After 8 months my 39a has problems.

1867 Views 17 Replies 10 Participants Last post by 336SS, Apr 20, 2011

lesismore

Discussion Starter · Apr 18, 2011

Well, I had hoped I got a good one that would not fail to fire, fail to extract, or fail to eject. As I say in the topic line it is now 8 months since I bought it and aprox. 450 rounds down the tube. It has been kept clean and wiped down after shooting and I just did a thorough cleaning and oiling, cleaned the brass build up off the bolt face and the action. It is a 2009 sn. 913xxxxx North Haven, with a JM stamp on the left side of barrel. It was new,near perfect and a beautiful gun when I bought it last Aug. 2010. I was real happy, it worked real good at first, only a few fail to fire but always ejected the empties.

Today right off it had a FTF and the case rim had a fair dent but not real deep, then it failed to extract and I had to pry the unfired case out of the chamber, then it wouldn't fling the case out of the action. After several rounds and seeming to get worse I took it down and checked it over for anything causing it. Everything looks good and no build up on the bolt face or action. The bent wire extractor looks to only engage the rim at a corner and slips past. It doses cycle unfired rounds alright and I tried different brands. But I had been shooting the Winchesters before and all the other ammo brands without any problems.

Not only is it having these problems, I have put a couple of fair scratches across the receiver and bolt trying to remove stuck rounds.

I am sick from making a mess of my new 39a and wondering if to send it in to Marlin or take it to a gunsmith close by. :-\ I tried to touch up the bluing with Brownells dicropan T4 cold blue but it looks worse now than before. :'( Man this is really depressing and disappointing and embarrassing. :-[ Now I just want to cry. :'(

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Tomray

· #2 · Apr 18, 2011

lesismore said:
Well, I had hoped I got a good one that would not fail to fire, fail to extract, or fail to eject. As I say in the topic line it is now 8 months since I bought it and aprox. 450 rounds down the tube. It has been kept clean and wiped down after shooting and I just did a thorough cleaning and oiling, cleaned the brass build up off the bolt face and the action. It is a 2009 sn. 913xxxxx North Haven, with a JM stamp on the left side of barrel. It was new,near perfect and a beautiful gun when I bought it last Aug. 2010. I was real happy, it worked real good at first, only a few fail to fire but always ejected the empties.

Today right off it had a FTF and the case rim had a fair dent but not real deep, then it failed to extract and I had to pry the unfired case out of the chamber, then it wouldn't fling the case out of the action. After several rounds and seeming to get worse I took it down and checked it over for anything causing it. Everything looks good and no build up on the bolt face or action. The bent wire extractor looks to only engage the rim at a corner and slips past. It doses cycle unfired rounds alright and I tried different brands. But I had been shooting the Winchesters before and all the other ammo brands without any problems.

Not only is it having these problems, I have put a couple of fair scratches across the receiver and bolt trying to remove stuck rounds. I am sick from making a mess of my new 39a and wondering if to send it in to Marlin or take it to a gunsmith close by. :-\ I tried to touch up the bluing with Brownells dicropan T4 cold blue but it looks worse now than before. :'( Man this is really depressing and disappointing and embarrassing. :-[ Now I just want to cry. :'(

Les,
Sorry to hear of your problems. I'd suggest you send it back. It Is under warranty...........If you go to a local 'smith, you'll be dealing with unknown technical experience with regard to 39's and probably paying to boot.........Re the experience, I know Remington doesn't have much of that either, with 39's but at least they can't charge you, or say someone else messed it up, and reneg on the warranty.

Tom

stubbfarmer

· #3 · Apr 18, 2011

I know this may not sound like it would effect extraction but your problem showed up after take down and cleaning. It seems that the tension on the take down screw can have an effect on the way the rifle works. Try different tightness (tension) on the take down screw before going farther.

Catherine

· #4 · Apr 18, 2011

Les,

I am so sorry to hear about your problems with your Marlin.

I agree with what TOM said about sending it back to the factory. If they can't FIX it - they should make it right with you one way or the other.

MM had only one problem with one kind of ammunition in the NIB Marlin Golden 39A that I gave him... it was a type of Winchester ammo if memory serves me right. He got it out, cleaned his rifle and went back to ONLY using Federal bulk pack and American Eagle made by FEDERAL and has had NO problems since... shooting hundreds if not more of rounds in that rifle. She is a TACK driver.

MM has had to work extra hours and days recently and when he comes home from work IF he is not too tired... I will have him post here to help you.

I have shot far MORE rounds in my NIB Marlin Golden 39A than he has shot in his '39' and I ONLY use Federal bulk pack or American Eagle ammunition in mine.

I wish you the best! I think that TOM is correct about the warranty and sending it back to the factory.

Take care.

Catherine

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MontanaMan

· #5 · Apr 18, 2011

Les the ammo that I had trouble with was Winchester Super X 37 grain hp in the 100 round packs. My 39A has been perfect otherwise and I've had no problems since with it. I only use the Federal 550 round bulk pack or the American Eagle in it now and it is amazingly accurate. I've not had any extraction problems at all, the problem mine had was the standard "under the carrier" jam and only with the Winchester ammo.

Jesse

Halwg

· #6 · Apr 18, 2011

Doesn't it just burn your butt when you put a scratch in a new gun. Twice in my life I have had screwdrivers slip and but scratches in the receiver of a gun I was working on. It's frosted me, but I had nobody to blame but myself for being so careless. I have certainly learned over the years.

The only way to really get those out is to have the gun sandblasted and reblued. If it bothers you that much, invest the $150 or so and have it done. Otherwise you'll hate the gun from now on.

336SS

· #7 · Apr 18, 2011

lesismore said:
Well, I had hoped I got a good one that would not fail to fire, fail to extract, or fail to eject. As I say in the topic line it is now 8 months since I bought it and aprox. 450 rounds down the tube. It has been kept clean and wiped down after shooting and I just did a thorough cleaning and oiling, cleaned the brass build up off the bolt face and the action. It is a 2009 sn. 913xxxxx North Haven, with a JM stamp on the left side of barrel. It was new,near perfect and a beautiful gun when I bought it last Aug. 2010. I was real happy, it worked real good at first, only a few fail to fire but always ejected the empties.

Today right off it had a FTF and the case rim had a fair dent but not real deep, then it failed to extract and I had to pry the unfired case out of the chamber, then it wouldn't fling the case out of the action. After several rounds and seeming to get worse I took it down and checked it over for anything causing it. Everything looks good and no build up on the bolt face or action. The bent wire extractor looks to only engage the rim at a corner and slips past. It doses cycle unfired rounds alright and I tried different brands. But I had been shooting the Winchesters before and all the other ammo brands without any problems.

Not only is it having these problems, I have put a couple of fair scratches across the receiver and bolt trying to remove stuck rounds. I am sick from making a mess of my new 39a and wondering if to send it in to Marlin or take it to a gunsmith close by. :-\ I tried to touch up the bluing with Brownells dicropan T4 cold blue but it looks worse now than before. :'( Man this is really depressing and disappointing and embarrassing. :-[ Now I just want to cry. :'(

Hey Les,

Real Sorry to hear of your woe's,, but don't let it get you down ~ It's only a Gun,, and it can be fixed.

If you decide to send it in,, I personally would think about sending it in,, with Marlin's Approval to one of the Major Service Center's. I'm thinking that the Guy's there will have experience working on Marlin Lever Actions. And they should be able to address your scratch's as well.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Customersupport/repairs.asp#map

On the Ejection,, make sure that the 2 screw's located on the side of the Receiver aren't loose,, that hold the Ejector Base Assembly and apply tension to the Ejector Spring. You know many have installed the Wisner's Extractor. Can't tell you what to do about the Fail to Fire,, as Sniper 450 did a Mod on his to rectify that issue though. The Guy's at the Service Center should be able to that mod as well if they know their GunSmithing.

In the mean time,, and I'm not saying this in a Derogatory Manner. Go buy yourself a Henry H001T Frontier ~ (Not the H001, Golden Boy, H001L, Mares Leg, or the Othern's),, whilst your Marlin 39A,, is being worked on. That way,, you'll have an Alternate Lever Gun to Shoot,, whilst the othern is in the Shop. I've got both and it works out real well if I'm working on one or the other, to have a RimFire Lever, to shoot in the meantime.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/17113-55.html

If you get an older 39a as a backup,, try to find one without the Rebound Hammer, 1/2 Cock Only like the Frontier is,

Keep Your Chin Up,, It'll Work Out,
Joe

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bob kk

· #8 · Apr 18, 2011

Neighbor has a 39A with the cross bolt safety. It wouldn't shoot Win Dyna Points. Fail to extract and fail to fire them. My old one shoots them good so I got two cartons free. Know about scratches and rust. My Kimber HS got some rust on the barrel it was just a little. That bugged me so sent it to Kimber. They refinished the barrel for 90 dollars. Plus 15 to ship it back. Looked new after they refinished it. Call Marlin.

swany

· #9 · Apr 18, 2011

First off, try some reading in the stickies above dealing with this very problem.

"Sooner or later that bent paper clip will fail." Swany

Wisners had the machined new extractors that fixed the failure to extract, they are currently out and starting to make some new ones. You may get the older extractor here, make sure you get the one piece machined not two piece. http://www.dickwilliamsgunshop.com/

Your failure to fire most likely is the firing pin needs a small mod I have outlined with a pic. It is sad that Marlin went to that lousy piece of tin in an otherwise good gun, also very lousy they went to the rebounding hammer and the newer crappy firing pin (It can be fixed easily with a honing stone)

2shotal

· #10 · Apr 18, 2011

Suggest you follow Swany's advise. Then if you still feel that you need a gunsmith try Marlin/Remington as Tom suggests. If you want to re-blue the rifle send it to:

DICK WILLIAMS GUN SHOP, INC.
4985 COLE ROAD
SAGINAW, MI 48601
989-777-1240
www.dickwilliamsgunshop.com

It is the same place Swany mentions. They re-blued my two 1961 39As and they did a fantastic job. IIRC the cost was around $125.

lesismore

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 19, 2011

Thanks for the kind replies. I have decided to send it to Marlin and see how it goes.

I think it really upset me that it all the sudden started to act up and not extracting the fired cases seemed odd to me. The first 10 or so rounds went good and ejected the spent cases about 6- 8 feet away.Then it just went bad. Some were stuck and took a bit of force to dislodge and even trying to be careful when it came loose it was very sudden and hard to control. I wish I could have taken it down to remove the cases but with the action open it wouldn't come apart.

I don't think a regular cleaning would affect the extraction problem, after looking at the extractor it seems to have only the corner of the hook to grab a hold on the rim. When it did extract it only peeled it off in the action and didn't fling it out. I checked the ejector and cleaned and oiled it. I checked the chamber and it looked good but, I cleaned and oiled the chamber anyway just to be sure. Everything looks good except the scratches so it has to be the bent wire extractor.

I did try other brands and it did the same thing. I have used all of the types before with only a few fail to fire and never any fail to extract or eject till now. Thanks again.

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lesismore

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 19, 2011

I was going to say, I do have a Henry and it has never, I say never, gave me any problems. Only a few fail to fire and that was the ammo and not the gun. It isn't as accurate but it is smooth as butter and very dependable. I do enjoy shooting it and it does well enough but it ain't a Marlin.

I know I can get by till the 39a gets fixed but it is was so nice to look at before I put the scratches in it and tried to fix with cold blue.

336SS

· #13 · Apr 19, 2011

lesismore said:
Thanks for the kind replies. I have decided to send it to Marlin and see how it goes.

I think it really upset me that it all the sudden started to act up and not extracting the fired cases seemed odd to me. The first 10 or so rounds went good and ejected the spent cases about 6- 8 feet away.Then it just went bad. Some were stuck and took a bit of force to dislodge and even trying to be careful when it came loose it was very sudden and hard to control. I wish I could have taken it down to remove the cases but with the action open it wouldn't come apart.

I don't think a regular cleaning would affect the extraction problem, after looking at the extractor it seems to have only the corner of the hook to grab a hold on the rim. When it did extract it only peeled it off in the action and didn't fling it out. I checked the ejector and cleaned and oiled it. I checked the chamber and it looked good but, I cleaned and oiled the chamber anyway just to be sure. Everything looks good except the scratches so it has to be the bent wire extractor.

I did try other brands and it did the same thing. I have used all of the types before with only a few fail to fire and never any fail to extract or eject till now. Thanks again.

Les,

When you cleaned it,, did you use a Brush & Hoppes #9 to clean the Chamber? I'm wondering if Powder or debris buildup was causeing the Extractor Problems. Reading your description,, it sounds like part of the Extractor Broke off that locks around the Case Lip.

Are you going to send it to New Yawk or to one of the Main Service Centers? Personally I would be hesitant to send it to New Yawk City,, especially since I'm Down here in DixieLand... ;D

Joe

lesismore

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 19, 2011

Joe, I used breakfree bore solvent and a brush on the chamber and around the chamber opening first then a good swabbing followed by a film of oil. I thought about fouling and powder build-up as well but, I removed the bolt and scrubbed the bolt face good and the extractor looked like it did when new. I also used a case both fired and unfired to pop in to the bolt face to see how it held in place. They held tight and would pop out with some force but only if the ejector was moved to the deepest point in the recess so that it would grab more of the rim. I can see where they ground an angle on the ejector hook to allow the rim to go under the hook but no broken pieces.

I also checked the ejector for any problems and it was clean, screws tight, and the spring was firm. I did clean and oil it just in case. I did clean and oil all of the action and found no broken pieces or any other debris.

The only thing I can see that would cause it is if the extractor isn't staying in the recess where it can grab the rim good. It may have bent out of shape but it is hard to tell with a bent wire so I will have to get a good solid machined replacement from an after market mfg. I can't understand why they would use a bent wire for an extractor in a solid machined receiver. :

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336SS

· #15 · Apr 19, 2011

lesismore said:
Joe, I used breakfree bore solvent and a brush on the chamber and around the chamber opening first then a good swabbing followed by a film of oil. I thought about fouling and powder build-up as well but, I removed the bolt and scrubbed the bolt face good and the extractor looked like it did when new. I also used a case both fired and unfired to pop in to the bolt face to see how it held in place. They held tight and would pop out with some force but only if the ejector was moved to the deepest point in the recess so that it would grab more of the rim. I can see where they ground an angle on the ejector hook to allow the rim to go under the hook but no broken pieces.

I also checked the ejector for any problems and it was clean, screws tight, and the spring was firm. I did clean and oil it just in case. I did clean and oil all of the action and found no broken pieces or any other debris.

The only thing I can see that would cause it is if the extractor isn't staying in the recess where it can grab the rim good. It may have bent out of shape but it is hard to tell with a bent wire so I will have to get a good solid machined replacement from an after market mfg. I can't understand why they would use a bent wire for an extractor in a solid machined receiver. :

Les,

Ok,, that eliminates tight fitting in the Chamber.

One other thing to check is the Cartridge Guide Spring & that the Guide Screw is not loose. The Spring is the part that guides the nose of the Bullet into the chamber. I have read that if the Spring goes too far down towards the Chamber that it will hang on the Cartridge,, and not allow the Extractor to pull the Case Out. Might be worth takeing a look. That Screw is located on Top of The Receiver. You'll probly have to take it down to make sure which one that it is though,, but you can easily see it,, when you have the Receiver Apart.

Some of the Bullet Noses were hitting on the Top of the Chamber on mine,, so I bent that Spring down a bit. I may have bent mine down too far though,, and I need to take mine back apart to check with a case to make sure.

Lots of little parts to Tinker with on a 39A,, but it sure is Fun Though.

I shot a magazine full with the Frontier today,, and sorry to report no problems,, excepting The Smell of Gun Powder & Smoke comeing out of the Receiver after the 17th round, ;D

Good Luck,
Joe

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lesismore

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 19, 2011

Ah- Ha, That did the trick Joe. Thanks a bunch.

I also read threw the stickies and Jakes fix. I had read the other fixes on just the extractor and never considered the guide spring. Wow, there are a lot of things that can happen and different rifles having different inherent problems.

I checked with a bright flash light and a magnifying glass and sure enough there was a piece of brass in between the cartridge guide spring and the receiver. I fished it out and pressed on the spring and it was free. Now I need to fine out if I need to adjust the spring tension and try it out. I also wonder if I can smooth the edge on that spring so it don't pull brass off the case as easy.

I hope this fixes the extraction and ejection problems and then I will have to see if I can get it re blued threw one of Marlins repair centers.

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Catherine

· #17 · Apr 20, 2011

^^^

Les,

Best wishes to you again and I hope that fixed the problem. Good luck with the bluing process too!

Catherine

336SS

· #18 · Apr 20, 2011

lesismore said:
Ah- Ha, That did the trick Joe. Thanks a bunch.

I also read threw the stickies and Jakes fix. I had read the other fixes on just the extractor and never considered the guide spring. Wow, there are a lot of things that can happen and different rifles having different inherent problems.

I checked with a bright flash light and a magnifying glass and sure enough there was a piece of brass in between the cartridge guide spring and the receiver. I fished it out and pressed on the spring and it was free. Now I need to fine out if I need to adjust the spring tension and try it out. I also wonder if I can smooth the edge on that spring so it don't pull brass off the case as easy.

I hope this fixes the extraction and ejection problems and then I will have to see if I can get it re blued threw one of Marlins repair centers.

Hey Les,

Well lets keep our fingers crossed that the Guide Spring was your problem.

Let us know how it goes.

On the Reblueing,, I've had good results with Brownells OxphoBlue. When Scratche's are deep it take's something though to get it smooth. But Still not as good as Hot Blueing.

When I break my Gun's down,, I use my Air Compressor to Blow the small debris out. When I first broke my 39a down ~ After I blew all the crevice's out,, I was Blown away at how easily it went back togeder and subsequently back apart again. Just a little added info that might help in the Future.

Happy Shooting,
Joe

PS ~ Just a little Credit to Whom deserves it. I remembered reading somewhere about the Cartridge Guide Spring somewhere,, but just didn't remember where. I googled 39A Cartridge Guide Spring and it brought me right back here to Marlin Owner's & "Jake's Post",, done Month's ago,, telling us about this,, and takeing the time to post a very good closeup Pic:

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,69559.0.html

Thanks again Jake for takeing the time to Share this with us,, and I appologize for not remembering about and giving Credit to You,, as well as Ed/Swany for getting your post Sticky'd,, as I should have done.

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