lever action on Marlin 30AS locked up???

[doug the slug]

Hi Gents: I was trying out some new leverevolution ammo(Hornady) yesterday in my Marlin model 30AS(after firing about 8 shells) and when I opened the action it stayed locked open and I couldn't budge it. I still had a shell in the tube(not in the chamber though). Just wondering what would cause this to happen, pretty sure it has nothing to do with the ammo. I had to unscrew the lever and remove it to get the shell out of the tube. I replaced the lever but as soon as I opened the action it locked up again. I have downloaded a schematic off the internet for the parts. I plan on taking it to a gunsmith but I'm curious as to why it happened and what part may have malfunctioned. Any shared knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Doug

 

[BEARMAN]

Has this ever happened before? If it has never happened before and you try a different ammunition and it locks up. It might be the new ammunition, try the stuff you used before, if it doesn't lock up the same way, it is probably the new ammunition, if it still locks up, it take it to the gunsmith something is wrong with your gun. Sometimes things screwup just when you do something different and it has nothing to do with whatever was different. And sometimes ,some of the new improved offerings don't always work in everything that is chambered for that caliber. A wild guess is maybe the carrier or the piece that lifts the cartridge is hitting the loading port , if the screw that holds the loading gate in position becomes loose the loading gate may interfer with the carrier and jam things up . This happen on a Winchester I worked on for a friend.

 

[leadslinger]

take it to a guy named Dan, he will fix it while you wait

 

[stickhunter]

Has this ever happened before? If it has never happened before and you try a different ammunition and it locks up. It might be the new ammunition, try the stuff you used before, if it doesn't lock up the same way, it is probably the new ammunition, if it still locks up, it take it to the gunsmith something is wrong with your gun. Sometimes things screwup just when you do something different and it has nothing to do with whatever was different. And sometimes ,some of the new improved offerings don't always work in everything that is chambered for that caliber. A wild guess is maybe the carrier or the piece that lifts the cartridge is hitting the loading port , if the screw that holds the loading gate in position becomes loose the loading gate may interfer with the carrier and jam things up . This happen on a Winchester I worked on for a friend.

The advice about the loading gate screw is right on the money. When the action locks up on a Marlin, this is usually the case. Remove the screw and make sure it hasn't broken... then re-install with a bit of blue loctite and cycle the action and see if it still hangs up.