Marlin 1894 .45 Colt stuck closed

changeagent · January 18, 2019, 04:48 PM

When I went to the range today I shot several rounds and then I shot one and the lever would not open. The trigger was stuck, the bolt was slightly out of battery and the lever stuck solid. Any suggestions? They were reloads. 300 grain XTP with 11 gr. of Longshot. I assume the case split or something like that. How do I get it out?

mehavey · January 18, 2019, 05:02 PM

Get a 3/8 dowel and push down hard into the (empty) case from the muzzle, while simultaneously opening the lever from the bottom.

Scorch · January 19, 2019, 03:30 PM

Cock the hammer and dry fire it. This may jar the locking lug loose. If not, try the rod down the muzzle trick (never use wooden dowels, they will cause other issues if they break in the bore).

mehavey · January 19, 2019, 04:31 PM

If one manages to actually break a hardwood dowel in a bore, one has disengaged
brain from hands while beating it to death using a heavy hammer.
You will find this to the case in every instance of stuck dowel.

I say again

Quote:

"...push down hard into the (empty) case from the muzzle. . . . "

and we're talking a cavernous .45 caliber bore here, not some puny 30 cal.

**44 AMP** · January 19, 2019, 05:06 PM

Alternately, put it in the freezer for a while then see if it will open after things have contracted a bit.

Another option is to soak it in some good penetrating oil, give it a day or two to work, then try it.

or, take it to a gunsmith, and let them get it open for you.

DO save the case for examination.

please let us know how it works out.

changeagent · January 19, 2019, 07:39 PM

Thanks for the replies. I will post a reply after the problem is resolved (if it is).

reynolds357 · January 19, 2019, 07:55 PM

Beat on it with a hammer. If that doesn't work, use a bigger hammer. No, but seriously, tap the receiver with a padded hammer. Preferably nylatron padded not dead blow.

Mobuck · January 20, 2019, 08:33 AM

"The trigger was stuck, the bolt was slightly out of battery and the lever stuck solid."

If "the bolt is slightly out of battery" for real, it sounds like you came close to wearing it as a dental implant.

Bowdog · January 20, 2019, 08:57 AM

Sounds like an out of battery discharge. I have see it in CAS shooting. Maybe a hot reload?

ThomasT · January 21, 2019, 01:47 PM

I just looked on the Hodgdon website and they don't even show a load for the 300gr bullet using Longshot powder. In the Hodgdon burn rate chart it shows Longshot to be slower than Blue Dot and just a little faster than 2400. Eleven grains sounds way over loaded for this powder and bullet combo. Where did you get your load data from?

https://www.hodgdon.com/wp-content/u...rate-color.pdf

I found this. Post #5 says a 10.5gr load with a 250gr bullet was "stout" so I am curious where your load data came from.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...hot-in-45-Colt

T. O'Heir · January 21, 2019, 02:11 PM

"...don't even show a load for the 300gr bullet using Longshot..." No .45 Colt data for Longshot at all, except for Ruger, Freedom Arms and TC handguns. However, 11 grains is .2 below minimum(not enough to matter) for a jacketed bullet. The load should not be the issue. More likely the innards have come loose.
"...bolt was slightly out of battery..." Probably not. It would have been far more, um, exciting if the bolt wasn't completely closed. Starting with a very noticeable flash of burning powder going past your chin.
"...If one manages to actually break a..." Doable, but a 3/8" dowel, that's soft wood, isn't likely to get jammed anyway. Too small diameter. I kinda doubt a dowel or brass rod or a mallet is going to help. I think it's need a disassembly.

mehavey · January 21, 2019, 03:08 PM

If you believe QuickLoad, that's a 26ksi load.
(but then QL admits it has a problem w/ straightwall cases)

ThomasT · January 21, 2019, 04:18 PM

Quote:

No .45 Colt data for Longshot at all, except for Ruger, Freedom Arms and TC handguns. However, 11 grains is .2 below minimum(not enough to matter) for a jacketed bullet. The load should not be the issue.

T.O Heir where did you find your load data from? I didn't find it it on the Hodgdon site. I don't have the newest Hodgdon manual I used to buy on the magazine rack at WM. I haven't seen one in a while. My 2204 manual has no Longshot loads for the 45 Colt.

HiBC · January 24, 2019, 04:08 PM

I don't own a Marlin and I seldom shoot lever guns.I might be all wet here.

Sequence of operation:

Lever pulls locking bars down clear of bolt Did we get that far? Probably.

Then the lever starts to pull the bolt to the rear.

There will likely be enough slack between the bolt face,rim,and extractors to permit the bolt to move .020 or .030 to the rear before the extractors on the rim of a stuck case stop the rearward motion of the bolt.

A lever gun have very little primary extraction power,unlike a bolt gun.

A proper hickory wood ramrod is made from a hickory split,meaning the grain integrity is essentially parallel and full length.

A lumberyard dowell has no grain integrity and very little hammer bumping can cause it to fail.When it does,two long tapers wedge the pieces stuck tight in the bore. Desperate moves such as penetrating oil help swell the wood. Better,just don't use a dowel in the bore.

If you have a 3/8 or so brass punch for drifting sights,odds are if you preload the extractors against the rim,and the rifle is vertical,butt on the floor,just dropping the punch down the bore will knock it free.

Next? Get a clean,straight length of 5/16 or 3/8 steel or brass rod and "escalate" a bit.

DO establish that it is not the hammer or other internal parts preventing the bolt from moving to the rear. Beating the bolt to the rear when the hammer/sear are at half cock,for example,would be destructive.

And I suggest you might pull the screws out of the tube mag plug ,pull the spring and follower,and clear out any ammo.

You also might use a cleaning rod to measure the muzzle to breech like an oil dipstick to verify its empty brass in the chamber.

January 18, 2019, 04:48 PM	#1
changeagent Junior Member Join Date: January 18, 2019 Posts: 2	Marlin 1894 .45 Colt stuck closed When I went to the range today I shot several rounds and then I shot one and the lever would not open. The trigger was stuck, the bolt was slightly out of battery and the lever stuck solid. Any suggestions? They were reloads. 300 grain XTP with 11 gr. of Longshot. I assume the case split or something like that. How do I get it out?

January 19, 2019, 03:30 PM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Cock the hammer and dry fire it. This may jar the locking lug loose. If not, try the rod down the muzzle trick (never use wooden dowels, they will cause other issues if they break in the bore). __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

January 21, 2019, 01:47 PM	#10
ThomasT Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 2,753	I just looked on the Hodgdon website and they don't even show a load for the 300gr bullet using Longshot powder. In the Hodgdon burn rate chart it shows Longshot to be slower than Blue Dot and just a little faster than 2400. Eleven grains sounds way over loaded for this powder and bullet combo. Where did you get your load data from? https://www.hodgdon.com/wp-content/u...rate-color.pdf I found this. Post #5 says a 10.5gr load with a 250gr bullet was "stout" so I am curious where your load data came from. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...hot-in-45-Colt Last edited by ThomasT; January 21, 2019 at 01:59 PM.

January 21, 2019, 02:11 PM	#11
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...don't even show a load for the 300gr bullet using Longshot..." No .45 Colt data for Longshot at all, except for Ruger, Freedom Arms and TC handguns. However, 11 grains is .2 below minimum(not enough to matter) for a jacketed bullet. The load should not be the issue. More likely the innards have come loose. "...bolt was slightly out of battery..." Probably not. It would have been far more, um, exciting if the bolt wasn't completely closed. Starting with a very noticeable flash of burning powder going past your chin. "...If one manages to actually break a..." Doable, but a 3/8" dowel, that's soft wood, isn't likely to get jammed anyway. Too small diameter. I kinda doubt a dowel or brass rod or a mallet is going to help. I think it's need a disassembly. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

January 18, 2019, 05:02 PM	#2
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,896	Get a 3/8 dowel and push down hard into the (empty) case from the muzzle, while simultaneously opening the lever from the bottom.

January 19, 2019, 05:06 PM	#5
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,845	Alternately, put it in the freezer for a while then see if it will open after things have contracted a bit. Another option is to soak it in some good penetrating oil, give it a day or two to work, then try it. or, take it to a gunsmith, and let them get it open for you. DO save the case for examination. please let us know how it works out. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 19, 2019, 07:39 PM	#6
changeagent Junior Member Join Date: January 18, 2019 Posts: 2	Thanks for the replies. I will post a reply after the problem is resolved (if it is).

January 19, 2019, 07:55 PM	#7
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Beat on it with a hammer. If that doesn't work, use a bigger hammer. No, but seriously, tap the receiver with a padded hammer. Preferably nylatron padded not dead blow.

January 20, 2019, 08:33 AM	#8
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	"The trigger was stuck, the bolt was slightly out of battery and the lever stuck solid." If "the bolt is slightly out of battery" for real, it sounds like you came close to wearing it as a dental implant.

January 20, 2019, 08:57 AM	#9
Bowdog Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2010 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 112	Sounds like an out of battery discharge. I have see it in CAS shooting. Maybe a hot reload?

January 21, 2019, 03:08 PM	#12
mehavey Senior Member Join Date: June 17, 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,896	If you believe QuickLoad, that's a 26ksi load. (but then QL admits it has a problem w/ straightwall cases)

January 24, 2019, 04:08 PM	#14
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,288	I don't own a Marlin and I seldom shoot lever guns.I might be all wet here. Sequence of operation: Lever pulls locking bars down clear of bolt Did we get that far? Probably. Then the lever starts to pull the bolt to the rear. There will likely be enough slack between the bolt face,rim,and extractors to permit the bolt to move .020 or .030 to the rear before the extractors on the rim of a stuck case stop the rearward motion of the bolt. A lever gun have very little primary extraction power,unlike a bolt gun. A proper hickory wood ramrod is made from a hickory split,meaning the grain integrity is essentially parallel and full length. A lumberyard dowell has no grain integrity and very little hammer bumping can cause it to fail.When it does,two long tapers wedge the pieces stuck tight in the bore. Desperate moves such as penetrating oil help swell the wood. Better,just don't use a dowel in the bore. If you have a 3/8 or so brass punch for drifting sights,odds are if you preload the extractors against the rim,and the rifle is vertical,butt on the floor,just dropping the punch down the bore will knock it free. Next? Get a clean,straight length of 5/16 or 3/8 steel or brass rod and "escalate" a bit. DO establish that it is not the hammer or other internal parts preventing the bolt from moving to the rear. Beating the bolt to the rear when the hammer/sear are at half cock,for example,would be destructive. And I suggest you might pull the screws out of the tube mag plug ,pull the spring and follower,and clear out any ammo. You also might use a cleaning rod to measure the muzzle to breech like an oil dipstick to verify its empty brass in the chamber.