New Marlin Quality

MasterChaud555

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I'm looking at buying a Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. Has anyone bought one in the last year? How was the quality on it compared to an older JM stamped model. Would you recommend waiting and finding a used one?

Thanks
 
Inspect it with a fine tooth comb. Bought a Marlinton 336C last year from a reputable dealer. I, admittedly, was less than vigilant in inspecting the rifle. Well, turns out the front sight had shallow threads, the barrel was canted, the lever had no retention detente/spring and the feed gate was improperly fixed. Explains the massive headache I experienced the once time I had it out at the range. Jason at Gunco sorted it out for me, but my own stupidity cost me extra $$$ to make a brand new product "right".

That being said, I know the issues I experienced with Marlin QC are not isolated. Because of that, I'm striking Remington/Freedom Group purchases off the books. Plenty of other quality manufacturers to spend my money on.
 
Not a guide gun but I ordered a papoose and when I got it from WSS, the front site was cut into the barrel canted. At first, WSS staff thought that the barrel was installed wrong (it is a takedown) but the rear sight and front site were clearly not cut in alignment so WSS had to exchange it for me. I was fortunate enough that they had enough stock for me to look through and I was able to pick one out that had the front and rear sight aligned. I think I picked through about 4 of them too. The rifle shoots well and is pretty accurate but I was unimpressed that I had this type of problem straight out of the box.
 
Im definitely leaning towards finding an older one. But i got the fever and cash so my patience goes out the door lol
 
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I'm looking at buying a Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. Has anyone bought one in the last year? How was the quality on it compared to an older JM stamped model. Would you recommend waiting and finding a used one?

Thanks

I had a JM stamped model that would randomly fail to feed and after a trip to the smith was OK for a bit but started again. I bought a Remington made model last summer that had great fit and finish and shot great. Just inspect it in person and you should be fine. Both were 45/70 guide guns
 
I'm looking at buying a Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. Has anyone bought one in the last year? How was the quality on it compared to an older JM stamped model. Would you recommend waiting and finding a used one?

Thanks

Remington bought all the design equipment and patents and started building them in the Remington plant to Remington QC and engineering standards. I bought an 1895 45/70 this past spring and I love it. Operation,fit and finish is excellent and it's deadly accurate.
 
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I fell in love with the stainless black laminate 45-70 model and then I held it and seen the poor fit and finish and the loose forend. We started talking about how a guy could fix the forend with epoxy then realized I was talking about fixing a $1300 dollar rifle after tax new out of the box and that is insane. So I handed the rifle back and walked out. If you can fondle the exact rifle you are buying then you might be willing to gamble but I would not play Russian roulette with an online order with a randomly selected rifle.
 
I'm looking at buying a Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. Has anyone bought one in the last year? How was the quality on it compared to an older JM stamped model. Would you recommend waiting and finding a used one?

Thanks

Mine's arriving in a week.
I'll let you know.
 
The older "JM" stamped rifles were built after old marlin folded and a new "consolidated" company took over. The design execution was lousy and that's why "older" Marlins have lots of issues. That company collapsed and was taken over by Remington who bought all the design equipment and patents and started building them in the Remington plant to Remington QC and engineering standards. I bought an 1895 45/70 this past spring and I love it. Operation,fit and finish is excellent and it's deadly accurate.

Are you here visiting from that parallel but opposite universe where Spock has a goatee, and Sulu has his shirt off all the time?
 
The older "JM" stamped rifles were built after old marlin folded and a new "consolidated" company took over. The design execution was lousy and that's why "older" Marlins have lots of issues. That company collapsed and was taken over by Remington who bought all the design equipment and patents and started building them in the Remington plant to Remington QC and engineering standards. I bought an 1895 45/70 this past spring and I love it. Operation,fit and finish is excellent and it's deadly accurate.

Wait a second... he's talking about Winchester!

Older Winchester had problems after a bunch of "economizing" design changed in 63-64

Winchester was spun off the gun business and quality suffered as the employee owned "US Repeating Arms"

USRA went belly up and sold the mark to Fabrique National who restored the company's QC and brand.

OP, the Marlin/Remington story is the total exact opposite of that. Soulless corporate raider buttholes buy Remington and suck its blood leaving a shambling dead husk of a company which staggers around eating good companies and pooping out crap.
 
I was off the understanding that most of the production issues had been sorted. However it seems the odd rifle still leaves the factory with issues.

Just checked the 2016 catalogue and they are still not manufacturing 1894c or 39a. That will teach them to abandon all the skill and knowledge that was left behind in New Haven?
 
The remlin like the rossi rifles are pot luck in quality.
One box could contain a decent rifle and the next one beside it on the shelf could contain an unsalvageable piece of junk.
The lesson here is to check the rifle over carefully before you lay your plastic or cash on the counter.
If the dealer won't let you check the gun before buying that's why they put hinges on shop doors.
Don't let it hit you on the backside on the way out to shop for a gun elsewhere.

My remlin 336ss in 30 30 was smooth and slick after my brother tuned it up.
The checkering and wood to metal fit left a bit to be desired out of the box but my bro fixed that too as well as cutting back the butt stock so the lop would be more suitable to a small girl like me.
 
I have a year old 1895 guide gun and I'm pleased with it. Edges are a bit sharper than earlier guns, but works great. Skinner sites are a big improvement!
I'm a picky bastard but I think it might be a keeper.
Such a handy gun
 
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