Do All Marlin Big Bore Lever Actions Need the "Marlin Jam Fix"?
- Thread starter Kestrel
- Start date
- Status
I have a 1978 marlin .44 . The only problem I have had with it is the loading gate screw coming loose. Fixed that with a drop of blue locktite. I bought it used and have put 100's of rounds through it, working up loads, plinking, fitting a peep sight, 2 scopes, and a red dot . Plus loading and unloading at least 2 times a day deer hunting for years.
Winters
Winters
Preacherman
Member
My 1895CG .45-70 has worked fine. I can't say I have put a lot of rounds through it, but no problems whatsoever.
Is there any statistical rate of what percentage have problems? Or is this just a problem that a small percentage have that worked itself up?
I might have to pull the cover on mine and see if what is in there compares to the pictures on that site.
Is there any statistical rate of what percentage have problems? Or is this just a problem that a small percentage have that worked itself up?
I might have to pull the cover on mine and see if what is in there compares to the pictures on that site.
I bought a NIB 1895PG in .44 Mag at the start of the year. It had a really hard time feeding rounds. Ended up following the instructions for the "Marlin Fix". Smoothing over the cam on the finger lever. Was slightly better, but still wouldn't feed. Ended up taking the extractor out and polishing it up with a needle file. Had to take the point off the sharp end. Last thing I did to the extractor was to polish it up with some Flitz. Basically enough to take the blueing off.
Finally it would feed. Still a little rough, but definitely better than when I started. Just need to keep on feeding it now and it should smooth up some more.
Almost forgot, I also took the carrier assembly out and made sure there were no burrs. Then gave it a very light polish with Flitz.
Feral_Goz
Finally it would feed. Still a little rough, but definitely better than when I started. Just need to keep on feeding it now and it should smooth up some more.
Almost forgot, I also took the carrier assembly out and made sure there were no burrs. Then gave it a very light polish with Flitz.
Feral_Goz
Preacherman
Member
I think the best quick-and-easy improvements to Marlin lever-action rifles are the "Bear Proof Ejector" and "Trigger Happy Kit" available from Wild West Guns in Alaska (click on the "Accessories" button and scroll down the page to see them). Highly recommended for any caliber.
I would second the WWA kits. I just finished installing both on my new 1894C (.357 mag). The one-piece ejector would take care of needing to mess with the factory ejector. I was also amazed at how much of the trigger flop was gone with the WWA trigger kit. It went from very floppy 
to practically rock solid and very crisp..!
to practically rock solid and very crisp..!Can anyone tell me if this is something that is common to all Marlin's rifles? Just curious if I need to put more rounds through mine to find out. I think I have fired my 45-70 maybe 50 rounds at best. I probably shouldn't have bought it when I did and have had other higher priority rifles to work on.
I've got around 1000 rounds through a 1894 .44mag, purchased new in 2003. No signs of the jam.
One thing about newer Marlins -- ya gotta work the lever like ya mean it. I think maybe some people get what they think is "the jam" because they baby the lever.
One thing about newer Marlins -- ya gotta work the lever like ya mean it. I think maybe some people get what they think is "the jam" because they baby the lever.
TGT
Member
Not sure if this is exactly what is being described, but I bought a 45/70 Marlin new 20 years ago that out of the box wouldn't feed at all with the lever. It would bind solid. The factory returned it to me working great. I have a 2X- 7X Redfield wideview scope on it, and have fired maybe 50-60 rounds through it sinse.
I bought a used, nice condition, straight stock, pre safety Marlin 1894, 44 mag about 7 years ago up in Tulsa. The lever jams in the most forward position, and will not return without a lot of cranking and jiggling back and forth. I JUST LAST WEEK DECIDED TO FINALLY PACK IT UP AND SEND IT TO MARLIN. It's currently in transit to them. I reckon between shipping and modest service charges it will cost me about a $100 to have that problem eliminated. That still beats buying a new one though.
My 39A I bought many years ago has a couple of thousand rounds through it. (you know it's old when I have a Marlin Scope on it) It works great. I own a few preowned Marlins that I bought looking in nice or in new looking condition. They seem to work fine too, though they have been fired little by me.
I bought a used, nice condition, straight stock, pre safety Marlin 1894, 44 mag about 7 years ago up in Tulsa. The lever jams in the most forward position, and will not return without a lot of cranking and jiggling back and forth. I JUST LAST WEEK DECIDED TO FINALLY PACK IT UP AND SEND IT TO MARLIN. It's currently in transit to them. I reckon between shipping and modest service charges it will cost me about a $100 to have that problem eliminated. That still beats buying a new one though.
My 39A I bought many years ago has a couple of thousand rounds through it. (you know it's old when I have a Marlin Scope on it) It works great. I own a few preowned Marlins that I bought looking in nice or in new looking condition. They seem to work fine too, though they have been fired little by me.
mainmech48
Member
I gotta ask: in which Marlin and with what ammo are all these "jams" supposed to be happening ?
IMO, the ammo is the likliest culprit in the equation, especially if the .44 Mag or .45/70 is the platform. There are factory loads now with heavy bullets that are over the OAL spec previously standard. Remember? They had to make the cylinders longer on .44 Mag revolvers to accomodate them when their use became more popular and wide-spread, and some large percentage of the .45/70 loads using bullets heavier than about 425 gr. can't be seated to crimp in the cannulure without exceeding OAL parameters for most any repeating design.
In LA carbines and rifles, OAL is a critical factor for proper functioning and there isn't much leeway between "go" and "no-go": the room just isn't there without some expert reworking, and there are finite limits to what that can do.
The only feeding problems that I've experienced in my LAs break down into two categories: improper ammo and improper action manipulation.
None of the .357 carbines that I have will feed WCs reliably from the mag (no surprise) and have very different tolerance levels when OAL meets or tries to exceed SAAMI max even slightly. My Timberwolf is the most forgiving, and the Rossi '92 the least, followed closely by my Marlin 94. Both of the LAs need to have the action cycled "briskly" to do their best.
I've never had any feeding problems with my Marlin '95G, but I haven't done much shooting with bullets over 405 grs. For all of my practical needs, the 300-to-350 gr. JHPs and their cast solid equivalents do it all. YNMV, but if you really want to explore the 500 gr. world in a .45/70 you probably would be much better served by a Ruger #1, IMO.
While I haven't as much experience personally with .44 Mags in carbines, the rule-of-thumb used by most afficienados of my acquaintance seems to be that if it's too long to fit comfortably in the cylinder of a M-29, don't try it.
My Marlin 39M still feeds any .22 RF 100%, and God alone knows just how many rounds have been through it in the last 27 years or so. As long as it's kept reasonably clean and nothing breaks (or finally wears out), I expect that it will continue to do so long after I'm gone.
IMO, the ammo is the likliest culprit in the equation, especially if the .44 Mag or .45/70 is the platform. There are factory loads now with heavy bullets that are over the OAL spec previously standard. Remember? They had to make the cylinders longer on .44 Mag revolvers to accomodate them when their use became more popular and wide-spread, and some large percentage of the .45/70 loads using bullets heavier than about 425 gr. can't be seated to crimp in the cannulure without exceeding OAL parameters for most any repeating design.
In LA carbines and rifles, OAL is a critical factor for proper functioning and there isn't much leeway between "go" and "no-go": the room just isn't there without some expert reworking, and there are finite limits to what that can do.
The only feeding problems that I've experienced in my LAs break down into two categories: improper ammo and improper action manipulation.
None of the .357 carbines that I have will feed WCs reliably from the mag (no surprise) and have very different tolerance levels when OAL meets or tries to exceed SAAMI max even slightly. My Timberwolf is the most forgiving, and the Rossi '92 the least, followed closely by my Marlin 94. Both of the LAs need to have the action cycled "briskly" to do their best.
I've never had any feeding problems with my Marlin '95G, but I haven't done much shooting with bullets over 405 grs. For all of my practical needs, the 300-to-350 gr. JHPs and their cast solid equivalents do it all. YNMV, but if you really want to explore the 500 gr. world in a .45/70 you probably would be much better served by a Ruger #1, IMO.
While I haven't as much experience personally with .44 Mags in carbines, the rule-of-thumb used by most afficienados of my acquaintance seems to be that if it's too long to fit comfortably in the cylinder of a M-29, don't try it.
My Marlin 39M still feeds any .22 RF 100%, and God alone knows just how many rounds have been through it in the last 27 years or so. As long as it's kept reasonably clean and nothing breaks (or finally wears out), I expect that it will continue to do so long after I'm gone.
- Status