Remlin

[Hack]

Any new Marlin owners? What do you think of the quality on the rifles that are being put out now?

I just acquired a 'new' 336C .30-30 Winchester (the 336C is supposed to be the 'flagship' model), and I am not impressed. It doesn't begin to compare with my JM stamped 336C .35 Remington.

I've got the rifle torn down, for cleaning and inspection (I do this with ALL guns, new or used) and here's the first thing I found:




Tooling must have 'slipped' and caused a saw blade like kerf. This made it past the person finishing the fore end, the person assembling the rifle and any final QC down the line.

To Remington's credit, I called and sent pics. They responded within 30 minutes saying a new fore end was on the way. No need to return the old one.

So I get the replacement, and it's like they don't even have sand paper at the plant. The interior is ROUGH. I mean end grain furry rough. And it doesn't fit properly. Rather than deal with CS again, I took some 200 grit and a utility knife to it. A few thou off the one end and it slipped into the receiver, like it should have at the factory. But didn't.

Any one else????

 

[shouldazagged]

That's really distressing. I had a 336C forty years ago, a .30-30, that was wonderfully built and fitted. My son has a pre-Remington stainless 336 in .35 Remington which he has happily used to take a bunch of Pennsylvania deer. He says it's fine in every respect.

But I've heard lately that QC seems to have gone to hell. Yours is the most glaring example I've read of. I hate to see this happen to a grand old brand.

 

[mc5aw]

When everything was consolidated under the Ilion roof (Bushmaster, Marlin, etc.) QC went south fast. I was looking for a Marlin .45-70 and heard rumors about canted front sights, crooked barrels, poor fit'n'finish, etc. I held two new Remlins and both were not worth the asking prices based on QC. Bushmaster products suffered as well. I've heard that QC has improved over the past couple years, but personally I wouldn't own anything from Ilion.

 

[Dutchs]

I bought a brand new 1895 GBL about a year and a half ago..I out a Wild West Trigger and a Bushnell Trophy XLT on it and never looked back absolutely excellent gun and all things fit and work awesome!

 

[tomtheturner]

I have several Marlin rifles, all are older ones made by Marlin that I was able to compare to my new Remington made 1894SS in .357 mag. It was made relatively new in Remington's attempt at making Marlins.

The exterior fit and finish is comparable to my older Marlins. That may be due to using parts that were already made by Marlin. The front sight was a total mess. I don't know how it ever passed inspection. I called, and they immediately sent me a complete new front sight. It took some fitting, but I was able to get it on properly. The action was very rough, and gritty. It is smoothing out with use. I think if I took it apart, and did some polishing it would help it even more.

I installed a Leupold 2X extended relief scope with a scout mount, and I have absolutely no problems with its accuracy out to 100yds, which is the farthest that I have to shoot.

With 38 specials it is a little fussy about feeding, but feeds .357 mags fine.

I didn't have a .357 mag lever gun, and wanted one. I couldn't find an older one, and found this one at a good price.
It compares favorably to my older Marlin levers, Guide gunSS, 1894SS in .44mag. A cowboy 45/70, an old 30/30, a 41 mag, and a couple of older .22s. I have no regets in buying the gun made by Remington. I may have been lucky . . .??

Best Wishes,
Tom

 

[finesse_r]

I have some older Marlins that are fantastic lever action rifles. Very accurate and totally reliable. I have not sampled those made in the last few years.

 

[kaaskop49]

Is it Remlin or (G)remlin?

 

[blujax01]

When the change took place six years ago, there were problems. Whatever issues were evident then, they seem to have been corrected. I have a 2012 make 1895 SBL chambered in 45/70 and am very happy with it.

It makes no difference how well-made the new ones may be, or how the old ones may have been sent out with nicks and dings just like the one seen above, Marlin purists will never accept any Remington-made Marlin gun.

Ever.

 

[Hack]

...Marlin purists will never accept any Remington-made Marlin gun...

You're probably correct.

I'm not a purist. But I am one that believes it only takes a bit more time and effort to 'do it right'. And I don't mind paying for that.

Again, the Remington Customer Service was top notch on this issue. No complaints from me on that.

That being said, I'm certain I will enjoy the 'little' .30-30. I plan on leaving it open sighted with either the factory or with a Skinner Peep. I will repair the original fore end and keep it as a spare.

On a somewhat related note, my FN built Winchester Model 70, appears to be flawless. Haven't shot it yet, but looking forward to that day on the range.

 

[ladder13]

I have 2 recently built Remlins, a 1894C and an 1894SS, both guns are fine and seem to be improved a lot since the early Remlins. I do own some older Marlins also, admittedly they're better than the newer ones. ymmv

 

[Hack]

No doubt they got both a load of complaints, and a load of warranty returns, on the early production. It's good to hear the QC is improving.

 

[blujax01]

You're probably correct.

I'm not a purist. But I am one that believes it only takes a bit more time and effort to 'do it right'. And I don't mind paying for that.

...

Ain't that the truth!

How many things would be tons better if only folks took a little more time to make them more than just "acceptable"?

 

[35Rem]

"We don't have time to do it right the first time. We barely have time to do it right the second time."

 

[Hack]

"We don't have time to do it right the first time. We barely have time to do it right the second time."

Yup. My all time favorite contractor/mechanic line:

"I was trying to save you some money."

I want it done right the first time. We'll talk about price once we get that notion understood.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Bought a brand new 336Y earlier this year. It's a mess. The action is so rough that it's a knuckle breaker to work the action. Loaded up a few dummy rounds. Loading gate is so stiff I'm deforming the bullet nose trying to feed it in and the brass was scuffed pretty good. Work the action like I mean it only to jam the cartridge feeding. Wiggle and poke it to get it free and it finally feeds into the chamber. Again work the action like I mean it only to get the lever stuck and the cartridge hangs up again not ejecting. Got it free and clear. Work the action and jam the next one. Try the trigger. Try the trigger again. ***. How heavy is this freaking thing? Feels like the most stiff heavy trigger I've ever pulled. Jammed ejecting again. Sights look like functional junk. Wood to metal fit is nothing to gush over but isn't as bad as some I've seen. Could send it back but it would just go back to the same morons that built it like this in the first place. That rifle now hides in the back of the safe for a future project.

 

[Hack]

...Could send it back but it would just go back to the same morons that built it like this in the first place...

I think I'd send it back and give them a chance to make it right.

The gunsmithing department, is probably staffed by different folks than the assembly area. And hopefully the QC is better.

 

[papajohn428]

The latest gossip is that Remington bought a bunch of new CNC machines and has been revamping their assembly lines and re-training their work force. Lordy I hope so, the stuff coming out of Ilion a few years ago was just horrid. Over on the MarlinOwners.com forum I hear of new guns found to be presentable, but there is also an entire section devoted to angry Remlin rants, and it's still seeing new posts. Things may be improving, but there is a lot of junk already out there.

Caveat Emptor still applies. If you can't inspect it personally and thoroughly, pass it by. I have a bunch of Marlins, some were better than others, all were a little rough when new. But they were all far and away superior to the Remlins I've inspected.

 

[wuluf]

Stories like these are why I bought a 1980 336 through Gunbroker. It's not hard to find one that hasn't been used much...

 

[WPWarhawk]

I have several older Marlins, mostly pre safety (1983). I wanted one of the new "designer" 45-70 lever guns, but looked over enough remlin stuff that was absolute junk that I'll never buy one.

Some common remlin traits.

Poorly finished wood that looks more like a 2x4 with rounded edges than a gunstock.

canted front sights
mangled front sights
front sights with missing dovetail inserts (all six remlin 1895's that the Fort Worth Cabelas had in stock were missing the front sight blade)

One 1895 had an action that when cycled stuck in the open position, and could not be closed.

Once you get where you can recognize a remlin, the poor wood gives them away and you can spot them on the rack from the other side of the counter. Those of you than have an older Marlin and a new remlin, compare the stocks, look at the thickness of the fore end, the butt stock at the wrist, and compare the wood finish.

 

[shouldazagged]

This is really making me appreciate my 40-year-old 39A (my second), and the 336 I parted with long ago, even more.

Sad reading.