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Post by shooteruk on Mar 10, 2017 14:47:28 GMT -6
So I am looking at my current favourite, the Marlin 1894 and I think, hey, I haven't cleaned the mag tube. Looks simple enough....
Ended up lifting it right out, no problem, all went back together easy enough........UNTIL.... I went to load up the mag with some cartridges and I am sure its not working right. When I push the cartridge past the loading gate it doesn't lock into the tube, as I am sure it did before. The round sticks out and it held in place by the front edge of the gate. It doesn't look right. I thought the lifter held the cartridge in the mag when in the down position, but the lifter is sitting well below the follower.
My first thought was I hadn't seated the mag tube in deep enough, so took it apart and re assembled again. It must be in right because the locating screws line up with cuts in the barrel, and that hasn't moved.
It has to be the lifter not doing its job right, but why now? Its been fine out on the range. Confused...
Anyone any thoughts?
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Post by Alpo on Mar 10, 2017 21:39:50 GMT -6
I put this over on the cowboy wire.
First respose.
>The lifter (carrier) DOES NOT hold the cartridge in the position you are describing.
The cartridge is actually held in position by the LEVER (the section about 3/4" from the tip of the snail cam) and the curved section of the loading gate<
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Post by shooteruk on Mar 11, 2017 2:44:59 GMT -6
Alpo, on the basis the thing worked until I cleaned the magazine, I stripped it down to the last screw, cleaned lubed and reassembled with care. No change. I have a friend who is a very good gunsmith and will call him later today. Hopefully he is around (Works for H&K in Germany sometimes) I can pop over to his workshop next week and he can give it a look.
I hope we can fix the problem, I have grown to like this one. Mediocre accuracy, but a lot of fun to shoot.
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Post by armedandsafe on Mar 11, 2017 22:36:44 GMT -6
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Post by shooteruk on Mar 12, 2017 2:06:53 GMT -6
Thanks. sorted it......... Back in business. Bring on the flying monkeys ............
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Post by armedandsafe on Mar 13, 2017 0:18:06 GMT -6
Well??? What did you find ... readjust ..install properly???
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Post by shooteruk on Mar 13, 2017 1:53:03 GMT -6
Well??? What did you find ... readjust ..install properly??? Well I hate to admit it but I am not sure. I cleaned all internal parts well, again, and applied a teflon based lube rather than oil. When I say cleaned I mean a full 100% job, including the inside of the frame and mag tube (Left dry). I even let the teflon settle a few hours before re assembling. I diddnt understand how it could suddenly stop working right, my assumption was grit somewhere somehow had got into the wrong place. Truth is, I dont really know. I read up following the links and learned all sorts, there is a design fault between the so called snail cam (On the lever) and the lifter. One has a sharp edge and wears a notch into the other. This does not seem the cause here. There is no burr and no significant wear on the lifter. I am delighted, and am really enjoying the Marlin. I have fitted a Skinner sight and use it as a ghost ring with the original front sight. I ordered and fitted some dummy screws to fill the scope mount holes not used by the sight. Also an oversize lever screw, so the lever can be removed easily with a coin. I have a hammer extension, the one that goes out to the side for scopes use. It came with the rifle and I sort of change my mind a bit. I like it but prefer the hammer without. Less to catch on stuff, and lighter hammers have quicker lock times. Marginal on a carbine like this but hey, it all helps. The ejector broke so I ordered two 'Bear' heavy duty solid ones, and now have a spare. They seem the most easily lost or damaged part, and I like spares (like the firing pin retaining split pin on M16's). I have considered a stock cover with loops or a pouch to make it a real 'ranch' or 'woods' carbine but havent seen one I like yet. Anyway a small belt pouch with 50 loose rds always worked well enough.
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Post by armedandsafe on Mar 13, 2017 16:57:44 GMT -6
I assumed that the wear on the cartridge carrier would not be your problem, as you would have noticed it. However I thought it would be a good thing for you to know for future reference.
I agree that it might well have a bit of debris left in a particular place. I've run into that in the past after cleaning old guns that had been neglected. The old "It don't need cleaned 'cause it still works" syndrome. I once had a Rock Island Springfield that just refused to fire reliably, often leaving a only very minor dent in the primer. I finally went into the bolt with a power brush (before the days of Dremel tools) and got about a pocket full of grit out of it.
Pops
Pops
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Post by shooteruk on Mar 14, 2017 5:14:33 GMT -6
I once knew a guy who's 1911 went full auto when he cycled the first round in, sending several bullets through his hand. Opinion was a bit of grit, which may or may not have been the broken tip of the firing pin spring jammed the pin forward.
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Post by shooteruk on Mar 19, 2017 2:57:25 GMT -6
Update on the Marlin.
I ordered the largest aperture insert from Skinner sights (highly recommended) and after some trials have gone back to just the empty ring, as a ghost sight. I remember on the Lee Enfield No. 4, which I was trained on as a young cadet, being surprised how accurate you can be even with a large ghost ring. I am getting very good results out to the carbines effective range, with a quick and easy sight picture. I can see the smaller apertures would be needed at longer ranges, but the carbine cant be used at such ranges anyway.
Normally I wouldn't keep a carbine with such a limited range, but have to admit I really enjoy shooting the Marlin. I suppose thats what counts...
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