What to do with a JM Marlin Cowboy with a replaced Remlin carrier?

[Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027]

What to do with a JM Marlin Cowboy rifle with a Remlin replaced carrier?  More specifically, it won't feed reliably, keeps jamming.  Is it possible to obtain a Marlin made carrier or will a new Ruger made carrier be made to function properly in the old Marlins?  Yes I've had a really good  cowboy smith look at it, helped but hes the one who realized it had been replaced with a Remlin made replacement.  

[Maddog McCoy SASS #5672]

I might have an extra JM carrier. What caliber is it?

If i don't have one, I have gotten Marlin parts from a place in Indiana.

Edited September 22, 2024 by Maddog McCoy SASS #5672

[Widder, SASS #59054]

Basically, a carrier is a carrier.   Unless its been broken or drastically reshaped or heated up and bent, it should be workable.

They can be modified, tweaked, tuned, etc....... and even welded up in places that need a little build-up.

 

If its jamming from the 'feed two'. (also known as the Marlin Jam) problem, the timing is off and a good Marlin smith

should know how to remedy this problem.

 

If its jamming during feeding into the chamber, the cradle area of the carrier can be modified, reshaped, etc.....

for smooth reliable feeding.

 

If the 'Extractor' is too stiff or misshaped, it can be replaced and properly tuned.

 

Now, after all that, it is possible that the receiver, chamber, carrier and portal can be offset enough to

cause misalignment when the bolt moves forward to feed a round from the carrier into the chamber.

 

Its hard to diagnose some issues on the Wire without actually seeing the rifle.

 

Best regards

 

..........Widder

 

 

 

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

Wait a second!!!!

 

You mean to tell me that the parts are the same and that the evil Remington parts are not the problem???

 

But everything Remington did was horrible and wrong...and ALL about the $$$$$$$. The parts can't be good! The have to be..."JM"...

 

🤪

 

Phantom

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

OP, post a picture of the cartridge used, and how it 'jams' in this rifle.

[Jackrabbit Joe #414]

Rev Willy Dunkum sent you a PM ref carrier with Marlin jam fixes all are Marlin's.

Carriers for 38/357 only.

Edited September 22, 2024 by Jackrabbit Joe #414

[Widder, SASS #59054]

The first Remington Marlin I worked on was really a surprise.

It was a .38/357 caliber.

 

Normally in the Marlin 1894, when the mag tube touches up with the front portion of the portal, the portal should

have a slight 'funnel' design,   This design STOPS the 'Follower'  from pushing completely thru the portal.

 

On my first encounter with a newly produced Remington Marlin, someone had drilled that portal hold STRAIGHT thru, with

no funnel design to stop the follower.    When the shooter got down to the LAST round in the mag tube, the 'Follower' would

push the last round onto the carrier AND the 'Follower'  would also push thru onto the carrier.   And when the gun was empty,

the 'Follower' and some of the spring would protrude out onto the carrier.

This situation would not allow the carrier to rise and basically was a big headache to fix.    BUT.... it was fixed and worked 

correctly after some serious thinking and a little modification on the portal.

 

 

..........Widder

 

 

 

[Sedalia Dave]

17 hours ago, Widder, SASS #59054 said:

Basically, a carrier is a carrier.   Unless its been broken or drastically reshaped or heated up and bent, it should be workable.

They can be modified, tweaked, tuned, etc....... and even welded up in places that need a little build-up.

 

If its jamming from the 'feed two'. (also known as the Marlin Jam) problem, the timing is off and a good Marlin smith

should know how to remedy this problem.

 

If its jamming during feeding into the chamber, the cradle area of the carrier can be modified, reshaped, etc.....

for smooth reliable feeding.

 

If the 'Extractor' is too stiff or misshaped, it can be replaced and properly tuned.

 

Now, after all that, it is possible that the receiver, chamber, carrier and portal can be offset enough to

cause misalignment when the bolt moves forward to feed a round from the carrier into the chamber.

 

Its hard to diagnose some issues on the Wire without actually seeing the rifle.

 

Best regards

 

..........Widder

 

 

 

 

THIS ^^^^

[WOLFY]

Bumping to add a question - who are the marlin gurus these days?   Which rilly good cowboy gunsmith did you go to, Rev Dunkum?

 

i realize that so many are retired…

 

i traded for an old cowboy ltd .44mag and would like it to operate with shorties like .44 Russian

Edited September 24, 2024 by WOLFY

[Outlaw Gambler]

Bumping to add a question - who are the marlin gurus these days?  

Wolfy, you evidently didn't pay attention to the above replies from the best, or at the very least one of the best, Marlin gunsmiths. If Widder is still doing them, your search is over.

[McCandless]

I followed Widder's exact instructions, measurements, and tweaks that he posted on Marauder's Old Irons site and made my Marlin into a Widdermatic. 

That little rifle is slick now.  The timing was off before I started as I did have an instance of the "Marlin Jam".   

 

If you do want someone else to work on it, since Widder retired, he taught Slater at Slater's In House Guns, in Louisville, TN, how to sweeten up sour Marlins.

In your neck o' the woods, Cowboy Carty, Carty Allaman, Western Gun Works, Monmouth, IL (309) 536-0163 is a wizard with Marlins.

 

 

[Widder, SASS #59054]

17 minutes ago, McCandless said:

I followed Widder's exact instructions, measurements, and tweaks that he posted on Marauder's Old Irons site and made my Marlin into a Widdermatic. 

That little rifle is slick now.  The timing was off before I started as I did have an instance of the "Marlin Jam".   

 

If you do want someone else to work on it, since Widder retired, he taught Slater at Slater's In House Guns, in Louisville, TN, how to sweeten up sour Marlins.

In your neck o' the woods, Cowboy Carty, Carty Allaman, Western Gun Works, Monmouth, IL (309) 536-0163 is a wizard with Marlins.

 

 

 

WOLFY:

Slater and Cowboy Carty are both excellent Marlin smiths.   For short stroke help, Carty would be the 'Go-To' man.

Longhunter is also a great smith on Marlins, but I think he has slowed down his Marlin work.

 

To help with smoothness, feeding, and setting up your 1984 to feed the Russian, .44 special and .44 mag fodder, Slater would

be my choice.   Slater and I are friends, Cowboy shooting pards, and our families attend the same church.

He's been an excellent student in learning all kinds of stuff about the Marlin and although rare, I still assist him with

information and some technical help with some troublesome Marlins.   He is VERY detailed in his work.

 

Soon, I will be helping him on his first 'Widdermajik', which will feed both the Cowboy .45 Special and .45 Colt interchangeably.

Some of the same modifications can be used to modify your 1894 to feed the Russian cartridge reliably.

 

If your 1894 already feels good to you, is smooth and reliable...... and ALL you really want is to feed the Russian, you may only

need your timing advanced a little.    If you have questions on that, feel free to call me:  865 / 696-1996.

 

Best regards

 

..........Widder

 

[Jackrabbit Joe #414]

Just to say if anyone having problems with the Marlin Carriers Jam,  I have the 38/357 Marlin Carriers that have had the Marlin Jams all fixed if you need one. 

[Bald Eagle]

On 9/23/2024 at 1:21 AM, Phantom, SASS #54973 said:

Wait a second!!!!

 

You mean to tell me that the parts are the same and that the evil Remington parts are not the problem???

 

But everything Remington did was horrible and wrong...and ALL about the $$$$$$$. The parts can't be good! The have to be..."JM"...

 

🤪

 

Phantom

a lot of the early remlins were made with left over JM parts 

[Larsen E. Pettifogger, SASS #32933]

1 hour ago, Bald Eagle said:

a lot of the early remlins were made with left over JM parts 

Absolutely correct.  There are many Remlins with JM marked barrels.

[Dantankerous]

The absolute worst rifle I ever had was an early Remlin model 39 .22 caliber. The absolute best rifle from Marlin I have is also a Remlin and it is a 45-70 caliber GBL.

 

Go figure. 😀

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

3 hours ago, Dantankerous said:

The absolute worst rifle I ever had was an early Remlin model 39 .22 caliber. The absolute best rifle from Marlin I have is also a Remlin and it is a 45-70 caliber GBL.

 

Go figure. 😀

 

I wasn't aware that there were any Remlin 22lr leverguns made.

[Dantankerous]

5 hours ago, Smokin Gator SASS #29736 said:

 

I wasn't aware that there were any Remlin 22lr leverguns made.

If it wasn't then Marlin really screwed the pooch on this 39. During the first 50 rounds the gun became difficult to lever. I took it apart only to find metal shavings everywhere... the action was literally eating itself...

 

Surprisingly Bass Pro took it back and swapped me a Marlin that worked as it should.

[Jackrabbit Joe #414]

Just for anyone who is interested in the Widder-Matic Carrier with the Marlin Jam Fix I have one left. If you're interested in it, I will send it to you free of charge and if you decide to keep it the price for it will cost you $85.00.  I also have some Marlin carriers with the Marlin Jam fix.

Edited September 27, 2024 by Jackrabbit Joe #414

[Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027]

Thank you to all the replies.  I apologize for not getting back and explaining and showing photos.  As i replied recently to PM's offering help, my dad passed away shortly after my initial post.  Thanks again for the replies.

 

You all are the best,

 

Rev

 

[Eyesa Horg]

26 minutes ago, Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027 said:

Thank you to all the replies.  I apologize for not getting back and explaining and showing photos.  As i replied recently to PM's offering help, my dad passed away shortly after my initial post.  Thanks again for the replies.

 

You all are the best,

 

Rev

 

Prayers and condolences Pard.

[jhunt84]

I'm having same issue with 80' 1895. I don't much about levers. Got this 1 on a trade. When I cycle the lever the follower that pushes the round up falls prematurely causing a jam. 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

36 minutes ago, jhunt84 said:

I'm having same issue with 80' 1895. I don't much about levers. Got this 1 on a trade. When I cycle the lever the follower that pushes the round up falls prematurely causing a jam. 

First, make sure all screws are tight. 

[Jackrabbit Joe #414]

Yo Rev Willy sent yah a PM pilgrim.

 

[Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027]

8 hours ago, Jackrabbit Joe #414 said:

Yo Rev Willy sent yah a PM pilgrim.

 

Back atcha pard! 

[Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027]

On 9/24/2024 at 2:09 AM, WOLFY said:

Bumping to add a question - who are the marlin gurus these days?   Which rilly good cowboy gunsmith did you go to, Rev Dunkum?

 

i realize that so many are retired…

 

i traded for an old cowboy ltd .44mag and would like it to operate with shorties like .44 Russian

Unfortunately I don't remember but he was one of two who were at EOT when it was held at Paradise Pass in Indiana a few years back.  

Rev

[Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027]

To be more clear on this JM Marlin Cowboy 44 mag, I purchased this new many years ago long before there were any Remington made Marlins.  I shot thousands of rounds with it, mostly full bore BP and encountered the Marlin jam as I knew eventually I would.  I bought a replacement carrier thru Marlin and ran it successfully for years again.  I kept the old one just in case i got around to trying to JB Weld it up myself.   Then when the jam happened again, Remington had come along but I "just kinew" my new replacement was an old stock Marlin.   I began to have issues but did not put two and two together till lI took it to EOT (as a back up).  Thats when I was told the new carrier was a Remlin carrier.  The smith worked a long time to find a way to make it work, but will only feed 44 mag, not specials as it seems to bump the nose of the bullet up off the top of the receiver before it enters the chamber.  The 44 mags will work but not fast, the 44 special becomes a too short situation.  

 

I still have the old original carrier, but tried unsuccessfully to JB Weld a feeler guage to it.  Perhaps it is not finished properly yet but at least I have something hopefully to work with..   Widder, if you think it can be brought back and care to look at it, I'd appreciate a look see.

 

Rev

Edited January 8 by Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027

[Widder, SASS #59054]

Howdy REV.

Indeed, your Marlin should have many years of life still left.

 

I'll send you a PM with my phone number......or if you prefer, I will be glad to call you.

 

..........Widder

 

[Jackrabbit Joe #414]

Silver Creek Jack, do you want a Marlin Carrier with the Marlin Jam fix for your Marlin JM cowboy rifle 38/357?