I think I outsmarted myself today

[Confederate rifleman]

Went to Cabelas and bought a pewter finished Marlin 336SC in .35 Remington, with some interesting stock work... for the purpose of taking the pristine Redfield 70 receiver and higher Lyman front sight for my super nice 336SC. 30-30.
Ummm...
The bore of the .35 looked fuzzy, and I fully expected it to be consistent with the exterior condition.
Nope. Pristine, no copper and a perfect crown...
I pulled the bolt and was stunned by the lack of gunk. This old girl ( H prefix, 1951 like the .30-30) was cared for! No boogered screwheads and an unmolested waffletop. I wonder if the previous owner was one whose skin oils were harmful to blueing. I know a fella like that. Hand him a new rifle and it'll be Armory Bright in a couple months.
Threw in a pic of the Redfield on the .30-30. Plain to see it didn't spend much time on the .35!
Now, I have to see if she shoots. Was gonna sell her... Be just my luck.
Then I'll be looking for a stock set and another Redfield...

 

[edmehlig]

You always seem to step in it and coming out smelling like Roses.

 

[Confederate rifleman]

Not always Ed, but we'll see.
While I much prefer the 24 inch 336A version, the SC model is handsome. My departed bud, Bear's first rifle was a 1967 SC .35. When he passed, that one disappeared. Would've been nice to have got hold of that one. Had a chance when he traded me out of my first 760 .35. He'd been good to me, so I really couldn't refuse. Said he'd always wanted a 760 .35 sooo...
But I couldn't take a fella's first deer rifle. Took a Remington 700 CDL .243 instead. Figured it'd be less painful for him to lose.
Bad trade. Off center chamber and inaccurate.
He sold the 760 a few months later.
Anyway...

 

[Confederate rifleman]

The best laid plans...
She's a shooter. The 2nd group, the 1/2 incher, made me groan a bit.
Need another Redfield now!
Winchester 200 gr PowerPoints, open sights at 50 yards. Teenie tiny open sights...
Cases look great...
Dang.
She's a joy to shoot too.
I shall call her " Old Pew". Pew being short for pewter.
Hey Ed!
Guess I did step in it again...

 

[Confederate rifleman]

Tried some of my Snowball loads. The very oxidized 200 grain Core Lokts and a snootfull of LVR.
She came back RIGHT SMART! Much heavier recoil than the same load in my 760.
Accuracy was quite good for the sights. Forgive the low shot... Cases look great and fired primers flush.
That's a first!
I used an old RCBS primer crimp swage, press mounted, to remove the factory crimp. New primers went in sooooo nice!
Now to figure out what to do with old Pew!

 

[Confederate rifleman]

Took the chronograph out today.
Winchester 200 grain Power Points averaged 1960 fps.
Took some Snowballs too. 200 grain Core Lokts over 45 grains of LVR. Oooooouch...
2250 fps. About 40 fps behind what my 22 inch 760 does with the same load. And the 760 does it with NOTICEABLY less recoil. This Marlin carbine is NOT polite on my end...

 

[Hanshi]

Way back when I got my Win 94 Trapper carbine - 16" barrel - I put a fine Lyman receiver sight on it. I only ended up hunting once and then killing one deer and from then on just played with it for fun. I liked the 170 grain bullet with enough 3031 to reach around 1900 fps. I did a lot of cast bullet shooting with it and used one to take a cottontail. These little rifles really do kick.