Magazine trouble with my 1893 Marlin 30-30

[rjohns94]

My trapper 1893 arrived in my hands yesterday that I bought from another levergunner. It's very kewl. I do have some problems though with it and I need help with what to do:

When loading for the first time with Remington 170gr green box ammo, (which I found for $12 at my local store) I could only load one round in the mag tube. Second effort got two in but then when trying the third, the two got stuck, getting off centered in the tube and wedging on the rear surface of the rim on what I guess was the metal plug at the end of the spring. (I know, I got the wrong name, I am ready for learning). I took the rascal apart, probably the first time in 90 years it has been apart. I cleaned inside and got the rounds out and then lubricated the action (which was kinda gritty and sticky) and put it all back to gether (actually worked mechanically when I was done). None of that really fixed the problem. I did manage to get four rounds in the tube but they don't smooth feed into it and you really have to work to make that happen.

Is there some type of misalignment going on? do I need to modify something? someone else have these problems? I am very happy with the trapper length and feel of the old girl and pleased with its history and the caliber. Just want her to function smoothly and feed into the magazine properly. When the rounds don't hang up inside the tube (happened just that once) the rifle cycles great. What is the fix?

[airedaleman]

Mike, it sounds to me as if there is a problem with the length of the magazine spring. It's possible that spring was not properly shortened when the barrel and magazine tube were cut down. A picture and a serial number would help the real experts offer more useful advice...

[jdad]

How much side-to-side play does the magazine follower have? If it's not concentric or too narrow it could be binding or the spring is binding along the outside edge of the follower.

[rjohns94]

does not look like the follower had any problems. Now, to the length of the spring - What length of spring should there be in there. When I had the magazine out, the spring was about 4 inches longer than the tube and I was able to load all the rounds into the magazine itself, no problem.
the serial number is A248 and I'm told its from the 20's. the rifle can still be seen in the classifieds of this forum. http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... 07#p249907

[alnitak]

Mike, I'm no expert (so consider this a free bump...lol) but I doubt the spring length is the issue. I saw the Wolf spring for the Marlin 1894 is 40". If that fits in a 20" carbine mag tube, then I doubt an extra 4" would be an issue (of course, that is the increased power one, by 20%...but still). Is the follower original (I assume it is)?

[Hobie]

Mike,

I had a 1893 Marlin .38-55 rifle cut to 19", mag tube too , and the spring when I got it had been cut and welded back together, roughly in the middle. I replaced it with a standard 336 spring. Neither gave me problems but I saw that welded spring as a problem waiting to happen.

Reading and rereading your post I wondered if your follower is perhaps hanging up somewhere in the tube. A friend with a Winchester repro had that same problem. Then you said it wasn't the problem. How did you determine that?

I might look to see if there is a gap between the mag tube and the receiver. Just in case...

The next problem would be loading gate screw. It might be loose and should be tight.

I would then look for burrs on the carrier.

Now this is just troubleshooting. It makes no sense to me that you would not be able to shove rounds up the tube unless something is impeding the follower and/or spring.

[BigMuddy]

I agree with Hobie.

I had a similar issue with a '76 Winchester that had been shortened. Here is how I found the problem. I removed the spring and put the follower back in. It should fall with gravity from one end to the other by tipping the gun. I could tell it did not. I eased a cleaning rod into the mag tube until it touched where the follower was stopped. It happened to be right where the dove tail was cut in the barrel for the band that goes around the mag tube. The tube was slightly damaged in that spot.

[Sixgun]

Mike,
Sometimes these issues are hard to correct without having the gun in your hands. Stop on up at the Atglen Levergun Silhouette shoot tomorrow and I'll have a look at it. Might be a 40 mile drive for you.

Bring a .22, a pistol calibered levergun and a big bore and shoot the three games! The fun begins at 8. Big bore will start after lunch.

All shoots are open to the public. The gate will be open. Stop on up and I'll introduce you to the boys!-------------------Sixgun

[Hobie]

Now there's a buddy!