[Eli Chaps]

Well, the loading gate spring screw is tight, and the gate appears to be lined up correctly compared to the other 336's in the safe. There's simply nothing holding the round in the mag tube. I can depress the gate and look in with the action closed and the lifter does not seem to be high enough to hold rounds in the mag, but it's hard to know how high it should be to catch the rim. It that the only piece that holds rounds in the mag? If so, is there a fix short of replacing the lifter ? Thanks for your thoughts.

Leverdude or someone else can correct me if I'm wrong here but...

The carrier (lifter) only prevents the next round from entering the action as the "on deck" round is being fed into the bore. The first round in the tube is held in place by the lever and loading gate. If you load up one of your other 336's you'll see how the rim of the case pushes against the cut out of the loading gate. You'll also notice that just as soon as you start to work the lever, the round pops to the left (into the action). Likewise, at the very, very end (closing) of the lever, you can see the round pop to the right and against the gate.

If you look at this picture, #6 is the slant cut that helps hold the round in place with the lever gate (it also interacts with the carrier during cycling but that's not relevant):

I don't know if there is any difference in the 30-30 and .35 levers, I suspect not, so I would try swapping a lever from one of your other guns and see if it makes a difference. It's hard for me to imagine the lever has worn but it might help start isolating the problem.

 

[Eli Chaps]

Today's lesson is: When disassembling and reassembling a 30-30 and a 35 Rem. 336 at the same time, put the right lever back in the right gun !!
Swapped levers between the 30-30 & 35 and the problem went away. Looked at them both, and noticed the correct lever for a 30-30 has diagonal mortise cut above the slant cut (#6 in EC's picture) - see my pic. It has to be for the rimmed case, because it's not there on the 35 lever. Live and learn...
Thanks to all for your replies, the braintrust here is invaluable.

Do you own a 45-70? That cut is put into the 1895 levers to allow the large cases to be loaded. The levers are otherwise the same and a 45-70 lever will likely function in a 30-30 without issue. Is the 30-30 by any chance a BL or maybe that is a big loop lever? Just curious is all.

Either way, glad it was a simple fix and everything is working fine now.

 

[Eli Chaps]

Eli,
More than likely is the fact that his two levers are different in the angular relationship of the area on top of the box that bumps the lower tang and the position of the tip.
That would account for the carrier sitting at a different height in the rifle.

BUT ADDITIONALLY,Yes, that lever he has is a 45-70 lever and again the 45-70 lever CAN"T hold the 35 case on the front of the loading spring, because the round slips into the loading clearance. The use of the 45-70 lever in the 35 cal rifle was really the cause of all his problems.

Some parts don't mix well.........the 45-70 lever will work fine in a 30-30........but won't work in a 35 Rem.

Redmist, Glad you got your rifles squared away...........


Tom

Makes sense to me Tom, thanks.

Redmist, if your .35 and 30-30 are pistol gripped then it is possible someone along the way just changed out the lever on the 30-30 (if it is not your original gun I mean).