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New Ruger Marlin Gremlin’s

13K views 53 replies 33 participants last post by  GFK  
#1 ·
I was fortunate to find a new Ruger made Marlin 336 at my local Gun Store (Sheels) The price was $150 less than MSRP so I bought it. In the store I looked it over for cosmetic issues and didn’t see any. Rifle fit and finish looked excellent. The lever was zip tied closed so never tried it in store.
Upon getting home and removing the zip tie. I found the lever was almost impossible to open. I had to brace the butt stock on a hard surface and apply significant up force to open.
Once open it functions normally but once fully closed it was locked up tight.
Upon Further inspection I found the lever plunger pin was over engaging. After some buffing and lubricant it began to function normal.
The second gremlin was discovered as I cleaned the gun in preparation for the range. The front sight was extremely loose. I took off the sight hood and found the screws barely engaged. Lucky they tightened up without issue.
How did this gun pass inspection at the factory?
Lucky that the issues were simple enough to solve without sending it back.
One other notable issue was my box contained the wrong user manual. In place of the 336 manual I was given a 1895 model manual. Called Ruger and they are sending me one. So all is good.
Good news the gun shot well at the range with 3 different types of ammo all just slightly over 1 MOA. Happy with that. Lever is working correctly now.
 

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#5 ·
Do you know if the rifle box was opened at Scheels previous to you? Do you know if they also had any 1895s in stock? Do you know if some dipstick stock boy might have messed with it, and perhaps an 1895 at the same time?

Nope, me either. And I wish you great future luck and success with your new Marlin. 👍
 
#11 ·
The box did match the gun serial number and was correctly marked. I called Scheels first thinking they had put wrong manual in my box. They denied any wrong doing and told me to call Ruger which I did. Hopefully correct manual is on its way.
now a days the dealers have to open the box to verify serial number on the gun before they register it to you. So hard to tell on where manual mistake occurred. But based on my other two issues I’m speculating it was factory.
 
#8 ·
I was fortunate to find a new Ruger made Marlin 336 at my local Gun Store (Sheels) The price was $150 less than MSRP so I bought it. In the store I looked it over for cosmetic issues and didn’t see any. Rifle fit and finish looked excellent. The lever was zip tied closed so never tried it in store.
Upon getting home and removing the zip tie. I found the lever was almost impossible to open. I had to brace the butt stock on a hard surface and apply significant up force to open.
Once open it functions normally but once fully closed it was locked up tight.
Upon Further inspection I found the lever plunger pin was over engaging. After some buffing and lubricant it began to function normal.
The second gremlin was discovered as I cleaned the gun in preparation for the range. The front sight was extremely loose. I took off the sight hood and found the screws barely engaged. Lucky they tightened up without issue.
How did this gun pass inspection at the factory?
Lucky that the issues were simple enough to solve without sending it back.
One other notable issue was my box contained the wrong user manual. In place of the 336 manual I was given a 1895 model manual. Called Ruger and they are sending me one. So all is good.
Good news the gun shot well at the range with 3 different types of ammo all just slightly over 1 MOA. Happy with that. Lever is working correctly now.
Hard to believe the gun passed inspection. Luckily for you, the problems ended there. I would have screamed if I needed to send it back to Ruger. Please pray that the people at Ruger don't repeat what the Remlin had done ;((
 
#15 ·
The box did match the gun serial number and was correctly marked. I called Scheels first thinking they had put wrong manual in my box. They denied any wrong doing and told me to call Ruger which I did. Hopefully correct manual is on its way.
now a days the dealers have to open the box to verify serial number on the gun before they register it to you. So hard to tell on where manual mistake occurred. But based on my other two issues I’m speculating it was factory.
I recently purchased an 1895 Guide Gun and the manual that came with mine stated it was for the 1895 AND 336. It has the parts schematic for both in the manual.
 
#16 ·
Glad to hear you were able to work out the kinks. I recently bought a Ruger autoloading rifle and had to send it back twice due to poor accuracy issues. After the second trip they said they can't fix it so are sending a new replacement. I'll be selling that gun asap and might put the money towards a new Marlin instead.
 
#18 ·
I bought the 336 at Scheels in Billings last week. Very accurate but it wouldn’t extract. Took it right back in, they went downstairs and verified. Swapped me out for another one AND gave me a box of Winchester 170 grain power points for “my trouble”. I also bought an 1895 a few months back. Zero issues with both now and they shoot great. Scheels has always treated me well.
 
#19 · (Edited)
First, I like to say good lucky with your NIB Ruger Marlin rifle.
Well, I think since you were buying the rifle, you should ask the store keep to cut off the plastic tie, they're easy to replace. But I'm glad you got things working.
 
#21 ·
First, I like too good lucky with your NIB Ruger Marlin rifle.
Well, I think since you were buying the rifle, you should the store keep to cut off the plastic tie, they're easy to replace. But I'm glad you got things working.
Hind sight is 20-20. Yes in future I will make sure to work the action in the store.
 
#23 ·
I was fortunate to find a new Ruger made Marlin 336 at my local Gun Store (Sheels) The price was $150 less than MSRP so I bought it. In the store I looked it over for cosmetic issues and didn’t see any. Rifle fit and finish looked excellent. The lever was zip tied closed so never tried it in store.
Upon getting home and removing the zip tie. I found the lever was almost impossible to open. I had to brace the butt stock on a hard surface and apply significant up force to open.
Once open it functions normally but once fully closed it was locked up tight.
Upon Further inspection I found the lever plunger pin was over engaging. After some buffing and lubricant it began to function normal.
The second gremlin was discovered as I cleaned the gun in preparation for the range. The front sight was extremely loose. I took off the sight hood and found the screws barely engaged. Lucky they tightened up without issue.
How did this gun pass inspection at the factory?
Lucky that the issues were simple enough to solve without sending it back.
One other notable issue was my box contained the wrong user manual. In place of the 336 manual I was given a 1895 model manual.
I've stopped shopping Ruger for anything. The last two times I looked to purchase a Ruger product was an LCP 22 & a MK4. I took the LCP home and when I striped it to clean before firing, it was very poorly finished & was returned to my LGS. I had the counter man strip the MK4 and it was like the LCP, I left it at my LGS. I do own a few Rugers: an LCP 380, LCR .38 +P, MKIII, 10-22 & a Single 6 with both cylinders. All are over 10 years old and the finish, inside and out is good. I also have a 1974 Marlin 336, 30-30.

Good luck with your 336,
Paul, Sandusky Bay, Ohio, USA
 
#24 ·
In 1957 my father gave me a brand new Marlin Model-56, .22 caliber rifle. I shot it a few times and then a problem developed. With a round in the chamber and with the safety engaged sometimes the rifle would fire; the problem was intermittant. I told dad about it, he benched the rifle, took the mechanism apart and found a small metal shaving inside that somehow interferred with the safety and allowed the rifles to fire. I remember seeing the small metal shaving, it was about the diameter of a common stick pin and about 1/8 inch long.
 
#25 ·
Some mistakes can be missed during inspection more easily than others. In the '80s I bought an 1895SS that didn't feed from the magazine. I made some dummy rounds (no powder or primer) with the Speer 400 gr. JFP to demonstrate the problem at the sporting goods store where I bought it. It went back to the factory in North Haven, CT, where it was found that the lifter was for a model 336 and had been installed by mistake in the 1895SS. I wasn't charged anything for the repair and shipment in either direction. Around the same time, I bought a Mossberg 835 which had the wrong safety installed, preventing the shotgun to be taken off safe, enhancing the shotgun's safety just fine but not so much its effectiveness on doves.
 
#26 · (Edited)
Just picked my New Ruger/Marlin 1894 44 Remington Mag up Wednesday- Flawless. Love it.

I'm going to guess, Someone messed with the gun you bought. All correct manuals etc., Stickers, and the hammer extension was in the box and unopened. Nothing was loose or missing and all lever and loading/unloading functions were tight and functional. Fit and finish was very nice with nothing out of place or poor quality.

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#27 ·
In agreement that someone messed with the rifle at the gun store…… but I sent an Sig back twice and a Glock back once to the manufacturer. New models for both, much like the Ruger 336.

it’s all in the final hands on the results you get… from Marlin/Ruger to having your gallbladder removed. Choose wisely and experience matters. Wait another year to buy that 336 ……
 
#28 ·
In agreement that someone messed with the rifle at the gun store…… but I sent an Sig back twice and a Glock back once to the manufacturer. New models for both, much like the Ruger 336.

it’s all in the final hands on the results you get… from Marlin/Ruger to having your gallbladder removed. Choose wisely and experience matters
 
#36 ·
I bought a 1895 trapper beginning of the summer and noticed some metal shavings in receiver when I looked it over at gun store. It didn’t bother me because I always clean every gun I buy but it was worse than I thought. I ended up having to completely disassemble to get them all out. Even the mag tube had shavings in it. After cleaning it works and functions perfectly and looks good also. I waited a long time for it and it was worth it. Price was good too.
 
#42 ·
I bought a 1895 trapper beginning of the summer and noticed some metal shavings in receiver when I looked it over at gun store. It didn’t bother me because I always clean every gun I buy but it was worse than I thought. I ended up having to completely disassemble to get them all out. Even the mag tube had shavings in it. After cleaning it works and functions perfectly and looks good also.
Every brand new gun has a chance of this sort of FOD being inside it. I will completely disassemble and clean/polish every new gun I buy. My 336BL got a hit on all the contact points in the action with some wet and dry 800 grit and a drop of oil. It is so damn smooth after that…

Anything manufactured in a modern factory is going to have a chance to be cleaned up a smoothed out. It’s the nature of manufacturing in the 2020s. Maybe some very high end firearms are still built in the “old world ways”, but they cost like it too!
 
#44 ·
Congrats on your new rifle. Glad everything worked out for you. I can tell you that the folks at the Mayodan, NC plant do get the feedback and share it with the factory teams to include engineering when applicable. Every factory in the world can experience an issue and yes some do escape to the consumer. The great factories react appropriately. Ruger has been in business for 75 years and will continue to be around 75 more because they believe in quality & reliability.

That old saying; "if you see something, say something. By all means, if you have an issue, share it with their customer service personal. They will make sure it gets attention.
 
#46 ·
Th smoothest Marlin I have is my Remington built 1895 SBL followed by my Remington built 336SS. And I do have JMs and Ruger builts. Smoothest actions and smoothest bores.

I would love for Ruger to give us back the .444. The .450 not so much and please a .360BH. As in now. It has to be stainless steel though, no blued for me.
 
#48 ·
I think Ruger should bring back the 308 express and the 338 express not only in XLR/ MX models but in straight stock short barrel carbine too. Not everyone wants a 45-70 or a 30-30.