Misfiring 336

[Contenderizer]

I have a Marlin 336 (35 Rem) that's giving me fits because once in a while it will misfire (always at a bad time, I might add). When I extract the factory loaded round it will have a very slight indentation on the primer where the firing pin struck, but obviously not hard enough to cause detenation. This problem comes and goes, and all the ammo seems to have the primers properly seated. I had a gunsmith look at it and he found some lead near the breech which we both hoped was holding the bolt back (increasing headspace). Unfortunaly, the problem still exists. I was going to send the gun to Marlin, but they want the scope removed which I would like only to do as a last resort. Any suggestions?

[Gil Martin]

I would probably send the rifle back to Marlin for inspection and repair as needed. What you describe should no be happening. All the best...
Gil

[buckhunter]

Had a simular problem with a Savage 99 in 358. No matter what I tried I alway had a couple misfires. Finally got frustrated and just shot factory ammo. Wow, it that suff expensive. Anyway if you handloading you may have a continued problem.

[wrenchman]

I have herd of a problim like this were there is a grease buld up in the fireing pin spring.
It was frome when the gun was new it was a bolt action thow you might have the same typ problim.

[BILLY D.]

Originally posted by wrenchman
I have herd of a problim like this were there is a grease buld up in the fireing pin spring.
It was frome when the gun was new it was a bolt action thow you might have the same typ problim.

I concur. Strip it down and give it a good cleaning. If that don't work send 'er back.

Best wishes, Bill

[Old Scout]

I have a number of Marlins come into the shop with similar complaint. Often find the firing pin broken.
I'd suggest you remove the bolt and take out the firing pin. Inspect the parts and the channel. I think you'll find you problem there.

Old Scout

[GoodOlBoy]

two possible solutions that I know of. One get a set of wolf springs for it, and number two IF it has the two piece firing pin in it go out and find the one piece pin for it.

GoodOlBoy

[Old Scout]

GoodOlBoy
The one pc Marlin firing pin is a gross liability issue in this neck of the woods. I won't install them.

Old Scout

[Contenderizer]

TO: Old Scout and GoodOlBoy,

Great info guys. Since posting my original message I talked to the gunsmith who looked at the gun before and he said he would tear it down again N/C. He mentioned a 2 piece firing pin and said proper alignment of the two was critical. I'll suggest spring replacement as long as he has the gun apart anyway. Is the Wolf spring superior to a new Marlin replacement (or is wolf just what the spring is called)? What is the problem with a one piece pin?

[Old Scout]

Contenderizer

Since the late 1800's, Marlin has advertised the two piece firing pin as a primary safety device. It prevents out of battery firing ( nasty at best ).
Out here on the left coast, my libility insurance is void the moment I remove or disable a safety device. I won't even accept for repair a Marlin with the one pc firing pin, unless I have a release from the gun owner.
Here where SASS/CAS lives, I work on dozens of Marlins, and find the 2pc firing pins will work just as well as anything else. I would also mention there is no such thing as an alignment problem. The forward ( long ) section of the firing pin will occaisionally break, as any firing pin is likely to do.
I shoot two Marlin 44-40's, neither of which has broken in 5 years of shooting every weekend.

Cheers
Old Scout

[Contenderizer]

Thanks, Old Scout, for clearing-up my questions. I believe I'll stick to the two piece firing pin. Will let you know what we find when we tear-down the gun again.

[GoodOlBoy]

Yep probably why most of the cowboy action shooters use the one piece firing pin is because it needs to go off every time without having to worry about alignment etc. You would play hell working on an original marlin if you wouldn't work on a gun with a one piece pin. My 336 has a one piece pin from the factory, but thats because it is older than dirt. No safeties, nothing. All from the factory that way. Hrmm wonder why it has never gone off out of battery? Must be a problem with the user. Maybe I should be less careful.

GoodOlBoy

[Old Scout]

GoodOlBoy
"factory equipment" is not the problem. I work on many Marlins with one pc pins. Have 3 in the rack at present, 81's and 89's, that were made that way. The problem is a modified arm, or one declared dangerous by an authority ( such as the 1898 series of Marlin pump shotguns ). In this neck of the woods, those can get you sued in a heartbeat!
I own ( well, one of the owners of ) the largest SASS CAS club there is. Within a few miles of here are several other large clubs. We have 300-400 shooters banging away each week end, and many shoot Marlins. While I haven't run a poll, I'd say less than 10% have 1 pc firing pins in their guns. The Marlin design is prone to minor feed troubles, but mis-fires are not common. The occaisional broken firing pin is no more common than Winchesters, and less common than Rossi's.
Your Marlin 336 is very interesting. I have never heard of a solid pin in any Marlin '93 or later model. The Marlin Rep never heard of it also. Would you mind giving me an idea of the serial number?
Out of battery discharges happen ( more so with the '66 and '73 toggle lockers ) and can generally be traced to gun modifications and poor handling. Like all other "Negitives" ( injured shooters, blown up guns, Ad's, OBD's ), bad happenings don't get much publicity.
As always my vantage point is from So. Cal, maybe your world is different.

Old Scout

[GoodOlBoy]

Yep I can give you an idea once I get to the house and write it down.

I can understand being concerend with dangerously modified marlins, AND I can even understand the problems you are having in california. I cannot understand a marlin rep never having heard of a 336 with a one piece fireing pin. I know of at least two other people who have OLD marlins like mine that are the SAME way. In Texas I have only met a few hundred or so marlin cowboy shooters and a like number of hunters. Most hunters (except hog hunters) don't tend to change the pin UNLESS they had a problem first. Most of the Cowboy action shooters I have met HAVE changed it. Just as back in the day we all replaced the rossi follower with steel, and we all added marbles semibuckhorn sights to replace the old factory blades. Most of us even had a little work done here or there if the gun needed it.

As for california Cowboy Action Shooters as I recall more than a couple of them are the reason that Coyote Cap was basically blackballed at some of the events. Don't care much for those tactics used on a man that not only knows his guns but is one of the finest gunsmiths I have ever had the privalege of talking to.

Maybe its just me.

GoodOlBoy

[Old Scout]

GoodOlBoy
Yes your quite right, Cap was treated poorly. I watched that unfold, and had little difficulty predicting the outcome. But then we are used to dealing with "those people". Fortunately "those people" are moving to New Mexico ( currently they are just down the road ).
I have shot in competition almost every weekend for 55 years. In past years I have had to follow the Gunsmithing. Was heavy into muzzle loading ( making barrels , re-rifling barrels, choking shotguns, rebuilding antiques ), then Schuetzen ( building target rifles ), NRA Big Bore, and of course SASS.
SASS work has payed the bills for some time ( been around since day 1 ) but now I'm mostly retired and fed up with what SASS is becoming. I find myself at CWSA and NRA matchs more often then SASS, and of course I've always supported OWSA matchs ( the real CAS ).

Cheers
Old Scout

[GoodOlBoy]

Well we can certainly agree on that. I checked my 336 last night to be sure I wasn't talking out both sides of my arse, and I was correct no safeties and a one piece firing pin. Howsomever it did dawn on me that while it is an old gun (yes I copied down the serial number, and yes I left it on my dresser this morning along with my watch CRS is kicking in again) I was not around for its original purchase so I cannot swear for certain that it IS the original pin. I do know that the person who had it before me was the original owner and when I asked him about it yesterday afternoon he told me he had never had any work done to that old rifle. Of course that doesnt me he didn't it just means he claimed he didn't. I will still get you the number when my mind works well enough not to forget to bring it along to work.

Hate to hear they are moving to arizona that puts them closer to Texas, and particularly closer to one of the better CAS groups out towards Victoria.

Me? I have only been shooting and working with guns for 27 years or so. But then again I am only 33.

GoodOlBoy

[ghunter]

Contenderizer I had that problem once and I replaced the hammer spring they get weak after use.

[Old Scout]

GoodOlBoy

"those folks' are moving to New Mexico, if I remember right thats even closer to Texas than Arizona!!

Cheers
Old Scout

[GoodOlBoy]

Yep. Thankfully though the Texas groups, particularly those in West Texas, don't tend to put up with much nonsense. Not that they can't start trouble, but rather they won't have a good time doing it.

I wish I was more active in CAS than I am, in fact I have not even been to a shoot in more than a year. Last one I went to was so commercialized it made my teeth hurt. Instead of folks carrying around good, safe, sturdy rigs on their carts it was all high dollar chrome, ingraving, and malarky. Lever guns rebuilt so that the throws were so short it was staggering, coach guns with chambers polished out til you could almost drop the shell into the barrel, etc. One old boy there was packing a pair of S&W Schofields that were ingraved, inlaid, with fossilized ivory handles. He could shoot for hell, but he ran everybody down that didn't have at least a few grand into each piece of their rig. Everntually the local group told him to keep quiet or leave, but the damage was done as far as I was concerened. Its the same reason I didn't stap with IPSC. When it gets to a point were the art and skill of shooting matter less than how much edge you can buy for your rig then I am out. Rationally I know that people do it to win, from the standpoint of a good time shooting it just doesn't work for me.

What got me started in the first place was watching a guy shooting a pair of 1875 outlaws in 38/357 shooting gunslinger style at a welcome event. I was hooked. He probably had no more than a few hundred into his entire rig and watching him shoot was enjoyable. That was probably the first and last time I really enjoyed an event. Competition is great, but when you have to earn respect with your gear rather than your shooting I don't see the point.

Anyway enough of that.

GoodOlBoy

[Contenderizer]

Well, I just picked-up the problem 336 from the gunsmith. He fired it before tear-down and experienced several misfires. When he took it apart - no broken firing pin; no broken springs; everything tight and proper. All he could do is clean it and polish some of the parts. He also polished a slight taper on the end of the rear half of the firing pin. Gun working fine now, but as I said in the very beginning, the problem comes and goes. At this point, who knows. Guess the next step will be new springs if the problem persists. :mad:

[squirrelman]

I got two guns that did the same thing. The cure was the brass. Primer pockets were to deep.-Squirrelman