gleninjersey 2,139 Posted November 11, 2020 Interesting. I know a lot of people weren't happy with the quality control of Marlins after Remington purchased them. I heard many of those issues were ironed out over the years. Maybe now that Ruger has purchased Marlin the concerns about quality of the new Marlin's versus older versions will fall to the way side? I'm sure Ruger will make improvmenets. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/09/30/long-live-lever-gun-ruger/ 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parker 213 Posted November 11, 2020 Ruger quality? A half century ago; yes. Today it's hit or miss. They stand behind their products for sure but I can only see the New Haven, CT Marlin's holding their value even more or going up in price. Then you have early Remlin's with gremlins vs. "we finally fixed the bugs" Remlin's in between the new Ruglin's. Let's hope the Ruglin's are a cut above in quality. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gleninjersey 2,139 Posted August 15, 2021 Marlinger? Marger? Sturmarlinger? Rugler? Should be shipping 4th quarter. All I want for Christmas is a Ruger lever action.... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
High Exposure 5,661 Posted August 15, 2021 2 minutes ago, gleninjersey said: All I want for Christmas is a Ruger lever action.... This 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillC. 26 Posted August 16, 2021 Marlin had quality problems long before Remington. Lots of hand fitting required due to loose manufacturing tolerance. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parker 213 Posted August 23, 2021 On 8/15/2021 at 7:41 PM, gleninjersey said: Marlinger? Marger? Sturmarlinger? Rugler? Should be shipping 4th quarter. All I want for Christmas is a Ruger lever action.... Old article but timely for this thread. It will be interesting to see what Ruger produces, and if they offer any additional chamberings. The Marlin 336: What Does the Future Hold for this Classic Lever Action? | Field & Stream (fieldandstream.com) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bklynracer 1,263 Posted August 25, 2021 Just asking. For a quality lever action wouldn't a Henry fit the bill better than the above Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin125 4,772 Posted August 26, 2021 I’m not very familiar with lever action rifles.....but F&S says these are the best ever made. Possibly a bit subjective, but they probably don’t suck. https://www.fieldandstream.com/greatest-lever-guns-ever/ Henry does top the list. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parker 213 Posted August 26, 2021 I know I’ll ruffle some feathers here but I raised my eyebrows when I read “quality lever action” and Henry in the same sentence. While Henry’s are good they are typical for what’s being produced in today’s times. I’ll pick the simplicity and sturdiness of an older "JM" Marlin or the more complicated Winchester over any modern Henry when it comes to a "cowboy-looking" levergun. I'm not a fan of Henry’s MIM parts, their need for that flimsy transfer safety bar, or that fragile two-piece firing pin. For something entirely different, find a Savage 99. Ahead of its time years ago, and in production for almost a century, it was chambered in more than a dozen modern centerfire cartridges over the years. Stout and accurate, its magazine first came with an internal rotary spool that could feed modern spitzer rounds. In later years Savage switched to a detachable box magazine. These are slowly disappearing as collectors snap them up and drive the prices up. Or if you're lucky, two others in the discontinued area are the old Sako Finnwolf or the becoming collectible Winchester 88 if you can find one. Want a more modern lever action that' still made, that’s a bit on the non-traditional side, then get a Browning BLR. Easily takes modern optics, comes in short and long actions and is chambered in modern standard and magnum cartridges. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grapeshot 301 Posted August 26, 2021 I'm a big fan of lever guns for hunting. My deer rifle is a Marlin 336 in .30-30, and for small game I have a Henry in .22. I'm not a huge fan of the cross-bolt safety on the Marlin but once you get used to it (and remember it's there!) it's fine. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parker 213 Posted August 27, 2021 16 hours ago, Grapeshot said: I'm a big fan of lever guns for hunting. My deer rifle is a Marlin 336 in .30-30, and for small game I have a Henry in .22. I'm not a huge fan of the cross-bolt safety on the Marlin but once you get used to it (and remember it's there!) it's fine. That crossbolt safety appeared around 1983. There are "delete" kits sold by Ranger Point Precision and a fellow in Wisconsin if you want to remove it from your Marlin. Replacement Kit for the Marlin Cross (leverguns.com) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gleninjersey 2,139 Posted August 28, 2021 On 8/26/2021 at 12:28 AM, Kevin125 said: I’m not very familiar with lever action rifles.....but F&S says these are the best ever made. Possibly a bit subjective, but they probably don’t suck. https://www.fieldandstream.com/greatest-lever-guns-ever/ Henry does top the list. You gotta get one. Similar to a pump shotgun there is just something about manually working the action. Classic lines. Not an "evil black rifle". Versatile, especially if you get one that shares same caliber as a revolver. And just all around cool. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Old_Hunter 28 Posted September 1, 2021 On 8/23/2021 at 4:06 PM, Parker said: Old article but timely for this thread. It will be interesting to see what Ruger produces, and if they offer any additional chamberings. The Marlin 336: What Does the Future Hold for this Classic Lever Action? | Field & Stream (fieldandstream.com) Updates from Ruger: https://1895gunner.com/news/9-01-21.html Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin125 4,772 Posted September 1, 2021 On 8/27/2021 at 9:35 PM, gleninjersey said: You gotta get one. Similar to a pump shotgun there is just something about manually working the action. Classic lines. Not an "evil black rifle". Versatile, especially if you get one that shares same caliber as a revolver. And just all around cool. Yeah, nice to have a piece of history. Some of the cartridges are pretty hefty. Not really long range, but I suppose they weren’t built for long range. Will have to check availability of ammo. Sadly, thats part of the decision process these days. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gleninjersey 2,139 Posted October 5, 2021 Audio interview with Ruger President / CEO about their forthcoming Marlin offerings Marlin 1895 SBL (stainless big loop) in 45-70 and 444 Marlin to be first released in December. Then the 336 in 30/30. Followed by the 1894 in 44 or 357 magnum! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_AHFat3yqE 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parker 213 Posted October 6, 2021 .444 Marlin is a cool but sometimes misunderstood round. It doesn't get the attention the .45-70 does. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FairbanksRusty 64 Posted October 21, 2021 It’s my understanding the first Marlin, an 1895, rolled off the assembly line in North Carolina today. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
High Exposure 5,661 Posted October 22, 2021 7 hours ago, FairbanksRusty said: It’s my understanding the first Marlin, an 1895, rolled off the assembly line in North Carolina today. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raz-0 1,259 Posted October 22, 2021 On 10/6/2021 at 3:31 PM, Parker said: .444 Marlin is a cool but sometimes misunderstood round. It doesn't get the attention the .45-70 does. It's a nice round hampered by a lack of bullets that work well with it. You have like two choices unless you both hand load and cast. given the guns are fairly simple, I expect that ruger may have some teething issues, but get it sorted out and make some quality guns. I wouldn't mind if another micro groove barrel was never made. They really don't have a reputation of shooting well with the heftier cartridges. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parker 213 Posted October 22, 2021 25 minutes ago, raz-0 said: It's a nice round hampered by a lack of bullets that work well with it. You have like two choices unless you both hand load and cast. given the guns are fairly simple, I expect that ruger may have some teething issues, but get it sorted out and make some quality guns. I wouldn't mind if another micro groove barrel was never made. They really don't have a reputation of shooting well with the heftier cartridges. True. It needs a better bullet selection. Maybe my .444 Mircogroove is an anomaly, but it will consistently group 265 gr. FP handloads into 1.5" for a 5-shot group @ 100 yds. 240 gr. lead swaged bullets would group into 1/2" @ 50 yds. with a reduced load of Blue Dot were also common. (And Microgroove barrels aren't supposed to shoot soft lead bullets well.) PS - I had to do a bit of load development to find these recipes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
raz-0 1,259 Posted October 22, 2021 3 minutes ago, Parker said: True. It needs a better bullet selection. Maybe my .444 Mircogroove is an anomaly, but it will consistently group 265 gr. FP handloads into 1.5" for a 5-shot group @ 100 yds. 240 gr. lead swaged bullets would group into 1/2" @ 50 yds. with a reduced load of Blue Dot were also common. (And Microgroove barrels aren't supposed to shoot soft lead bullets well.) PS - I had to do a bit of load development to find these recipes. Mostly speculation on my part, but given the shallow nature of the micro groove barrels, I suspect that some of the accuracy issue is leading up fast, and others come down to how used up the tooling was when your rifling was cut. That latter bit is also probably a function of how cheap marlin was being that week/month/year. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Displaced Texan 11,731 Posted October 22, 2021 Does this mean I need a lever gun now? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
10X 3,296 Posted October 22, 2021 5 hours ago, Displaced Texan said: Does this mean I need a lever gun now? I don’t think you can establish residency in Texas without showing proof of lever gun ownership. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Displaced Texan 11,731 Posted October 23, 2021 Damn it…..I guess I need a lever gun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
10X 3,296 Posted October 23, 2021 Happy to help 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scorpio64 5,147 Posted October 23, 2021 1 minute ago, Displaced Texan said: Damn it…..I guess I need a lever gun. Nah, you got those bitch'n AR pattern rifles. Not as cool as lever guns, but the ARs will do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parker 213 Posted October 23, 2021 21 hours ago, raz-0 said: Mostly speculation on my part, but given the shallow nature of the micro groove barrels, I suspect that some of the accuracy issue is leading up fast, and others come down to how used up the tooling was when your rifling was cut. That latter bit is also probably a function of how cheap marlin was being that week/month/year. My "newest" Microgroove-barreled Marlin is dated 1986, the oldest is from 1963. I've never experienced inaccuracy, fouling or leading in any of them. All seem to be made in a time when Marlin put together a decent gun. I have no Marlin's with Ballard style rifling, so can't compare. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JC_68Westy 1,024 Posted October 24, 2021 My newest Marlin is a 1979 1894 in 357 Mag. The oldest is a 1967 336. All of my Micro grooved barrels shoot jacketed bullets way better than lead. The 336 will shoot excellent groups using FTX bullets and Leverevolution powder. I shot it last week using 165gr MBC coated lead loads and W748 powder and the groups looked like I was patterning 00 buck. I also shot 150gr JSP bullets with the W748 powder and the groups were 1.5" @ 100yds. I have really struggled to get any real accuracy with Micro grooved barrels and lead. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FairbanksRusty 64 Posted December 21, 2021 Pictures of the new Rumlins are slowly popping up on the Internet and social media sites with positive comments. Gunsmith Phil Larocca has some pictures of the new 1895 on his Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/buffalodiller/?hl=en 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites