Anyone shoot a Marlin 375?

[Goat]

I have been looking for a straight stocked Marlin 30/30 to have re-bored to 38/55 and it seems that I find more 375 Marlins than straight stocked 30/30s. I know that I could load the 375 down to 38/55 levels but have two "problems." 1)I WANT a straight stock. 2) I have read a few posts where people were having problems finding a load that shot well . I also have a friend who has shot a LOT of Marlins and he said that it is a common maladay of this model. Have you found this to be true or is it just a few isolated cases ? I read today of a gentleman who said that his Marlin375 had the roughest bore of any factory gun he had ever seen. What say you?
Goat

[TedH]

One fella that I know that has one has never been able to get his to shoot worth a hoot. He also commented on the rough bore. I have no personal experience with one.

[Old Savage]

Mine shoots fine with Factory 375s, Factory 38-55s (which fit fine), and the two hand loads I have tried. I have read hear about a number of other who shoot well also. Haven't I don't believe, heard this complaint in three years here.

[Sixgun]

In my post, "Fixing the tang area of a levergun buttstock", I commented that the stock belongs to a 375 Marlin. I would not put the work into a rifle if it did not shoot well.

A couple of weeks ago when I got this rifle, I took her out back and fired about 20 rounds. The first five were at 25 yards to make sure the sights were on. The next 15 rounds hit my 8" plate at 142 yards, shooting somewhat fast with the forend resting. I figure if it does that, it ought to shoot.

The load was 21 grains of 5744 with a 270 gr. NEI gas checked bullet sized .377 using blown out 30-30 brass. Its the same load I use in most of my original 38-55's. Others get a .379 bullet.---------Sixgun

[Hobie]

Load it down? I have a .38-55 .375" bore Contender and use 32 gr. RL-7 to get 2000 fps from jacketed 255 gr. bullets. Yes, I can also do 1300 with PB cast 250 gr. bullets...

[Harry O]

If you MUST have a straight stock, why not get a Winchester .375BB? I have one. It has a straight stock and shoots well. I load the .375 Win with Black Powder and cast bullets for my wife. That it "downloaded" quite a bit from .375W standards.

[Griff]

My Marlin 375 is a 1980 vintage and is fed only Hornady 220grainers over 32 grains of RL-7. I find it as accurate as any of my other leverguns.

[marlin shooter]

My Marlin .375 is very accurate with my handload using sierra 200 grainers or the 200 grn factory load. The 220 hornadys shoot better in my Win BB.375 then they do in the Marlin, but certainly shoot well enough for hunting.
Karl

[71fan]

Goat,

About the straight stock...I wonder if the lower tang and trigger group parts are the same as an 1895? If they are, I would be willing to do a swap with 1895 straight grip parts. I've been looking for a pre-safety PG 1895 for a long time - they are hard to come by.

Also, have you seen this seller on Gunbroker. He always seems to have a rebored 336 for sale. You may contact him and see what he has.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Seller ... User=84845

FYI, I looked in my Brophy book. The following 336 variations were straight grip:
336T Texan
336TS Carbine
336 Marauder Carbine
336 100th year commemerative
336 Octagon
336 LTS (lightweight)

And now I think the cowboy guns are straight grip, but they get a bit pricy compared to the run of the mill 336s,a dn of course you would have to deal with the safety.