat at the nose (weighs about 247 gr. after this ) and at about 2300 f.p.s. They both died in seconds - one travelling about 8 yards and the other about 12 to 15 yards before expiring. In every way this is a gun for "go" not for "show". It is perfect I think in a tree stand and for fast action on the ground when necessary.
Because I use it in brush and over bait, I find that this low power and light (7 oz.) Simmons shotgun scope works well. Check out that long eye relief (6"plus). Never a problem with gettin a third eye in the forehead with this set up! Notice that no hammer spur is needed due to the way the scope eyepiece is actually ahead of the hammer.
Lately I have been shooting a load with 220 gr. Speer flatnose bullets exiting the muzzle at just over 2300 f.p.s. My last 100 yard 3 shot target was 1.75" from a rest (see pic of me shooting it left - no my rifle's not a "yellow boy" - my camera was acting up).
Click here to see how to get a 336 Marlin lever in 358 Winchester - yes 358!!!
A $11,900 US 35 Winchester chambered Holland and Holland falling block!!! Buy it! - Click here to view great photos of it
This is a pic of a friend's rifle in 8mm-06! That's a Hodgdon's load manual with it. The Ruger factory stock began life wrapped around a heavy barrel varmint rifle (25-06 I think I was told when I bought the stock). I adapted the stock to drop in a 98 barreled action and then lost interest in my project.
I then passed the stock along to a friend with an idea for a scout rifle. He and a Callender, Ontario gunsmith rechambered a 8mm military Mauser, bedded the metal in the wood, and this is the good result.
This gun has recently moved along with my friend to the Northwest Territories of Canada. No doubt it will see some awesome big game hunting in coming years. Since I'm a 35 nut, I'm duty bound to say that if the bore was just about another .035" larger it would be even more perfect.
Nice gun Roger! God bless you and your family. Happy hunting!
P.S. - March 2005 update - Roger is now having this one rebarreled to 35 Whelen!!! He wants it to hunt sheep but take a griz if the opportunity presents itself. On a combo hunt sometimes the griz appears when it's not supposed to and the hunter can be typically under gunned. The 35 Whelen with proper bullets and loading should provide an acceptable margin of flexibility with brownie lethality. Roger also owns a 416 Remington Magnum to carry exclusively for griz after he has filled his sheep tag.
P.S. - April 2006 update - Roger's mauser pictured above now looks completely different (see link to pics directly below). It is now a full custom 35 whelen launching 250s@ 2600+fps with a 24" McClelland tube and Rel 15. He shot a Woods Bison last fall (2005) with it in the 2000lb category and several 400lb category caribou along with some other smaller ones. He is very happy with the rifle's performance on big game. He has sent me some photos so I can publish them here.
[June 28,2006 update - photo's depict Roger with his custom 35 Whelen on a very successfull "boo" hunt this past winter (2005). Also see his snowmobile rifle - which is a Ruger77 "All Weather" in 350 Remington Magnum which is photographed on another successful hunt. Link coming soon here]
Lefty Whelen Range Report - April/07 update
My friend Mike photographed this young bear this past summer (2000) with a company camera (your secret's safe with me Mike). He snapped these shots at dusk by the water's edge in front of his house near Walden, Ontario. Hey Mike - be careful getting too close to those bears - especially with nothing in your hands for battle except a digital camera! Good pics considering the poor light conditions. Thanks for sharing them with me.
