12 Gun TesTs/January 201412

BEFORE & AFTER

Upgrading 30-30 Win. Truck GunBecomes A Bear of a ProjectMontana-based Grizzly Custom turns Roger Eckstine’s lever-action pawnshop truck gun into a work of art. Functionally, the Marlin becomes faster and smoother to handle and shoot.

updating lever actions with modern sights, Picatinny scope mounts, and big lever loops. Also, Bonitz said he could provide a smoother action, including less resistance from the loading gate. The desire for faster, easier reloading of the magazine was a prime reason Eckstine went looking for a gunsmith in the first place.

Grizzly Custom offers eight different update packages for lever-action rifles. They are the BackPacker

Lite and BackPacker Lite Scout, the 2-Tone package that features satin stainless highlights, the BackPacker and BackPacker Scout SBR (short-barreled rifle), the Tactical Package, and the Kodiak. The Kodiak is a Safari Grade package with a fancy-wood Monte Carlo/deep pistol gripped stock. But what Eckstine wanted was a variation on the Brush Hawg package, which includes shortening and recrowning the barrel at 16.5

In the February 2003 issue of Gun TesTs we published a single-page feature entitled “Mike’s Ultimate Truck Gun.” In that,

we described how gunsmith Mike Montgomery had taken a pawnshop refugee 30-30 Winchester Marlin 336RC and upgraded it. First, it was modified for faster handling by shortening the barrel and stock. The action was checked and tuned. Montgomery changed the sights to a Williams adjustable rear peep sight and light-gathering filament Firesight up front. Also, the magazine tube was shortened, reducing capacity to four rounds. Total for the Truck Gun conversion at the time: $225.

For a decade, it has been a favorite of Contributing Editor Roger Eckstine, who liked having it with him when testing guns at a private range where feral dogs are sometimes a problem. But after 10 years of riding in a pickup truck, Truck Gun needed renovation.

The Gun TesTs staff thought the Marlin 336RC would be an ideal candidate for a Before & After renovation, in which we take a previously reviewed gun and either upgrade it ourselves or send it to a specialty shop to see how the changes perform and assess whether we think they’re worth the money.

Eckstine’s rifle had been back to Marlin once to fix a sticky elevator, but he knew it could be a lot better if he could find the right gunsmith. At the 2013 Dallas Safari Club convention, he noticed sample guns by Lew Bonitz, purveyor of Grizzly Custom Guns based in Columbia Falls, Montana (GrizzlyCustom.com, [406] 892.4570). Grizzly Custom’s packages include refinishing and

It can be hard to give up on a rifle that has been in and out of one’s pickup truck for more than a decade. So we sent Contributing Editor Roger Eckstine’s truck gun (left) to Grizzly Custom Guns in Columbia Falls, Montana for renovation. As a result, his 30-30 Winchester Mar-lin 336RC went from being a shop-worn tool to an American classic shown right. The rifle is at the 50-yard bench at Houston’s American Shooting Centers. In it, Eckstine’s favorite 170-grain Winchester Sil-verTip loads were sneaking up on 1-minute-of-angle accuracy. Speed and versatility were enhanced by action work and the application of fresh components, such as a big loop lever and an XS Sight Scout rail. This enabled us to use a variety of sighting options, including the $482 Trijicon RMR Dual Illumination reflex sight from Brownells.com.

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GRIZZLY CUSTOM MARLIN 336RC 30-30 WIN. BRUSH HAWG PACKAGE $1560, ($1910 AS TESTED)

Gun Tests grade: AAccuracy restored, operation and versatility increased. Grizzly

transformed a 25-year-old pawnshop lever-action carbine from a beater gun to a firearm worthy of being passed down.

Action ..............................................................LeverOverall Length ............................................. 33.5 in.Overall Height w/o Scope ............................. 6.5 in.Maximum Width ........................................... 1.5 in.Weight Unloaded .........................................7.2 lbs.Weight Loaded (incl. cuff+sling) ..................8.0 lbs.Capacity............................................................. 4+1Magazine..................................................... TubularBarrel .................... Matte Blue, 17.5 in., 1:10 TwistButtstock ........................................ Natural WalnutButtplate...............................Rubber, 0.8-inch ThickLength of Pull .............................................. 13.5 in.Stock Drop @ Comb ...................................... 1.5 in.

Stock Drop @ Heel ........................................ 2.0 in.Stock Pitch..................................................... 2.2 in.Forend................................... Walnut, w/Sling StudRear Sight.................................................. ApertureFront Sight .......................................... Red FilamentSight Radius ................................................ 20.8 in.Receiver Scope-Base Pattern...Picatinny, ExtendedTrigger Pull Weight ......................................4.5 lbs.Safety .......................................................Half CockWarranty ........................................... None WrittenTelephone ........................................ (603) 865-2442Website ....................................GrizzlyCustom.comMade In ............................................................ USA

inches; shortening the magazine tube, if required, and adding a custom LPA ghost ring sight system with single post front sight and dovetail fill to replace factory rear sight. Also included were an enlarged lever loop, smoothing all ports inside and out, modifying the loading gate for easier loading/unloading, and extensive action smoothing, including a trigger job, dehorning, and adding a bobbed hammer and stainless steel follower. Rounding out the Brush Hawg was a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad and leather butt-cuff ammunition carrier (right or left handed) with matching Slimline leather sling, satin matte metal prep and bluing. Of course, the rifle was returned test fired and sighted in. Base price of the Brush Hawg Lever gun Special built on a customer’s gun is $1560. Bear in mind that the wood and especially the steel used in older models like the test gun circa-1965 Model 336RC is superior, and Bonitz typically charges extra to work on later-model rifles (such as Marlins with an MR prefix before the serial number).

DecisionsEckstine didn’t need the 17.5-inch-

long barrel to be shortened any further; he just wanted the barrel re-crowned. He also ordered the extended Picatinny sight rail instead of the 3-rail Picatinny forend featured in the Tactical package. He also didn’t want the barrel band with the single-slot Picatinny rail for attaching a light along the side, and he also passed on changing the sights to a ghost ring.

The LPA units that Grizzly offers are indeed quick, but the Williams design is not slow either, and because of the easy-to-change apertures, he preferred its accuracy and versatility. But the existing rear unit, which had minor damage, was exchanged for a new Williams rear aperture, so he decided on a new NECG ramped front sight and light-gathering filament.

The major addit ion was a 10.75-inch-long XS Sights Scout Picatinny rail stretching from the rear sight to about 6.5 inches beyond the receiver. In Eckstine’s estimation,

Left: The old nylon carrier had more loops, but rounds often fell out and went missing. Right: A custom leather ammunition cuff and matching leather sling were supplied as part of the Brush Hawg package. It not only looked better, but also held the rounds securely. The new buttpad blended smoothly with the stock and did a better job of absorbing shock, too.

Eckstine’s desire for renovation began with a preference for a big loop lever and and a loading gate that would speed reloads. The installation of the big loop was simple compared to the action work that improved cycling. A balance of reduced spring tension and light machining made the gate more shooter friendly. Note the clean finish and coordinated lines and the bobbed hammer.

14 Gun TesTs/January 201414

BEFORE & AFTER

AccuracyWear had taken its toll on the gun’s

accuracy over 10 years, and we hoped the relatively inexpensive recrowning alone would restore Truck Gun’s accuracy to its 2003 numbers. Overall, we did see that. One round shot in both tests was the Federal 125-grain Hi-Shok hollowpoints, which recorded 0.6-inch groups in

ACCURACY AND CHRONOGRAPH DATA

Federal Classic Power Shok Grizzly Custom125-gr. Hollowpoint 3030C Marlin 336Average Velocity 2387 fpsMuzzle Energy 1581 ft.-lbs.Average Group 1.0 in.

Winchester Power Max Bonded Grizzly Custom150-gr. PHP X30306BP Marlin 336Average Velocity 2162 fpsMuzzle Energy 1557 ft.-lbs.Average Group 1.1 in.

Winchester Super X Grizzly Custom170-gr. Silvertip X30304 Marlin 336Average Velocity 2032 fpsMuzzle Energy 1560 ft.-lbs.Average Group 0.7 in.

Federal Classic Hi-Shok Original 125-gr. Hollow Point Truck GunAverage Velocity 2377 fpsMuzzle Energy 1569 ft.-lbs.Average Group 0.6 in.

Remington Express Core-Lokt Original150-gr. Soft Point Truck GunAverage Velocity 1897 fpsMuzzle Energy 1200 ft.-lbs.Average Group 1.3 in.

Federal Classic Hi-Shok Original170-grain Soft Point RN Truck GunAverage Velocity 1966 fpsMuzzle Energy 1460 ft.-lbs.Average Group 1.3 in.

To collect 50-yard accuracy data in 2003, we fired five-shot groups from a sandbag rest. In 2013, we fired five-shot groups from a Caldwell TackDriver sandbag rest (front) and Triad Tactical Tapered Rear bag beneath the stock to create enough elevation so that the lever could be worked in between shots without dismounting the rifle. In both years, we recorded velocities using an Oehler 35P chronograph, with the first skyscreen set 10 feet from the muzzle.

2003 and 1.0-inch groups at 50 yards in 2013. With 150-grain bullets, the Grizzly did slightly better than the original (1.1 inch compared to 1.3 inch), and with 170-grain Winchester Silvertip bullets, the Grizzly shot on par (0.7 inch) with the best original Federal 125-grain performance, and about half-inch better than the 170-grain Federal Classics used in 2003. For Eckstine, accuracy with the 170-grain Federal Classics was important because he found their profile made them faster to load into the rifle — a key point due to its relatively low capacity.

Our Team Said: The new barrel crown was clean and the finish flawless, restoring lost accuracy and expanding its capability with a wider range of bullet weights.

OperationalDetails

Pulling down the original lever required a little more than 6.0 pounds on average. The new lever action was smooth and tight, requiring no more than 4.0 pounds of effort to operate it. Eckstine complained that the original small square loop cramped his hand. The big loop on the renovation was more comfortable and faster to operate as well.

Trigger-pul l weight before renovation was about 5.5 pounds with occasional creep or grit. The trigger pull weight was reduced to about 4.5 pounds without any sign of grit or creep.

The new front sight was clear, and installation of the stanchion and Picatinny rail were seamless.

Our Team Said: These important areas of performance were substantially improved in the Grizzly upgrade.

CosmeticsThe refinished stocks were

remarkable. They had finish depth comparable to wood treatment in high-end cars. The Grizzly Custom Guns leather butt cuff with matching padded sling was very pleasing. The nylon cuff it replaced was barely functional and certainly not a visual attribute. The new cuff held five rounds in decoratively embossed

it offered the greatest versatility for using iron sights or optics, including standard- and long-eye-relief scopes.

Elsewhere, he chose not to refinish the metal in today’s tactical hues. The rifle’s classic look was maintained, with the metal re-blued and the wood refinished.

When we looked at the areas of renovation, here’s what we learned:

Top: The “before” muzzle tells the tale of a working gun. The front sight stanchion looks rough and cobbled compared to its “after” re-placement, shown at bottom.

Gun-Tests.com 1515

double loops, and the sling utilized brass hardware with quick-release sling loops in place.

Our Team Said: The upgraded gun may be too pretty to go back in the truck.

Action TestsOne area in which we couldn’t

c o m p a r e b e f o r e - a n d - a f t e r performance was in the gun’s new sighting functionality. The original Truck Gun was limited to just its iron sights. The new rail system allowed us to compare how various sights perform on the Marlin, and, upon closer inspection, whether adding the Pic rail is worth the money. Reason: If other sights aren’t better and faster than irons, then why fool with them?

We had three systems to test: the Williams rear sight and NECG front filament, a Leupold Scout scope, and a Trijicon RMR Dual Illumination reflex scope.

We got the $482 Trijicon Dual I l lumination RMR dot scope from Brownells.com. The Dual Illumination RM04 “Ruggedized Miniature Reflex” scope has a tritium module and a light-gathering fiber optic, so its amber dot was battery free and always on.

The $310 Leupold FX-II 2.5X28mm IER Scout scope was mounted forward on the Picatinny rail. We chose this fixed-power scope rather than a variable-power model from the Brownells catalog to assure the lowest mount possible.

The initial surprising result was that we found almost no difference in 50-yard bench accuracy, no matter which sight system we engaged. Average 5-shot groups ranged from 0.9 inches to 1.2 inches across when using the open sights, the Scout scope, or the RMR. The difference was how long it took to establish a preferred sight picture and coordinate a controlled trigger press.

To set up a course that required speed and precision to engage multiple targets, we retested the Grizzly Custom Marlin from the 50-yard line using the open sights and 150-grain Winchester Power Max rounds. We laid out two IPSC targets

6 feet apart directly in front of the shooter 25 yards downrange and a CG-2 (Coast Guard) target offset to the shooter’s right at a total distance of 35 yards. The shooter stood with the butt of the gun touching the body just above the belt line and the muzzle raised so that it was just below the line of sight. The four-round magazine tube was filled with three rounds, and the chamber was empty to start. Upon an audible start signal from a shot-recording timer, the shooter worked the lever, mounted the rifle and engaged each target with one shot each.

The centers of each humanoid IPSC target were engaged first, followed by transition to the hostage taker displayed on the CG-2 target. Whereas the rectangular A-zone at the center of the IPSC target measured a generous 5.75 inches wide by 11.0 inches tall, the facial area of the “bad guy” was somewhat light-bulb shaped. Its prime area (eyes and forehead) measured roughly 5 inches by 5 inches. Combined with

the increased distance and intended urgency, this was a test that told us more about what each sight system would offer to the shooter’s eyes and how the ancient lever mechanism could respond. Raw data, composed of elapsed time and accuracy, told us that each system required a separate technique or at least a different set of cues to work from.

In average total elapsed time, the Trijicon RMR dot sight had an edge, but only by about .35 seconds on average over the Scout scope and about .45 seconds over open sights.

Total elapsed times were 5.37 seconds, 5.73 seconds, and 5.83 seconds, respectively.

The RMR also had the fastest first shot at 1.63 seconds, but just barely over the Scout scope at 1.68 seconds and slightly ahead of open sights, 1.83 seconds on average.

But the elapsed time of transition or split time between the first two shots was nearly even when comparing the RMR to using the open sights. However, we were surprised

From the 50-yard line, the Grizzly Custom Brush Hawg Marlin was capable of deliver-ing comparable accuracy with any sight system we tried, including the Williams receiver sights. But our best groups were achieved with the $310 Leupold FX-II 2.5X28mm IER Scout scope in place and Win-chester’s 170 grain SilverTips (far right). Ten-shot groups such as this one and near minute-of-angle accuracy were the results. Remain-ing test rounds were the Federal 125-grain Hi-Shok rounds (left) and Winchester’s new 150-grain Power Max PHP rounds, center. The $482 Trijicon RMR Dual Illumination sight was the most forgiving and offered the fastest target acquisition. Its dot sight was tritium fueled, and its integral filament enabled it to function with ambient light. Scopes and ammunition were found at Brownells.com.

16 Gun TesTs/January 201416

BEFORE & AFTER

to find out that with the Scout scope in place, transition from target 1 to target 2 was fastest by about .15 seconds on average. Split time to the final target, requiring the finest aim, was quickest using the RMR by about 0.25 seconds over the open sights and about 0.50 seconds over the Scout scope, respectively.

Our Team Said: If you forego the Picatinny rail system, it’s not the end of the world. Shooting with the Williams aperture-style receiver sight brought the shooter and rifle to the tightest mount. Our test shooter reported that working with this system required an instinctual feel for sight and target acquisition. Engaged after an average split time of 2.22 seconds, the dot produced by the filament seemed to be a perfect fit for the head shot on the final target. The result was the tightest group in the tests, measuring about 2.7 inches across. Had the target been smaller or farther away, coverage by the front sight might have been a problem.

Adding the rail allows adding an optic like the Trijicon Dual Illumination RMR, which we thought was the most forgiving for the shooter. Or a more conventional scope fits as well, with your choice of standard eye relief or Scout eye relief, as in our test optic. Of the three systems, we think the application of a Scout scope requires the most practice but with the added benefit of magnification offers perhaps the greatest flexibility.

The Bottom LineWe expended substantial coin in

the Grizzly renovation and retesting of Eckstine’s Truck Gun, and we can only say the results were remarkable. Some of our staff grew up with lever

guns and others are more native to the AR-15. Either way, we found it hard to keep our hands off the Grizzly Custom Guns renovation of our 1960s-era pawnshop Marlin.

Our Team Said: If you have a gun of similar vintage and want to update it, we heartily recommend all of Grizzly’s functional upgrades — the trigger and action jobs, smoothing the loading gate operation, and adding new and improved mechanical sights. But keep in mind that Grizzly primarily provides package builds rather than individual modifications, so breakout pricing for individual services are going to be solely within that context. For example, we were credited about $300 for bypassing the modification and installation of the LPA sight system which is standard to the Brush Hawg. But we were charged for the changes to existing sights ($55) and installation of the XS Sight Scout scope mount ($150) so that it met with the front of the rear sight unit. Adding the XS Sight Scout scope mount is a game-changer because it allows for the easy application of optics, which as our action tests showed, raises the levergun to another level for self-defense use.

Cosmetic changes are always in the eye of the beholder. We chose a $410 upgrade to restore its classic wood stock and re-blue the metal. At a final cost of $1910 plus shipping, this was a pricey project but still less costly than many custom guns. What we got for our money was the transformation of a truck gun in shabby condition to that of a highly desireable carbine worthy of passing down to future generations.

Written and photographed by Roger Eckstine. GT

Before renovation, it was hard to appreciate the quality of the wood used to construct what was considered a budget gun when it was new. The refinished stocks and metal work were superb, in our view. Application of the Picatinny rail by XS Sights was flawless.

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