Finally Shot My Marlin 1981

[Retired W4]

These are really cool guns. Chambered for 32 short and long rim fire and with a quick and easy swap of the firing pin, 32 short and long center fire. I burned up some Navy Arms 32 short RF and some older 32 long RF. What a pleasant shooting gun, with no perceptable recoil, and accurate enough for squirrel hunting. The first 1891's were side loaders (rare), and Marlin quickly went to the tube loader, which looks just like the 1892. The bolt and firing pins are different and are not interchangeable. I have been collecting 32 ammo for my rifle and I now have a pretty good stash, but it can be very expensive. Now to change out the firing pin for some center fire shooting.

 

[diyj98]

I never tried my 1892 with rimfire, but it was a fun little plinking rifle with centerfire ammo.

I once looked at an 1892 at a gunshow. I asked the seller if he had both firing pins. He told me that there was only one firing pin. He insisted that it would shoot rimfire or centerfire ammo with the same firing pin. I'm not sure how he thought that would work, but sometimes it's not worth arguing with an "expert".