Author Topic: The "famous Marlin jam?" (Read 2722 times)

DennisE · « **on:** December 06, 2005, 01:06:35 PM »

I've had 2 Marlin 39As, a 1894 in .357 Magnum, a 1894 in.44 Magnum and and a 1895 in 44/70 and I've never experienced a jam. What is the famous Marlin jam and are some models or calibers more prone to it? Thanks, Dennis

victorcharlie · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2005, 01:15:13 PM »

I've had Marlins a long time and have never personally had the problem.....I believe it's called "Letting in 2" and happens when a second round from the magazine feeds under the carrier and won't allow the bolt to close. Here's a link that gives the details...

http://my.net-link.net/~napfn/marjams.htm

big medicine · « **Reply #2 on:** December 07, 2005, 09:39:13 AM »

I have shot Marlins since the late 70's and shot a lot of them. Have never once had a jam.

Buford · « **Reply #3 on:** December 07, 2005, 11:09:09 AM »

I have used Marlin lever action rifles for most of my life and, until recently, I never heard of the "famous Marlin jam". The only "jams" I have seen have been caused by the operator short stroking it. I like'm..

howdy doody · « **Reply #4 on:** January 11, 2006, 10:53:45 AM »

VictorCharlie described it pretty well. You have one on the carrier and another below it and you aren't going anywhere.
More common is a round that does not chamber smoothly. That would be the one that you need to fool with the lever until the round feeds into the chamber and then allows the bolt to go into full battery. Usually the round is not on the carrier in the proper position to cause that. It is pretty common in some finicky rifles if the OAL isn't just so for the particular rifle.
I like the new style carrier/lifters they have for the 1894. Do a little polishing on the nose and round off the snail cams sharp edge on the lever and they cycle pretty well.

howdy doody · « **Reply #5 on:** January 11, 2006, 10:57:57 AM »

VictorCharlie described it pretty well. You have one on the carrier and another below it and you aren't going anywhere.
More common is a round that does not chamber smoothly. That would be the one that you need to fool with the lever until the round feeds into the chamber and then allows the bolt to go into full battery. Usually the round is not on the carrier in the proper position to cause that. It is pretty common in some finicky rifles if the OAL isn't just so for the particular rifle. I have heard of the most problems from shooting 38spls in the 1894c 357 rifles, but the 44 mag/44spl has some issues too, but the rifle does not seem to be as popular.
I like the new style carrier/lifters they have for the 1894. Do a little polishing on the nose and round off the snail cams sharp edge on the lever and they cycle pretty well.

bill m. · « **Reply #6 on:** February 07, 2006, 02:41:34 PM »

I supplied this link up above for another reason. In the link, there's a spot you can click on in the text that says 'Marlin Jam".
I think this jam is more of a cowboy action thing unless you're an addict like me and shoot a few thousand a year. I think it mostly has to do with the mileage you put on your 94.

http://www.marauder.homestead.com/files/TUNING_M_1894.htm

Big Paulie · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2006, 04:15:08 PM »

Well, no, the jam is not a cowboy action thing. It is very common in many of the 1894 rifles that are 5 years or older. Bottom line is, certain round nose .38 specials, and some round nose .38 +p, won't feed, because a second round gets caught under the carrier while the carrier tries to lift the first round into the receiver.

Because of this, Marlin invented an "improved carrier" that is now standard in all of the Marlin 1894s. They even call it that if you call them on the phone and ask them about a carrier. (They don't even sell the old carrier any more.)

If you have jams problems, call Marlin, arrange to send your rifle back for replacement of the carrier (total costs use to be around $75), and they will install the new one for you. THEY DO THIS ALOT! I have never heard of anyone with the improved carrier having the jam problems.

Best Regards,

Big Paulie

realidahorock · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2006, 05:24:34 PM »

Howdy Leevermen-this Marlin jam is phantasy perpetuated. Under perfect conditions, with perfect ammo, in a perfect 1894 it has occured. to suggest it is a problem is like saying the famous Chevy vapor lock has some relevance today or in 99.9% of the chevy's being used today. Famous seems to imply it has happened under dangerous conditions. anyone know one one? Curious as usual. Of course a defective Marlin might jam but that wouldn't be famous. realidahorock

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2006, 06:16:59 PM »

Quote from: realidahorock

Howdy Leevermen-this Marlin jam is phantasy perpetuated. Under perfect conditions, with perfect ammo, in a perfect 1894 it has occured. to suggest it is a problem is like saying the famous Chevy vapor lock has some relevance today or in 99.9% of the chevy's being used today. Famous seems to imply it has happened under dangerous conditions. anyone know one one? Curious as usual. Of course a defective Marlin might jam but that wouldn't be famous. realidahorock

With the proper length ammo, it'll never happen. It will definately show up though if you shoot enough 38 specials in an 1894C. I one loaded some 38s that were trimmed just a little to short, and every other time cycled it the thing jammed up tight. It rendered the gun useless till I stripped it down, and relieved the problem.

As far as dangerous conditions, I did have it happen when trying to put down a very mad groundhog on a few occasions! LOL!

I now shoot only ammo loaded in 357 cases, and so far, it's not occured again.

realidahorock · « **Reply #10 on:** February 10, 2006, 07:22:41 AM »

a man with experience. thanks Jerry. Ove r the years I have hear this marlin term used like it has a history of failure during cape buffalo and brown bear charges :lol: Continued existence is preferable, realidahorock

Leverdude · « **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2006, 03:00:53 AM »

Heck, if its a brown bear or cape buff it might be better if it jammed & kept you from pissing him off.

Not the gun I'd be holding if I was in their neighborhoods.
That aside I thought the marlin jam was the lifter letting a bit of the second round on & not being able to rise, not getting one stuck under it.
I had an 1894C that the lifter would get hung up on the rim of the next cartrige jamming it up.

VTDW · « **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2006, 02:11:57 AM »

Realidahorock,

"famous Chevy vapor lock" :lol:

I haven't had a 'jam' since I attached wooden clothespins to my mag tubes. :wink:

Dave

Quonset Hut · « **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2006, 06:14:56 AM »

Quote from: Jerry Lester

Quote from: realidahorock
Howdy Leevermen-this Marlin jam is phantasy perpetuated. Under perfect conditions, with perfect ammo, in a perfect 1894 it has occured. to suggest it is a problem is like saying the famous Chevy vapor lock has some relevance today or in 99.9% of the chevy's being used today. Famous seems to imply it has happened under dangerous conditions. anyone know one one? Curious as usual. Of course a defective Marlin might jam but that wouldn't be famous. realidahorock

With the proper length ammo, it'll never happen. It will definately show up though if you shoot enough 38 specials in an 1894C. I one loaded some 38s that were trimmed just a little to short, and every other time cycled it the thing jammed up tight. It rendered the gun useless till I stripped it down, and relieved the problem.

As far as dangerous conditions, I did have it happen when trying to put down a very mad groundhog on a few occasions! LOL!

I now shoot only ammo loaded in 357 cases, and so far, it's not occured again.

I've got an 1894C that the previous owner had trouble on .38 cases. He ordered from Marlin the lifter? from the .38 Special Competition gun and no more problems. I haven't tried .357 since I got it as I just put through the .38 Spec reloads from National Bullet Co.

Quonset Hut · « **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2006, 06:23:24 AM »

Quote from: Jerry Lester

Quote from: realidahorock
Howdy Leevermen-this Marlin jam is phantasy perpetuated. Under perfect conditions, with perfect ammo, in a perfect 1894 it has occured. to suggest it is a problem is like saying the famous Chevy vapor lock has some relevance today or in 99.9% of the chevy's being used today. Famous seems to imply it has happened under dangerous conditions. anyone know one one? Curious as usual. Of course a defective Marlin might jam but that wouldn't be famous. realidahorock

With the proper length ammo, it'll never happen. It will definately show up though if you shoot enough 38 specials in an 1894C. I one loaded some 38s that were trimmed just a little to short, and every other time cycled it the thing jammed up tight. It rendered the gun useless till I stripped it down, and relieved the problem.

As far as dangerous conditions, I did have it happen when trying to put down a very mad groundhog on a few occasions! LOL!

I now shoot only ammo loaded in 357 cases, and so far, it's not occured again.

I've got an 1894C that the previous owner had trouble on .38 cases. He ordered from Marlin the lifter? from the .38 Special Competition gun and no more problems. I haven't tried .357 since I got it as I just put through the .38 Spec reloads from National Bullet Co.

Quonset Hut · « **Reply #15 on:** February 12, 2006, 06:32:55 AM »

Quote from: Jerry Lester

Quote from: realidahorock
Howdy Leevermen-this Marlin jam is phantasy perpetuated. Under perfect conditions, with perfect ammo, in a perfect 1894 it has occured. to suggest it is a problem is like saying the famous Chevy vapor lock has some relevance today or in 99.9% of the chevy's being used today. Famous seems to imply it has happened under dangerous conditions. anyone know one one? Curious as usual. Of course a defective Marlin might jam but that wouldn't be famous. realidahorock

With the proper length ammo, it'll never happen. It will definately show up though if you shoot enough 38 specials in an 1894C. I one loaded some 38s that were trimmed just a little to short, and every other time cycled it the thing jammed up tight. It rendered the gun useless till I stripped it down, and relieved the problem.

As far as dangerous conditions, I did have it happen when trying to put down a very mad groundhog on a few occasions! LOL!

I now shoot only ammo loaded in 357 cases, and so far, it's not occured again.

I've got an 1894C that the previous owner had trouble on .38 cases. He ordered from Marlin the lifter? from the .38 Special Competition gun and no more problems. I haven't tried .357 since I got it as I just put through the .38 Spec reloads from National Bullet Co.

Quonset Hut · « **Reply #16 on:** February 13, 2006, 01:33:43 PM »

Sorry folks - I didn't realize the "You have posted too soon after another your last post" meant they would hold the entry to post later. Strange...