JM marlin 366 issue?

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ruger22

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I have a new to me JM marlin 366 in 30 30.
Shooting for the 1st time today odd sand bags, and factory ammo.

When shooting for accuracy (being right handed) I only address the trigger with the right hand.
And not grip the lever and stock as when shooting off hand.

Issue is the lever is popping open slightly with each shot.
This never happens with the JM guide gun on the bench, even loaded warm.
Shooting the 30 30 offhand was no problem either.

Is this normal?
 
kamlooky said:
Could be someone has taken a curl or two of the lever hold detent spring?
Click to expand...


Used gun, but in VG condition.
There is no visible wear on the lever dog where it engages the action.

Well the lever comes out of battery with 1/2 the force that the guide gun requires. Though poor comparison maybe...
Why would somebody modify this spring?
 
Is it an older gun, without the cross safety? Mine is like that. The safety is the sprung extension under the lever, it tends to pop the lever out. I think the idea is you need to squeeze the lever up to fire. I have no experience with any other Marlin levers so take that for what it is.
 
I have done this procedure to ease the lever action.
Nothing worse than sticky levers when it's combat time.
I also pull the hammer back before levering the lever.
Tricks of the trade.

Why?
Cuss.
 
PinkyPlinker said:
Is it an older gun, without the cross safety? Mine is like that. The safety is the sprung extension under the lever, it tends to pop the lever out. I think the idea is you need to squeeze the lever up to fire. I have no experience with any other Marlin levers so take that for what it is.
Click to expand...

Has the cross bolt safety.
 
kamlooky said:
I have done this procedure to ease the lever action.
Nothing worse than sticky levers when it's combat time.
I also pull the hammer back before levering the lever.
Tricks of the trade.

Why?
Cuss.
Click to expand...

I would give the action a realy good spraying of drake cleaner and work it into the action
Then do the same thing with a spray oil lots of oil to see if it's just gummed up from sitting make sheer you realy work the oil in lever the rifle about 30 times and let the oil dran out of the action
 
I have a 1980s 30AS, department store version of your rifle.

The lever has popped out a bit when bench firing like you were so you're not alone.

I've had it all apart and there's no gunk.

My take is it could be the recoil. With a loose grip there could be light contact with the outer loop of the lever.

I've reworked all my hand loads to double check for pressure and that isn't the cause.

Try a full grip then try just pulling the trigger without having fingers the loop.

How about a cell phone video? I'll try to remember to video my hand and lever while firing next time.

Willy
 
wilbar said:
I have a 1980s 30AS, department store version of your rifle.

The lever has popped out a bit when bench firing like you were so you're not alone.

I've had it all apart and there's no gunk.

My take is it could be the recoil. With a loose grip there could be light contact with the outer loop of the lever.

I've reworked all my hand loads to double check for pressure and that isn't the cause.

Try a full grip then try just pulling the trigger without having fingers the loop.

How about a cell phone video? I'll try to remember to video my hand and lever while firing next time.

Willy
Click to expand...

There is no problems with the 30 30 marlin shooting offhand, leaning etc...
And this is what the gun is made for, not bench shooting. Though being a reloader we do like to tinker.

Perhaps the outer part of the lever was hitting the rear sandbag?
Never happened with the guide gun,
But it is a possible root cause...
 
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