Marlin: American craftsmen still proudly sh!t. Update post 39 - thanks Wanstalls!

Nice. That's how it should be, it's the principle of the matter. Then you have the option to exchange it if the CB is your heart's desire, or get your money back and be done with Marlin.
 
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Luckybeer said:
Always buy a JM stamped real Marlin rifle...far superior to any other lever...
You learned the hard way
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Dunno where you can find a JM '94 CB with the 20" barrel.
Love the rifle but I'd disagree it's superior to a Win '86... JM Marlins included of which I've owned a few.

It was a pretty painless lesson overall given the worst case option of full refund including shipping costs, thanks to a great retailer.
 
Just shop around for an older Marlin. You can get one for maybe half the price of a new production Marlin and the older ones have superior fit, finish and function to the new. I can live with a little carry wear. Marlins made from the 1950's up through the 1980's are super rifles actually far superior to 94 Winchesters made in the same time frame and I am a Winchester guy. Also they don't have that abortion of a crossbolt safety that the newer ones have.
 
flashman2 said:
As I said above, I don't mind tweaking for optimal functioning. I've done most all of that to four Marlins in the past.

I draw the line at having to make it a functioning weapon.

On the upside, it sure does shoot well. ***It's just the cycling that blows.
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Unfortunately that's the reality we live in today with these new remlins.
They are more like the old CVA kit guns that you have to finish yourself than new guns.

They share that dubious distinction with the rossi rifles which are even junkier and you can't get parts for them.

Your options are to buy a good used 'JM' Marlin, a lawyer safetied up miroku winchester or tube loading henry which are all much more expensive than a remlin.

***The moving parts inside the action of your remlin are probably covered with machining burrs.
That's why it cycles rough.
If they aren't removed and smoothed off the gun will cycle rough.

A marlin 336/1895 rifle is relatively easy to strip and reassemble compared to winchester leverguns.
A 10 year old could do it.
Plenty of instructional youtube videos on the subject online.
 
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As mentioned my new GBL is quite functional and reasonably accurate. Their A-team must have been doing the production run from which mine originated. ;)

Good build quality for a rifle that only cost 6 notes and change - any more I would have felt cheated. :p
 
Nope, no burrs. It's been apart more than a dozen times already. It actually cycles fine, when it cycles. As I've said, the problem is sometimes it doesn't cycle at all and feeds two at once.
 
Luckybeer said:
Always buy a JM stamped real Marlin rifle...far superior to any other lever...
You learned the hard way
Click to expand...

I have one JM stamped Marlin 1895, and one Remington made Marlin 1895. The difference is huge when you compare them, checkering on the stock and overall quality has totally gone down the toilet. Definitely stay away from anything that is not JM stamped until Remington gets their act together.
 
Glad to hear the retailer is taking care of you. I have 3 remlins and two jm marlins. Two of the remlins are excellent and one I had to spend some 40hrs smoothing and buffing the internals. Awesome rifle now. I learned one has to hand pick the remlins and know what to look for. I figure you're in that category now too��. Hit and miss which I believe has played, at least in some small part, the eventual downfall of Remington.
 
I’m a Marlin guy, Have been since my first rifle. I’ve owned dozens and dozens, and have gone through pretty much every variation/chambering made by them in the past 25 years (many much older ones as well).

I have a hard nose bias towards anything “JM” stamped and would not purposely go out and purchase a new REM mfg’d one.

That said..... the JM’s are not without their faults, there’s more than enough out there with canted sights and jamming actions. The new ones are “fine” for the most part, but will likely never be what Marlin once was.

I’ve gone through my fair share of Remlins in the past 8 years, but my 2012 336BL is a superb rifle (with the exception of the paper thin “checkering”)

OP, glad to hear Wanstalls came through for you.



Oh!....... and I like the CBS.
(Flame away):cool:
 
Ordered myself a Win '92 from Wanstalls to replace the '94, I'm sure I'll learn to love it. Just gotta track down a Marbles tang sight for it which seems unobtanium ATM, but plenty of time till next deer season.

I like the safeties too. Lot quieter to operate than cocking the hammer. That's a big deal at the ranges I'm hunting at.
 
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flashman2 said:
Ordered myself a Win '92 from Wanstalls to replace the '94, I'm sure I'll learn to love it. Just gotta track down a Marbles tang sight for it which seems unobtanium ATM, but plenty of time till next deer season.

I like the safeties too. Lot quieter to operate than cocking the hammer. That's a big deal at the ranges I'm hunting at.
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I just picked up a Miroku / Winchester 92 short rifle in 44 mag as well after a fruitless search for a Marlin worth buying. I love it! The fit and finish is flawless and I also like the safeties to be honest, the rebounding hammer is nice due to the automatic half ####. I can just ignore the tang safety until I have to drop the hammer on a loaded chamber.

It's making me wish I had kept my 1886, really regret selling that now as it was just as beautiful.
 
win94luver said:
Unfortunately that's the reality we live in today with these new remlins.
They are more like the old CVA kit guns that you have to finish yourself than new guns.

They share that dubious distinction with the rossi rifles which are even junkier and you can't get parts for them.

Your options are to buy a good used 'JM' Marlin, a lawyer safetied up miroku winchester or tube loading henry which are all much more expensive than a remlin.

***The moving parts inside the action of your remlin are probably covered with machining burrs.
That's why it cycles rough.
If they aren't removed and smoothed off the gun will cycle rough.
Click to expand...

win94luver said:
The newest REPs are just as good as the JMs.
In fact I think the machining of the REPs is better.
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???
 
Got the '92 in the mail today. Wow. Deleted the rebounding hammer and off to the range.

The crescent butt isn't as bad as I feared it would be, I put about 100 rounds through it no issue. Not my favourite but it works, and hey at least it looks sweet.

Fit and finish is as you'd expect from Miroku, totally flawless. It's light years ahead of the Marlin obviously. For the minimal difference in price between it and the '94 CB, it's a much much better value. The action is far smoother too. Not quite as handy as the '94 being a bit longer and so help me it feels heavier in the hand even though the weights are identical. But overall just an exceptional rifle for the price.
 
flashman2 said:
Update: Wanstalls got back to me in a few hours with the offer of a refund or exchange, including free shipping back. They have a 30 day policy too. Frankly never crossed my mind the retailer would make good on a manufacturer warranty issue. Kudos to them.
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Thats EXCELLENT service from 1 of our BC stores ! RJ
 
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