[JimS514]

I recently purchased an 1894CSS .357 as a match up to my Ruger SP101 .357. I love how the guns handles and shoots, but from day 1 it would not chamber a round. I found out that it seems to be an extractor problem as I researched this on the web and found the fix where you weaken the extractor spring. To get it to feed reliably, I had to weaken the spring so much that I woudn't trust the extractor to work after multiple rounds where the cartridge would be harder to remove.

Ordered a new extractor from Marlin with same results. It is now out to be fixed (hopefully) by one of Marlins repair centers.

Here is my dilemma. I loved the gun so much that I want to purchase another one as I have the funds now. I read a lot about this issue being found on many new 1894 guns. In fact, the service center it went to seemed well aware of the issue.

Am I insane to want to go get ANOTHER one when there seems to be a hugh issue with these guns? Or did I just get one of the "issue" guns and there are lots of new ones without the problem?

Would it be wrong to request the gunshop to run some live rounds throught it (not fire, just feed and eject) to make sure it works BEFORE I put my money down for it?

 

[planeflyer21]

Welcome Jim!

Nope, nope, and insane? Nope...it's called Marlinitis! ;D

Jon

 

[Miller6457]

Actually when I first read the subject line I thought you were talking about a new WIFE.

Then I saw it was for a rifle. Go for it.

Matt

 

[tlc361]

Professional Diagnosis: Early stages of marlinitisis.

 

[eaglesnest]

Can we assume this gun has a REP on the right side of the barrel near the receiver? If it does, the answer is yes you are insane to want another Remington made gun, at least for the present. I'd give them a few years to either sort it out, or go under, but in the mean time start looking for a good "JM" proofed gun and start having the fun you deserve, and paid for!
There is no cure, for insanity, or Marlinitus! ;D
Welcome aboard!

 

[texjam]

Only if it's an older one... have had no reliability issues with them

 

[JimS514]

Thanks guys,

I just spent a couple of hours reading on these forums, and it seems there really is a quality control issue.

I didn't notice a REP on my 1894CSS, and none of the fit and finish issues I have seen on here....it just wouldn't cycle. I will look at the proof mark and see when it gets back. I got it in January.

The LGS has the blued model on sale for $499 which is why I was considering going in and looking them over, but now not so sure.

Maybe I will just take my money and buy a second Ruger SP101. Then look for an older Marlin and hope my new one comes back fixed.

I sent it to an authorized repair shop here in Ohio. When I was talking with him he stated that he has had many come back for this issue. I asked him if there was any hope of making it reliable, and he stated that he can usually get the working pretty well.

Tomorrow makes 2 weeks, and he said their turn around time is 4-6 weeks. Maybe I will call in the morning just to make sure they got it and that it is in the queue to get fixed.

Kinda sucks to get Marlinitis at this stage when I can't even go out and buy a new one!

 

[gyrhed]

My 357 CB and my friends 357 CB wouldn't feed a round either. It all bioled down to the beak of the extractor being too long. When we cut them down to where the point of the extractor touched the cartridge case just as the rim of the case touched the extractor just under the beak it fixed both of the right up and now they cycle everythng we feed them. his came from CO and mine from wills point Tx. almost a year seperates them in maufacture date.

I bought a 44 mag and had no problems at all. Iknow people with 357s that had no problem but a local shop has the blued SBL i think its called in 45-70 (1895) that is really really hard to cycle with it empty. It has an REP.

Basically Marlin had trouble, remignton doesn't appear to be any different. Feed your addition and move on, I would take an empty case with me to the shop and compare the extractor to the case. cycle it in the shop if it is anything but smooth just don't buy it. Also look fit and finish over and look fro cross threaded screws, apparenetly two people on this forum have had that problem.

 

[JimS514]

oooohhhhh...I called the gunshop today...they have both the blued and the stainless version. $499 and $650 respectively. Now I HAVE to go and at least LOOK at them. Maybe I will get to see the shoddy workmanship up close

or maybe.......

 

[kawie]

i was going to purchase one of these also but i looked at one an was not inpressed with what remington is shipping out,walked out the door with my cash still in my pocket.i still want a 357 lever gun an think i will pick up another rossi m92 357 to go with my m92 44.when an if remington gets there act together i will buy a 1894 or if a good used pre safety comes along i will pick that up.the rossi would be good choice to go with youre pistol an youre 1894 when you get that back,no sense in having two rifles the same.
Kawie

 

[AINT NO FISH]

Understandable, the desire to keep on buying. Maybe you ought to look at some of the auction sites. They have used rifles and many are sold in great shape. I have had real good luck buying older models with no problems.(so far) Good Luck any way you go!

 

[JimS514]

Update! Went and picked up a new 1894C today. It has the JM proof on the left side of the barrel. This shocked me as I think this means it was made in the old plant, correct?

Everything looks good, just one screw on the barrel band that looks like the scraped a little bluing off around the edges of the screwhole.

The action seems much smoother than my 1894CSS did.

I will cycle some rounds through it soon to see if it works as well as it looks.

He said they ordered 40 or so awhile back, so it was likely this was from the old plant. The stainless one they had in stock had the Remington proof on the right side of the barrel.

 

[eaglesnest]

Update! Went and picked up a new 1894C today. It has the JM proof on the left side of the barrel. This shocked me as I think this means it was made in the old plant, correct?

Everything looks good, just one screw on the barrel band that looks like the scraped a little bluing off around the edges of the screwhole.

The action seems much smoother than my 1894CSS did.

I will cycle some rounds through it soon to see if it works as well as it looks.

He said they ordered 40 or so awhile back, so it was likely this was from the old plant. The stainless one they had in stock had the Remington proof on the right side of the barrel.

There are still some JM's sitting on the racks new, especially I suspect in backwater places like where I live. At the gorcery/department store in my little corner of AK there was a GS and an STBL, both with JM's a month or so back. That STBL had beautiful wood! I had to quit going by the sporting goods section when I went grocery shopping with the wife... :'(

 

[JimS514]

Ok, feeds .38 round nose, and .38 +P Remington Golden Sabre just fine. Will not feed Federal .357 JSP ammo unless I double clutch. There is a gash on the side of the lead bullet where it is hitting the side of the chamber and the round isn't seating under the extractor.

So, much better than my first rifle that wouldn't feed anything. I am hoping with use it will like the Federal .357 JSP because I think that will be a pretty good overall round for the gun.

I may try weakening the extractor some, but then I worry about extraction problems later when doing that.

I guess I'll go shoot my Hi-Point 995TS....it hasn't failed me yet lol.

 

[dch]

You are not insain you are just having a marlinitis attack this will happpen every time you see handle or here of one for sale and is very common around here. ;D ;D

 

[drjjpdc]

Glad to see your luck turned, the 1894 is just too much fun to deny yourself. Now it's good you have the Ruger
SP 101 (I have the GP 101), but you really have to start saving up for a Blackhawk if you don't have one. The obvious choice is a .357 model but other calibers are fun too.

 

[swshooter]

Pick up a five pack of snap caps, not the plastic ones, the aluminum ones. If they won't cycle I'd reject the gun. The more Marlins I buy, the more I realize that each gun has a personality of it's own. When you get a really good one, it's a keeper and you never sell it. The others are trading stock.

 

[JimS514]

Here is a pic of the three rounds that I tried to cycle.

From left to right

.38 Federal
.38+P Rem Golden Sabre
.357 Federal JSP

Only the .357 doesn't chamber. I don't have any other .357's to try right now either. The extractor is not going over the rim, but the rim looks the same on both the .38 federal and the .357. You can see the damage on the .357 nose, a small gash where it hits the side of the chamber.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jims514/5577450180/

 

[swshooter]

try a bullet like an XTP that has jacket completely covering the nose, the rounded shape also helps feeding. Try shooting a couple hundred rounds of 38's in it, it may just need a break in period.