Question about a Marlin 336

[fordfun]

Hello,
I just brought home a 1973 Marlin 336 30-30 to give my 14 yr old daughter for Christmas. I always like to disassemble and clean a used firearm before trying it out, and being a present, I thought I would refinish the stock while I had it apart. The only issue I could find with the gun ( other than someone buggering up half the screws) was a missing follower. Someone has rounded the head of a 3/8 bolt for a crude replacement, but I'd like to use something that is more like the original. I found a plastic follower on the Numrich site, but 10.00 seemed a little steep for such a simple piece. I have some round aluminum stock and with my lathe, I believe I could fashion a nice replacement if someone would be kind enough to give me the dimensions of the factory piece.

Thanks, Gary

 

[Fleet]

The plastic follower is $5.56 @ Midway, or $3.03 (on sale) at Brownells.

 

[W.E.G.]

Head over to the Marlin forum and somebody will be able to measure one they have lying around.

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php

 

[W.E.G.]

...or buy one off eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/Marlin-336-Aluminum-Follower-/300422154727

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Head over to the Marlin forum and somebody will be able to measure one they have lying around.

+1...They may even give you the follower if they don't need it....nice bunch of folks over there and several of them have spare followers laying around.

 

[fordfun]

Thanks for the input. I tried marlinowners.com first, but I was only told by several people that I should just buy one. I have been working with some 3/4" aluminum stock with my lathe and could turn one of these out in short order if I had the dimensions. Trying to save every penny I can so I can try to put a modest scope and mount on it for her. With four children, Christmas can be a challenge to the pocketbook.

Thanks, Gary

 

[rfnut]

Sent you a PM about the scope

 

[W.E.G.]

I suspect there is some flexibility in the dimensions.

The critical dimension is the large diameter.
I'm thinking 0.005 under the inside diameter of the tube should do it.

From there, I'd think with the pic you could wing it eyeball-to-hand.
So long as its not binding in the tube, exact dimensions probably are not critical.
Its just a plug-follower.

 

[W.E.G.]

Don't let your horse fall on your Marlin.

 

[fordfun]

Weg,
Thanks for the advice and picture. My main concern was getting the reduced diameter end the right length. It seemed to me, that if I made it too short, the tip of the last round might hang up in the receiver when the lifter attempted to raise it. I guess if its a little too long it would be less of an issue.

Thanks, Gary