Remlins....err Marlins

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ladder13

ladder13

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Anyone get a Marlin recently? If so can you comment on it's quality. They seem to be having major QC issues, like many manufacturers, and are derisively being called Remlins. In case you aren't aware Marlin was bought by the Freedom Group, which owns a few firearms companies, Marlin and Remington being two of them.
 
from what i've read/heard the issue is that rem moved the factory - so new factory, tooling for the most part and workforce. Always a recipe for um, lets just call it a learning curve, OK?
So they cut back on what they're trying to make until things are under control - hence the near extinction of the 94 in 357 or 45 calibers.

I got a 336 last december and it seems fine. I've not shot i much but have had no issues. It's got a screw or two that could be better installed...but I only paid $275 new. This month dicks has the same gun, on sale, for $399. I hope it's better for that 30% price hike.

I've picked up 2 new 22LRs - a 795 which is by far the most accurage gun I own. It does dime sized groups off hand at 25 years with cci blazer bulk ammo.
I also got an XT bolt rifle and it seems just fine as well. Both are 'better' than the 336 I got 10 months ago. Both are as good or better than my 70s era marlin glenfield 26.
i've not fieldstripped any of them looking for things so can't comment on how they look inside, but they all function and are accurate and the finish is fine, triggers smooth, a tad heavy (6 lbs on the 795) but they're all low cost rifles - I put out $580 for all 3 including 2 scopes (one of which is soooo cheap as to be an embarrasment to call it a scope. It's more like a cool looking target!)
 
The last one I bought, a few years ago, a SS .44, wouldn't shoot anywhere within the adjustable range of its factory rear sights or the XS sights I tried. (It shot either way high or way low --- I've repressed the unpleasant memories...) That was a fatal flaw, but also, the bolt had undressed nasty sharp edges, the trigger was poor, the gun gave the impression of third-world wartime production, not the reasonable fit and finish you'd expect from a modern American firearms factory. It wasn't around long...
 
One of my LGS's said they had to start doing a cursory visual inspection because they didn't want to put out a pair of 1894's for sale since they looked so bad. I asked to see one and was handed a SS .357 and the stock to receiver fit looked like it was done by a blind man. Actually a blind man would have been able to feel the gaps with his finger tips so now I'm just belittling the blind. Maybe it looked like it was done by child labor.
 
I'll pass on any Freedom Arms product for the foreseeable future. I don't like their business practices and don't trust them to put out a product that is worth the price they are asking.
 
I dont know about that really? The CEO came to our gun club to speak a few months back. Hes a real gun guy and wants to succeed as a business. I am sure that they have bugs to work out and will have bumps in the road. The are making products in America!!

They are also making M-4s for the military!!



forresth said:
I'll pass on any Freedom Arms product for the foreseeable future. I don't like their business practices and don't trust them to put out a product that is worth the price they are asking.
Click to expand...
 
I have seen many "Remington" made Marlins and they are all on par with my 70's vintage Marlins. Only difference is the finish they use now is the same as all the other gun manufacturers. A dull finished walnut stock and almost a matte blued barrel and reciever. I guess I am just use to the shiney spray on clear finish on the wood and polished blue of the 70's.

John
 
Handled one the other day that was NIB. Rough as a corn cob on a February morning... and just as crappy. The clerk must have read my mind because he lamely quipped "Oh I'm sure it will break in over time ..."
 
wheelgun28 said:
I dont know about that really? The CEO came to our gun club to speak a few months back. Hes a real gun guy and wants to succeed as a business. I am sure that they have bugs to work out and will have bumps in the road. The are making products in America!!

They are also making M-4s for the military!!
Click to expand...

Who gives a poop that they managed to sneak a bid in for a few pennies less than the other guys? or did they just flat out buy that contract when they picked up the company that earned it?

They are buying up successful companies then gutting them and consolidating tooling to make even more money at the expense of the workers who made the name they purchased. They don't seem to really care if quality goes down the crapper because of it either.

Smells like greed for short term profits and who cares what happens a few years from now. Then after the vampires have sucked these formerly world class companies dry, they will take their previous profits and supplement them with a nice fat golden parachute, leaving desolation in their wake.

I've seen other big companies buying up small companies, then strip em down like a giant corporate chop shop. Cerberus Capitol (freedom's parent) has a history of doing it as a matter of fact, and Tax payers ended footing the bill for it! You don't want to work for those companies and you don't want to deal with them as a customer either. They are akin to what the most vehement Walmart haters claim Walmart is. I worked for those types of companies. It didn't end well either time. One is long gone and the other is the laughing stock of the industry. They would seam to get by on buying contracts and putting out low-ball bids to customers who regret it a fair number of times.

As I said before; I'll pass.
 
Bushmaster is under the same ownership umbrella, as is Para. When the Bushmaster factory was moved, there were also numerous complaints about QC. From what I currently hear, those complaints have lessened significantly. The two pre-move M-4s I have are flawless. I owned one Para years ago ... one was enough. It was a better paperweight than 1911, and it was a lousy paperweight. Suffice it to say, I'd take a Glock over a Para, and I despise Glocks of any shape or size.
 
Cabela's in Kearney has close to a dozen of the "new" Marlins on the used gun rack that have been back to the factory more than once to get them fixed.
 
I would suspect that when they moved from North Haven CT to Down South, there were a lot of employees who for one reason or another did not follow. On top of dealing with new employees, equipment, strange environment, etc. they also have to deal with a Conglomerate instead of a privately owned Company as they once were - different rules, reg's and work ethics. Hopefully they have or will rapidly "get their act together" and start producing what they are known for.


Chief38
 
Purchased a Marlin Model 39A lever action 22LR probably a little over a year ago.

It has firing pin issues, I've filed the step in the pin a little deeper for a harder strike,

it still has too many misfires with various ammos.

The Marlin Forum says it has these issue and also EXTRATOR ones that mine does not.

The forums suggestion is to replace the parts with parts from a gentlemen who makes replacement parts for older or obsolete firearms.

The NEW OWNERS SCREWED UP a rifle that's been made for 100 years, not quite the quality control or production standards you would expect.

The rifle does look nice though, it just doesn't perform its main function as well as it should.:(
 
I haven't bought a Marlin. I did buy a Remington 770 as kind of an emergency purchase for hunting last year. Big Mistake. Junk! I got a survey day before yesterday asking how I liked it and pretty much lit them up about quality and such. Told them no, I would not recommend Remington products based on that rifle. I also bought a post-sale Bushmaster last year and while it shoots ok, I wouldn't buy another. At the time of that purchase, I didn't realize that Bushmaster was under the Freedom Group too. I'm pretty much done with them unless their quality comes way up.

CW
 
Three years ago or so I bought a Model 95 rifle with the longer barrel in .45-70. THe gun would not sight in period, always about an inch or two to the left of the bullseye at 25 yards. Groups were good well under an inch, just to the left. I tried three different rear sights and tapped the front sight all the way over to try and compensate and it got me a bit closer, but never on target. I also bought a new in the box Model 94 and it would not feed with factory ammo of any kind so it went down the road. I have been talking with several shop owners and they all say they have been getting returns now five or six guns at a time to be sent back to Marlin. Hopefully they will solve the problems because I happen to like them and want a .357 lever someday.
 
Purchased my Marlin 60 SB July 2009.

North Haven, Connecticut stamped on the barrel:cool:
 
labworm said:
Purchased my Marlin 60 SB July 2009.

North Haven, Connecticut stamped on the barrel:cool:
Click to expand...

No surprise, they were still located in Ct at that time. ;):D

I bought a Marlin 1894SS, 44 stainless, about a year ago, also had the JM stamp, the gun shoots fine with my Skinner sight on it.The action is smooth as well.
I wanted a 1894CSS, 357 stainess, but they stopped making them and the prices on any if you can find one for sale have skyrocketed to obscene $$$. :(
 
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