One piece firing pin Marlin 94

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Scott Tschirhart
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One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

My Marlin 94 was obviously used for cowboy action shooting and someone really polished up the insides. It runs smooth as glass.

But I noticed tonight that it has a floating one-piece firing pin. Are there any downsides to this arrangement?
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JimT
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by JimT »

I set mine up that way and used it for years. People talk about it possibly firing out of battery but I ran it hard and fast and never had an issue.
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by AJMD429 »

.
I had the reverse. I had an 1889 in 32-20 that I inherited, and the tip of the firing pin was broken off. An ex-con who lived next door to me who had had government room and board for several years because he would file down washers from the hardware store to the right size and shape to use in laundromat change machines decided to help me out and he filed the front of the rear firing piece smooth and made a new front part out of some old scrap steel or some sort made the tip just the right shape to fit into the bolt face and I shot that gun for several years like that before I bought a replacement frying pin from Wisners... :D
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Pisgah
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by Pisgah »

Just my practice, but I m always a bit hesitant to remove safety devices that the manufacturer has included for decades. it was put there for a reason, not just giggles, it's still being put there, and it's removal provides only a small, essentially irrelevant advantage for gamers that has no purpose for the typical user. While i might be tempted to make the change to my rifle if I were a gamer who perceived the need, I would not sell a gun so modified until I had returned it to its original state -- unless the buyer were another gamer fully- informed of the change and its potential negative consequences.
Hawkins
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by Hawkins »

Hi Scott,

The Marlin 94 takes sort of a belt and suspenders approach to preventing out of battery discharges. One of the last things that happens as the lever closes is that the rear part of the two piece firing pin pivots in line with the front half. Until it's in line, the hammer can't contact it even if it falls. But, there is also the trigger block safety that has to be depressed by the lever before the trigger can be pulled. So the only way the two piece firing pin should help is if there is enough wear on the hammer/sear engagement that the hammer falls without the trigger being pulled, just before the lever is closed. Not at all saying it can't happen--Murphy and all that. But my wife shot a Marlin with a one piece firing pin for several years in cowboy matches, and so did several of our friends, and nobody had a problem.

The reason for the one piece is that you can then use a lighter mainspring and still get reliable ignition. The hammer doesn't have to fall as hard to push one piece, as it does to push the first piece that then pushes another piece. A lighter mainspring means it's easier (therefore faster) to work the action. So the mainspring has probably been replaced as well, and you'd need to put an original spring back in if you want to put in the two piece firing pin.

I have an original two piece assembly with the springs I'd be glad to mail to you if you'd like to try it. PM me if you're interested.

Hawkins
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marlinman93
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by marlinman93 »

Scott Tschirhart wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 9:14 pm My Marlin 94 was obviously used for cowboy action shooting and someone really polished up the insides. It runs smooth as glass.

But I noticed tonight that it has a floating one-piece firing pin. Are there any downsides to this arrangement?
They can indeed fire out of battery, but only if you pull the trigger before the lever is fully closed. The two piece is the "Marlin Safety" you see stamped on the top of old Marlin levers. The system LL Hepburn designed to drop the rear half of the firing pin out of alignment if the lever wasn't fully closed. It works, and I wouldn't change it myself.
But if you're careful to fully close the lever before pulling the trigger, then the one piece firing pin wont give any issues.
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JimT
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by JimT »

marlinman93 wrote: Thu Jan 13, 2022 10:14 am They can indeed fire out of battery, but only if you pull the trigger before the lever is fully closed.
As Hawkins said above, if the lever safety is left in the rifle there is no way to fire the rifle out of battery. Until the lever is fully closed and has depressed the lever safety, the trigger cannot be pulled. If the lever safety has been removed or altered, yes. Then the rifle could fire out of battery.
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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

The lever safety was gone as well. I got a new one from Numrich Arms and put it in last night. Funny thing is that I cannot figure out why it was removed in the first place. The gun is just as slick and the trigger was not affected in the least when I put that safety where it belonged. I know that I feel better having it in place.
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JimT
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by JimT »

Scott Tschirhart wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 10:24 am The lever safety was gone as well. I got a new one from Numrich Arms and put it in last night. Funny thing is that I cannot figure out why it was removed in the first place. The gun is just as slick and the trigger was not affected in the least when I put that safety where it belonged. I know that I feel better having it in place.
I removed all that stuff from my Marlin 32-20 because it was a 'race gun' ... strictly used for CAS. I wanted the gun to fire as fast as possible. It was unsafe for any other use. Did you happen to pick up my old Marlin? :D
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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

JimT wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 12:05 pm
Scott Tschirhart wrote: Mon Feb 28, 2022 10:24 am The lever safety was gone as well. I got a new one from Numrich Arms and put it in last night. Funny thing is that I cannot figure out why it was removed in the first place. The gun is just as slick and the trigger was not affected in the least when I put that safety where it belonged. I know that I feel better having it in place.
I removed all that stuff from my Marlin 32-20 because it was a 'race gun' ... strictly used for CAS. I wanted the gun to fire as fast as possible. It was unsafe for any other use. Did you happen to pick up my old Marlin? :D
Afraid not. This one is a .357 and I think it is my new saddle gun. It shoots 158 gr XTPs over 16.5 gr of H110 into very tiny groups.
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by buckeyeshooter »

I have a one piece stainless firing pin, happy trigger and lighter springs in my 1894 for CAS. It cycles smoother, has a light trigger pull and will fire any type of primer. I only use it for CAS these days, I use another for field use. I made these modifications 13 years ago and have had no issues.
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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

I don’t think I’ll change anything else.
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by Nate Kiowa Jones »

I install the one-piece firing pins for my customer upon request. BUT, I always caution folks, when cleaning the gun just remove the lever to get the bolt out. This allows the bolt to easily come out the rear. This allows cleaning of the bore from the breech. DO NOT remove the trigger plate/lower tang if it can be avoided. The locking bolt/lug can come out with it and it's too easy to forget to put it back in on re-assem. Everything will work just fine without the locking bolt/lug until you shoot it. Shooting a live round can slam the lever open at least but in can be much worse with serious injuries.
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Scott Tschirhart
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by Scott Tschirhart »

I had a member here gift me with the factory two piece firing pin parts. Would not take my money. We have some good folks here.
jnyork
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by jnyork »

Where does one obtain a one piece firing pin?
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JimT
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Re: One piece firing pin Marlin 94

Post by JimT »

jnyork wrote: Mon Mar 07, 2022 9:56 pm Where does one obtain a one piece firing pin?
There are a number of internet sites where they are advertised.
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