RM 1895 issues

[fordtruckin]

Well, my first uhoh with the new Ruger Marlin 1895 SBL. Today while loading ammo before heading to work, the loading gate will not retract far enough into the action to load ammunition into the magazine. It appears the bottom of the loading gate is catching on the cartridge carrier assembly just enough that I can get the tip of the bullet in and then it jams. I have an email into Ruger asking if they have had this issue. I took the rifle apart, cleaned and lubricated it, putting it back together and it is still catching. I left the loading gate screw loose to try and adjust it out of the way but when I go to tighten it down it drops right back into the same position. Has anyone heard of this issue or have advice? Kinda frustrating as I use the rifle when investigating grizzly conflicts. Thankfully I had my trusty 12g I've used before, even though I prefer a 460gr hard cast bullet over the 1oz slug. Penetration can't be beat!

[fordtruckin]

oops, just realized I posted it in the wrong category. Can the Mods move it for me?

[fps plus]

Usually the issue with Marlin levers is the loading gate screw gets loose and causes problems.

[fordtruckin]

Took the rifle apart cleaned and put back together 3x and the carrier still wouldn’t drop low enough for the loading gate to open. Had a local gunsmith look at it and was willing to work on it but advised since it’s a new gun to let ruger have first shot at it otherwise after he tuned it they might not want to warranty anything. He sent it in last week for me and ruger said 3 week turnaround. The gun smith said the river folks were very easy to work with and helpful so fingers crossed their service gets it back to me in their estimated time line.

[3blade]

Following

I’m hoping for a trapper sometime in the future, curious to know what the issue is.

[fishnguy]

Following as well.

How many rounds did get through yours, Ford?

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by fishnguy

Following as well.

How many rounds did get through yours, Ford?

Probably around 50. A buddy who has one with a serial Number about 1000 before mine had his lock up on him last week. Had to finagle getting the round out the he just y led the action a couple hundred times and it seems to have smoothed out.

[obsessed1]

This is sad news. I had hope that the ruger marlin would get and keep a solid rep for reliability. Hopefully the issues are minor.

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by obsessed1

This is sad news. I had hope that the ruger marlin would get and keep a solid rep for reliability. Hopefully the issues are minor.

Agree with this, I'd heard nothing but glowing reviews of the RM rifles untill this post.

[fordtruckin]

I got my SBL back today. Ruger sent a work order back that says they replaced the carrier and test fired it 12x. Took it to the range and it appears to work as it did before. Wish they would have said what happened to the carrier. Actual turnaround time from having an FFL mail it back to Ruger to getting it back to the FFL was exactly 2 weeks. Sat at the FFL for 2 weeks due to me being out of town for a wedding then the FFL being out of town on vacation. Hope I don't have any more issues as I would prefer never having to send it back for warranty work!

[outofbounds]

Quick question for those that may be more familiar with the Marlin of yesterday and the new RM models, do they utilize the same carriers in the SBL, GBL and Trapper models?

Thanks in advance!

[obsessed1]

Sbl and trapper are both stainless and the gbl is blued. Other than that yes same carrier in all three dimension wise. Not certain if a rem made sbl carrier will fit a ruger and vise vera but within the makers they are interchangeable.

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by obsessed1

Sbl and trapper are both stainless and the gbl is blued. Other than that yes same carrier in all three dimension wise. Not certain if a rem made sbl carrier will fit a ruger and vise vera but within the makers they are interchangeable.

Can’t forget the new 1895 Dark model…

[3blade]

Originally Posted by fordtruckin

I got my SBL back today. Ruger sent a work order back that says they replaced the carrier and test fired it 12x. Took it to the range and it appears to work as it did before. Wish they would have said what happened to the carrier. Actual turnaround time from having an FFL mail it back to Ruger to getting it back to the FFL was exactly 2 weeks. Sat at the FFL for 2 weeks due to me being out of town for a wedding then the FFL being out of town on vacation. Hope I don't have any more issues as I would prefer never having to send it back for warranty work!

Well that’s interesting.

So, given the intended purpose…how are you going to satisfy yourself that it’s life and death reliable?

I spent some time thinking on this one and figure 200 rounds of every different type, fired during drills, without malfunction, would be enough for me….I think. But given your profession is there a standard?

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by 3blade

Well that’s interesting.

So, given the intended purpose…how are you going to satisfy yourself that it’s life and death reliable?

I spent some time thinking on this one and figure 200 rounds of every different type, fired during drills, without malfunction, would be enough for me….I think. But given your profession is there a standard?

Well that’s a million dollar question! There really isn’t a standard. I know for handguns I like to run a minimum of 500-600 rounds through without a malfunction before I carry it. I can say the only issues I’ve had with my new duty pistol or off duty gun has been bad ammo. Winchester had a run of bad 9mm fmj back in 21 where the rounds were loaded too lo. They wouldn’t fit in magazines. For this rifle, well I’m just cycling it a lot to hone down any rough spots in the action and firing as many heavy hard cast as I can stand. Last day was around 16 rounds of 460gr +p. I have a good bruise still. I do find if I have cycling issues most of the time it’s me not working the action hard enough. Kind of limp wristing it so to say. As long as the carrier drops out of the way and I can load I’m ok.

As far as life or death reliable thankfully I have 3 of the best guys you could ask for to walk in on these situations with. True they stick me up front but we all trust each other and past that I don’t think much about anything except getting the job done. It’s Actually one of the easier parts of the job.

[fordtruckin]

Well I’ve run into another issue with the new 1895. Have to take it to work tomorrow and took it out of the safe and was loading it up function checking etc… throw the lever forward, a round hits the carrier. Go to bring the lever back and the action is locked up. The next round from the magazine has come out far enough and moved just far enough sideways in the tube that the nose of the round in the carrier has pinned it by the rim against the opening of the magazine tube. Takes a screw driver to pop the nose off the rim and you get a double feed. Not taking it in tomorrow that’s for sure! Already have an email into Ruger saying this is twice now. Explaining them what my job is the issue and that this rifle is not reliable. Guess we will see what they say. Tried 3 different types of ammo and they all did the same thing. Frustrating if this continues I may send it down the road and buy an old one from the 60s-90s. Out of curiosity what acts as the shell catch on a lever gun? In the 870 I know left and right shell catch activisted by timing cuts in the left and right action bars on the pump but not as familiar with levers.

[6.5 shooter]

Just a thought! Not familiar with the action on your rifle, but an Ithaca shotgun I had would hold shells until you cycled the first one then would dump the rest on the ground. Turned out there was a bad spring under one of the two "jaws" which held the other shells in the tube. Replaced the springs and the "jaws" for good measure and have never had an issue since. Hopefully it is the same type of issue in your rifle.

[3blade]

Man that sucks

The “Marlin Jam” is infamous. Can be any number of parts, head over to the Marlin forum there’s pages and pages of stuff on it. Ruger should have fixed this before rereleasing it, imo if they can’t (especially after two try’s) it’s a design flaw and the rifle is unreliable.

Thanks for posting this, I won’t be buying one.

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by 3blade

Man that sucks

The “Marlin Jam” is infamous. Can be any number of parts, head over to the Marlin forum there’s pages and pages of stuff on it. Ruger should have fixed this before rereleasing it, imo if they can’t (especially after two try’s) it’s a design flaw and the rifle is unreliable.

Thanks for posting this, I won’t be buying one.

I have 4 friends who have new 1895s. One had an extractor break in the first 20 rounds. Another had it lock up on him so he cycled the action a few hundred times and it appears to have sone something and is still working. The 3rd guy hasn’t had any issues but replaced his extractor as a precaution. I will send it back to ruger until they start charging me then like a vehicle I’ll find someone local that knows what they’re doing to work on it and start replacing parts with Wild West or Ranger point precision. Sucks!

[Puma]

A 460 grain ? Are these the Grizzley +P factory rounds ?

What is the OAL of the round ?

I think the max OAL for a Marlin is 2.545"

I wonder if you exceeded the max length and something has bent or been misaligned in the action ?

[fordtruckin]

Originally Posted by Puma

A 460 grain ? Are these the Grizzley +P factory rounds ?

What is the OAL of the round ?

I think the max OAL for a Marlin is 2.545"

I wonder if you exceeded the max length and something has bent or been misaligned in the action ?

Yes grizzly cartridge. But it also won’t chamber the buffalo bore 380gr mono metal I have, 420gr hand loads or the last of my 30grn low recoil jacketed hollow pots. The last 10 rounds I shot were the low recoil 300s and it jammed on 2 of the 10 but initially I chalked it up to operator error as I wasn’t really moving the lever with a purpose. I will have to check the oal as I don’t have them off hand.

[W921]

I suspect you are a Marlin fan but the 1886 or M71 Winchester is flawless. Little bit heavier than a marlin but just a proven gun.
I've had a few newer marlins and got rid of them. Marlin, like basically all other used to be awesome gun great manufacturers lost me as a customer. The former great American gun corporations are basically like the former great auto manufacturers.

[Backwoods Runner]

I unfortunately purchased 3 of the newer gen rm Marlin a few years ago. They sat in the boxes for a couple years. Tried one out. Shoots 18” low at 50 yards. Tried a couple different bullets with same results. Talked to Marlin. Said to mail on my dime with a paid return shipping. Took it to a gunsmith and after closer inspection you can plainly see barrel is installed crooked. Absolutely no help from Marlin rep.
Installed a high front fibre optic sight and at least it can hit a pie plate at 50 yards. Figured I’d best check out the other 2.
On to #2. Shot a bit low but not horrible. But after 7 rounds locked up tight. After a lot of farting around got it in jammed. Called Marin again. Response was: 5 years after purchase and no receipt. Sorry. Not they’re problem. Take it to a gunsmith.
#3. Test fired. 24” low at 30 yards.

End result. I have 2 garbage 45-70 Marlins with beautiful wood. And 1 I don’t trust.
There will never be another marlin in my possession.

[outofbounds]

Originally Posted by W921

I suspect you are a Marlin fan but the 1886 or M71 Winchester is flawless. Little bit heavier than a marlin but just a proven gun.
I've had a few newer marlins and got rid of them. Marlin, like basically all other used to be awesome gun great manufacturers lost me as a customer. The former great American gun corporations are basically like the former great auto manufacturers.

I had acquired many Marlins in various calibers over the years, most have been sold, a handful of JM models still remain. One rifle of mine that will never be on the block is my '71, that will go to my young fella. As with all firearms today, they dont make them like they used to.
It sounds as if the long wait for a RM may have been a blessing in disguise.

[Dean2]

Have owned 45-70 in 1886, 1885, Sharps, Mauser, Siamese, JM 1895, Rem 1895, Ruger 1 Ruger 3, and Spencer Carbine. The JM if set up right and the 1886 are virtually fool proof as repeaters. I have had very good service from the Rem 1895 but they were hand picked and in the perfect age range. They will shoot way under an inch and I have never had function issues. I have never shot or handled the Ruger version but from what I have read, I know I would not trade my Remlin for one, let alone a JM or an 1886.

There are ways to beef up the 1895, and Alaska has a couple of great customisers but realistically, you have to shoot one a metric ton to see any real wear. One of my 1895s has over 2500 rounds through it with zero repairs or parts and atill shoots under an inch easily.

[W921]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Have owned 45-70 in 1886, 1885, Sharps, Mauser, Siamese, JM 1895, Rem 1895, Ruger 1 Ruger 3, and Spencer Carbine.

Was the Spencer an original with a old conversion?

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by W921

Was the Spencer an original with a old conversion?

Original, but someone offered me stupid money for it so it went down the road to a guy in the States.

[3blade]

Originally Posted by outofbounds

I had acquired many Marlins in various calibers over the years, most have been sold, a handful of JM models still remain. One rifle of mine that will never be on the block is my '71, that will go to my young fella. As with all firearms today, they dont make them like they used to.
It sounds as if the long wait for a RM may have been a blessing in disguise.

Kinda funny, I could have had a pedersoli 1886 for under $2g but wanted the ruger. Now you can get the ruger from friggen cabelas, but the Italian guns are almost $3g and hard to find in store.

Not that I really need either, but a guy should have something big and classy to spank the tail feathers off KVTs pets if one comes snuffing around camp.

[W921]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Original, but someone offered me stupid money for it so it went down the road to a guy in the States.

Can't be many in the world. So did you find it on the internet?

[Dean2]

The Slencer was not in 45 70, so I may be confusing some readers by including it in this discussion. . It was a 56 caliber but that catridge had similar balistics as the 45 70. The Springfield was 45 70 but a very different rifle.