Marlin 1894 light primer strikes; cured, additional comment

[J Miller]

Some time back another member had some light primer strikes with his Marlin. I mentioned the troubles I'd had with my 1894 Cowboy and someone else mentioned reducing the tension on the rear firing pin to help reduce the misfires.

So today being bored and stuck indoors due to the rain I decided to fix the problem once and for all.

I pulled the bolt and took it apart. Reduced the bend in the little spring and put it back together. That made a big difference. But there was still some binding that would prevent the hammer from pushing the firing pin all the way forward when lowering it by hand. So I pulled the bolt again and using a small rounded file I went to work on the saddle of the locking bolt. File a bit, try it for fit. After about three ties I had it. When I lowered the hammer by hand it would push the firing pin all the way in every time.
But I also had a receiver full of metal particles. So I tore it all the way down to clean it.

While I was cleaning it I noticed that the flat on Clyde Ludwig safety replacement did not match up with the angles of the inside of the receiver. Just a couple of degrees of rotation would have made it fit much better. I was concerned that this might be interfering with the hammer fall, and sure enough there was a point of contact on both the hammer and the safety replacement. Due to the placement of the retaining ball detent hole I couldn't rotate the safety replacement. Out it came, into the vise and I got to work on the interfering area. With that edge knocked off I put it back in and locked it down.

Then I put the locking bolt in the vice and polished the saddle that pushes the rear firing pin up till it was smooth.

I gave it a final brush out and wipe down internally then reassembled it. The hammer fall sounds solid now, no binding.

To test it I took a 5-IN-1 blank case and primed it. Cycled it through the action and fired it. A good solid hit on the primer was my reward.

So now I got to go put some live ammo through it to see just how good my fixins are.

Joe

[Paladin]

Thanks for the post I will check mine when I get home.

[20cows]

Don'cha love to play with gun innards (when it comes out right)!!!

Good job!

[Ysabel Kid]

Don'cha love to play with gun innards (when it comes out right)!!!

Good job!

ONLY when it comes out right!

Joe - good for you! But... and you know someone was going to ask - where are the pictures?

[Andrew]

Don'cha love to play with gun innards (when it comes out right)!!!

Good job!

ONLY when it comes out right!

Um...yeah.

Good job Joe, I know most of us will be interested in the actuall performance of it now.

[J Miller]

Well, I've spent myself into the hole buying parts for my OM BH this month, so I'll have to wait till I sell more cylinder bags to get the range fees.
But when I do I plan on going to the outdoor range and seriously working with this rifle. Something I haven't done yet.

I will do a range report.

Joe

[salvo]

Good job Joe. I have never had a problem with my 1894 but it's worth checking it out when I get home too.
Like 20cows said its fun to play with the innards

[J Miller]

Scott,

I doubt you'll find any problems with yours. I think this one was just one of those was a bit tight and the fitter just missed it.

When I had it apart though I noticed all the filing on the carrier, the trigger block safety and the locking bolt. Someone went nuts with a file. Lots of filing. And some of the file marks look like is was made with a coarse mill bastard file.

Well, now just to see what it does on the range.

Joe

[J Miller]

I just found out an additional benefit to my fixing the firing pin problem. It has relieved some tension and binding on the locking bolt which has eased up the opening and closing of the action.

I ran some dummy rounds though the action tonight and it was much easier and smoother.

Love it.


Joe