[Pipercub]

Hi,
I just picked up a Marlin 444s in a swap and got a pretty fair deal because it has some feeding problems. When attempting to feed the round it comes out of the magazine tube ok and then when the round is up and the bolt back it has trouble lining up- it is sitting just a bit too high to go into the chamber and jams when the bolt is less than a quarter of the way forward. It does seem to sit even and not at much of an angle. It did feed sometimes, but scratched the round when it did. I took the rifle apart and noticed some nicks and burrs on the cartridge leveler and buffed these out- now it rarely loads correctly and almost always jams. The shells get scratched up pretty good when it does manage to load and there are some nicks around the bullet. I am thinking that the cartridge leveler was already worn and was not allowing for the cartridge to drop to level when the bolt came forward- and buffing it out made the problem worse. I am just wondering if anyone has any idea of something else it might be. If anyone knows how I might try to repair this I am all ears. Also, the screw which holds the carrier in also seems to loosen after cycling the action awhile- but I am not sure that is related to the feeding problem. I am sure the feeding problem is probably an easy fix, but I am not sure how to go about it. Is it the leveler, the whole carrier, or something else? I would be much obliged for any help.
Thanks,
JB

 

[Leverdude]

Its real hard to diagnose these things over the internet. The leveler isn't even used on current 444's so I'm not sure exactly how important it really is. That said mine does have one & it performs fine. Does your leveler not line the round up?
You might try driving the pis out & trying it without the leveler on there. Or you might try a new 444 lifter if you can find one.

 

[Pipercub]

The leveler seems like it wants to line the round up, but is lifting the round too high to feed properly. I will try to knock out the pins and remove the leveler. Is the new style carrier for the 444s the same, just without the cartridge leveler? If this does not work I will try to find a new leveler, and maybe a new carrier assembly if all else fails. I am not looking forward to having a single shot, so I will try everything reasonable.
JB