Care and feeding of a 1889 Marlin

[rusty gunns]

Care and feeding of a 1889 Marlin

Over the course of last fall, I picked up two (count - em ... two) Marlin 89's. One in 44-40 made in 1901, the other in 38-40 made in 1891. I'm beginning to have a love affair with the 38-40.

Like a red headed bastar* child, it needed a lot of understanding to get a decent group. It finally agreed to shoot .405 200 gr keith style bullet for me and give me one inch groups (resting on a sand bag) at 25 yards. But it still hates black powder.

But both of them (they must be related) have the same "Garl Darn" problem that drives me completely bonkers.

If you hold the rifle tilted to the left, even slightly (say 30 degrees) as you leaver the action, the bullet comes out of the tube a little less than half way and jams up solid. If you hold it straight, the action cycles perfectly.

I can't tell you how many times I have let a friend shoot it and they seem to hold it at a slight angle to look down into the action as they lever the rifle. And sure enough it jams up.

Its an easy fix, simply pull the lever screw and slide out the bolt. The round falls clear.

I would have thought it was some worn parts in the rifle, but both of them? The 44 is in outstanding condition, and the 38-40 is about a 7, 7+, so I feel uneasy contributing it to ware.

Would love to use them for cowboy shooting, but there is too likely chance of a stoppage during timed fire.

Anyone out there have the same problem? And if so, what was your fix (other than pitching it into the river)

[AJMD429]

Mine's a .32-20, and hasn't had the feeding problem (maybe due to smaller cartridge?).

If you send them both to me, I'll be glad to look them over awhile (might take a year or two), and maybe I can use parts from one to fix the other, and at least send you back one that works...

Seriously, that sounds alot like the .44 Magnum 1894's problems, and the design seems just about the same inside, so maybe some of the same fixes apply. I can't work my 1894 action any way but level; works perfectly that way, but if I work it really slowly it gets 'iffy', and if I work it when pointed upwards or tipped to the side, it jams. It isn't usually just a 'cartridge didn't hit the chamber' jam, either; something locks up underneath the cartridge.

[fordwannabe]

I was having the exact same issue with my 1889 in 44-40 and when I shortened ther overall length a small amount it disapeared completely, just a thought to try. Good luck with it. Tom

[1historian]

I have an 1889 in .38 wcf..and it prefers black powder! Uses the original bullet design with no crimp groove..a full case of fff, magnum pistol primers. The bullet is 1/20 tin lead...bore looks horrible but the thing shoots!

[marlinman93]

Are you sure about the date on that 1889 in .44-40? That's way beyond the last 1889 built, and I've not heard of a 1889 shipped that late. Brophy lists one shipped in 1900, and NONE shipped in 1901.