Marlin 56 mag replacement

[270 totheend]

I own a Marlin 56 “levermatic” .22 with a 7 shot mag. I always wanted a spare mag for it but for a rifle made from ‘55 to ‘64 mags are not just laying around. I found a Squires Bingham model 20 mag in the EE and for less than 20 bucks it came to me in an envelope from the other side of the country.
The SB mag fits snugly into the 56 mag well in what I would call a close fit but not tight. The original mag is limited in it’s vertical position by what can only be described as the rifle feed ramp. I first filed the metal on the SB mag front to allow it to sit high enough to feed bullets when held in by hand.
The 56 mag has a square protrusion on the rear of the mag that drops into the mag release spring tab. The SB mag has a notch cut into the rear face that the mag catch locks into. I had to file the notch up about .050” and grind out a clearance divot above the notch to accommodate the Marlin mag catch, not a problem as the SB mag is double layers of steel on the rear face spot welded. It now feeds perfectly and best of all 15 shots instead of 7.
Now I have to find a new hammer spring to fix a light strike problem and a scope base for this gun.

 

[billdick]

You shouldn't have posted this. You should've bought up a bunch of mags and converted them and listed them for sale. Hahahahaha

 

[caperaway]

I have a 56. If I remember correctly there are current production mags that fit with a slight mod. The mag is the pretty much the same as something they produced lately. Ithaca mags also fit as well. My Marlin 89C takes the same mags as well.
A scope rail sold at switzers auction the other day. I bid $10 but got outbid,didn't follow it to see the final tally as my rifle is listed in the EE so I didn't care a whole lot.

 

[caperaway]

I Looked at what I had. A 15rd Marlin,a 15 rd Ithaca,a 7 rd Marlin and a Marlin 70 7rd (8?) mag. Pic show the only real difference in the 70 mag is where the catch is. If you have a mig welder a quick zap will make a dot on the backstrap that you can shape with a dremel and they will function in the 56/89c.

 

[homslice]

If I recall correctly (sold my 56) either my Marlin 795 or my xt22 mag worked in my 56.
I bought a 25 rounder with the intention of trying to get it to work in it but never had the time.

 

[marshall]

I have not handled a 56 or 57 for years , so memory is shaddy on scope mounts.
I do have a new one for the Marlin 39, 22 LA .
It may be different?

 

[270 totheend]

Good to see an old post of mine. I solved the hammer spring problem by buying some piano wire and winding one myself. If you do this take lots of pictures when disassembling. I just need the weaver #58 one piece base for the scope. Reliable in Vancouver carries them but is out of stock right now.
I would love to see them make the 56 again but especially a model 62 in 30 carbine or 256 mag. With pistol caliber carbines being so popular now one in 9mm or 45 would be a for sure hit.