The dreaded Marlin jam

[Glen]

I am a big fan of Marlin lever-action rifles/carbines. I own several, and shoot them regularly. I have read of "the dreaded Marlin jam" a number of times, and experienced it once many years ago. That time, I just took the gun apart, cleaned it, and put it back together, and everything was fine. I was out shooting with a buddy this morning and my Marlin 1894 .357 Magnum locked up with the lever at full extension, and steadfastly refused to budge, no matter how hard I tried to force it. I brought it home, expecting to have to take it apart in order to "make it better". Before I did, I tried a few more times to get it to close, no luck. Then, just for giggles, I reached up under the bolt and brought the hammer all the way back, and then let it go back to full-cock. The action closed easily, and functioned normally after that.

 

[Ian]

This must have been a different sort of jam from the usual one cartridge above/one cartridge below the elevator situation, and one I haven't yet experienced. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Brad]

The Marlin jam is generally a case of letting in two from the magazine. I had it with my 32-20 right off. The carrier drops just enough to not cut off the magazines fter a single round is let in. The second round obviously can't come entirely out of the magazine so just the rear pokes out of the tube. The carrier now can't lift and the lever is jammed.
You can usually use a pen or rod or whatever thru the loading gate to shove the extra round back into the tube while moving the lever closed.
I soldered a small chunk of thin steel to the bottom of the carrier to keep the small lug on the lever from cutting a groove in that location which makes it worse. Since I made that modification I haven't had a single hiccup.

 

[Rally Hess]

I used to have the same problem with my .32-20 Brad. I decided on which bullet shot the best for me, then added a little metal to the front of the shell stop and filed it square. End of problem. Factory .32-20 ammo's OAL is all over the place. Most jacketed is short and factory lead was about right for my rifle. My rifle likes the NOE 314-115-DP so well that's all I'm loading for it anymore. I've been hoarding Starline brass for it for a couple years so I'm good to go. Bring on the bunnies!!

 

[Glen]

Ian, this one had one cartridge above the carrier, and another in the magazine, I just didn't mention it because I removed the round above before I cleared the jam.

 

[Pistolero]

HMMMM. Not sure what the hammer was doing to lock this up, but I haven't really paid ultra detailed
attention to the Marlin action. Only have 3 and just pull the bolt to clean and put it back never a whole
lot of teardown and study. Seems odd, but will keep it in mind, in case it happens to me some day.

Bill

 

[Roger Allen]

Had it happen to a Marlin 44 mag w lee 300 gr flat nose bullets. When I made a dummy round maybe it was too long but I attributed it to the long bullet possibly making it act like a casing that was too long. Wether thats the case or not I'm not sure. They're funny rifles

 

[Brad]

A too long round will either not fully exit the magazine tube or more often jam against the inside of the action when lifting to the chamber. This is easy to fix as the stop on the carrier can be filed back. I did this on my Marlin 1894 C in 357 so it would feed the MP 359640 easily.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

A too long round will either not fully exit the magazine tube or more often jam against the inside of the action when lifting to the chamber. This is easy to fix as the stop on the carrier can be filed back. I did this on my Marlin 1894 C in 357 so it would feed the MP 359640 easily.

Old thread I know. (NOT HAVING MARLIN JAMB)

Im sick of this issue (proper length bullets NOT feeding) in myown 1894 357. Its time to fix it!!

Many if my favorite 357 bullets (of proper length) simply will not function thru this rifle.

Do you have any pics of this work?

I was going to buy a new lifter and work that but nonine has and they are near 100$???

Thanks for the help.

CW

 

[Brad]

CW, if some bullets work and others don’t it isn’t the “Marlin jam”.

The Marlin jam is quite unique- it essentially makes it so the guy tries to let in more than one cartridge at a time from the magazine. This locks the carrier. I find you can use a pencil to push the second cartridge back into the tube and get the carrier to lift but it is a pain!

I will see if I have any photos of what I did.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Ooh sorry for confusion.. (I edited my ask)

I know full well its NOT a Marlin Jamb!!!

Thats why I bolded the comment.

Apologies for the confusion.

I have a idea what to do but seek knowledge from those who have gone this path before me.

 

[Brad]

My Marlins have been good at feeding about anything I shoved in them?

Can you give more details? It could be an OAL issue or a nose profile problem.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Yea, its BOTH!!

BUT all effected are loaded to sammi recomendations and are shorter then specs for the 357 Cartridge for each bullet in manuals.

Im sick of loading 38 spl cases to 357 spec seated 90% 357 lengths!!

My 45 Colts (3x and also Marlins) easilly feed empte cases and my old 325 LBT bullets. My newer 250 FWC bullet is also not a issue.

I need to adjust cartridge OAL IN/ON THE GUN. Largely so I can shoot same ammo in all guns.

CW

 

[Brad]

Weird. My Marlin 357 feeds the 358429 and 358156 very well, they just shoot for crap in the gun.
It is possible to modify he carrier to allow a longer cartridge to feed.

This site has some good info

A New Carrier for the Marlin 1894cs

 

[BBerguson]

I had an 1894 in 44mag that would do this to. Problem was the screw on the loading gate was coming loose (and it didn’t take much). Cartridge would jam up against it and stop everything from moving.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Weird. My Marlin 357 feeds the 358429 and 358156 very well, they just shoot for crap in the gun.
It is possible to modify he carrier to allow a longer cartridge to feed.

This site has some good info

A New Carrier for the Marlin 1894cs

Good article and nice read but not what I need to do.

I cannot get sammi length bullets out of the magazine!

I want to alter the OAL the lifter allows. Just not sure what and where on that lifter that material needs to be removed from. When you said that you adjusted that to fit your bullet I thought you might know.

CW

 

[Brad]

So a standard OAL round won’t lift out of the magazine?

Here is a ledge on the carrier than the rear of the cartridge sits against. You can judiciously file the shoulder to the rear which allows the cartridge to sit a little farther back.

If the nose of the bullet is hitting the frame where the end of the magazine tube sits then this is a possible option.

 

[Rick H]

CW sent you some info in a PM

 

[Charles Graff]

Years ago, I was having difficulty with some bullet feeding in my Marlin 44 Mag. I google search turned up instructions with pics on how to modify the lifter to cure the issue. I did as instructed and filed the carrier back about .022 (IIRC). That cured the problem and now it will feed anything.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Well I tore into this rifles action today..

looking at the lifter by itself.. Its olenty if room for longer then a FL SAMMI OAL cartridge. So whats happening?? Right mow, I am blaming the lever. The rim of the case appears to be bumping the lever! See pics.

Here is a cartritage as it would be is just loaded into the magazine.


This is what happens as you open the lever.


Here is close pic of the rim of the case.



Here is a case where it SHOULD BE when lever is opened.. full against the case stop.



You can see the nose of the bullet is OUT of the mag tube because its fully and completely on the carrier.

I dont have a 44 Marlin here but I do have 45 Colts. I suspect maybe this rifle got a 44/45 lever and the angled relief on it is improper for the smaller dia 357 case head. But thats not yet proven.

CW