Marlin Guide gun- did quality control finally wake up?

I just bought a gbl - like many I was skeptical of the newer ones quality. I looked it over in the store and the fit and finish we're good. Action cycling was decent but not great. When I got it home I tried to cycle some rounds through it and I was getting rounds hung up on chambering. Narrowed the problem down to a burr on the bolt face. I completely disassembled and I've never seen machining so lazily done before. Some edges we sharp enough to cut yourself. I stripped it down and removed all the machining burrs on the action and bolt and polished up the mating parts. Now the action feeds cleanly and cycles no problem.


The new ones are project guns out of the box. They need a couple hours of work before you take them out.
 
I was at Epps a couple of weeks ago and I was in a lather to buy an 1895SBL.

I had read all of the points to watch for on the 'net, and sure enough, as soon as I opened the box, I could see that the front sight was actually on 'askew'. The finish on the stainless wasn't very nice either. Lots of tooling marks and scratches for a gun that I saw the box being cut open on!

Sorry...but for $1000...I don't want a project gun!
 
Basic common sense dictates staying away from purchasing any marlin.I guess if you have low expectations,then you should buy one,and finish the job,if your able.
 
Too bad, those guide guns sure sure are lookers, but at the price quality control shouldn't be so questionable...
 
Northman999 said:
My dad bought a GBL three weeks ago. The extractor was NFG and was almost impossible to work and ate brass if it did work. Returned it; the next rifle would not feed at all; the next rifle had it's front sight clearly improperly indexed; the next one the lever would not stay closed and would pop open after cycling; the fifth rifle seems okay.

Lucky we were shopping locally and not mail order...

I heard yesterday from a friend trying to order another GBL from a dealer in B.C that all the GBL's are currently being recalled; yes, even the "newer and better" ones from this year.

Also, I noticed, the "heavy ballard style rifling" that Remlin always touts is only about 25% as "heavy" as the older guide guns, and looks no different that standard rifling any more. All five rifles I looked at had the same skimpy "ballard style" (my ass) rifling...Sucks....

:jerkit:
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"Heavy Ballard"? Wasn't aware that there needed to be any such thing. I don't see how it needs to be heavier than anyone else's rifling. The only point of switching to convential rifling (from Micro groove) was for the use of cast bullets, which didn't work as well with Marlin's Micro Groove.

Sharp's never needed to go to extra deep rifling... Besides which, about one person in a million would wear out a 45-70 barrel, and it wouldn't be due to the rifling depth.

You sure had a bad run.

Story behind the bad guns, was that the Marlin plant was shut down and all the old employees were left jobless (or perhaps unwilling to move), so all the craftsmanship went out the window. Similar situation, when AMC became part owner of Harley Davidson. A lot of bikes came out with issues and bored holes out of line. That happened in the 70s, can't really call something junk because of a hiccup in production.

Marlin's are still the only (or one of the only) lever guns out there still made with real forged steel receivers. High quality guns for over 125 years. I bought another one just before the buy out (marked JM), and I would probably buy a new one.
 
tactical lever said:
The only point of switching to conventional rifling (from Micro groove) was for the use of cast bullets, which didn't work as well with Marlin's Micro Groove.
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To add to this point about the cast bullets, I made the mistake of assuming too much. I had a nice new 336 and thought that the micro groove was the issue when shooting the cast bullets. Turned out that a few experienced individuals pointed out my erring ways and set me straight. My cast troubles had nothing to do with the cast bullets themselves, but everything to do with the way I was loading them. I was using standard dies, when like the revolver cowboy loads, I needed the neck expander.

I was squeezing those bullets into a case neck, which was too small and reducing the diameter too much. In the process...sold the Marlin (micro-groove)...sold my Henry (rifling) - found out about neck sizer - bought another Marlin - bought some cast from a fellow Nutter - life is now great!.
 
i have a rem 336y and it is great. shoots cast great and even though i went in and slicked everything up it didnt need it. I also have a marlin 450mxlr that it just awsome. and i sold 2 marlin guides in 45/70 1 was not up to par the other was good. Point or story is well theres at least one good remlin out there and its in my safe.
 
I bought a SBL a month or so ago, despite all of the bad press. The checkering isn't great. Feed and function is. And I don't think I've picked up many rifles that will print moa groups off a pack out of the box, but this one will. With two different FACTORY loads.

I'm impressed with it. I've spent more on high end bolt guns that required a lot more money and effort to get to shoot this well.
 
Im loving mine there so much fun to shoot. Had mine a week and sold my 300wsm all pack my 45-70 if i go hunting.
 
sobo4303 said:
To add to this point about the cast bullets, I made the mistake of assuming too much. I had a nice new 336 and thought that the micro groove was the issue when shooting the cast bullets. Turned out that a few experienced individuals pointed out my erring ways and set me straight. My cast troubles had nothing to do with the cast bullets themselves, but everything to do with the way I was loading them. I was using standard dies, when like the revolver cowboy loads, I needed the neck expander.

I was squeezing those bullets into a case neck, which was too small and reducing the diameter too much. In the process...sold the Marlin (micro-groove)...sold my Henry (rifling) - found out about neck sizer - bought another Marlin - bought some cast from a fellow Nutter - life is now great!.
Click to expand...

Micro groove again? I think Marlin might have made some other calibers with convential rifling. Are you running pretty hard cast? That would help. Not sure how much problems it caused, just that it was changed for that reason. I would try cast in a micro groove just to see for myself; alas, in a fit of weakness I let my 30-30 go.
 
Most new marlins lack the refined finish that they had before the remington monsters took over. I love my marlins but if buying brand new i would take a step back and shoulder a Henry in 45-70 its new for them but there quality is what marlins used to be.
 
I have handled a Marlin 45-70 at a local sports store a few times, and while it LOOKS nice - in all honesty, my 'early' post 64 Winchester handles and feels nicer. But, Ive not fired the 45/70 either.

I have heard - here - a number of people say the Henry big boy's havw quality/durability issues, but having not handled it myself I dont know.
 
I have had approximately 30 Marlin lever action rifles.
The XLR's are some of the best made, and then it goes down hill after that..pretty sad...a rejuvenation..then buy out takeover...then crap

If you buy a Marlin today, you are taking a chance. Better to buy an older one used, then a newer one you cant use,
 
I have been checking out the Marling 1895GBL’s every time I hit up the gun store. They are as cheap and sh*tty feeling as ever. I refuse to spend my money on junk. I’ll stick to my Ferrari (Winchester 1895 Trapper Takedown .44 Mag made in Japan).
 
I sure hope everything soon gets under control... I would love one of those little thing.

grizzly_custom_guns_sbr_marlin_1894_45_colt_package_ghost_ring_sight_1.jpg

(Not a factory offering)
 
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