Sooper Stoopid levergun question

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Don't know about the Marlin, but I have a Rossi (EMF/Hartford) .357 carbine with a 16" barrel. It takes .38s just as well as .357s, but as a previous poster said, you need to work the action with a little authority. You don't have to do it hard -- just firm. Overall, I'm pleased with this gun.
 
"Infamous Marlin Jam" ??? I've owned 1 been around 3 others, only FTF have been when limp wristing the lever. Oh yea, one other time it was shooting 38 special in the .357 gun, the cartridge is too short, (not to mention it's not the proper ammunition) didn't like em much. IMO, can't beat Marlin at all. Quality reliability and AMERICAN MADE.

That is the "Marlin Jam," not feeding the shorter rounds. Any .357 Marlin should feed .38 Specials. The problem is that the mating surfaces between the lever and shell lifter don't match properly. Typically the lever has a burr that gouges a groove in the lifter. This throws off the timing and causes jams with .38's.

The fix is simple and can be done at home. You can google it, but basically it involves removing the shell lifter, finding where it's being gouged, and soldering/epoxying a piece of hardened steel (like a hacksaw blade) there. Also, try re-radiusing the lever where it contacts the lifter.

I did this fix when my 1894 was choking on .38's and Marlin told me that the back up for warranty work was 3 months. I haven't had a single feed issue since.
 
I have had a Rossi and several Marlins. My Rossi went back to the factory twice, being locked up at half cock both times. The second time it came back smooth as glass and very reliable.

All of my Marlins have been great guns and the one I still have has had about 12,000 rounds thru it. The "Marlin Jam" is easy to fix and is fully detailed at http://marauder.homestead.com/files/marlin94fix.html.

The pistol caliber Winchester 94s are the most jam and failure prone of all the lever actions used by Cowboy Action Shooters, as that particular Winchester action was apparently designed for a rifle length cartridge, and the geometry didn't translate all that well when adapted to pistol length rounds.
 
I have an EMF Hartford '92 in 357 with an 20" barrel. She's stainless and has a dark rich walnut stock, a stainless cresent buttplate and saddle ring. Absolutely Beautiful! She cycles like a champ for the longer set loads but you will have a time in a while a little drag with a shorter round. Not that it stops the cycling but like mentioned before, you just need to be alittle more firm. Other than that stupid safety on the top she is not only a thing of beauty she handles well too. Accuracy for me is all 10 rounds in a little less than a 6" circle @ 100yrds with the 125 gr mag. She's part of my truck carrying trio, the Model '92 stainless, my S&W 4" 686 & my S&W 360 M&P when I retire to NM. I would use this for camping, hiking or when I go trekking off to explore. Take 200 rounds and you can take care of yourself for a while. This would also work for up state PA if I choose to stay here when I retire.
 
The Marlin jam issue can be easily fixed...at home.
At least by those who are at least somewhat "mechanically inclined".
Like Piney Woods says in post #29 above, this site:

http://marauder.homestead.com/files/marlin94fix.html

…gives a good fix to the Marlin Jam, especially the preventive fix explained under “The Cure for New Guns”. I am marginally mechanically inclined and I did it. My only advice is start with filing very little off lever cam; if you file too much the rifle will not cycle shorter rounds any more. I take the lever off every time I give the rifle a thorough cleaning (so I can run the patches breach-to-muzzle) and inspect the bottom of the carrier. If you see a groove forming file a little more off the cam. If you don’t see a groove forming you are good to go.

I've got a late model Rossi and it too had trouble with short .38's. But the ones that caused issues were wadcutters so no wonder... But if you want to try shooting really small and deep loaded bullets in .38spl cases you may run into the same trouble. However I know it shoots 124gn JHP that were not all that long just fine. Once you move up to .357 cases you can even shoot wadcutters with no more than 1/16 exposure. I shot a box of 110gr Magnum loads out of it where the bullets looked like little copper peas stuck in the ends and there were no issues at all.

This is what the Marlin 1894 owner’s manual says:

If your rifle is chambered for 357 Magnum,
it is designed to handle 357 Magnum factory-
loaded ammunition (except wad cutters
and shot shells). It will also function
with 38 Special cartridges that are within
the length parameters shown below.
(NOTE: Since 38 Special cartridges are
shorter than 357 Magnums, their use can
cause a lead buildup in the forward part of
the chamber. Be sure to thoroughly clean
the chamber with a wire brush after using
38 Specials.)
Minimum overall cartridge length — 1.400"
Maximum overall cartridge length — 1.590"

Reading this site people have different experiences with rounds close to the min. and max. lengths listed above. It seems bullet shape, how you work the lever, how much wear there is on the action, and maybe how you hold the rifle when cycling all affect feeding reliability when using very short or long cartridge.
 
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