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Do you guys replace the plastic Marlin magazine followers with metal followers ?

22K views 41 replies 31 participants last post by  pricedo  
#1 ·
I read somewhere where the "cheap plastic followers" they put in Marlin leverguns would dissolve in oil, cleaning solvents and come apart in the tube causing malfunctions and cartridge column jams in the tube.
The evidence belies the supposition that the plastic follwers deteriorate and fall apart.
I took out the plastic followers that have been in my guns for several years and found no such deterioration or decomposition had taken place and they compared very favorably with brand new plastic followers that just arrived from Brownells.
I'm sure the Marlin magazine followers are made from oil, solvent resistant plastic.
Perhaps this scare was started by someone who was in the business of manufacturing/selling stainless steel followers?
I also think the plastic followers would be much more forgiving of minor dings and dents in the magazine tube wall where rigid metal followers might hang up.
I've never had a plastic follower break apart in a mag tube yet.
I also like the plastic flourescent orange followers because I can see at a glance through the cartridge loading gate that my mag tube is empty of ammo.
I've discontinued replacing my plastic followers with metal ones.
 
#2 ·
I thought about replacing mine, but Marlin uses Delrin for the followers and not plastic. Delrin is tougher than aluminum, won't rust like steel and needs no lubrication.
 
#8 ·
replaced mine with metal followers from beartooth mercantile. dont care for plastic things longterm- uv rays affect them. just my preference.
uv rays affecting a follower inside the mag tube of a levergun.
Where do you hunt? 3-mile Island?, Chernobyl? :hmmmm:
 
#16 ·
I did have to replace the original follower in my wife's '62 336T. It appeared to have been boogered by Bubba while out of the mag tube, then reinserted as-is. It was binding during its travel up and down the tube. There was no doubt the follower self-destructed by the looks of it.
I hope you kept it, a "BI" follower (Bubba Improved) would bring big money on evilbay.:biggrin:

BB
 
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#14 ·
I did have to replace the original follower in my wife's '62 336T. It appeared to have been boogered by Bubba while out of the mag tube, then reinserted as-is. It was binding during its travel up and down the tube. There was no doubt the follower self-destructed by the looks of it.
 
#17 ·
This is a VERY interesting topic.

I have worked on a few 1894 Marlins. I have encountered ONE follower that was cracked and actually had a chip out of it. It actually appeared to have dry rotted.
And I've encountered ONE that was 'dishing' on the tip, which appeared to be from tooooo much pressure pushing on it. Maybe it had been left fully loaded for a few years under heavy spring tension, just a guess.

Anyhow, of others I have checked, there were NO problems.

NOW, in defense of the factory followers from Marlin, it is always possible that those 2 followers that I mentioned above could have been aftermarket followers.

Personally, I use Stainless followers in my Cowboy competition rifles. When I put them in the magtube and they are under PROPER spring tension, I check to see HOW MUCH movement they encounter when the front of the carrier pivots up/down against it. Then I polish it (the follower) down to where it just barely 'kisses' the front of the carrier during the pivot movement and round the corners nicely. Its just one of those things I do that make working the action alittle smoooooother when the rifle is empty.

I wouldn't be able to do that type of modification with the Delrin piece.


..........Widder
 
#18 ·
The Marlin followers (North Haven or New Haven) are as many have stated are just fine. If Remington uses the same material in their followers for the Remlins they use in the Rem 870 Express models I would be buying a replacement. I saw two two 870 express follows crack and 'Jam" a 870 express while pheasants were flushing. Luckily we bought two replacements from Bedlan's in Nebraska during the hunt.

C.D.
 
#21 ·
If the follower is indeed Delrin, it is a good choice for the follower. It is as good or better a bearing than nylon and doesn't absorb water. So it should slide in the tube better than anodized aluminum or stainless steel. As noted before it is tougher than nails. I wouldn't think twice about it.
tj
 
#23 ·
As already mentioned, I'm also under the impression the so-called "plastic" followers are made from Delrin, which is pretty tough and resilent stuff if they are. We used to use it in making tooling, fixtures and the like, no issues with oil and grease etc., and pretty easy to machine as well.
I replaced the follower in my 444 to the newer dimpled/concave design for use of the Hornady FTX ammo and went with a stainless one while I was at it, but haven't changed any in my smaller bore rifles that seem to feed the FTX fine without issues. I also bought a brass one as a spare to try, but haven't used it yet. I see no "need" to replace the plastic/delrin ones just for being that material alone myself, only if they are the old design and to avoid possible issues/jam with the flex tip ammo.
 
#25 ·
Yup. if it ain't broke don't fix it.
I swab the inside of my mag tube every once in a while with a patch that is very lightly oiled and swab it once again with a dry patch so any oil coating left on the inside walls to prevent rust would be of molecular thickness.
Oil is not good for primers so you don't want a mag tube so wet with oil that it will transfer some to the cartridges in the tube.
Also I never drown the parts inside the receiver in oil. I use just enough (a drop or two) of high quality machine oil to prevent rust and ensure smooth running of the action and work it throughout the moving parts by cycling several times.
A lot of oil and grease on a gun holds dirt and grit to form an abrasive amalgam that which will hasten wear.
My barrel cleaning regimen is usually with a bore snake with a little evaporating cleaning solution followed by a very lightly oiled bore snake followed by a dry bore snake. I don't leave cleaning solvents in the barrel.
I do a more aggressive copper brush & patch cleaning from the receiver end by removing the finger lever & bolt once or twice a year depending on use.
For anyone following proper cleaning and lubricating protocols at no time should the follower regardless of composition be "drowned" in oil and sovents.
The followers I checked were several years old and in pristine condition.
I won't be replacing any more followers with metal ones as there is obviously no need.
 
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#24 ·
I replaced a couple as to not worry about using FTX bullets, but I have yet to see a single FTX not feed properly.
 
#30 ·
You can buy them at Brownells and other places - they're inexpensive.
I have several on hand.
I keep 1 or 2 in my "just in case" kit that stays in the truck along with a spare scope and mounts, scope/base screws, bag of Marlin screws and plugs, tools, spare ammo etc.
You never know and it's good to be ready for a break, failure or a loss of a part.
That kit has saved my bacon a few times.
 
#27 · (Edited)
The original follower in my 2002 1895 45-70 was in great shape when I removed it.

I needed to swap for a concave mag follower for use with Hornady ammo. Found Trivette's Gunsmithing out of Lenoir NC sold a SS concave follower on ebay.

So got it and also got a OE Marlin red delrin concave follower. Just in case......I do like the red delrin's for visibility reasons a little better.

Currently the SS one is in it. But I see nothing wrong with Marlin's delrin follower...the original had lasted just fine since 2002. Had it not been for using Hornady ammo in it it'd still be in there......and I might install the new Marlin red delrin concave mag follower.

I'm just a sucker for stainless steel parts............always have been.......but I kinda miss the easily viewed red marlin one.
 
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#29 ·
I have had more Marlins that I can recall. Have never replaced a follower and do not plan to replace any. I do not use LeverEvolution ammo.

Other than needing to change the follower to accommodate the LeverEvolution bullet configuration, I think that any hype for a full-scale change-out of original Marlin followers is just a bunch of bull crap.

Who comes up with this nonsense? I call Bravo Sierra.

Dan
 
#33 ·
I don't have any issues with the JM's but the 1894 Remlin I have gives the same problem every time on the last shot, the follower prevents the lever/bolt from closing. As long as I leave the last one in the tube I don't have any problems. I am considering an aluminum follower from Brownells, hope that fixes the issue.
 
#35 ·
Your not the only one who has those thoughts. I often think that those who brag about the NEW Remington 1894's might be Remington employees or have stock in the company.

BUT, I have view 2 of the recent 1894's that are Remingtons and I must also say they looked fine and actually felt o.k.......BUT, they could be smoother with the right touch of a gunsmith.

The truth of the matter is that some things to crack, break and wear out. Sometimes, even the best parts get abused and misused by gun owners. And then they either get replacement parts from the manufacturer or a parts vendor. BUT, I must admit that in most cases, the gun owner just wants to swap parts.....just for the heck of it.


..........Widder