Mandatory To Mod a Marlin 1894 Right Out of the Box?

[oic0]

More noob questions

According to:
http://marauder.homestead.com/files/Marlin94Fix.html
All of the 94 guns get this problem eventually and the easiest fix is in a new gun. So the first thing I should do upon receiving my gun (Lookin like friday) and before shooting it is to pull it apart and file down the sharp edge on the lever cam? Also, does this void the warranty?

[FWiedner]

I call BS.

I''ve had my 1894C for over 5 years and never had a single problem with function, although I have read numerous posts regarding the infamous "Marlin Jam" over the entire period

I did change the sights.



(Now, watch it happen next time I use it... )

[Modoc ED]

Leave the dang rifle alone and go shoot it and enjoy it just as it comes from the box. Maybe you'll find out you want to improve the sights to include an aperature sight but other than that, your rifle should be just fine. AND if you file the part you are talking about just a smidge too much, it won't feed properly anyway.

[O.S.O.K.]

The only "thing" to do IMHO is to apply some locktight to the loading gate screw. It it works loose, it will cause a jam.

But that's not really a must do - just check it before taking it hunting to be sure its snug.

I have never filed anything on any of my many Marlins to make them function or to prevent some fictional problem.

[adirondakjack]

It might be OK, it might not. There is absolutely a lot to be gained in terms of user satisfaction if you follow the instructions on the Marauder website. Ya wanna see even an old gun shop crank smile, let him cycle a well-slicked Marlin. DO slightly radius the cam on the lever, unless yer just a natural born gambler. OR, leave it be. Just remember that when it lets in two and locks up when ya got a trophy buck in sight, and don't come crying to me.

[Sixgun]

I can see you are a young dude. Take it from an old head----Don't fix what ain't broke. Yea, Marlins are nortorious for that problem but I bet it ain't more than 1-50. Especially since us old heads have been complaining to Marlin for the last 10 years about this, I bet they have it under control.

Take Modoc Ed's advice and enjoy it. ---------------------------Sixgun

[J Miller]

oic0,

I've owned 4 or 5 Marlin 1894s and not one of them has done the "infamous Marlin jam". The first three or four I knew nothing of this condition, never heard of it, never saw it happen. It wasn't until I got on the internet that I heard of it. And mostly from cowboy action shooters. But cowboy action is not shooting, it's ABUSE. No rifle or revolver was designed for the high round count or the attempts to make a single action or a lever gun shoot as fast as an IPSC pistol. NONE OF THEM!

My last Marlin, the 1894 Cowboy was already radiused by the factory. It's a 2005 vintage. It's supposed to be a Cowboy Compition model, but to me that don't mean much. All I know is it still had a couple bugs in it and I had to ferret them out myself.

OK, now, for the marauder article, I'm sure you read it, but read it again. To prevent the Marlin Jam all you do is lightly break the sharp edge on the lever. Very lightly radius it then polish it. That's all.

Have you ever done any home gun smithing? If not, then all I have to say is go very slow. Before you even touch one single screw buy a set of gun smith screw drivers that fit the Marlin. Brownells has them. This reduces the risk of marred gun parts and buggered up screw slots a lot.
Then simply follow the owners manual on how to remove the lever and LOOK AT IT FIRST. You may just find Marlin has radiused that spot and you don't have to.

Joe

[jnyork]

I have an 1894CL, .32-20, that has at least 3,000 rounds through it. It has never stuttered, no malfunctions at all. What am I doing wrong?

[Pisgah]

The problem can occur. But be aware that it never crops up in the vast majority of 1894s, and the potential for someone lacking a bit of experience in gun tinkering to mess something up is real. Use the gun as-is, worry about repairs if you ever need them, and refinements when you know the rifle well enough to decide you want them.

[JerryB]

I think what most folks are saying is " If it ain't broke don't mess with it!!"
Shoot it and have fun.

[Birdman]

I've had my 1894SS for a year now and have ran 300 rounds through it. No troubles at all. Great rifle. Leave it alone, have fun, and shoot it.

[Hobie]

Welcome and don't fix what ain't broke...

[adirondakjack]

I've had my 1894SS for a year now and have ran 300 rounds through it. No troubles at all. Great rifle. Leave it alone, have fun, and shoot it.

I've run 300 rounds through a Marlin in one practice session. I load ammo for em by the three pound coffee can full (I don't count em). Mine run flawlessly, but they are about as close to stock as yer average pro-stock drag racer. I can run 10 rounds through one in a little over 3 seconds, (the record is under 2 seconds). Don't try that with a stock rifle unless yer lever hand is bandaged first, and you'll be very lucky to do under 7 seconds with much effort....

You don't NEED to be a Cowboy Action shooter to derive benefit from a well tuned, slick rifle. You can shoot yer box stock rifle all ya want until maybe it chokes, maybe not. But if I let ya shoot one of mine, dollars to donuts you'd wanna send yer rifle home with me for some "slickin"

Hint: While you are pushing open the lever on your rifle, I'll have simply flicked my fingers without even bending my wrist, and have the next round in battery. The rifle runs so smooth you can't even feel whether a round is present or not.

[Chuck 100 yd]

Welcome Home!!

I hear they can jam just setting in the gun safe without any ammo in them.

I am with the don`t fix if not broken bunch. None of my several Marlin 94`s have given me any problems but I just don`t abuse them. Shoot and enjoy!!

[Pathfinder]

Clean it and go shoot it.

Repeat the process till the happy end of your life.

[pokey]

Welcome Home!!

I hear they can jam just setting in the gun safe without any ammo in them.

I am with the don`t fix if not broken bunch. None of my several Marlin 94`s have given me any problems but I just don`t abuse them. Shoot and enjoy!!

you a funny guy chuck .

me too, same advise and welcome.

[caprockhunter]

I'm in favor of a peep sight of some sort.

[AJMD429]

I agree with the 'tighten the screws' folks, and THEN I'd just shoot about 500 rounds through the gun.

What ordinary 'wear' doesn't smooth-out, you can later slick up with some careful stoning and filing, if you want.

The 'Marlin Jam' seems to be a catch-phrase that describes a generally rare non-issue. ANY gun can jam, but my bolt-actions and revolvers do it more often than any of my 35-years of shooting Marlins. One EXCEPTION is that, like bolt-actions, lever-actions don't generally seem to like you working the action with the gun upside-down or pointing straight up, etc. Few guns do. I learned that the hard way in a deer stand; hard to pry around with a Leatherman 'quietly' to resolve that...

If it is a .44 Mag, and you're emptying the magazine (not shooting the rounds, just removing them) by 'cycling' the gun, it does require paying attention until you get the 'rhythm' of it; once you do, you can empty the magazine with the gun canted to the right 90 degrees, and catch them in one hand as you work the lever. The .357's seem easier to do that way.

Before you try any optical or other sight, borrow or buy a Williams FP and shoot the gun with the rear aperture out of the hole; you'll be surprised how accurate you can shoot it that way, most likely. I can do it better than with any other metallic sight, and as good as with any scope, except if it is near dusk...

[NonPCnraRN]

Is the alleged Marlin Jam just in the 1894 Model shooting pistol rounds or is it also attributed to the 336 and 1895 models firing rifle cartridges?

[AJMD429]

Is the alleged Marlin Jam just in the 1894 Model shooting pistol rounds or is it also attributed to the 336 and 1895 models firing rifle cartridges?

I think it refers specifically to the .44 Mag 1894, and perhaps the other 'large' ones - .45 Colt and .41 Mag., and specifically to the altered geometry of a worn carrier. I don't know any specific reason it couldn't occur in the others, though. A gunsmith might...

I plan on fixing mine if they get that worn, but I'm not holding my breath it's gonna happen soon - ammo is too expensive to shoot 5 or 10 thousand rounds in a couple years!

[adirondakjack]

It's an 1894 thing and can do it in any of em, regardless of chambering. .44 mag is the most sensitive owing to tight chamber specs. But they can all do it. Marlin never admitted a problem but they did redesign the carrier to help eliminate letting in two. They also radiused the snail cam on the cowboy competition model. So go figure.