Had the same thing with my 444P. A tap with a centre punch on the flat side was all it took to snug it up. I say tighten.
Another quick question......I just got done detail stripping a 1895M I got off Gunbroker. Before I tore it down, I noticed the mag tube attachment stud would slide back and forth in it's dovetail rather easily. Now that I have it apart, this would be the time to tighten the dovetail up and snug up that stud.
What say y'all?? Tighten the dovetail or leave it loose?
Thanks!
Had the same thing with my 444P. A tap with a centre punch on the flat side was all it took to snug it up. I say tighten.
If you don't want to punch dimples on the dovetail you can use Green Loctite in it. Green is oil resistant but still can be removed with a little heat. Do not use Red Loctite on this----this one is like using epoxy glue---will be very hard to remove.
My 336 XLR came that way. Less "pull" on the barrel. Some say it contributes to accuracy. I left it loose.....Doesn't hurt a thing.
Smith & Wesson The Handgun Of Choice!
Revolvers Rule.
Been there done that. I would not mess with the dovetail on the barrel but would tighten up the magazine stud. Usually 1-2 punches will give it enough to go in with a perfect friction fit.
Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.
.
I intentionally leave my magazine dovetails loose, if not loose I make them loose, it aids accuracy. Both studs (mag and fore end) will fall out when disassembling the rifle. Why would you want them tight, they cannot fall out. Several changes will make a Marlin 336 more accurate, that's one of them.
Yep, leave it.
As far as loctite goes, green is usually permanent. I use green loctite sleeve retainer on flat head cylinder liners.
Team 1894 -Mash Here - Team 32 Special - Mash Here
Team 450 Marlin - - Mash Here
Teams 1894, 45-70, 35, 444, 30-30, 32Spl, Win, Wheelguns & Bangin' Blackhawks
Leave it loose. You will have better accuracy, especially once that barrel starts heating up.
Andrew
The Gene Pool is in need of a lot of Chlorine!
Better yet, drain the entire pool!
On my 45/70 eventually the two dovetails holding the mag tube to the barrel loosened up. One dovetail retained the forend tip and the other the magazine stud. I tried peening over the dovetails and then applying epoxy but that didn't hold them for long. Eventually I had both parts silver soldered to the dovetails and nothing has moved since. If everything is lined up properly before silver soldering accuracy should be fine. The accuracy of mine is unchanged.
Loose stud = non-issue.
BB
444 - Member# 638
45-70 - Member# 1296
375 WIN - Member# 4
35 Rem - Member# 578
Please forgive me, I bought a Remlin and I like it.