[Big Al1]

Hi all!! New guy here but not new to firearms. I've recently acquired an 1893 Marlin in .38-55, built in 1894. I shoot for fun and my load is a real mild one, 6 grains of Trail boss and 255 grain cast. Very fun and accurate load out to 100 yards. Here's the problem: I noticed the rifle would jam when the rounds would feed up, the rim would hang up on the tip of the firing pin. Turns out the tip was broke off and would not retract, but the rifle still fired flawlessly. Also found the firing pin return spring was broken. Got new parts from Wisners, .093" firing pin and new spring, now the gun misfires with light strikes. Replaced the main spring, still not fixed. Polish rear pin, try without return spring, no matter what I try it still misfires. So today I try pushing the pin forward until it contacts the primer, then it fires every time, but I have no idea what to do to correct this problem. I know something must be slowing down the forward motion from the retracted position to fired but It has me baffled!! Anybody here got any ideas!!
I'm sure it's something Tooooo simple!!

BTW, My first real rifle was a Marlin 36 (not 336) .30-30, I traded my '55 Chevy for in 1968. Shot my first deer with it. Wish I still had the rifle and the car!!

 

[Big Al1]

That's the spring I was talking about, but that spring looks a lot flatter the one I have. But, it still didn't work with the spring removed. I checked the inside of the bolt for gunk, but I'll look at it again. The little hook was broken off the spring that was in there. I cleaned about 120 years of gunk out of it, but there's always room for more!!

Thanks Wind!!

 

[Big Al1]

Looks like this has all you guys stumped, too!! I hate problems like this this, because of all the side effects from not being able to fix a simple problem!! Like: insomnia, night sweats, blurred vision, shaky hands, anal leakage, and uncontrollable tourette's!!

I'll keep plugging away until it's fixed, or I'm a quivering, sobbing pile of flesh!! Whichever comes first!!

 

[Big Al1]

Correct!! I know hands on is a lot different than trying to describe the problem. Thanks again! All keep plugging at it.

BTW Wind, thanks for all the great pics, you've been a great help so far!!

 

[Big Al1]

Thanks FB!!