Question bout new 336/Levers in general

[RobertFBurnett]

Heya all,

Quick question about a Marlin 336, or maybe just levers in general. So I cleaned it, lubed it, put it all back together, am working the action, look down and my pinky is bleeding right on the center of the cuticle.

I can't really find a sharp corner on the lever, but any suggestions? Am I doing anything wrong (Shoulder rifle, insert hand into lever, pull down, pull up.)? Gloves or a bigger loop?

Thank you all,

RFB

P.S. Pics coming soon...of rifle, not pinky.

 

[F=ma]

Careful....

It took me three years to shake the nickname "pinky" after stitches/splint were required when washing a glass and it broke with my hand inside.

Never noticed damaging a cuticle or breaking a nail while exercising my 336.

 

[ShakyJake]

Whoa!!!

Hi RFB
Welcome
Let's not go blaming that poor innocent 336 until proven guilty. After all you all but admitted that you saw some blood but don't know how you got it. You did have to use screwdrivers to disassemble that poor innocent 336 and they are notorious flesh gougers..
Check in on the 336 thread and be sure to join in the centerfire postal match. What few rules are at the top of the forum in the stickies.
Again welcome and the parts of Marlin rifles are machined to close tolerances and have some sharp edges, ala S&W who are also known finger "prickers". (can i say that)
TaKe CaRe
Ted

 

[bogie]

Someone needs a fresh manicure...

 

[woof]

There was a thread somewhere on THR recently about wraps for levers. They are widely used in cowboy action shooting and by those who shoot leverguns a lot. All I remember was that there were several discussed and links posted, but one really stood out - it had snaps so it can be easily taken on and off. You don't want to leave a leather wrap on because leather holds moisture and will rust under it. Sorry I can't remember more - I'm probably lucky to remeber this much!

 

[mainmech48]

As I've never run into that problem with any of my several LA's I'm kinda at a loss for an explanation.

The first thing I'd ask is "How new is it?" Like most machines a rifle takes some use to get things operating with optimum harmony amongst the various parts. IMO, most "action jobs" are primarily having a 'smith speed up the process by the judicious application of 'wear' to the right places.

Cycling the action a few hundred times, with or without actually firing it, should help slick things up a good deal. You can use the gloves or some other padding, like the one a previous poster suggested, to help you along or just alter your technique until the action's gotten settled-in enough that the amount of "oomph" needed for 100% reliable cycling is to the point where it's more tolerable.

FWIW, it may take a while but after it's been used a bit most Marlins will slick-up very nicely. And it just seems to get better and better for a long, long time.

 

[32winspl]

I've never cut myself shooting or cleaning any of my levers. But I swear, everytime, every single time I take the wrenches to my car, I cut myself or bark my knuckles. Even those few times after putting the tools away thinking "Hey cool! No blood this time.", when I get inside to wash up my hands (Dawn dishwashing detergent), the BURN tells me otherwise.

 

[moooose102]

got my trigger finger once, a long time ago, working the lever as fast as i could, practicing follw up shots for deer season. after that, i simply remembered to remove my trigger finger from the loop when i racked it.

 

[RobertFBurnett]

LOL!!! how do you all do it...I'M the one bleeding and SOMEHOW the poor innocent Marlin had Nothing to do with it! Maybe next you'll say I "accidentally" fell down a flight of stairs and cut my pinky.

No, but seriously from reading the above, and letting it heal for a day it does not appear to be a cut, it looks more like it just rubbed the edge of the lever and gave me a forced, dry, cuticle pushing/scraping (Apologies to the squeamish).

Someone above asked how new it was, and the answer is Very, like I got it home worked the action like 10 times, cleaned it, and maybe 40 more cycles. So less than or = to 50 total.

As for the postal match, I am honored to be invited, but between school I am stuck in a library every waking moment right up until the event ends. Oh also though I have been practicing my grip for the one offhand John Wayne style...how the heck you do that with a 336?! Its heavy as <- Maybe with a 5 pound Winchester it works, but a one handed Marlin is heavy.

Thank you all,
RFB

 

[Soap]

Slow down your lever technique to see if you're catching it somehow or otherwise botching the stroke. I've seen a lot of guys who have bad, but fast, lever techniques.

 

[ShakyJake]

Hi RFB,
The John Wayne style is not the famous one from "True Grit" but rather the straight up off hand style in his "Rio" movies. Actually a better description would be the Jame Stewart profile in "Winchester 73". Truth be told, the lever pinkie might be related to the Garand thumb. But only those who have worked with the M1 can appreciate and would know about that. Hope you get to enjoy your 336 soon. And best on your upcoming finals. I am sure you will do fine if you are smart enough to choose a 336.
TaKe CaRe
Ted

 

[RobertFBurnett]

The John Wayne style is not the famous one from "True Grit" but rather the straight up off hand style in his "Rio" movies.

Ohhh! O.K. here I am practicing this...:



Wonderin how your gettin shots off to 25 yards.

RFB