Marlin 336 SBL 30-30 disapointment.

DVXDUDE

DVXDUDE

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North of toronto,ontario
Bought this gun in the spring brand new

I took it out to my hunt camp and fired 10 rounds just to get a feel for it. Had no problem, worked everytime i pulled the trigger

Added a reddot last month and went to shoot the gun again last weekend


First 6 rounds didn't fire just click with VERY light primer strikes

Next 4 shots it fired no problem.

Then again it would not fire just the same extremely light primer strike.

I havnt taken it apart yet to see if cleaning it will help.


I planned on using this gun for deer hunt this year and now I have ZERO trust in it.
I'm going to have to fire 100+ rounds threw it with NO problem before I feel good about taking it hunting

Pisses me off as I don't have a good spot to shoot unless I drive back to my hunt camp (4hrdrive) so I won't know if I rectify the problem or not until more testing.

What do you guys recommend? Ever heard of this problem? Is there chance that it's just dirty?


The casings that fired have normal primer strikes . (Tried 2 different brand new ammunition ) you can see the marks in the picture
 

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DVXDUDE said:
I took it out to my hunt camp and fired 10 rounds just to get a feel for it. Had no problem, worked everytime i pulled the trigger

Added a reddot last month and went to shoot the gun again last weekend


First 6 rounds didn't fire just click with VERY light primer strikes
Click to expand...

Any chance something you did installing the red dot is causing the problem?

I just put a red dot on a Marlin, and the mounting screws were a millimeter too long, protruded through the receiver and touched the bolt, causing it to bind when cycling. I ground them back a touch and it is fine again.
 
if you are capable of removing the bolt then do that clean with a good degreaser not brake cleaner then blow up with a compresser then spray with w d 40 or some such lube
it will likely be fine
 
I have seen this a couple other times with hammered lever guns, not any Marlins mind you but other Italian offerings and both times it was a machining bur left from the factory in the hammer channel that retarded the hammer stroke sometimes. It could also be a burr or tight hammer screw to hammer bore or a burr left in the bolt-firing pin channel as well.
If a simple cleaning doesnt remedy your issue then I would do a tear-down to the bolt removal stage (very simple 2 min job with a Marlin) and look for any type of rubbing anywhere...might even be a sharp milled edge on the main spring strut that is biting the main spring.
 
With the rifle cleared, pull the trigger and work the hammer back and forth. Look for any binding however slight. I have seen binding from debris, and even from a stock that was a bit tight (not Marlin). Could also be poor fitting parts, primarily the lever safety block not clearing entirely when you close the lever.
 
Further playing around with the gun it seems like the firing pin won't fully return to its furthest outward point sometimes.

I cycle the action and squeeze the lever fully closed and watch the rear of the firing pin. Sometimes it will expose fully, sometimes only about 75%

If I squeeze the trigger and close the hammer on it, it will fully seat with the weight of the hammer spring. Without a problem

Then open the lever and close it and it will sometimes only come out 75%. If I open the action enough to re-press the paw block under the lever, that will eventually push the firing pin out 100%.

I havnt disassembled the bolt to inspect the firing pin but I may. I have removed it from the gun and gave it a good solvent cleaning the light oiled with no change.

What gunsmith could have this fixed in a month?
 

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Think I fixed it. Took the bolt all part. The rear firing pin part had a massive burr on it. The burr was stopping it from going up or down to lock in straight for it to fire.

You could fiddle with the lever and open and lock up and sometimes it would push the 2 piece firing pin straight so it's tight and ready to fire.

Other times it would get hung up and not be 100% straight so it would be a bit shorter and give light primer strike.


Still don't like it or trust it. Almost want to buy a 1 piece firing pin.


I should have taking a picture of the burr. That piece was either badly damaged before in the gun or one time when fired it got jammed up and put 1 helluva ding in it. I filed it smooth and polished it.

Havnt test fired it yet, But using snap caps it locks up and firing pin is as far back as possible for a good strike. Have likely tried it 200 times so far.
 
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