New wood for an old Marlin
- Thread starter Ian
- Start date
Ian
Notorious member
Probably the oil-rotted buttstock combined with factory having installed short screw at front of receiver for bottom metal which pulled the threads. Recoil forces transferred to upper tang only.
I already have a couple of days worth of work into this rifle fixing the bottom metal, bending and filing the lever so it would cloae all the way, getting the trigger block to work again, stretching the sear, replacing screws, repairing threads, and tons of filing, sanding, and polishing of the inside of the receiver and internal parts. The original forearm required a vise for installation before I spent a few hours filing and sanding on it. All that just so I could shoot it.
This rifle was a total basket-case from the beginning. I bought it as a package deal from a CB member with 6x Weaver, Lyman rings, spare poplar replacement buttstock, BRP mould, and at least some of the problems disclosed. After I bed the buttstock to the tang, all of the mechanical issues should finally be sorted out.
Several people have told me how fine and wonderful their early 1950s Marlins are and all I can say is this one was built on a Friday afternoon by apprentices out of leftover parts they found in the defect bin or on the factory floor and was bought by a retarded goat farmer in west Texas who only had a wornout Stanley flathead screwdriver, rusty claw hammer, and a pipe wrench for tools.
I already have a couple of days worth of work into this rifle fixing the bottom metal, bending and filing the lever so it would cloae all the way, getting the trigger block to work again, stretching the sear, replacing screws, repairing threads, and tons of filing, sanding, and polishing of the inside of the receiver and internal parts. The original forearm required a vise for installation before I spent a few hours filing and sanding on it. All that just so I could shoot it.
This rifle was a total basket-case from the beginning. I bought it as a package deal from a CB member with 6x Weaver, Lyman rings, spare poplar replacement buttstock, BRP mould, and at least some of the problems disclosed. After I bed the buttstock to the tang, all of the mechanical issues should finally be sorted out.
Several people have told me how fine and wonderful their early 1950s Marlins are and all I can say is this one was built on a Friday afternoon by apprentices out of leftover parts they found in the defect bin or on the factory floor and was bought by a retarded goat farmer in west Texas who only had a wornout Stanley flathead screwdriver, rusty claw hammer, and a pipe wrench for tools.
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Agree that the upper tang takes most of the recoil especially if not inlet properly. Was watching a vid of a guy inletting for a RB and he said he would put the spacer thu and a bolt to connect upper and lower tangs. Looking at a few of the 'modern' FB & RB actions, they put a big block in the stock. High drop stock points good but tang takes all the recoil. The old 12ga I had for a short time had cracked wrist from all the recoil.
Ian
Notorious member
DUN.
Buttstock and grip cap bedded with black Acraglas.
Forearm bedded to receiver with Ultra Black RTV silicone.
Barrel, lever, and receiver totally blued-over with Oxpho Blue paste.
Everything thoroughly cleaned, lubed, and reassembled.
Hopefully, this weekend we'll see how she shoots now.
I'll refinish the stocks later. Or maybe never, depends on how much the dull spray finish and wide-open pores bother me in time.
Buttstock and grip cap bedded with black Acraglas.
Forearm bedded to receiver with Ultra Black RTV silicone.
Barrel, lever, and receiver totally blued-over with Oxpho Blue paste.
Everything thoroughly cleaned, lubed, and reassembled.
Hopefully, this weekend we'll see how she shoots now.
I'll refinish the stocks later. Or maybe never, depends on how much the dull spray finish and wide-open pores bother me in time.
Cadillac Jeff
Well-Known Member
Very Nice !
Ian
Notorious member
Shoots pretty good, too, I am pleased.
First ten shots at 50, 75, and 100 yard targets with the BRP 35-220 HP zipping along at 2025 fps. 31 grains of Reloder 7, gas checked and powder-coated of course.
First three from with the barrel-mounted chronograph, then I took it off because it outs pressure on the magazine tube.
First ten shots at 50, 75, and 100 yard targets with the BRP 35-220 HP zipping along at 2025 fps. 31 grains of Reloder 7, gas checked and powder-coated of course.
First three from with the barrel-mounted chronograph, then I took it off because it outs pressure on the magazine tube.
Ian
Notorious member
With Reloder 10x or H335 I could probably squeeze another 100-125 fps out of it but it would cost me 6-8,000 psi and be running the redline. No need for that, just hunt 10 yards closer. My shoulder and retinas are happy enough with this ~33 KPSI load as it is, it definitely barks.
What I was trying to fix, other than cosmetics, was wandering vertical from loose everything that attached to the barrel. The rifle did manage an offhand head shot on a red deer at ~80 yards a few years ago but I had to be careful to support the rifle at the forearm/receiver interface and pinch the gap to load the forearm and tube forward, otherwise the slide-hammer effect of all the loose stuff under recoil would throw the shot a foot high. I would implore all levergun hunters to perform their pre-hunt sight check from field positions because you might get a nasty surprise if all your load and sighting work was done from a bench with front/rear bags.
What I was trying to fix, other than cosmetics, was wandering vertical from loose everything that attached to the barrel. The rifle did manage an offhand head shot on a red deer at ~80 yards a few years ago but I had to be careful to support the rifle at the forearm/receiver interface and pinch the gap to load the forearm and tube forward, otherwise the slide-hammer effect of all the loose stuff under recoil would throw the shot a foot high. I would implore all levergun hunters to perform their pre-hunt sight check from field positions because you might get a nasty surprise if all your load and sighting work was done from a bench with front/rear bags.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
And for me that is offhand or kneeling mostly.
Rick H
Well-Known Member
I always do sight in from the bench but with the rifle on my shoulder, not a rear bag, and my other hand on the bag with the fore end in my hand. I always have my hand with me in the field. I shoot off my hand even when a rest is available. I have seen a lot of shots go high fired off a hard rest.