Author Topic: Marlin 336 issues  (Read 1876 times)

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Offline searly

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Marlin 336 issues
« on: October 01, 2012, 11:35:16 AM »
I have 336 in .35 Rem that will not close the last little bit when chambering a round.  There are no obstructions in the barrel or action and the rifle is clean as a whistle. Any ideas?

Offline searly

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Re: Marlin 336 issues
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2012, 03:54:19 PM »
As crazy as it sounds, I think the problem is with the firing pin.  I inspected the extractor and ejector, both seem fine.  I then loaded a dummy round, no primer, and the action closed fine.  After scratching my head a few minutes i loaded a factory Hornady round and the problem reappeared.  The action seemed to bind slightly when extracting the round and upon inspection I noticed a slight mark/indention on the primer where the firing pin should strike.  I repeated the experiment and in every case, no mark going in, has a mark when extracted.  Any thoughts?  Am I on the right track?  All thoughts are welcome.

Offline gunnut69

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Re: Marlin 336 issues
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2012, 04:54:31 PM »
The firing pin is 2 piece, be certain the rear portion is allowing the front to retern and the entire firing pin is free in the bolt. Perhaps the pins that retain the firing pin sections are holding the firing pin forward? The following is a parts diagram....  http://stevespages.com/ipb-marlin-336.html
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Offline 45-70.gov

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Re: Marlin 336 issues
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2012, 04:57:40 PM »
i wouldn't load another hot round!!!!!


load  a fired round  with the fireing pin demple of the fired round  filled with grease or putty


take it to a gunssmith!!


you might fix  it  then  it reoccur and kill some one some day
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Offline searly

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Re: Marlin 336 issues
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2012, 05:40:44 PM »
No dought, not a safe condition.  The front firing pin seems stuck. I can't seem to move it back no matter how much I fiddle with it.  Anybody ever heard of this happening before?  Thanks for the responses.

Offline searly

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Re: Marlin 336 issues
« Reply #5 on: October 02, 2012, 03:10:46 AM »
Update: I've removed the bolt and I can now move the firing pin back with the flat of a screw driver.  But it takes more effort than I would think necessary.  It does not seem to be dirty or gunked up, it makes a distink click when pushed into a recessed position within the bolt.  Also noticed that the rear firing pin tends to drop into the slot at the rear of the bolt.  I've no idea if any of these "behaviors" are normal or not.  All thoughts or comments are welcome.

Offline dpe.ahoy

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Re: Marlin 336 issues
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2012, 05:08:16 AM »
The rear firing pin is supposed to drop down until pushed up when the lever is pulled up all the way, one of the safety features of the 2-piece firing pin.  The front pin is not supposed to protrude from the face of the bolt until smacked by the rear pin.  Pull the pins out of the bolt and make sure "Bubba" didn't put it together wrong.  DP
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Handi's:22Shot, 22LR, 2-22Mag, 22Hornet, 5-223, 2-357Max, 44 mag, 2-45LC, 7-30 Waters, 7mm-08, 280, 25-06, 30-30, 30-30AI, 444Marlin, 45-70, AND 2-38-55s, 158 Topper 22 Hornet/20ga. combo;  Levers-Marlins:Two 357's, 44 mag, 4-30-30s, RC-Glenfields 36G-30A & XLR, 3-35 Rem, M-375, 2-444P's, 444SS, 308 MX, 338Marlin MXLR, 38-55 CB, 45-70 GS, XS7 22-250 and 7mm08;  BLR's:7mm08, 358Win;  Rossi: 3-357mag, 44mag, 2-454 Casull; Winchesters: 7-30 Waters, 45Colt Trapper; Bolt actions, too many;  22's, way too many.  Who says it's an addiction?

Offline searly

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Re: Marlin 336 issues
« Reply #7 on: October 03, 2012, 07:03:17 AM »
I've disassembled the bolt and inspected the all the working parts and they seem fine.  Just to be safe I've ordered a new firing pin and spring.  I really expected to see something wrong internally to the bolt.  A bit history, I've used and hunted with this rifle for several years with dependable service.  Mostly it received a steady diet of Hornady LE's and it loved them.  On a hunt near the end of last season I noticed the issue as stated above.  I cleaned it and put away to be figured out later.

Offline searly

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Re: Marlin 336 issues
« Reply #8 on: October 03, 2012, 07:08:13 AM »
I have noticed that the problem much more pronounced on factory ammo than my reloads.

Offline 35Remington

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Marlin 336 issues
« Reply #9 on: November 16, 2012, 12:23:32 PM »
My 336 hates Hornadys. I will trade you a whole box for something else if you want.

Offline trapdoor45

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Re: Marlin 336 issues
« Reply #10 on: November 17, 2012, 01:24:45 PM »
One other thing to check regarding not being able to close the action.  Make sure that the bullet shape isn't causing the problem.  Some bullets maintain a .358 diameter far forward of the case and it will interfere with the leade and/or rifling.  As I have recently learned, the lever is responsible for moving the firing pin rearward.  The small flat "firing pin spring" causes drag on the pin so it will not just drop to the rear.  This is the spring that forces the rear part of the firing pin down out of alignment when the action is opened.  When the bolt moves rearward, the firing pin should move back as well.
Trapdoor