High Spade Mikey Wilson Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 I have a Marlin 1894SS in 357 that I shoot 38 Special in that I bought new 13 years ago, and is my backup rifle now. The two piece firing pin was replaced with a one piece, and the extractor was replaced with a Ranger Point extractor. The rifle has never given me a problem until recently. Earlier this year at a shoot in a string of 10 rounds maybe 3 will not go off, but will fire if I recock the hammer and fire it again. I pulled the bolt, removed and inspected the firing pin (which looks fine), cleaned the bolt inside and out figuring maybe some crud somewhere, and reassembled it. I took it to a shoot yesterday and it did the same thing. Looking at the back of the bolt and firing pin, it looks like the full forward travel of the pin is about maybe a 1/64" inside the back of the bolt. Should I take a jewlers file and dress up the back of the bolt a little where the firing pin goes through? FYI I shoot the same ammo in my other Marlin 1894 and it works just fine so I don't think it's my reloads. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 Are the primers fully seated to the bottom of the primer pocket? Did you install a lighter hammer spring? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Spade Mikey Wilson Posted July 22 Author Share Posted July 22 7 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said: Are the primers fully seated to the bottom of the primer pocket? Did you install a lighter hammer spring? Primer seating looks fine. The gun is completely stock except the one piece firing pin and the extractor. The springs were never changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 Was this a factory new gun when you bought it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tell Sackett SASS 18436 Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 10 minutes ago, High Spade Mikey Wilson said: Primer seating looks fine. The gun is completely stock except the one piece firing pin and the extractor. The springs were never changed. The spring has weakened! Get some small washers and add in FRONT of the spring. This will increase its tension. Do one at a time and re test fire. We’ve had to do this many times over the years! Or get a new spring maybe 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Spade Mikey Wilson Posted July 22 Author Share Posted July 22 52 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said: Was this a factory new gun when you bought it? Yes Lumpy I purchased it brand new in 2011. I used it for two years steady until I got my Uberti '73 at which time it became my backup rifle. Now I shoot it one maybe two times a year. It worked flawlessly until two shoot ago when this problem started. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Spade Mikey Wilson Posted July 22 Author Share Posted July 22 43 minutes ago, Tell Sackett SASS 18436 said: The spring has weakened! Get some small washers and add in FRONT of the spring. This will increase its tension. Do one at a time and re test fire. We’ve had to do this many times over the years! Or get a new spring maybe Thanks Sackett. I will give it a try with the washer(s). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tell Sackett SASS 18436 Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 32 minutes ago, High Spade Mikey Wilson said: Thanks Sackett. I will give it a try with the washer(s). Very small, very thin. Best to take the piece they go on with you to the hardware store! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 Go to Ace Hardware and buy a few #10 AN washers. Use them, one at a time, at the base of the hammer spring. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 Try some factory ammo also..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 (edited) OK, we have two suggestions. One says washers at the front of the spring. And, one says washers at the base. Let's vote. Vote A - front, purple arrow OR Vote B - base, green arrow. This is more exciting than Rank Points vs Total Time. Edited July 22 by Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 To tell you the truth OP since you have replaced the firing pin with a one piece I would get one of these kits. Has shims to adjust tension and will make a noticeable difference in levering effort. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 I vote for base! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 (edited) And..... I vote 'A' for good reason: the front of SOME springs can start to crawl over the collar of the hammer strut. The washer prevents this. Even 1/2 of a coil can effect primer ignition, especially when its an older and weaken'd spring. Longhunter has good springs as well as the Palo Verde spring kit, which are very good spring kits. Because you've never experienced this situation before, I would not mess with the rear of the bolt at this time. There is a slight possibility that the 'cuts' in your firing pin might be off just a few .000's and not allowing the firing pin to move forward that last little movement. This can be remedied by slightly lengthening those 'scalloped cuts' a little at their rearward stopping area. BUT, if your primer strikes look good and solid, there is no need to mess with the firing pin. My guess is what Tell said. Best regards ..........Widder Edited July 29 by Widder, SASS #59054 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 Uncle Widder makes a good point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 57 minutes ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said: OK, we have two suggestions. One says washers at the front of the spring. And, one says washers at the base. Let's vote. Vote A - front, purple arrow OR Vote B - base, green arrow. This is more exciting than Rank Points vs Total Time. B 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 OP Check ALL screws for tightness. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abilene, SASS # 27489 Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 1 hour ago, Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933 said: OK, we have two suggestions. One says washers at the front of the spring. And, one says washers at the base. Let's vote. ... I don't know Marlins so I will compromise and say put it in the middle. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 High Spade Mikey, One more thought. Do you know if those misfires actually had a firing pin 'kiss mark' on them or no mark at all. I ask because its possible that if the hammer didn't make full contact with the firing pin, your CROSS BOLT safety could be slightly shifting. Its an odd occurrence, but its still something that could cause this effect. Just a thought. Best regards ..........Widder 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Spade Mikey Wilson Posted July 23 Author Share Posted July 23 13 hours ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said: High Spade Mikey, One more thought. Do you know if those misfires actually had a firing pin 'kiss mark' on them or no mark at all. I ask because its possible that if the hammer didn't make full contact with the firing pin, your CROSS BOLT safety could be slightly shifting. Its an odd occurrence, but its still something that could cause this effect. Just a thought. Best regards ..........Widder Yes they have a kiss mark on them. The very first thing I checked was the safety and it was disengaged. I even have an o ring on the button to keep it from moving. Based on the replies I’m leaning toward the spring and will do the washer idea. Thanks to all for the suggestions. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted July 23 Share Posted July 23 7 hours ago, High Spade Mikey Wilson said: Yes they have a kiss mark on them. The very first thing I checked was the safety and it was disengaged. I even have an o ring on the button to keep it from moving. Based on the replies I’m leaning toward the spring and will do the washer idea. Thanks to all for the suggestions. Please keep us updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazy Eeyour Posted July 25 Share Posted July 25 While any of the suggestions could be correct. Did you open a new box of primers? The fact that you stated it fires on the second try would make me think it is primer seating related. Do the current primers measure the same of some older ones. If the primer is shorter in height they may have to seated deeper. If the diameter is larger they may be harder to seat. Vista Outdoors stated the name on the box has no meaning, a primer is a primer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyesa Horg Posted July 25 Share Posted July 25 8 hours ago, Lazy Eeyour said: Vista Outdoors stated the name on the box has no meaning, a primer is a primer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted July 25 Share Posted July 25 On 7/23/2024 at 7:58 AM, High Spade Mikey Wilson said: Yes they have a kiss mark on them. The very first thing I checked was the safety and it was disengaged. I even have an o ring on the button to keep it from moving. Based on the replies I’m leaning toward the spring and will do the washer idea. Thanks to all for the suggestions. Any updates? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Spade Mikey Wilson Posted July 25 Author Share Posted July 25 4 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said: Any updates? I took the rifle apart and added a #10 washer to the front of the hammer spring. I ran a couple of primer only cases through it and all fired. I'll take it along with me this weekend to a shoot and shoot a stage with it full magazine after the shoot and see how she does. I'll let you know. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Spade Mikey Wilson Posted July 25 Author Share Posted July 25 13 hours ago, Lazy Eeyour said: While any of the suggestions could be correct. Did you open a new box of primers? The fact that you stated it fires on the second try would make me think it is primer seating related. Do the current primers measure the same of some older ones. If the primer is shorter in height they may have to seated deeper. If the diameter is larger they may be harder to seat. Vista Outdoors stated the name on the box has no meaning, a primer is a primer. LE I don't think it's primer related. Case in point I use the same ammo in both of my Marlin '94s. Only the '94SS started having this issue recently at the last two shoots I took it to. When I switch to the other '94, with the same box of ammo, and it runs flawlessly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Spade Mikey Wilson Posted July 29 Author Share Posted July 29 UPDATE: Took the Marlin along to a shoot yesterday. After the match I loaded it up and shot a stage with it. It worked flawlessly. Not one missfire. Looks like adding one washer to the hammer spring did the trick. Thank you all for your suggestions and help in fixing this problem. 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted July 29 Share Posted July 29 30 minutes ago, High Spade Mikey Wilson said: UPDATE: Took the Marlin along to a shoot yesterday. After the match I loaded it up and shot a stage with it. It worked flawlessly. Not one missfire. Looks like adding one washer to the hammer spring did the trick. Thank you all for your suggestions and help in fixing this problem. Good to hear this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Meadows,SASS#28485L Posted July 29 Share Posted July 29 On 7/22/2024 at 11:46 AM, Widder, SASS #59054 said: And..... I vote 'A' for good reason: the front of SOME springs can start to crawl over the collar of the hammer strut. The washer prevents this. Even 1/2 of a coil can effect primer ignition, especially when its an older and weekend spring. Longhunter has good springs as well as the Palo Verde spring kit, which are very good spring kits. Because you've never experienced this situation before, I would not mess with the rear of the bolt at this time. There is a slight possibility that the 'cuts' in your firing pin might be off just a few .000's and not allowing the firing pin to move forward that last little movement. This can be remedied by slightly lengthening those 'scalloped cuts' a little at their rearward stopping area. BUT, if your primer strikes look good and solid, there is no need to mess with the firing pin. My guess is what Tell said. Best regards ..........Widder I'm with Widder on this 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted July 29 Share Posted July 29 3 hours ago, Johnny Meadows,SASS#28485L said: I'm with Widder on this I have seen the washer contact the receiver/trigger bar, when cocked in location 'A'. If you are using a cut down spring. Place the cut side against the spring bracket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Devil Dale Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 Is the entire length of the firing pin hole clean? No crud at the front end? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.