Newbie with a basic Marlin rimfire question

[bt3128]

I just got a new rifle - a Marlin 981-T. I live in a cold place so have not been motivated to leave the house with it. I have found out that dry firing is bad for the firing pin. But this is a bolt action so any time I cycle the bolt I am also cocking the gun. So, do I just put the thing away unloaded but in cocked condition with the safety on? Now the actuating spring(s) is/are under constant tension/compression. Is that good for them? I can't see a way to de-cock it and there is no info. in the owner manual. So - experienced Marlin bolt action owners - what do you do?

Thanks for any help.

- Bob

 

[DC300a]

I am not familiar with the Marlin 981-T but I do know that constant tension will not harm quality springs.

It is not the constant compression or decompression that hurts springs... it is the constant back and forth that weakens/ruins springs.

I pulled a Luger out of my Grandfather's safe that had a fully load magzine. Although it had been loaded for more than 30 years.... the magazine still functions like it was new.

 

[misANTHrope]

Spring fatigue comes from repeated compression/release cycles, not from constant compression. You'll be fine leaving it cocked.

 

[thunder173]

Try this,....it should solve your problem and concerns. After cycling the bolt,....making sure the chamber is empty,...disengage the safety, then lift the bolt handle UP,..as though you are going to cyle the bolt,...but don't slide it rearward,..... depress the trigger, and lower the bolt handle to the locked position. That should uncock the rifle.

Have a great day...

 

[jlbpa]

Congratulations on your new rifle. Marlins are great and as accurate as you'll ever need them to be. The great thing about the tube feed is they'll accept all types of .22 rimfire. Get some agulia super colibri and you'll have a .22 rifle that shoots like a pellet rifle except quiter.

I have a marlin glenfield model 20 bolt action .22 rimfire, a Marlin model 39a lever action .22 rimfire and a marlin model 37 pump action .22 rimfire. The model 37 is as old as the hills but is still very accurate.

 

[misANTHrope]

Oh yeah, I didn't mention that I used to have a 25N. What I liked about it was that after I installed an RB trigger and sanded out the barrel channel to free-float it, it shot every bit as good as my friend's Sako Finnfire. (which cost quite a bit more than my $130 Marlin)

 

[bt3128]

Thanks for the great info and quick replies. While It's a comfort to know I am not harming my baby leaving it cocked, I like knowing it can't be accidentally dry fired either. Thunder173, your uncocking tip works perfectly! Why couldn't Marlin have a short paragraph in the owner manual covering that? Or is that one of the things nobody tells you because everybody already knows it?

What a fantastic forum.

 

[nekwah]

caus its not really that important. as others have said wont hurt it to leave it that way.

 

[rangerruck]

recock it,and close it, with the trigger pulled, should do it. also, it does not hurt the marlin to leave it cocked, actually it may be a help for those heavy trigger springs, and others!!!!

 

[rangerruck]

also , the brilliance of the marlin 80's or 81's, been made for about 70 years now, a really rugged boltie rifle done right. You can also shoot short, and longs through it, and even Aguila super colibri's, which are primer fired only. very quiet. there are also Aguila colibris, but I don't have the guts to try them out of a long bbl rifle, they are made for revolvers, really.