Lever Action Rifle Experts....help needed

[mtenenhaus]

[Scota4570]

Close the lever to load the magazine.

[otteray]

Doesn't 'your friend' have the manual?
It is readily available on-line, and I would recommend that you 'your friend' read it before guessing how to operate any firearm.

2022-03-18 (2).jpg

[mtenenhaus]

otter, thank you.

...i believe that he's owned and shot lever action rifles over the course of his life having grown up on a ranch (per conversations we've had)...that said, i'll judiciously refer him accordingly.

we're never too old to make mistakes or fail to read a manual.

i was looking at a Marlin forum.....and they discuss some optimizations for what i imagine deals with a similar problem description.

[pacrat]

Close the lever to load the magazine.

(lever locks at wide open position) when cartridges are inserted and I try to inject a cartridge into the receiving chamber".

Even with the rather ambiguous explanation. I read that the issue isn't loading the magazine. It is that the lever is locked in down position and won't feed a round into the chamber.

Perhaps OP could clarify more concisely what his friend's issue is.

[Featureless]

This is a known problem.

https://www.marlinowners.com/threads/1894-44-magnum-breech-bolt-lock-up-question-pic-attached.109378/

https://www.marlinowners.com/threads/1894-bolt-problem.237681/

https://www.levergunscommunity.org/viewtopic.php?t=27647

[sofbak]

I believe your friend is describing the "Marlin Jam". A known problem with the 1894 guns.

Google it. There are tons of articles and you tube vids on how to fix it.

[mtenenhaus]

thank you....i think that is what he was describing.

[ironhorse1]

Fwiw I bought mine in the 1980's and had to send it back to fix the jam.

OTOH mine will not feed semi wadcutters or any bullet that does not have a smooth ogive. Flat points are ok.

irh