Marlins converted to "Cowboy" Rifles for Cody Dixon Shoots

[Nueces]

I went to a match in Texas and we shot with some cowboys who shoot Cody Dixon matches. They were talking about Marlin would convert your .30-30 to .38-55.  I was going to speak with them but they slipped off as soonas the match was over.  What's the scoop?
Has anyone here had experience with Marlin doing conversions on what I assume are 336s to .38-55 or even the .30-30s?

[Daniel Nighteyes]

I don't know about conversions, but I own a purpose-made Marlin 336 Cowboy in .38-55.  They're not very thick on the ground, as far as I can tell, but they're out there somewhere...

[Delmonico]

Most 336 are 30-30's any way, plenty of them, to convert one all you need is a 38-55 barrel put on one, there is no need to do anything else.

[Singing Bear]

My 336 is a 375 and I'm sitting on 240 rds of Winchester factory 38-55 ammo that someone gave me.   

Marlin used to do conversions for around $300+, from my past inquiries on some of the forums.
Last I heard, Marlin was going to stop that service.  Probably good idea to check out their website and contact them directly.  My info's all heresy........hearsay.   

Personally, I'd love to swap out this 375 barrel for an 38-55 octogon.  I also have the pistol grip and rather have the straight grips.  For obvious reasons, my conversion was going to be expensive.   

[Delmonico]

I wouldn't do that Singing Bear, check around with Marlin collectors, those 375's are fairly rare and some collector may just give you more than it's worth to you.

I have an early 375 Big Bore 94, been used hard before I got it.  Love it, makes a good spare rifle with open sights for nasty weather.  Also if I ever end up traveling somewhere where there are big mean bears it makes more sense to me than a 44 mag.

[Singing Bear]

I wouldn't do that Singing Bear, check around with Marlin collectors, those 375's are fairly rare and some collector may just give you more than it's worth to you.

I have an early 375 Big Bore 94, been used hard before I got it.  Love it, makes a good spare rifle with open sights for nasty weather.  Also if I ever end up traveling somewhere where there are big mean bears it makes more sense to me than a 44 mag.

I hear ya Del.  I know guys are looking for these rifles, but I won't get into a long sob story.  Let's just say that to obtain another rifle is going to be a royal pain in the butt.  Because of that, since I already have the guns, I usually look to converting them instead.
If not, I've been told I can use the 38-55 ammo in this rifle since the dimensions are almost identical.  I think the 38-55 is a tad under sized, but should expand in the chamber.  They're also a bit longer, but they chamber nicely.  Plus these loads are for use in antique and replica guns.

[Daniel Nighteyes]

I think the 38-55 is a tad under sized, but should expand in the chamber. 

Unless its a hollow-base bullet, which is almost certainly is not, don't count on it expanding.  The reason I know is that 38-55 rifles don't all have the same bore diameter.  I've owned two that had the larger, and less common, bore size.  Therefore, the POI of "regular" 38-55 ammunition was quite unpredictable, so they were only capable of minute-of-barn door accuracy.

That pretty well proves that the smaller bullets don't expand in the chamber.

[Delmonico]

He's talking about chamber size Dan. 

Even simpler singing Bear, since you already have the 375, just fireform 30-30 cases in it and load them as 38-55's, you most likely will have to change the front site.

Depends on who made the 38-55 and when, If the case is the proper lenght it can cause problems, if it's the shorter version like most are, then no problem.  I understan Winchester makes their modern 38-55 on the 375 dies and just use a thinner cup so the head is not as heavy as needed for the pressures of the 375.

[Shotgun Franklin]

Most 336 are 30-30's any way, plenty of them, to convert one all you need is a 38-55 barrel put on one, there is no need to do anything else.

Yep, the .30-30 is just the .38-55 necked down to .30 caliber. The .375 is supposed to be the same basic size as a .38-55 but a tad shorter which never made good sense as shooting a .375 in a .38-55 is a good way of damaging the gun and yourself.

[Delmonico]

Yep, the .30-30 is just the .38-55 necked down to .30 caliber. The .375 is supposed to be the same basic size as a .38-55 but a tad shorter which never made good sense as shooting a .375 in a .38-55 is a good way of damaging the gun and yourself.

Well simpley sometimes folks need to be responsible for there own actions, no different than some body thinking, I can shoot 22 short in my 22 LR so I can shoot 270 Winchester in my 270 Weatherby and it will have less power.  Ask any Weatherby rep, it happens a lot.

The 30-20 case also shorted than the 38-55 if the lenght is up to spec.  Singing Bear could also use 375 brass if he has any, but the new stuff is somewhat scarce and some what expensive.  And it's not needed for 38-55 level loads, it is for the 60,000 psi type loads for the full power 375 as a bit of a safety margin.

[Pappy Myles]

What about the possibility of trimming the 38-55 brass to the length of your 375 and loading them for cowboy?   Like previous posts, you might have to change out the front sight, but only use the trimmed brass in your gun for Cody - Dixon...........

[Singing Bear]

Singing Bear could also use 375 brass if he has any, but the new stuff is somewhat scarce and some what expensive.  And it's not needed for 38-55 level loads, it is for the 60,000 psi type loads for the full power 375 as a bit of a safety margin.

375 brass is crazy expensive.   

I have no intentions of using 375 ammo anyway since my hunting days are long gone.  I prefer shooting birds anyway.
That being said, I was going to reload my 38-55 brass with BP or recommended loads of quick burning smokeless powder
with lead bullets.  All low pressure stuff just for futzing around to 100 yds.  No bench rest accuracy required.  More for
"social" shooting.   

Only reason I ended up with this 375 is that it was a deal I just couldn't refuse.  I think I paid something like
$125 for it in pristene condition.  No rust, no scratches, no nuthin and the wood only had one small dent on the
buttstock.  Even came with the quick release sling swivels and a leather sling. 

[Dusty Chambers]

You can bore and chamber a 30-30 barrel  to 38-55 for about $200. Check on the Marlin site, there's a smith in there who does this work.
I seen the Cody-Dixon title on this post, just had to read it. This category is my baby, I have watched it grow around Texas and in 2010 there will be the first ever Cody-Dixon state champions at Comancheria Days.

[Blackpowder Burn]

Nueces,

I don't claim to be an expert, by any means, but I recently acquired one of the Marlin 336 Cowboys in 38-55 that Marlin produced a few years ago.  I heard a lot of scare stories about small chambers, oversize bores, etc. and the difficulty in loading this caliber.  I did  a lot of reading and researching among the various forums and websites, and what seems to be the case is the following.
1.  Winchester makes new 375 and 38-55 brass on the same equipment, and simply headstamps them differently
2.  The Winchester brass has thicker walls than original 38-55 brass,to handle higher pressure of the 375, thus there are 
      frequently problems chambering bullets of the proper diameter for many 38-55 barrels.
3.  The Winchester brass (both 375 and 38-55) are shorter than original 38-55 brass (2.080" vs. 2.125")
4.  Starline makes 38-55 brass with the proper wall thickness for the 38-55, and they make it in both lengths.
5.  It would make sense (at least to my limited mind) that you could take the shorter Starline 38-55 brass, get the proper bullet
     diameter for you rifle's bore, and shoot 38-55 ammunition in your existing rifle.

I found that by using the Starline brass I was able to load and chamber the proper 0.380" bullets with no problems.  And many people told me I wouldn't be able to.

Now if you want a pretty octagon barrel, that's another matter entirely.  I'm awfully partial to them myself. 

[Four-Eyed Buck]

My shooting partner has a 336AS that he had the factory convert to a 336CB. At that point it ran about $285 plus shipping to get it done. New barrel and forearm plus a magazine. It still has the pistol grip stock, making it a unique piece. He had his done in 38-55. Shoots pretty good too................Buck