Author Topic: Marlin 1894C HELP!! (Read 2422 times)

Stape · « **on:** February 28, 2010, 10:54:21 AM »

OK, maybe I just got a non-QC rifle that was built on a friday right before closing time or something. I bought this rfle brand-new about a year ago, every time I ake it out, something happens. First time the front band screw broke and the forearm band came forward and the forearms almost came off. I bought another part and replaced it. Next, the loading gate sprin screw loosened up and the loading gate got hung. Called and was told to tighten it with some lock-tight, which I did. Next time out, the front sight assembly fell off while shooting. Ordered another. Today, the triger guard support screw on the left side of the action fell out and is lost. I'm not kidding one bit. Each failure that I have described has happened within 50rds of shooting. Its a beautiful rifle, carries well, and is accurate, but If someone broke into my home and I had this thing loaded and ready to go, I would really just try to beat the intruder with it first. I have zero faith in this rifle. I just penned a polite, fact-of-the-matter letter to Marlin with a detailed description of my problems, and for the first time in my life I have to send a rifle back to the manufacturer for repair. This is going to be a deal or no deal thing with Marlin in how they treat me. If they simply lock-tight everything and snug up all the screws, I'm gonna get heated. You shouldn't have to do that to a quality rifle, I have gone over the rifle several times ensuring the screws are tight, and I shouldn't have to do that either. The rifle is like new, not a scratch on it, and lives in a humidity/temperature controlled safe, not exactly a hard use weapon. How have you guys experience been with marlin customer service and repair? I understand that if you shoot enough and own enough guns, your gonna get a lemon alon the way, it happens. I just hope they make it right.

Gohon · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2010, 03:11:37 PM »

Well...............if putting a little lock tight on several screws is to much of a strain then you might as well get rid of the gun now or prepare to get heated. It's pretty common knowledge with 1894C owners that the screws (three in particular) must be regularly checked or do as most do and put some lock tight on them. Just something about the Marlin design and the 357 that shoots them loose. Sure is a lot cheaper to buy a small tube of lock tight than to pay shipping plus be without a gun.

Old Grizz · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2010, 11:24:35 PM »

Marlins customer service is the best there is anywhere. I have 19 Marlin leverguns and rarely have a problem with them. I also own Winchesters and Henrys and from time to time I need to tighen a few screws because they work loose from the recoil. Buy a good set of gunsmiths screwdrivers and check those screws for loosness.

Stape · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2010, 11:50:23 PM »

I can see checking the screws once in a while maybe, MAYBE every 500 rounds or so, but I can't run a box of shells through this thing without something falling off. Screws working loose from the recoil of the 357? Maybe I can ask Marlin to stake every screw in place, sheesh.

Joe S. · « **Reply #4 on:** March 01, 2010, 05:27:44 AM »

my 44 mag is at the gunsmith now having all teh screws replaced because the PO used a poor quality screwdriver to tighten them up. last time i was at the range, i shot it about 15 times before 3 of the screws on the receiver had worked loose. it just happens... unfortunately.

but i second the buy a good screwdriver set... thas a must

Old Grizz · « **Reply #5 on:** March 01, 2010, 05:35:54 AM »

Quote from: Stape on February 28, 2010, 11:50:23 PM

I can see checking the screws once in a while maybe, MAYBE every 500 rounds or so, but I can't run a box of shells through this thing without something falling off. Screws working loose from the recoil of the 357? Maybe I can ask Marlin to stake every screw in place, sheesh.

No one here is trying to ruffle your feathers. You asked a question and now you have some answers. Anyone who owns a levergun knows the screws have to be tweeked from time to time. You can use loctite to help with that situation just be sure is not of the permenate variety. Goodluck!!!

Stape · « **Reply #6 on:** March 01, 2010, 05:36:29 AM »

I've got an excellent set of proper screw-drivers, despit all the screws being tightened up by myself, it still shoots loose. This is akin to buying a car that needs maintenance every 100 miles, who'd think that was OK?

Stape · « **Reply #7 on:** March 01, 2010, 05:39:11 AM »

I'm not getting upset, and I appreciate the responses. I've never had to tighten up any of my model 94's. Is this just a Marlin thing?

Old Grizz · « **Reply #8 on:** March 01, 2010, 05:45:11 AM »

Quote from: Stape on March 01, 2010, 05:39:11 AM

I'm not getting upset, and I appreciate the responses. I've never had to tighten up any of my model 94's. Is this just a Marlin thing?

Your wrong about that, It's not just a Marlin thing it's any levergun. I have had Winchesters, Puma, Marlins , Brownings, Savages and Henrys over the years and not one that I have shot after time didn't need to be tighened.

Joe S. · « **Reply #9 on:** March 01, 2010, 05:50:22 AM »

I cant speak from much experience, but i have put a lot of rounds thru a 336 30/30 and never really had a problem with screws loosening... maybe i got lucky with the ones i have had... i just figured it was an 1894 thing...

that said, i love my leverguns so much, that a little screw tightening here and there dont bother me...

Oldshooter · « **Reply #10 on:** March 01, 2010, 06:02:16 AM »

I may be the exception, cause my 35 remington and my new 44 mag have had nothing come loose, now the 44 has not been shot but 2 or 3 hundred times, but the 35 is older and has been pit through its paces!

I'm wondering if they were shot while loose maybe they have worn the threads so as to make em work loose easily?

Stape · « **Reply #11 on:** March 01, 2010, 06:53:16 AM »

I hear what you guys are saying and I am OK with having to tighten screws every once in awhile, really I am. As it stands, I can't make it back to the house from the range without something missing! I can see every 300 or so rounds, not every 30. I wonder how the cowboys of past did it, out rustling cattle, fightin injuns, and sitting around the campfire at night with set of screw drivers to keep their rifles running, LOL, sorry, I'm being a smart ass, I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around having to stop every 20 or so rounds to check my rifle over. I called marlin, and got some more screws on the way. I'm gonna lock-tight every single screw on this thing and check it every 25 or so rounds. If something works loose, I'll sell it (keep your eyes open for a CHEAP 1894c) and get a Taurus thunderbolt 357 pump, I handled one a bit back and the fit/finish and blueing was beautiful. It makes me somewhat saddened that I am looking at replacing a Marlin with a Taurus.

Joe S. · « **Reply #12 on:** March 01, 2010, 08:05:57 AM »

i call dibs!

oh sorry... thats not cool of me...

i hope it works out for ya tho. really... keep us posted... well i guess you will.

Stape · « **Reply #13 on:** March 01, 2010, 08:37:35 AM »

Believe me, I want nothing more than this rifle to work. I can bust clays out to 135 with the irons shooting from the offhand, I love the 357 mag round and am an avid reloader/caster for it. The rifle carries well, is light and quick to the shoulder. I appreciate you guys letting me belly-ache and all, and I appreciate the info and advice, and again, I can understand tightening screws after some good use. I just feel that I shouldn't have to tighten it up before I hit the range every single time, and then during the day to see if everything is still there, something is wrong for that to be the case. So, i guess I'll put lock-tight on everything and hope for the best, what else can you do? Even so, I have grief with having to lock-tight a new rifle. Last time Marlin got me the parts in a day or so. I'll have the rifle out this weekend and run 200 or so through it, and if nothing falls out / apart, well I guess thats an improvement.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #14 on:** March 01, 2010, 08:46:06 AM »

GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEW SCREWS ! I for one would be equally as PO'd about what you are going through!

Gohon · « **Reply #15 on:** March 01, 2010, 05:58:00 PM »

When I said there was something about the recoil and 357............that didn't come out right. I'm not saying the 357 in and of itself will shoot loose because of the caliber. What one has to keep in mind is unlike a bolt or single shot, there are several exposed screws on a lever that have something riding on them that causes friction from pressure to sometimes back them out. It is not uncommon for me to shoot 100-200 rounds through the 357 at each sitting and without fail there are two screws that have a habit of working loose. Not falling out but loose and these are the screw that the lever rides on and the one just ahead of the safety which the lifter rides on. Combine recoil, couple hundred rounds cycled, rotating pressure action on some screws and it just seems the nature of the beast. I don't see this very often with my 45 Colt but then I seldom shoot more than a box at one sitting. Don't know why your barrel band screw would work loose but I have heard that the rear front sight screw is often to short with only one or two threads holding it in place and that has worked loose for some.

Stape · « **Reply #16 on:** March 01, 2010, 11:46:24 PM »

Yea, I dunno, I'll wait till I get my parts in and tighten everything up with lock-tight, see if thats get me one session without something falling out. Thanks Fellas

Old Grizz · « **Reply #17 on:** March 02, 2010, 12:09:58 AM »

If you loctite the screws that should cure the problem. One of my 45-70s has a tendency too loosen up after about 4 boxes of ammo and I hate it too. Some just seem to be worse than others but I don't know why. After all the years I have been into levers I have just accepted the fact that loosening of screws happens. Just be sure you use the correct loctite. My buddy uses his wifes fingernail polish and it seems to work.

Stape · « **Reply #18 on:** March 02, 2010, 02:21:02 AM »

I have the blue lock-tight on my bench, stuff is sticky. I can't think of any reason why I would want to take any of these screws out in the future, and if I did, not like I'm gooing them up with lock-tight and torqueing them down to the max.

Old Grizz · « **Reply #19 on:** March 02, 2010, 02:37:17 AM »

Quote from: Stape on March 02, 2010, 02:21:02 AM

I have the blue lock-tight on my bench, stuff is sticky. I can't think of any reason why I would want to take any of these screws out in the future, and if I did, not like I'm gooing them up with lock-tight and torqueing them down to the max.

Yea that's why my buddie likes his wifes fingernail polish. It's not gooy and the screws will come out if you need to remove them.

Gohon · « **Reply #20 on:** March 02, 2010, 02:46:58 AM »

Don't lock tight the lever screw. That's the beauty of the Marlin, just open the lever half way, remove the lever, pull the bolt out the rear, and pop out the ejector and you can clean the Marlin just like it was a bolt action. Just reverse the procedure putting it back together. Also easy to check for any leading that way by just pointing the barrel at a bright light and looking through the barrel from the rear.

amdak · « **Reply #21 on:** March 02, 2010, 02:56:43 AM »

I had a 1894 in 44mag.I never had anything come loose on mine.Guess i just got luckey with that one.

Catfish Tom · « **Reply #22 on:** March 04, 2010, 04:08:08 AM »

I've had my 94 in 45LC for 5-6 years. shoot it regularly in CAS with mostly black powder. Knock wood, i've not had this problem and personally haven't seen it at the range.

Puzzling, I'll keep rolin' it around in my lil' pea brain and if i come up with somethin' i'll letcha'll know. i really like mine so much, i'm lookin' for one for my wife in 357/38.

no, really i am. hope it works out.
PEACE
Catfish Tom...