Steel magazine follower for a Rossi Rio Grande in .30-30 WCF

[pricedo]

I noticed that the magazine follower in my Rossi Rio Grande in .30-30 WCF is made of plastic.

It's just a matter of time before the plastic follower will hang-up, dissolve or fall apart.

The Rio Grande is a Marlin 336 clone so I am presuming (perhaps incorrectly) that a metal magazine follower for a 336 in .30-30 WCF will work in the Rossi.

Anybody know where I can get a metal magazine follower for my Rossi Rio Grande in .30-30 WCF?

[J Miller]

I'd remove it, measure it then email Nate Kiowa Jones and ask him how close it is to those he sells.

IIRC, Brownells also sells stainless ones.

Plastic in guns is junk, junk, junk, and in case I didn't make myself clear, JUNK.

JMHO

Joe

[pricedo]

I'd remove it, measure it then email Nate Kiowa Jones and ask him how close it is to those he sells.

IIRC, Brownells also sells stainless ones.

Plastic in guns is junk, junk, junk, and in case I didn't make myself clear, JUNK.

JMHO

Joe

Good advice, I'll do it.

I've already emailed Nate about it but I'm not holding my breath.

I sometimes have the feeling that between running the shop and competing in the cowboy matches he gets time to check his email about twice a year.

By the way the mag followers in the Marlin leverguns have been made of plastic for 3 or 4 years now.

It's amazing how many Marlin buffs don't know that.

[J Miller]

Actually Marlin was using them in '05 and maybe sooner. My 2005 vintage 1894 Cowboy had an orange plastic follower in it. That was the first thing I changed out. I bought a stainless one from Brownells. At the time they had them for the 336s as well.

Well, I just checked Brownells. They don't show the stainless ones any more, only aluminum ones from Wild West and plastic ones from Marlin. The Wild West ones don't show the 336 either.

Joe

[pricedo]

I took the spring & follower out of my Rossi Rio Grande in .30-30 WCF to both clean the inside of the magazine tube & take a look at & measure the cheap plastic follower.

I noticed that the follower looked remarkably similar in shape & size to the stainless steel follower I got from Steve's Gunz for my Rossi 92 in .454 Casull.

I just happened to have a spare stainless steel .454 Casull follower.

I got out the calipers & both the Rio Grande follower & the .454 follower measured a "nose" diameter of 0.515" and a "skirt" diameter of 0.545".

There was a small difference in the height of the 2 followers which I figure doesn't matter.

I popped the metal .454 follower into the magazine tube of the Rio Grande & everything is working smoother than it was before.

The rifle cycles .30-30 Hornady LeverRevolution FTX pointed ammo like a dream.

Incidentally, some Marlin leverguns & Winchester 94s made after the mid 90's are having trouble with the Hornady LeveRevolution FTX ammo.

I've heard that the Hornady LeverRevolution FTX pointed ammo jammed up in a couple of model 94s magazine tubes so solid the guns had to be disassembled to remove it.

The acid test is whether my Rossi Rio Grande will function consistently when the rifle is firing & under recoil.

Recoil sometimes brings unforeseen problems to light when things that "don't quite fit" jam.

The recoil of the .30-30 WCF is insignificant in a 7.5 pound rig (gun & scope) so I'm not expecting any problems.

[J Miller]

Now that you have that problem sorted out you need to pick up an extra follower.

I understand the idea of the bright red followers. To some folks it helps them tell the magazine is empty. But plastic in a high stress area, where it's exposed to heat and chemicals???
That I do not understand.

If you'll do a search on my posts a year or so ago I tried an experiment with the one that came out of my Marlin. I measured it first, then soaked it in Hoppe's #9 measuring occasionally. It actually swelled up and softened a bit. I'm on the old Win 98 box so I don't have the link handy. That proved to me that these plastic followers are as I said above; junk. And I will not allow one to remain in a rifle I own.

Joe

[pricedo]

Now that you have that problem sorted out you need to pick up an extra follower.

I understand the idea of the bright red followers. To some folks it helps them tell the magazine is empty. But plastic in a high stress area, where it's exposed to heat and chemicals???
That I do not understand.

If you'll do a search on my posts a year or so ago I tried an experiment with the one that came out of my Marlin. I measured it first, then soaked it in Hoppe's #9 measuring occasionally. It actually swelled up and softened a bit. I'm on the old Win 98 box so I don't have the link handy. That proved to me that these plastic followers are as I said above; junk. And I will not allow one to remain in a rifle I own.

Joe

I have an extra follower.

There's one of Steve's Gunz stainless steel followers in my Rossi 92 in .454 Casull, an identical one in my Rio Grande in .30-30 WCF and a spare in the parts drawer.

My 2 Rossi 92s in .357 Mag & .44 Mag also have their own stainless steel followers obtained from Steve's Gunz.

Not one of the guns has hung up, jammed or missed a stroke.

I don't trust those plastic followers to stand up over the long haul especially in the presence of oil & solvents. The plastic follower that came in my Rio Grande was already soft & deformed and I've only had the gun a matter of days.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Now that you have that problem sorted out you need to pick up an extra follower.

I understand the idea of the bright red followers. To some folks it helps them tell the magazine is empty. But plastic in a high stress area, where it's exposed to heat and chemicals???
That I do not understand.

If you'll do a search on my posts a year or so ago I tried an experiment with the one that came out of my Marlin. I measured it first, then soaked it in Hoppe's #9 measuring occasionally. It actually swelled up and softened a bit. I'm on the old Win 98 box so I don't have the link handy. That proved to me that these plastic followers are as I said above; junk. And I will not allow one to remain in a rifle I own.

Joe

I have an extra follower.

There's one of Steve's Gunz stainless steel followers in my Rossi 92 in .454 Casull, an identical one in my Rio Grande in .30-30 WCF and a spare in the parts drawer.

My 2 Rossi 92s in .357 Mag & .44 Mag also have their own stainless steel followers obtained from Steve's Gunz.

Not one of the guns has hung up, jammed or missed a stroke.

I don't trust those plastic followers to stand up over the long haul especially in the presence of oil & solvents. The plastic follower that came in my Rio Grande was already soft & deformed and I've only had the gun a matter of days.

Sorry for the delay getting back here. I wish I could say I was out shooting but I'm still dealing with the medical stuff driving to Houston regularly for test and all and I didn't have one of the RG's here (Rio Grande) to check the fit.
Doug, you said you used one of my 454 followers in the 30-30 RG? The reason I ask is I tried it in a 30-30 RG that came today and it protrudes into the receiver too much. The better choice is my 44/45 follower. It measures within a few thousands the same as the 30-30 RG follower.
But, it's way too small (OD) for the 45-70 RG.

[Leverdude]

Actually Marlin was using them in '05 and maybe sooner. My 2005 vintage 1894 Cowboy had an orange plastic follower in it. That was the first thing I changed out. I bought a stainless one from Brownells. At the time they had them for the 336s as well.

Well, I just checked Brownells. They don't show the stainless ones any more, only aluminum ones from Wild West and plastic ones from Marlin. The Wild West ones don't show the 336 either.

Joe

My 98 Guide gun had one. I swapped it out for a stainless one I stumbled on but wouldnt really sweat it much. It bugs me when I think about it but I'v never had one fail.

[Leverdude]

I took the spring & follower out of my Rossi Rio Grande in .30-30 WCF to both clean the inside of the magazine tube & take a look at & measure the cheap plastic follower.

I noticed that the follower looked remarkably similar in shape & size to the stainless steel follower I got from Steve's Gunz for my Rossi 92 in .454 Casull.

I just happened to have a spare stainless steel .454 Casull follower.

I got out the calipers & both the Rio Grande follower & the .454 follower measured a "nose" diameter of 0.515" and a "skirt" diameter of 0.545".

There was a small difference in the height of the 2 followers which I figure doesn't matter.

I popped the metal .454 follower into the magazine tube of the Rio Grande & everything is working smoother than it was before.

The rifle cycles .30-30 Hornady LeverRevolution FTX pointed ammo like a dream.

Incidentally, some Marlin leverguns & Winchester 94s made after the mid 90's are having trouble with the Hornady LeveRevolution FTX ammo.

I've heard that the Hornady LeverRevolution FTX pointed ammo jammed up in a couple of model 94s magazine tubes so solid the guns had to be disassembled to remove it.

The acid test is whether my Rossi Rio Grande will function consistently when the rifle is firing & under recoil.

Recoil sometimes brings unforeseen problems to light when things that "don't quite fit" jam.

The recoil of the .30-30 WCF is insignificant in a 7.5 pound rig (gun & scope) so I'm not expecting any problems.

Does it hold the lifter up for the last round? The height, above the skirt or shoulder, is important in the Marlin & I assume the Rio Grande. It holds the lifter up as the bolt pushes the round in. Too short & the lifter will drop & too long the lifter will get stuck under it.

[pricedo]

I've put all 6 Hornady PSP LeverRevolution rounds up the spout in my Rossi Rio Grande in .30-30 WCF and cycled each & every one through the action.

I've done likewise with 6 WW Power Point RN rounds and 6 REM Core-Lokt rounds and they cycled flawlessly with the Steve's Gunz .454 Casull magazine follower installed.

I don't know what's holding whatever up but I know the dadburn gun is working and one of my cardinal life rules is that I don't mess with "working" OR "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

Maybe the gun doesn't know it's not supposed to be working but that's fine with me as long as it keeps doing what it's supposed to be doing.

[pricedo]

I have a couple of Steve's 44/45 followers & will pop one in & try it but the follower designed for the .454 Casull IS doing the job.

I know it's the wrong follower & Steve knows it's the wrong follower but THE GUN doesn't seem to care & just to be obstinate & have the last word WORKS ANYWAY.

Gotta luv things that insist on working.

[pricedo]

Now that you have that problem sorted out you need to pick up an extra follower.

I understand the idea of the bright red followers. To some folks it helps them tell the magazine is empty. But plastic in a high stress area, where it's exposed to heat and chemicals???
That I do not understand.

If you'll do a search on my posts a year or so ago I tried an experiment with the one that came out of my Marlin. I measured it first, then soaked it in Hoppe's #9 measuring occasionally. It actually swelled up and softened a bit. I'm on the old Win 98 box so I don't have the link handy. That proved to me that these plastic followers are as I said above; junk. And I will not allow one to remain in a rifle I own.

Joe

I have an extra follower.

There's one of Steve's Gunz stainless steel followers in my Rossi 92 in .454 Casull, an identical one in my Rio Grande in .30-30 WCF and a spare in the parts drawer.

My 2 Rossi 92s in .357 Mag & .44 Mag also have their own stainless steel followers obtained from Steve's Gunz.

Not one of the guns has hung up, jammed or missed a stroke.

I don't trust those plastic followers to stand up over the long haul especially in the presence of oil & solvents. The plastic follower that came in my Rio Grande was already soft & deformed and I've only had the gun a matter of days.

Sorry for the delay getting back here. I wish I could say I was out shooting but I'm still dealing with the medical stuff driving to Houston regularly for test and all and I didn't have one of the RG's here (Rio Grande) to check the fit.
Doug, you said you used one of my 454 followers in the 30-30 RG? The reason I ask is I tried it in a 30-30 RG that came today and it protrudes into the receiver too much. The better choice is my 44/45 follower. It measures within a few thousands the same as the 30-30 RG follower.
But, it's way too small (OD) for the 45-70 RG.

STEVE:

Does your .44/45 follower have a short length "skirt" (the larger diameter ring near the opening of the "thimble") of a long skirt?

I have several of your magazine followers here at home:

Follower 1) Closed end diameter - 0.510", skirt diameter - 0.550", skirt height measured from the open end - 0.210"

Follower 2) Closed end diameter - 0.510", skirt diameter - 0.550", skirt height measured from the open end - 0.430"

They are both identical EXCEPT for the skirt height above the open end of the thimble.

Obviously Follower 1 with the short skirt that will extend further into the receiver.

It is Follower 2 with the high skirt that I am using in the Rossi Rio Grande in .30-30 WCF.

Perhaps I made a mistake and the follower I am using in the Rio Grande IS the 44/45 follower.

I've seen playpens at day care centers more organized than my spare part drawer.

If I made a mistake I will endeavor to correct it with the various people I have spoke/written to.

[Europian]

Hey everyone,

I emailed Steve just to be sure prior to ordering for my Rio Grande, and he said the 44/45 was the correct one. Since this thread is #2 on google when searcing for rossi rio grande + steve gunz I thought it'd be best to clear that up for future reference.

Thanks again to Steve for responding within a day!

[Leverdude]

If it works it works right? Kinda hard to argue with that.

[pricedo]

Hey everyone,

I emailed Steve just to be sure prior to ordering for my Rio Grande, and he said the 44/45 was the correct one. Since this thread is #2 on google when searcing for rossi rio grande + steve gunz I thought it'd be best to clear that up for future reference.

Thanks again to Steve for responding within a day!

Yup.........it's definitely Steve's stainless steel 44/45 follower that works in the .30-30 WCF Rio Grande.

It won't work in the .45-70 caliber Rio Grande though.

[1894c]

I'd remove it, measure it then email Nate Kiowa Jones and ask him how close it is to those he sells.

IIRC, Brownells also sells stainless ones.

Plastic in guns is junk, junk, junk, and in case I didn't make myself clear, JUNK.

JMHO

Joe

You're right...JUNK ... :)

[piller]

If the manufacturers think you need to have high visibility on the followers, they could just anodize some color to a metal follower and fix the problem, but that is probably too expensive and would make some million dollar a year executive miss out on a couple of hundred dollars on his million dollar annual bonus. There are some places that polymer or plastic can probably be used without any problems waiting to happen, but the magazine follower just on a levergun just isn't one of them.

[Leverdude]

Hey everyone,

I emailed Steve just to be sure prior to ordering for my Rio Grande, and he said the 44/45 was the correct one. Since this thread is #2 on google when searcing for rossi rio grande + steve gunz I thought it'd be best to clear that up for future reference.

Thanks again to Steve for responding within a day!

Yup.........it's definitely Steve's stainless steel 44/45 follower that works in the .30-30 WCF Rio Grande.

It won't work in the .45-70 caliber Rio Grande though.

Makes sense, a 44 Marlin follower will work in a 30/30. I thought the 92 & 86 followers were much different than the Marlin parts, but the thing I have & was told its an 86 45 cal follower may be something else.

[Leverdude]

If the manufacturers think you need to have high visibility on the followers, they could just anodize some color to a metal follower and fix the problem, but that is probably too expensive and would make some million dollar a year executive miss out on a couple of hundred dollars on his million dollar annual bonus. There are some places that polymer or plastic can probably be used without any problems waiting to happen, but the magazine follower just on a levergun just isn't one of them.

You hear of alot failing? I can only remember one documented with pictures. I like steel better too but a good plastic one will probably last a long while.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

If the manufacturers think you need to have high visibility on the followers, they could just anodize some color to a metal follower and fix the problem, but that is probably too expensive and would make some million dollar a year executive miss out on a couple of hundred dollars on his million dollar annual bonus. There are some places that polymer or plastic can probably be used without any problems waiting to happen, but the magazine follower just on a levergun just isn't one of them.

You hear of alot failing? I can only remember one documented with pictures. I like steel better too but a good plastic one will probably last a long while.

The one on the left came out of a high milage Marlin Cowboy 1894 CAS gun. The end was worn complete off. The one on the right, the skirt is warped.

[Leverdude]

Thanks Steve. I imagine you see alot of guns come thru, is this a common thing? I believe all mine save my 308MX are metal now, but I swap them just because I like metal better than plastic.

[Europian]

Ordered two Rossi 92' 44/45 followers for my Rio Grande. Now I have just have to wait for them to swim across the big pond

[pricedo]

Ordered two Rossi 92' 44/45 followers for my Rio Grande. Now I have just have to wait for them to swim across the big pond

If your Rio Grande is half as slick as mine you're in for a real treat.

That follower of Steve's works like a charm.

I have installed his SS magazine followers in my 3 Puma 92 and the Rio Grande.

[Europian]

It's my first lever gun, so I am approaching the subject with research, research and more research before I take any tools to the gun but for European prices, the gun is a huge bargain compared to anything you can get from Marlin.