Stickhunter, I think I saw that Marlin you mentioned. Year or two back I stopped by Martini's shop to get some work done, and he was just finishing up a Marlin just like you're describing. Remember him mentioning the MPI stock. Pretty wicked looking rifle, eh! (Small world!)
One can do a lot of neat things to a rifle to put their own personal touch on 'em. Marlin's are one of those that lend well to this because there's so many of them out there, which makes aftermarket accessories/parts economical.
I did my own "customization" to a Rem. 700. HS Precision stock was a drop in, along with Williams bottom metal (huge improvement over the crappy original!), along with scope, etc. Had Martini Gun Makers reblue all the metal and add a target crown for about $250...bead blasted it first, really good looking and durable matte finish. Ended up with my own "custom" rifle for considerably less dough than ordering one up.
Only cautionary note is that one shouldn't mess with aspects that can affect safety unless they really know what they're doing...I learned my own lesson in this respect.
After I got the rifle put together, went out to the range. On the 40th round, I shoved the bolt home and it discharged...???????????????
Immediately took it up to Martini for a check over.
It has a Timney trigger, which replaced the original many years ago after one of them nasty experiences we've been hearing about.
Turned out that the trigger post-firing was contacting the trigger guard just enough to hang up. (new stock, new bottom metal) I'd checked for clearance, and while very close, it wasn't contacting...but I didn't check it through its travel.
Ground the trigger down a tad, no more problem.
But big lesson learned for me! (Not to mention a tad embarrassing...
)
Think it's always worthwhile to share such lessons learned, hopefully avoid similar mistakes...and possibly nasty consequences.
