Marlin 1894 44 mag action

[tlmkr38]

Guy at work just got a Marlin 44 Mag and the bolt doesn't seem to want to go all the way to the front. It will lock up and fire the shell but he said (and sent me pictures ) that the bolt doesn't go all the way forward and he gets alot of blowby.

In the pictures you can see that the cover on the side has a gap at the front and the rear of the bolt doesn't come in line with the receiver. I'm not real sure how these are made but would it be possible that the extractor is a little long on the front and hitting the barrel or receiver? Anything else to look for on this?

He's gonna bring it to work in the morning and we're gonna check it a little closer. He's already had to send one back because the forearm wasn't finished on it.

Any ideas will be appreciated!

 

[Gryffydd]

This is a cost saving measure Marlin has started doing. They used to put scallops in the bolt for a gas escape route. Now they just leave a gap. It's perfectly normal--though I wish they'd make the back of the bolt flush with the receiver. There really shouldnt be much blowby though as the case should be doing its job as a gasket. Is he shooting lighter loads?

 

[tlmkr38]

He is shooting factory loads right now. Winchester white box. There is also a little ring or bulge at the base of the empty case he was concerned about. Doesn't look too bad to me as i think it is just the way the case expands..

Like you I wish they would make the bolt line up if for no other reason than it doesn't look like a cheap made weapon when everything lines up.

Thanks I'll tell him what you said...