Marlin 795 - lessons learned

[Satex]

Here is a summary of things that worked well and some that didn't work well for my marlin 795. Let's start with the things that worked well:
1) Added Tech-SIGHTS peep sights. Worth every penny, solid, and easy to adjust.
2) Added a dab of JB-Weld on the hammer to reduce trigger creep. You can use any epoxy as long as it is hard. You only need a tear drop, file it flat and let the action work it into final shape.
3) The original trigger sucks from an ergonomics standpoint. I put JB-Weld on the finger side of the trigger and then sanded it with sand paper to make it nice and round. Surprisingly, this is one of the major improvements to the feel of the trigger.
4) Polish the feed ramp. For this, I used a Dremel on speed setting 2 with the 1" (diameter) polishing piece and polishing compound. Note that you only have to polish the top part of the ramp as the bullet never contacts the lower part.

Here is what didn't work well:
1) I cut off a loop from the hammer spring to reduce trigger pull. This caused a lot of failure to fires since the impact wasn't hard enough. Don't know if there is a difference between old and newer models, but I would strongly discourage anyone from modifying the trigger spring. This is even though there are numerous threads on rimfilecentral about such changes to the Marlin 60 (similar trigger group)

On thing that absolutely sucks about the design of the Marlin 795 is the ejection mechanism. When a cartridge fails to fire, the rim is deformed just enough to increase the friction between the cartridge and the chamber. This in addition to weak extractors will leave a misfired cartridge lodged in the chamber. To make things worst, the ejection port is too small to stick a finger in there and pull it out. There is no real solution to this, but then again, you get a lot for a sub $200 rifle.

[Beetle Bailey]

So, all things considered, you are happy with your purchase? Knowing what you do now, would you buy it again, or something else instead? How is the reliability?

I am waiting for my DROS to end so I can pick mine up, but I am still interested in feedback on this rifle.

[lugee]

good to know. i have been looling for a post like this. do you have any photos of the work you have done?

beetle bailey, for me, i have a couple 10/22s, savages, and a cz and still get the most enjoyment with my 795. its simple and accurate. only grip with it is the trigger pull. all my other 22s have two to three pound trigger pulls and switching to the 795 after shooting those is often difficult.

[trob]

it serves its purpose as a cheap, lightweight, accurate gun.



its cheaply/roughly made and not very customizable. but it works well for what it is. i got one for my girlfriend because i knew it would be accurate, and light enough for her to carry around squirrel hunting. my opinion on it is that it is a toss-around gun that i dont have to worry about, and it is accurate enough.
i have my 10/22's for customizing.

thanks for the write-up

[Air]

On thing that absolutely sucks about the design of the Marlin 795 is the ejection mechanism. When a cartridge fails to fire, the rim is deformed just enough to increase the friction between the cartridge and the chamber. This in addition to weak extractors will leave a misfired cartridge lodged in the chamber. To make things worst, the ejection port is too small to stick a finger in there and pull it out. There is no real solution to this, but then again, you get a lot for a sub $200 rifle.

Great Post, and the above quote is spot on. Gotta break out a cleaning rod to get the bugger out when this happens.

[caoboy]

This is why you always have a pocket knife handy. IF you get a FTE, the tip of the knife will get it out.


What was your reasoning for polishing the feed ramp?

[RAMCHARGER]

This is my favorite rimfire. Apparently my 11 year old daughter feels the same as she laid claim to it as hers. The stock is still a little to long for her but she likes to dump mags on the "zombie" targets she spent all night drawing/coloring the night before.
I bought it used with a sling and scope at a pawn shop for maybe $80.
So now I must use the 10/22 while she uses "her" Marlin.
I kinda feel like the "wingman with the fat chick" with the 10/22 while she plays with the slim/trim/way more accurate Marlin.

[caoboy]

This is my favorite rimfire. Apparently my 11 year old daughter feels the same as she laid claim to it as hers. The stock is still a little to long for her but she likes to dump mags on the "zombie" targets she spent all night drawing/coloring the night before.
I bought it used with a sling and scope at a pawn shop for maybe $80.
So now I must use the 10/22 while she uses "her" Marlin.
I kinda feel like the "wingman with the fat chick" with the 10/22 while she plays with the slim/trim/way more accurate Marlin.

Paint the stock pink (or her favorite color) on the 10/22....that'll get her interested in it real quick!

[Satex]

This is why you always have a pocket knife handy. IF you get a FTE, the tip of the knife will get it out.

Indeed, I use a small flathead screwdriver for this task. In general, I disapprove of firearms that require tools to be carried with them.

What was your reasoning for polishing the feed ramp?

Aside for the barrel, the whole rifle is rather cheaply made. A proper feed ramp should be reasonably polished in order to "encourage" cartridges to properly feed into the chamber. The 795 feed ramp is coarse by any standard, and therefore warranted a quick polish. Also, I did it when I got many FTEs and I wondered if a poor feeding was causing the FTE.

[BamBam-31]

Cut a loop of my hammer spring. No light strikes or failures to speak of (aside from a magazine w/ bent lips not feeding properly). Very accurate and reliable, especially for the money. It's price makes it my beater .22lr hunting rifle.

[Esquire]

I owned Marlin 795 before, and it was a superb rifle. Accurate, tolerates all kinds of ammo. Sold it to finance purchase of "tacticool" rifle. Otherwise, I would've totally kept it.

[sevensix2x51]

The stock is still a little to long for her but she likes to dump mags on the "zombie" targets she spent all night drawing/coloring the night before.

dude. god bless america. awesomeness put into print.

[NorcalGSG]

The best thing I ever did to my 795 to improve it is to feed it good ammo. CCI mini-mags to be exact. That's what she likes, and its worth it to me to pay a little more for the ammo, and have my gun work perfect. Oh and clean it. I was surprised at the machining residue left in the action when it was brand new. But I love it, just like everyone else loves theirs! Thanks Marlin! /Remington now, I believe.

[Satex]

Here is the image of the epoxy mods to the Marlin:



For the trigger, I masked the four sides of the trigger with masking tape, and then poured in JB-Weld. After it hardened, I started rounding it with sand paper. To finish it off I used 220 grit sand paper. It feels very ergonomic on my trigger finger

I did the same on the top, but used just a bit of JB Weld. After it hardened, I filed it flush and fit check it repeatedly to insure a tight fit.

BTW, there is nothing magical about JB Weld, it's just a cheap and relatively viscous epoxy.

[NorcalGSG]

Satex: mods look good. I'm with you, if I could find a nice aluminum trigger shoe or replacement trigger with a wider face, I'd be all over it. I'm not quite as handy as you with the epoxy, so I'll leave mine how it is and avoid making a larger mess