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?

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?

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.

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

.....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.

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

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...

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

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 -

 

 

 

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?

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.

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." 

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