Boulder Canyon Bob# 32052L Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 I've read here and other places a good rule of thumb is 4" extending beyond the end of a 73. Does that apply to the Marlin 38/357 Carbine also. I picked up one for my wife and she has a hard time loading it. I'm loading 38's. Thanks. I haven't had time to look at it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Wolf Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 The magazine spring I got for mine I had to cut multiple times, then stretch it to work. I think I ended up cutting 8" off mine. Red Wolf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 TWO cartridges lengths longer than the tube is sufficient. BUT, if its a new spring, make it 3 cartridges lengths for the first 2-3 months of usage to allow it to 'set'. Then trim it down to about 2 cartridge lengths which may not have to be done because the 'set' may end up the correct length. You should have no trouble with rounds moving smoothly in the tube if you keep it clean. When you have it apart, clean it and give it a little wax and polish to help keep it clean. And don't forget to keep your follower clean also. EDIT: how hard is it to push rounds thru the loading gate? ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 On the carbine, the spring can be shortened even more. I did some additional mods but cutting the spring is the major gain. Keep the tube clean and port hole polished and the spring has to have only enough strength to push the last shell onto the carrier l Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boulder Canyon Bob# 32052L Posted November 21, 2020 Author Share Posted November 21, 2020 44 minutes ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said: TWO cartridges lengths longer than the tube is sufficient. BUT, if its a new spring, make it 3 cartridges lengths for the first 2-3 months of usage to allow it to 'set'. Then trim it down to about 2 cartridge lengths which may not have to be done because the 'set' may end up the correct length. You should have no trouble with rounds moving smoothly in the tube if you keep it clean. When you have it apart, clean it and give it a little wax and polish to help keep it clean. And don't forget to keep your follower clean also. EDIT: how hard is it to push rounds thru the loading gate? ..........Widder It's a lot tougher to push the rounds through the gate than her 44 you did for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boulder Canyon Bob# 32052L Posted November 21, 2020 Author Share Posted November 21, 2020 Thanks, I'll take it apart and look at it, now that we're sorta settled in in AZ for the Winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 BCB, if ya want to, give me a call and I will give you a couple 'easy' mods to help with your rifle. 865 / 696-1996 ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 Get rid of the OEM, POS, plastic magazine follower. Sharp edges at the loading gate that lead into the mag tube add to the issue. Relax some of the tension on the loading gate. Use Loctite on the loading gate screw. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boulder Canyon Bob# 32052L Posted November 21, 2020 Author Share Posted November 21, 2020 It had the plastic follower in it, I just ordered a new one (non-plastic), it was pretty cruddy in the tube, cleaned it and oiled it. I cut the spring to 4" hanging out and then cut another inch off. If after 7 rounds you let the loading gate snap it's very tough to get another round in, the loading gate can't be pressed down because of the round under it. Mike I'll call you tomorrow if that's OK. Thanks for all the responses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boulder Canyon Bob# 32052L Posted November 21, 2020 Author Share Posted November 21, 2020 1 hour ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said: Get rid of the OEM, POS, plastic magazine follower. Sharp edges at the loading gate that lead into the mag tube add to the issue. Relax some of the tension on the loading gate. Use Loctite on the loading gate screw. OLG How do I relax the tension on the loading gate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 48 minutes ago, Boulder Canyon Bob# 32052L said: It had the plastic follower in it, I just ordered a new one (non-plastic), it was pretty cruddy in the tube, cleaned it and oiled it. I cut the spring to 4" hanging out and then cut another inch off. If after 7 rounds you let the loading gate snap it's very tough to get another round in, the loading gate can't be pressed down because of the round under it. Mike I'll call you tomorrow if that's OK. Thanks for all the responses. Tomorrow is fine. Please don't leave oil in your tube because it will help attract dust and hold crud longer. That's why many folks wax and polish the inside of the tube. Talk with you soon. Be sure to ask me about the loading gate issue. ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 3 hours ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said: That's why many folks wax and polish the inside of the tube. If you want to clean and polish up the carrier without completely taking the gun apart, you may try this trick. Nice to have a pick and twisters to get things moving in the right direction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rough 'N Ready Rob Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 A lot of good help here. Witter would be the man to talk to, he has helped me, one of the good guys. I put the stainless spring and follower in from The Smith Shop in my carbine, made it easy to load and I can get 11 rounds in it now. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Von Dutch, SASS # 7995 Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 13 hours ago, Boulder Canyon Bob# 32052L said: It had the plastic follower in it, I just ordered a new one (non-plastic), it was pretty cruddy in the tube, cleaned it and oiled it. I cut the spring to 4" hanging out and then cut another inch off. If after 7 rounds you let the loading gate snap it's very tough to get another round in, the loading gate can't be pressed down because of the round under it. Mike I'll call you tomorrow if that's OK. Thanks for all the responses. Oil the worst thing you can use in the mag tube ! it's just a crud collector! Listen to Widder on this the best thing I found because of Widder is Carnauba wax it's a dry lube so it does not collect crud. I even use it on the SS follower . V.D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kulshan 20262 Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 On the .38 Marlins I have worked on I "hour glassed" the loading gate spring, that's the "tail" between the gate and the screw mount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 Remove the loading gate and you'll see how it's a flat spring. A little T&E is needed to reduce the built-in spring tension. NEVER leave oil in the mag tube. OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 43 minutes ago, Kulshan 20262 said: On the .38 Marlins I have worked on I "hour glassed" the loading gate spring, that's the "tail" between the gate and the screw mount. I've seen that technique on a few Marlins. Hour glassing or thinning the steel can effect the integrity and strength of the steel. BUT, if you take about 1/2 of the bend out of the loading gate spring, this keeps the integrity of the steel while also 'softening' its tension, allowing easier manipulation of it while pushing ammo thru it. Just another thought to consider when working on the Marlin. ..........Widder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 35 minutes ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said: I've seen that technique on a few Marlins. Hour glassing or thinning the steel can effect the integrity and strength of the steel. BUT, if you take about 1/2 of the bend out of the loading gate spring, this keeps the integrity of the steel while also 'softening' its tension, allowing easier manipulation of it while pushing ammo thru it. Just another thought to consider when working on the Marlin. ..........Widder Maybe have a new one on hand in case.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 On 11/20/2020 at 7:21 PM, Red Wolf said: The magazine spring I got for mine I had to cut multiple times, then stretch it to work. I think I ended up cutting 8" off mine. Red Wolf We started by cutting the spring to about 3" beyond the tube and still was about a 1/2" short of feeding 10 in the tube. We kept cutting until we could fit 10 and it seems to work OK. I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Saint Eagle, SASS # 64903 Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 On 11/20/2020 at 10:39 PM, Widder, SASS #59054 said: Tomorrow is fine. Please don't leave oil in your tube because it will help attract dust and hold crud longer. That's why many folks wax and polish the inside of the tube. Talk with you soon. Be sure to ask me about the loading gate issue. ..........Widder I had really good luck with Birchwood Casey Barricade along with a stainless spring and follower. I would coat it well and then run a dry patch through so it wouldn't be wet. I did that on a Widdermatic and didn't clean it for a year just to see and it still looked good. Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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