Do the Marlin Lever Actions still have problems?

[200Apples]

I could put my Ruger's Leupy 2.5 X 28 on my 1895... I have the pic rail rig from my '94 SBL...

*ponder*

And I said I'd never! scope a lever gun.

[200Apples]

elk hunter

Thanks for putting up with my 2 cents worth.

Actually, we wish you'd post more often, truth be told.

[elk hunter]

I could put my Ruger's Leupy 2.5 X 28 on my 1895... I have the pic rail rig from my '94 SBL...

*ponder*

And I said I'd never! scope a lever gun.

Any glass or iron sight that helps is a good thing what ever you decide to do will be a plus. That's a nice lever gun ya got there, I really like a straight grip like yours. What ever the op ends up with I hope he enjoys it for many years of safe fun shooting. I put that slip on recoil pad on to make it a little longer in the butt and to give me a sissy pad for shooting heavy loads. Light loads in these lever guns are just a ton of fun to shoot.

[Milsurp1]

Why not simply buy an older JM lever gun?

[golfish]

Why not simply buy an older JM lever gun?

I thought that the price of the JMs would come down a little when they started making good guns again. It doesn't seem like they have the quality up.

The people who own the JM stamped guns are real proud of them and the $$ shows it, plus there isn't a whole bunch out there for sale.
You also have to be careful of the JM stamped guns. A lot of them were made and stamped JM by Remington. Some of them are really bad. Assembled by butthurt employees in the early 2000s..

[Milsurp1]

C&R JM Marlins can be bought for under $600 on GB.

[200Apples]

elk hunter

The CB 45-70 I bought after the 30-30.

[ATTACH]851384[/ATTACH]

Any glass or iron sight that helps is a good thing what ever you decide to do will be a plus. That's a nice lever gun ya got there, I really like a straight grip like yours. What ever the op ends up with I hope he enjoys it for many years of safe fun shooting. I put that slip on recoil pad on to make it a little longer in the butt and to give me a sissy pad for shooting heavy loads. Light loads in these lever guns are just a ton of fun to shoot.

Holy Toledo, Ohio. Is that a .45-70 Cowboy w/ an octagonal barrel and full-length mag tube?



I do like my new, used 1895 GS, but I've become accustomed to the palm swell/pistol grip buttstocks and curved levers. Nothing finer than a blued 22" 1895... but I prefer shorter barrels for shorter overall-length guns.

Gotta be someone out there with a pistol-grip, walnut stock and forend on a stainless 1895 that wants a straight stock. We can swap buttstocks, forends, trigger plates (curved for straight) and levers! Oh boy oh boy oh boy...

elk hunter

I would pay the extra and buy one of the new Winchesters, I've seen them and I like them except for the tang safety and rebound hammer. Other than that they are a well made rifle.

Those Miroku Winchesters are subperb. In fact, WE KNOW someone in this thread that recently acquired one, new, in .45 Colt... and I would agree with you. Nothing wrong with a Winchester 1892... perhaps the most beautiful lever carbine made (I own a Miroku Browning Winchester 1892 in .44 Magnum). I just cotton to my Marlins.

Milsurp1

Why not simply buy an older JM lever gun?

golfish

I thought that the price of the JMs would come down a little when they started making good guns again. It doesn't seem like they have the quality up.

The people who own the JM stamped guns are real proud of them and the $$ shows it, plus there isn't a whole bunch out there for sale.
You also have to be careful of the JM stamped guns. A lot of them were made and stamped JM by Remington. Some of them are really bad. Assembled by butthurt employees in the early 2000s..

Even the older, "good" JM-stamped guns from the early-90s and before can have their issues, such as the "Marlin jam (or, "letting in two" [from the mag])... that stuff can be easily fixed.

What the older guns have is that they were made by skilled professionals that knew their trade, and the factory machine work and assembly was better; it was as it should always be, not like what comes off the factory floor these days. At least the new guns have "good bones", as I mentioned when I spoke about the problems my recently-made 1894 SBL had.

Once a lever Marlin is made right, there's nothing like it.

[golfish]

Those Miroku Winchesters are subperb. In fact, WE KNOW someone in this thread that recently acquired one, new, in .45 Colt... and I would agree with you. Nothing wrong with a Winchester 1892... perhaps the most beautiful lever carbine made (I own a Miroku Browning Winchester 1892 in .44 Magnum). I just cotton to my Marlins.

The Japanese really make a nice rifle. The 92 short rifle has to be my favorite lever fun.

I kind of kicked myself for not getting the new R92 in 44mag. The next one will be for sure. Reloading has really opened up a lot more calibers for me.

[jerdog3]

Actually, we wish you'd post more often, truth be told.

[cannon]

Have two JM Marlins. 22 and 45 LC. Bought a newer non JM 357/38. Very rough action and would occasionally lock up.

$125 to the gunsmith to clean the assembly gunk out. Stone a few parts and replace the plastic follower with a metal one.

Works great. Smooth fast and easy. No lock ups or problems.

Moral of the story is buy the non JM and let the gunsmith de flaw it and you will be happy. Bonus is the price is lower so it works out well financially.

[smittty]

Every new marlin I've examined has canted barrel/canted sights.

If you're using a scope or sticking with the factory rear sight then its not a big deal but if you're using a receiver sight you will see the front sight tilted to the left.

That's what you're going to get from a new Marlin!

[200Apples]

I went with a custom Marlin shop and spoke to the gentleman who owns it, Lew. I asked him if he could please treat my rifle like it was one he would pass down to his grand kids, and to do whatever he thinks is necessary to make it function well and reliable. Here is what he said he will do:

I'd go with this guy. That is a solid perspective, too. I was able to do most of what's on that list to several of my long guns... but I have a garage work bench and some rudimentary gun tools.

Nothing against the +/- $3000 custom stuff (on your donor Marlin! yet), but the philosophy of this fellow Lew you just now spoke of is very sound.

Good luck! and we wait eagerly for pictures.

[jerdog3]

I'd go with this guy. That is a solid perspective, too. I was able to do most of what's on that list to several of my long guns... but I have a garage work bench and some rudimentary gun tools.

Nothing against the +/- $3000 custom stuff (on your donor Marlin! yet), but the philosophy of this fellow Lew you just now spoke of is very sound.

Good luck! and we wait eagerly for pictures.

Thank you Apples! I don't want to get a bunch of people bothering Lew for a killer deal, but after talking with me and understanding my position, he really worked with me.
Like most of us here, I never envisioned a version of America where our own government would confiscate our guns. I now see that as a very real possibility. For that reason, and because I dream of my grand kids and great grand kids shooting my guns, I am now only acquiring firearms that don't have detachable magazines. Starting with this Marlin.
I think the Ruger GP100 will be next. It's not the sexiest revolver, nor is it the most refined, but it's a tank and will out last generations of my family. And be passed down from one to the next.

[elk hunter]

Every new marlin I've examined has canted barrel/canted sights.

If you're using a scope or sticking with the factory rear sight then its not a big deal but if you're using a receiver sight you will see the front sight tilted to the left.

That's what you're going to get from a new Marlin!

Well smitty I'm sorry you've had such bad luck looking at Marlins. I have had exactly the other side of that, the one and only Marlin I have seen that was messed up so bad it had to be replaced was a .338 stainless steel gun. The barrel was threaded in crooked and to me that's a pretty serious stuff. A crooked sight I do not see but a forearm that is off center on the mag tube I have seen, it has no effect what so ever on the function of the rifle. The solution for you is to not buy a Marlin or only buy old Marlins. I looked at two older ones the other day a .35 Rem. and a even older .32 Win Spl. I should have bought both of them but held out for cleaner rifles. Have a nice day.

[Win231]

Don't think for a minute that ever Henry is perfect. They just have better customer service.

Best bet is to get the gun that your buying in hand and inspect it.

^^^ Bingo. I got a new Big Boy 44 a few years ago. Half the time, it wouldn't feed or eject & the sights were so far off, they couldn't be adjusted or drifted. I sent it back & when it came back, it was worse than before.
Henry sent me a replacement rifle but I didn't want to risk more frustration; when it arrived at my dealer, I let him keep it & got something else.