1881 Marlin Problem

[Captain Curly Strait]

Howdy Y’all!

 

I’ve an 1881 Marlin in 45-70 that will not feed correctly. It’s a single shot.  The cartridge binds on the lifter; the lifter refusing to accept the next round from the magazine.

I’ve replaced the magazine spring and polished the lifter. This has improved its feeding, but I have to rack the lever like I’m a lone cowboy in a buffalo wallow being overrun by hostiles to get it to cycle, and even then, it’s spotty.
 

I think it’s a timing issue. Everything is clean and correctly lubricated. Without cartridges, everything functions as normal. But unless I smash the lever forward, she doesn’t consistently extract, eject, and pick up the next cartridge. I realize she’s old; her serial indicates she was brand new in 1888. But I’d like her to work correctly. Any suggestions?

 

Many Thanks!

 

Curly

[Widder, SASS #59054]

1. Did this problem recently start?  

 

2.  And did it previously cycle correctly without any problems?

 

3.  Have you recently changed the OAL of the ammo?

 

If its a timing issue, answering these questions will help to determine that.

 

EDIT:  and as our good friend and Wire Pard Lumpy would remind us....."Check

your screws".

 

 

..........Widder

 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Tell us about the ammo you are using. 

[Bailey Creek,5759]

Check your length. On the cartridges you are trying to cycle.

I had a similar problem with a rifle. Somehow a loading die was out of synch.

Reset dies problem went away.

[Captain Curly Strait]

All excellent questions!!! Thanks to you Three Rifleteers!

 

It is a brand-new-to-me “old gun”, and I haven’t begun loading for it yet. Was just testing the cycle of function. 

 

I tested with Remington factory 405gr LRN I purchased back in the late 1990’s (marketed by Remington as “Safe for Use in all Rifles” and so marked on each box). OAL is 2.528, seemingly well within the reloading data from Lyman listing max length of 2.55. 

[Bailey Creek,5759]

Put cartridge, in magazine. Work lever while looking down at it.

See if it is catching on anything.

Sometimes those old firearms have their own likes on cartridge, lengths.

 

 

[Captain Curly Strait]

On 11/27/2023 at 9:28 PM, Bailey Creek,5759 said:

Put cartridge, in magazine. Work lever while looking down at it.

See if it is catching on anything.

Sometimes those old firearms have their own likes on cartridge, lengths.

 

 

Thanks!  That’s how I discovered it was initially binding on the lifter. I’ll attempt to run a wider variety of factory rounds through the cycle to see if it’s ammo sensitive, but when it completes the cycle properly at present, I’ve got to “run it like I stole it”. Thanks again, Y’all!

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

9 hours ago, Captain Curly Strait said:

Thanks!  That’s how I discovered it was initially binding on the lifter. I’ll attempt to run a wider variety of factory rounds through the cycle to see if it’s ammo sensitive, but when it completes the cycle properly at present, I’ve got to “run it like I stole it”. Thanks again, Y’all!

Post up a video for us to see.

[Captain Curly Strait]

After experimenting with different ammunition, Ultramax 405 gr. LRN-FP with a OAL of 2.513 ran almost flawlessly. Almost. It appears the lifter is “sticky” and unless the lever is manipulated enthusiastically forward, it will not release upward, thus sending the cartridge back into the magazine when the bolt is closed. If I can figure out how to clearly take a video with my third hand as I manipulate the lever, I’ll post it. Otherwise, I’m going to disassemble the entire mechanism to see if I can determine where it’s binding. My sincere thanks to all who have posted with suggestions and knowledge!

[Widder, SASS #59054]

Capt Curly,

If you can, give me a call.   865 / 696-1996

 

I've trying to understand your predicament but can't exactly follow when you are getting this 'sticky'

feeling and ...."sending the cartridge back into the magazine....".

 

Have your rifle, flashlight and screw driver available when you call me.

Thanks.

 

..........Widder

 

[Captain Curly Strait]

On 12/5/2023 at 2:36 PM, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

Capt Curly,

If you can, give me a call.   865 / 696-1996

 

I've trying to understand your predicament but can't exactly follow when you are getting this 'sticky'

feeling and ...."sending the cartridge back into the magazine....".

 

Have your rifle, flashlight and screw driver available when you call me.

Thanks.

 

..........Widder

 

Thanks Widder!

 

It’s not a “sticky feeling” as much as it is a visual observation. I just intuitively assume it’s the lifter “sticking” (or otherwise being hindered inside the frame during the cycle of function), since it doesn’t always rise when working the lever using a live cartridge.
 

I’m attaching a poor quality video (as I couldn’t locate my third hand to assist). But you should see the lifter stuck in the lower position when the bolt is open, then as the bolt closes, the fresh cartridge is re-inserted in the magazine. Unless I slam the lever forward (hard), the cartridge is released from the magazine, enters the lifter completely clear of the magazine, but the lifter remains stuck in the “un-deployed” downward position. It never rises to allow the bolt to insert the fresh cartridge into the chamber. Closing the lever then reinserts the fresh cartridge into the magazine. 
 

Since I don’t know where you are and it’s late at night here, I’ll save the phone call for a better time for both of us.

 

Thanks again for your courteous offer!

 

 

Thanks again, Y’all!

 

Curly

 

[Widder, SASS #59054]

Curly,

Your recent description now helps me understand..... and thanks for the video.

 

I have an idea as to the gremlin, but I will wait till you can call me.

Right now, I'm thinking there is a problem in the manner the lever and carrier are connecting.....

or I should say, NOT connecting.

 

I'm retired and live in TN (eastern time).  Call me most anytime.

 

..........Widder