Marlin rifles still bad?

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DES0LAT0R

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Ok, so I've been wanting a lever action in a pistol caliber for a while now and I have really liked the Marlin 1894s. I actually purchased one a while ago, but when I got it the front and rear sights were cut crooked, both front and rear were canted to the right. I then had to pay to ship it to the warranty centre and when they took a look at it, it was so badly built that they scraped it and ordered me a new rifle. 4.5 minths later, I finally got the replacement. When I got it out of the box, I looked it over. The fit and finish was much better, but the sight were cut crooked again! This time the front sight was canted to the right and the rear was canted to the left. So I sent it back and asked for a different model of firearm to replace it.

Now, this past weekend I went to a gun shop that had a Marlin 1894 CSBL that was listed for $1700. I took a look at it since its a really pretty firearm, and guess what, the front sight was crooked, canted to the right.

Are Marlins still this badly built? Or am I just the unluckiest guy ever? I don't really know what to do at this point, I don't really want to go through all that again.

As for other options, I won't buy a Henry until they come out with a pistol caliber version with the loading gate. I'm not the biggest fan of the model 92s with the top eject as I would prefer a receiver peep sight and the possibility to mount a red dot. I don't really know what to do. I really want a lever action.
 
I’d say just keep looking at the Marlins. I only have one JM in 44 mag. I also have two none JMs in 357, one in 45 LC, one in 45-70 and a 336 in 30-30. I’m happy with them all. Only complaint is checkering on 45-70 is not great.
 
Watch for used JM 1894's in the EE, on TownPost, or in the Canadian Access to firearms.
These were built before Remington took over and the quality issues in the "Remlins" ensued.
You should find that you'll be happy with one of these.
I have one in 41 Rem Mag and it is a great little rifle.
 
Some Rossi 92s let you mount a red dot on a scout style rail. If you use a drift punch to remove the rear sight its drilled and tapped. Still top eject, but they're well built guns for less than half of what you were looking to pay
 
So far ive got remlins in my stable but i had to carefully pic through them.the newer ones i see today are finished better than the ones a year ago.ive got two stainless guide guns one an 18 the other made this april which i just bought today.ive had a lot of marlins and my first was in 85 which was my first gun 1895 in 45-70.i sold that to get a 300 weatherby a few years later . i then got a few others over the years then got sic and gave up hunting. now i got better last winter and bought a few replacements. i had the same problem jm or remlin.At the time no one was selling a jm stainless so i began looking at ones in stock all over the city.I finally settled on one that has a slick action,better than any of the old jms i had but the lever was sharp around the edges.but man it shoots.yesterday at another shop a fella asked to see a stainless at tenda and wow the finish was incredible.every piece was smoothed out and the action and trigger were smoother than anything i had before .trigger breaks right at 2.5 lbs when fully cocked .its almost like this gun had work done to it but it is new in factory box.one thing i noticed is that the stainless guns are finished better than blued and slicker. i also got a cowboy that dosent compare to these two i got.you just got to go through them.also look for this years guns as the factory has been uping ther quality.i hear the new dark series are very slick with better loading gates that doent pinch fingers.
 
Unfortunately, I can't seem to find any gun shops nearby that actually stock pistol caliber Marlins. So the real only way for me to get one is to order one, which is a huge gamble. I guess I'll keep an eye out at some local gun shows, maybe I'll get lucky there.
 
NathanR said:
Some Rossi 92s let you mount a red dot on a scout style rail. If you use a drift punch to remove the rear sight its drilled and tapped. Still top eject, but they're well built guns for less than half of what you were looking to pay
Click to expand...

Probably more like a third! Though since Junior Trudeau got in, our dollar is looking pretty beat up, which will raise the relative cost that we see.

A few years ago, I picked up a Ranch Hand for the wife. I think it was $550.
 
Looking at all the prices lately, I don't think I could afford to sell my levers! I almost sold a JM cheap, and looking at some of the prices, later, guys are asking $300 more. Might have to start buying more "investments".
 
When the other stuff has you frowning, turn to browning.

DES0LAT0R said:
Ok, so I've been wanting a lever action in a pistol caliber for a while now and I have really liked the Marlin 1894s. I actually purchased one a while ago, but when I got it the front and rear sights were cut crooked, both front and rear were canted to the right. I then had to pay to ship it to the warranty centre and when they took a look at it, it was so badly built that they scraped it and ordered me a new rifle. 4.5 minths later, I finally got the replacement. When I got it out of the box, I looked it over. The fit and finish was much better, but the sight were cut crooked again! This time the front sight was canted to the right and the rear was canted to the left. So I sent it back and asked for a different model of firearm to replace it.

Now, this past weekend I went to a gun shop that had a Marlin 1894 CSBL that was listed for $1700. I took a look at it since its a really pretty firearm, and guess what, the front sight was crooked, canted to the right.

Are Marlins still this badly built? Or am I just the unluckiest guy ever? I don't really know what to do at this point, I don't really want to go through all that again.

As for other options, I won't buy a Henry until they come out with a pistol caliber version with the loading gate. I'm not the biggest fan of the model 92s with the top eject as I would prefer a receiver peep sight and the possibility to mount a red dot. I don't really know what to do. I really want a lever action.
Click to expand...
 
I know lots of issues with marlins that came out of the factory in the "grace period" were the marlin employees where still making guns,but knew in a year they would be outta work because remington was shutting their factory to open a new one in a different state and didn't invite a single employee to go work there.

That year, they put out a lot of crocked sites, bad feed gates and other issue which would ruin the reputation and proffit margins of remington but not endanger any of the users.

I worked part time at WWS when that happened, I remember looking at over 30 different Marlins and every single one was so bad I didn't think they could be zeroed on iron sites. there was maybe a half dozen fit to sell. Manamment would send that many rifles back, So i warned everyone that looked at one, a few guys bought them anyways because they were scoping them and didn't care.


That said, they are not as bad now that all the disgruntled employees are gone.

I wonder if the new guys ever never leveled the mills after they got the machines from the marlin plant lol.
 
I shoot Cowboy Action, my experience is with the 1894.

I have more of an issue with their Ballard style micro-groove over-sized slow twist rifling than the quality, fit, or finish. Yes, the laser burnt checkering is an eyesore, but easily fixed with a checkering tool and a few spare hours. It's a pre-assembled kit gun, you shouldn't expect much. They cost about 2/3 of what a Uberti does. I like my Cimarron 1866, built pretty nice. They cost more than $1500 and still need a few $100 in parts and smithing to get them to run fast.

I've owned/handles a few Rossi '92's, no quality there. I did get lucky on one, the other had some real issues. They are hand built, no CNC, and crude.

I bought a new Winchester 1873 in 357, pretty good right out of the box. IMHO it doesn't need a short stroke kit and it runs smooth and fast. My one complaint is that the carrier looks like it was chewed out by rats, not nearly as nice looking as the Uberti.

If you do buy a Marlin 1894, get it in 357. The 1894 in 357 has good rifling/twist rate. The 1894 in 44 Mag does not. I don't believe the one in 45LC is any better.
 
Son just got a 45/70 lever, after waiting months for delivery. Lever wants to flop and it's going back for warranty, down East. More months of waiting.:confused:

Grizz
 
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