Marlins Are Rotten?

[Idiot]

I've been saving my spare change, aluminum cans, used copper tubing, and left over grocery money to buy a new Marlin 1895SBL. But after reading all the posts here on new Marlins I've got to assume I'd just be throwing my money away. From what I've read the modern Marlins have their barrels screwed on backward and their stocks often fitted upside down, not to mention missing internal parts in the action. I've even read that their parent company, Remington has also forgotten how to build a rifle. Is this true? Am I just wasting my time saving all this money?

Man, Marlin finally assembles the perfect working tool, chambering the perfect working cartridge, and it turns out to be nothing but a pile of rotting wood and rusted steel. Well, at least I've got a few old ones Marlins to shoot.

[KirkD]

I was in a store last week that had a nice selection of Marlins. If you are worried about problems, I'd recommend personally examining the Marlin of your choice in the store for fit, finish and function. Bring along a dummy round that is obviously a dummy (hole drilled in side of case, no primer) hand it to the clerk for examination, and then see how it feeds. Take a look up the bore. If you can find nothing wrong with it, then chances are it will be just fine. I saw some very nice looking Marlins last week with well done fit and finish waiting on the rack to be sold to some lucky fellow.

[O.S.O.K.]

Just buy a nice used one. At least until they get their act together. I bought a 45-70 Guide Gun new recently and it had all kinds of problems - they did fix it though... but getting a nice used one avoids the hassle.

[Streetstar]

You could buy an older 1895 and have a gunsmith shorten the barrel and mag tube to 16" and get the WWG large lever , get 'em to add a saddle ring if you want (or not) ---- it wouldn't be stainless/laminate , but it would be personalized for you with a custom flair

[Pitchy]

I was in a store last week that had a nice selection of Marlins. If you are worried about problems, I'd recommend personally examining the Marlin of your choice in the store for fit, finish and function. Bring along a dummy round that is obviously a dummy (hole drilled in side of case, no primer) hand it to the clerk for examination, and then see how it feeds. Take a look up the bore. If you can find nothing wrong with it, then chances are it will be just fine. I saw some very nice looking Marlins last week with well done fit and finish waiting on the rack to be sold to some lucky fellow.

Dern good advice if set on buying a new one.

[1894c]

I was in a store last week that had a nice selection of Marlins. If you are worried about problems, I'd recommend personally examining the Marlin of your choice in the store for fit, finish and function. Bring along a dummy round that is obviously a dummy (hole drilled in side of case, no primer) hand it to the clerk for examination, and then see how it feeds. Take a look up the bore. If you can find nothing wrong with it, then chances are it will be just fine. I saw some very nice looking Marlins last week with well done fit and finish waiting on the rack to be sold to some lucky fellow.

+1 --my current experience also--yes there may be some that have issues, but the ones I've seen of late look fine :)

[Borregos]

I was in a store last week that had a nice selection of Marlins. If you are worried about problems, I'd recommend personally examining the Marlin of your choice in the store for fit, finish and function. Bring along a dummy round that is obviously a dummy (hole drilled in side of case, no primer) hand it to the clerk for examination, and then see how it feeds. Take a look up the bore. If you can find nothing wrong with it, then chances are it will be just fine. I saw some very nice looking Marlins last week with well done fit and finish waiting on the rack to be sold to some lucky fellow.

This is good advice for sure, you can get bitten with anything buying sight unseen, don't ask me how I know!!

[Pisgah]

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[Pisgah]

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[Pisgah]

KirkD is on the right track. It sometimes amuses me how folks will pay big money for a new gun, take it home, and then become heartbroken, and enraged at the manufacturer, when they discover a flaw they should have spotted in a pre-buy inspection. It doesn't take much to spot canted sights or a lever that won't cycle.

Remington has made a poor start on the 336 by most accounts, but not all of them are lemons; to the contrary, I believe most of them are fine. Turn a critical eye on one before you whip out your wallet, and you will be fine.

[Blaine]

By all accounts, the Henry rifles are nearly flawless. They are also more expensive. I'm going to posit that you can't make a nice lever anymore for what Marlin charges (trying to stay in The Common Man market). I like used beaters better anyway.

[Mike D.]

Buy a Miroku 1886, problem solved. So it's twice the money, it's twice the gun.

[.45colt]

Mike, as You are out on the west coast (VERY CLOSE TO JAPAN) could You please order Me a Miroku 1886 extra light without the REBOUNDER and saftey. I see six on GB right now and they all have it.thats All I want for Christmas..........................Thanks. .

[Chuck 100 yd]

I read just how bad they are but like KirkD , I have not seen a single one that was obviously junk. Maybe the fit and finish is below one made 25 years ago but they don`t cost a months wages for the average Joe either. Most I have handled look just fine.

[cz93x62]

Buy a Miroku 1886, problem solved. So it's twice the money, it's twice the gun.

I went this route recently myself, opting for the pricier Miroku/Win 92 in 44 Magnum. I've owned 2 Marlin 1895s that were both a delight, but with all the uneven press on the Marlins I would likely choose one of the Rising Sun Repro 1886s unless RemLin gets their act in one bag.

[Idiot]

A lot of sound wisdom floating around here.

I'm going to keep saving, and then make an "on the site" thorough inspection before I buy a 1896SBL when the time comes. I think its a fine tool that deserves a place in my hunts.

Part of my post was to simply let folks know that there are still good Marlins being made, and like in all firearms purchases, even from the best manufacturer, it is important to do a proper inspection of the gun before handing over the cash. I buy a lot of used guns, including Marlins and Winchesters, and it is MY responsibility to make sure that gun is in good working order before I leave the store or hand someone my hard earned money.

Thank you to all the responders who freely gave such good advise. KirkD, you are the man.

Oh, and I'm currently stalking a good old used 1895 that will serve as a back-up should this new high tech picatinny garnish not work out.

[buckeyeshooter]

Buy a Miroku 1886, problem solved. So it's twice the money, it's twice the gun.

I agree wholeheartedly!

[J Miller]

This is just a question, but how many of those who diss the Marlingtons have actually seen one, held one, examined one?

Being in shotgun country there are few lever guns around here to actually look at, but I've seen one that could have been a new one, in Walmart, and of course it was padlocked shut. No way to really check it out. But when giving it the visual going over it didn't look any different than other Marlins for the last 10 years or so.

As far as out of index iron sights go, not one manufacturer gives a darn about them anymore.
Not Remington, Marlin, Winchester, Ruger, S&W or anybody else. So you really need to give a potential purchase a thorough going over BEFORE you put down your hard earned dollars.

Never special order a gun in unless you can have the right to refuse it. If you have to pay up front then rely on sending it back to the factory to fix what's wrong, it ain't worth it.

Joe

[KirkD]

Mike, as You are out on the west coast (VERY CLOSE TO JAPAN) could You please order Me a Miroku 1886 extra light without the REBOUNDER and saftey. I see six on GB right now and they all have it.thats All I want for Christmas..........................Thanks. .

Sounds like you need one of the Browning Miroku 86's. There are two. One is a rifle with full octagon barrel and the other is a SRC. I have the SRC. Neither has a rebounding hammer or safety. The caveat is that they don't make them anymore but you can find them on GB from time to time. Worth the money. Here's mine .....

[Idiot]

Mike, as You are out on the west coast (VERY CLOSE TO JAPAN) could You please order Me a Miroku 1886 extra light without the REBOUNDER and saftey. I see six on GB right now and they all have it.thats All I want for Christmas..........................Thanks. .

Sounds like you need one of the Browning Miroku 86's. There are two. One is a rifle with full octagon barrel and the other is a SRC. I have the SRC. Neither has a rebounding hammer or safety. The caveat is that they don't make them anymore but you can find them on GB from time to time. Worth the money. Here's mine .....

If I had the choice and the money to back it up, that Browning you've got pictured would be my first choice. But after I acquired it, I'd still save up and buy the 1895SBL too.

[jackruff]

I looked at a very nice stainless 1895 guide gun in a gun store today, but it was made in 2002.

[.45colt]

Idiot,(hate calling You this too), I know all about the Brownings and prolly should just get one.but the half mag EL is the one calling to Me.