Mojave Lever Crew - Roll Call!

[Calif Hunter]

Shortening a couple inches (assuming the barrel is 18" or more now) is pretty simple.
I have shortened 18"-20" lever guns down to just over 16", sometimes less with a perm attached muzzle device to get over 16".

You also shorten the mag tube? That may be my answer....I already have dies, bullets, etc for .30-30.

[bergmen]

Winchester just released a new under $500 .22lr lever rifle. It looks to compete with the Henry 001 that has sold over 1 million.

Made in Turkey. Hard pass.

Dan

[Horsewright]

Have we all gone someplace else. Bout 70 % of the time I can't get on here anymore. Haven't really been trying to hard since I can't most of the time. Hope all are well from our southern environs!

[Preston-CLB]

I haven't checked in for a spell, but I've been here through thick and thin. I hope all is well with you and yours.
-P

[Killer Bee]

yah, I poke at it couple times a day

usually get in better that half the time, but not much movement

[Spyder]

I peek in when I can. I'm 50/50 on if it works or not. We're cold up here, have to use a T posts to break a couple inches of ice off the pond to feed the fish every several days.

[bigbossman]

Not everyone can afford a vintage rifle in excellent condition. For us serfs, modern Marlin, Henry, etc are fine for our needs and gives the owner the ability to own an American made lever rifle.

Depends on what you're looking for, and how hard you're looking. For instance, at yesterday's gun show I saw a really nice Winchester '94 30-30 SR carbine that was made in the 30's. Only $800, which is less expensive than the new stuff at Sportsman's Warehouse, etc. I would have bought it, but I already have two of them. I also saw a very nice vintage Marlin 39 Golden for $800 that did not sell - got two of those as well, so I didn't offer.

I'd rather have a vintage levergun in good trim than anything that' been made recently.

[Spyder]

Yep, my pre 1900 25-35 I got as part of a package deal where I paid less than 500 per item. Way less than a new one, way cooler, and in decent enough shape I didn't feel the need to do any work or beautification on it. They're still out there!

[Calif Hunter]

I am just looking for thoughts and opinions - Randall is going to cut down the barrel of a 1950s Marlin 336...it has a slight bulge in the bore just behind the muzzle. I am considering a 16.25" length, but how will the muzzle blast be? Should I go for an 18" length? I hope to have the original dovetailed front bead sight reinstalled, but I do have a vintage Marlin ramp with hoodas an option. I think the dovetailed bead will look better on the shorter barrel while the ramp might be okay on an 18" barrel.

[splithoof]

I am just looking for thoughts and opinions - Randall is going to cut down the barrel of a 1950s Marlin 336...it has a slight bulge in the bore just behind the muzzle. I am considering a 16.25" length, but how will the muzzle blast be? Should I go for an 18" length? I hope to have the original dovetailed front bead sight reinstalled, but I do have a vintage Marlin ramp with hoodas an option. I think the dovetailed bead will look better on the shorter barrel while the ramp might be okay on an 18" barrel.

If the magazine tube capacity will NOT be affected by a 16.25” barrel length, I’d go with that. The difference in velocity loss between 16.25 vs 18” is negligible, but the handling difference is quite noticeable, especially when getting in & out of hunting vehicles, handling, etc.
Muzzle blast (there really isn’t much to begin with) isn’t much of an issue with calibers typically associated with that rifle. I would consider threading the barrel for a possible suppressor sometime in the future, especially if a new dovetail is going to be machined for the front sight.
I personally like hoods on front sights, as they greatly help when hunting in daytime lighting. On a 16” barrel it will be just fine.
Lastly, consider how the front sling mount is to be preserved, if fitting it is changed due to shortening the barrel.
Randall is the guy to do the job, no doubt. He has done some work for us, 100% satisfied in all respects.

[Spyder]

I'd go shortest legal length without altering mag tube, and leave enough left to have it threaded. May as well if the barrels coming off anyway. I like the Skinner sights, have black gold on a couple of my rifles (some donated graciously by a member here!) and they shoot great and look even better.

[Calif Hunter]

I am sure the magazine capacity will be affected by shortening it. The Marlin Marauder with a 16.25" barrel had a capacity of four rounds. That is probably enough for hunting. After all, most bolt actions only hold 3 to 5 rounds, depending on cartridge chambering. Through competition, I have learned to load as I shoot if in that kind of situation.

I probably won't decide until I am standing in Randall's shop...I am not sure if 2" off will get rid of the bulge. I think it should but I am judging it by running a tight cleaning rod through it and feeling the less resistance.

Using Randall's services to shorten the barrel is much easier than shipping the rifle off to get rebored and then setting up to reload another cartridge.



Marlin 336.jpg

[Calif Hunter]

I went to Randall's (ar15barrels) yesterday and had the barrel cut down on my 1950's Marlin 336. I decided on 18 inches to maintain one more cartridge than a 16.5" barrel, and to keep it handling nicely. Since it has the pistol grip stock, it would be too stock heavy,muzzle light to go shorter. He also tuned up my Commander and fixed a Model 19 that had a very sticky, hard to open cylinder. Great work!

[BOBGBA]

^^Aweome, it looks like you made he most out of that trip!

[Calif Hunter]

^^Aweome, it looks like you made he most out of that trip!

Yes, it was a long day since traffic heading into the valley sucked...both going and coming. I avoided it somewhat on the way in via surface streets, but there was no avoiding it on the way home. Waze directed me through alternates, but they were busy, too. Once I got a ways along the 14 towards Palmdale it opened up. But it was almost 3 hours home. Thankfully, Randall had time to perform the work.