lever action questions

[thug the bunny 0]

I recently got a Marlin 336 30-30 and a Rossi M92 .44 mag. I have put ~30 rounds through each and in becoming familiar with them, I have a few questions.

 

First, what are the purposes of the half-cock position?

 

Second, if I am hunting, can I load the chamber and then de-cock the hammer and let it rest on the pin? Would it still fire after re-cocking the hammer?

 

Third, the Marlin trigger has some free play forward of its firing position, in other words, if I push it forward, it 'wiggles'. None of my other guns do this, is this normal?

[WVisHome 0]

Half-cock is a safety. IIRC, it will not advance with just a trigger pull....you have to pull the hammer back slightly and pull the trigger before it will advance.

 

 

You shouldn't let the hammer rest fully decocked with a round in the chamber. An external strike to the hammer could cause a discharge. Yes, it would still fire after recocking the hammer.


Yes, that's normal on the Marlin. It almost "rattles", yes?

[djg0770 481]

Half-cock is a safety. IIRC, it will not advance with just a trigger pull....you have to pull the hammer back slightly and pull the trigger before it will advance.

 

 

You shouldn't let the hammer rest fully decocked with a round in the chamber. An external strike to the hammer could cause a discharge. Yes, it would still fire after recocking the hammer.

 

 

Yes, that's normal on the Marlin. It almost "rattles", yes?

 

+1

 

Half cock is for walking around in the woods with a round in the chamber - keeps the hammer from falling on the firing pin - just requires that you pull the hammer back to full cock before you take a shot.

 

Yes trigger free play - called marlin trigger flop - there's a fix for it on the Marlin forums though it works just fine the way it is.

[njJoniGuy 2,131]

MidwayUSA carries a 3rd party replacement to relieve the floppy trigger issue.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/259762/wild-west-guns-rifle-trigger-marlin-336-444-1894-1895-blue

[Fishpaw 17]

.....what are the purposes of the half-cock position?.........

 As stated its a safety. Also where the saying "Dont go off half cocked" comes from.

[jrfly3006 42]

Mine has the trigger fix installed.. No play at all now.. I must say one of my favorite guns..thinking about going pistol caliber for my next one

[thug the bunny 0]

Marlin trigger flop...interesting. It doesn't really bother me (yet) as long as it isn't broken.

 

Thanks for the answers, they are just as I guessed but I wanted to make sure...

[mikeyjones 88]

As stated its a safety. Also where the saying "Dont go off half cocked" comes from.

Actually that saying has roots back in the days of flintlock

[Parker 213]

The half-cock notch is for carrying should you have a live round in the chamber, or sitting on stand, etc. The trigger is two-piece by design so as to work in conjunction with the lever safety. So long as you have a crisp trigger I wouldn't worry about it.

 

The half-cock notch and full-cock notch for the sear are evident in these pictures -

 

 

 

[Sludog 0]

I have an Umberti lever and have not noticed a floppy trigger. Gun is super solid all around. Are any other lever action rifles subject to this besides Marlin?

[djg0770 481]

I have an Umberti lever and have not noticed a floppy trigger. Gun is super solid all around. Are any other lever action rifles subject to this besides Marlin?

 

Strictly a Marlin design issue I believe.

[Parker 213]

The Marlin trigger is two-piece. The Wild West trigger is two-piece as well in order to work in conjunction with the lever safety, only it uses a small spring for tension to eliminate that "flop." 

[Blueskybob 12]

I recently got a Marlin 336 30-30 and a Rossi M92 .44 mag. I have put ~30 rounds through each and in becoming familiar with them, I have a few questions.

 

First, what are the purposes of the half-cock position?

 

Second, if I am hunting, can I load the chamber and then de-cock the hammer and let it rest on the pin? Would it still fire after re-cocking the hammer?

 

Third, the Marlin trigger has some free play forward of its firing position, in other words, if I push it forward, it 'wiggles'. None of my other guns do this, is this normal?

 

 

Congrats!

 

Here is the link to a great forum for all your questions present and future!

 

http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/

 

 

Have Fun!

 

Bob