Marlin model 1895 45-70 feeding issue

One hole · April 13, 2017, 06:36 AM

I think this rifle was made around 1975 I picked it up around 1982 and its never fed very smooth but it seems to be getting worse! its not lifting the cartridge up straight enough and it will damage the case if I don't roll the rifle to the left and slowly work the lever closed.
Cant help but think this is a design flaw because a don't see any worn parts.
If anyone has a suggestion I would appreciate it.

NoSecondBest · April 13, 2017, 07:53 AM

Sounds illogical, but try racking the lever with a bit more force and faster. Many lever guns act up when cycled slowly. I've seen guns that wouldn't feed very well and simply doing it a bit faster and using a bit more force corrected the problem immediately. Your gun was built when they were making their best quality guns. There are lots of them out there with the same design and they function perfectly, so that rules out design. Good luck.

**4V50 Gary** · April 13, 2017, 08:11 AM

Marlin would have yanked it off the market or recalled it if it was a design flaw.

Without seeing it, I can't say. I know the lifter lifts only when the lever is pushed back up.

Are you using factory or handloaded ammunition?

When's the last time it was thoroughly disassembled and cleaned by a gunsmith?

Where are you at?

FrankenMauser · April 13, 2017, 11:45 AM

It's not a design flaw.

It's just worn out, out of time, or, as stated by NoSecondBest, not being cycled fast enough. (Sounds a bit dumb, but it's very true that many factory lever guns need to be run fast and with authority, or they bobble.)

The 1895 (essentially a 336 with extra clearance in a few places) is not a very complicated design, but there are enough parts interacting with each other for action timing that someone with experience working on Marlins needs to take a look at it.

That, or roll the dice and send it to Marlington for repair, and hope that you get a working rifle back. (Remington's reputation for Marlin repairs is not good, and they often opt to send out inferior new models.)

All of the following have an effect on, or are affected by timing, and screwing with one can impact the others:
Lever (in six different ways).
Carrier (three different ways).
Carrier toggle (two different ways - three if you count spring weight).
Breech bolt.
Locking bolt.
And the receiver, itself.

Scorch · April 13, 2017, 03:07 PM

Quote:

It's just worn out, out of time, or, as stated by NoSecondBest, not being cycled fast enough.

I will guess it's out of time. I have seen a lot of Marlin 1895s that would not feed properly, and it's usually a timing issue.

Minorcan · April 14, 2017, 03:21 PM

Sounds like it could be a lot of things but it may be easy to eliminate some. Are all the screws able to be loosened? Check and see. If one started out loose it could be an issue. I had a 1895 and the lifter screw was loose. Tightened it up and things started working again ... LOL

Check to see if the extractor is binding slowing things up, a few drops of oil will help. Unscrew the screw in the lever and remove it, the bolt will slide right out or it should. this will give you more room to look around. Good Luck

g.willikers · April 14, 2017, 03:33 PM

When my Marlin acts up it's often the screw for the loading gate has loosened, and let the gate sag inward causing interference.

Gunplummer · April 14, 2017, 03:47 PM

^^^
My guess too. Pretty common.

FrankenMauser · April 14, 2017, 07:33 PM

Usually a loose loading gate screw causes a jam, rather than minor feeding issues.
Plus... tilting the rifle on its left side should make the situation worse, rather than allowing feeding as the OP described.

I believe he's experiencing a carrier that's not lifting fully - likely caused by a bent carrier or worn/broken rocker.

g.willikers · April 15, 2017, 07:46 AM

Well then, how about overall cartridge length being a possibility.
Too long of one causes havoc on mine sometimes.
Both reloads and factory rounds with enough of a longer bullet seem to result in hangups that can often be freed up by what is described:
By rolling the rifle to the left and wiggling back and forth to clear the round from the mag tube.
Just another thought.

**4V50 Gary** · April 15, 2017, 08:08 AM

I dislike trying to diagnose an issue without personally seeing the firearm. First there is a communication issue and in any of these threads we assume the person is asking the right question or making the right observation to report to us. Second, they could be withholding information that is crucial to the resolution (had that happen). Third, when the original asker of the question fails to respond to inquiries, why bother?

g.willikers · April 15, 2017, 08:19 AM

Quite often the originator of a post isn't ignoring the replies, but rather is still there reading and digesting.
Discounting them because they aren't responding often might be premature.

NoSecondBest · April 15, 2017, 08:26 AM

Quote:

I dislike trying to diagnose an issue without personally seeing the firearm. First there is a communication issue and in any of these threads we assume the person is asking the right question or making the right observation to report to us. Second, they could be withholding information that is crucial to the resolution (had that happen). Third, when the original asker of the question fails to respond to inquiries, why bother?

He's reading and trying to figure it out. It's not easy doing this on-line when you're trying to explain something and you're not technically versed or a gunsmith. The OP sent me a PM early on and my info didn't seem to help. I'm not offended and I hope he gets his problem resolved. Let's see how it goes.
Onehole: Let us know how this ends up regardless of where you get the answer. We can all learn something here. Good luck with it.

April 13, 2017, 06:36 AM	#1
One hole Junior Member Join Date: January 14, 2017 Posts: 10	Marlin model 1895 45-70 feeding issue I think this rifle was made around 1975 I picked it up around 1982 and its never fed very smooth but it seems to be getting worse! its not lifting the cartridge up straight enough and it will damage the case if I don't roll the rifle to the left and slowly work the lever closed. Cant help but think this is a design flaw because a don't see any worn parts. If anyone has a suggestion I would appreciate it.

April 13, 2017, 08:11 AM	#3
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	I doubt if it's a design flaw Marlin would have yanked it off the market or recalled it if it was a design flaw. Without seeing it, I can't say. I know the lifter lifts only when the lever is pushed back up. Are you using factory or handloaded ammunition? When's the last time it was thoroughly disassembled and cleaned by a gunsmith? Where are you at? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

April 13, 2017, 11:45 AM	#4
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	It's not a design flaw. It's just worn out, out of time, or, as stated by NoSecondBest, not being cycled fast enough. (Sounds a bit dumb, but it's very true that many factory lever guns need to be run fast and with authority, or they bobble.) The 1895 (essentially a 336 with extra clearance in a few places) is not a very complicated design, but there are enough parts interacting with each other for action timing that someone with experience working on Marlins needs to take a look at it. That, or roll the dice and send it to Marlington for repair, and hope that you get a working rifle back. (Remington's reputation for Marlin repairs is not good, and they often opt to send out inferior new models.) All of the following have an effect on, or are affected by timing, and screwing with one can impact the others: Lever (in six different ways). Carrier (three different ways). Carrier toggle (two different ways - three if you count spring weight). Breech bolt. Locking bolt. And the receiver, itself. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

April 14, 2017, 03:33 PM	#7
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	When my Marlin acts up it's often the screw for the loading gate has loosened, and let the gate sag inward causing interference. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

April 14, 2017, 07:33 PM	#9
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Usually a loose loading gate screw causes a jam, rather than minor feeding issues. Plus... tilting the rifle on its left side should make the situation worse, rather than allowing feeding as the OP described. I believe he's experiencing a carrier that's not lifting fully - likely caused by a bent carrier or worn/broken rocker. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

April 13, 2017, 07:53 AM	#2
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	Sounds illogical, but try racking the lever with a bit more force and faster. Many lever guns act up when cycled slowly. I've seen guns that wouldn't feed very well and simply doing it a bit faster and using a bit more force corrected the problem immediately. Your gun was built when they were making their best quality guns. There are lots of them out there with the same design and they function perfectly, so that rules out design. Good luck.

April 14, 2017, 03:21 PM	#6
Minorcan Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2015 Posts: 379	Sounds like it could be a lot of things but it may be easy to eliminate some. Are all the screws able to be loosened? Check and see. If one started out loose it could be an issue. I had a 1895 and the lifter screw was loose. Tightened it up and things started working again ... LOL Check to see if the extractor is binding slowing things up, a few drops of oil will help. Unscrew the screw in the lever and remove it, the bolt will slide right out or it should. this will give you more room to look around. Good Luck

April 14, 2017, 03:47 PM	#8
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	^^^ My guess too. Pretty common.

April 15, 2017, 07:46 AM	#10
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Well then, how about overall cartridge length being a possibility. Too long of one causes havoc on mine sometimes. Both reloads and factory rounds with enough of a longer bullet seem to result in hangups that can often be freed up by what is described: By rolling the rifle to the left and wiggling back and forth to clear the round from the mag tube. Just another thought. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

April 15, 2017, 08:08 AM	#11
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	I dislike trying to diagnose an issue without personally seeing the firearm. First there is a communication issue and in any of these threads we assume the person is asking the right question or making the right observation to report to us. Second, they could be withholding information that is crucial to the resolution (had that happen). Third, when the original asker of the question fails to respond to inquiries, why bother? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

April 15, 2017, 08:19 AM	#12
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Quite often the originator of a post isn't ignoring the replies, but rather is still there reading and digesting. Discounting them because they aren't responding often might be premature. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”