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Thread: 1889 Marlin

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    1889 Marlin

    I have a question I think I know the answer to but, as this is my first ever Marlin I'd like opinions/experience of those vastly more familiar with this rifle than me. As the title says it's an 1889 Marlin in 32-20 that I have on the way. I've been shooting 32-20's for....well, I think since 1985. Anyway, One of my favorite loads was 10 grs. of 2400 over a 98 gr. RCBS, KTSWC. I have one box of 50 left and am wondering if the old Marlin is safe with those loads. I can pull the bullets but it's so much more fun to shoot them. The OLD Lyman cast bullet books give 11.8 grs. of 2400 as max...and I get that the powders have changed and lawyers have changed data. So, my thought is the rifle is ok with those 50 rounds. Would you shoot them in that rifle or pull the bullets and start over?

    Oh, according to the serial # the rifle was supposedly made in 1893.
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  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    that's what the gun was made for if its in good shape theres no reason why it should not work, but it seems every gun is different as to what bullet and load will work well in it. work up a load as you normally would and see how it does.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    I have the same rifle, also made in 1893. I was using 12 grs Reloader 7 and a 115 gr bullet. It worked fine, but for some reason, after a few shots, the rounds had trouble loading. I switched to black powder and everything is great. Your bullets are lighter, so I'd try a few rounds.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    Ok!! Thanks! I don't know if this is "the load", I just wanted to shoot them rather than pull the bullets. I didn't want to stress the old rifle. Its condition sounds good in the ad but I expect we all know how that is. I'll know when it gets here, probably next week.

    That is odd that it would stop feeding, Battis. Ever figure out why BP made a difference?

    Thanks again.
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

    The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery

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  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    I can't remember the exact problem - something to do with the lever jamming - but I think the lower pressure of the BP helped. Maybe I should have tried another powder, or different load, but it works fine with BP.
    I examined the rifle before I bought it, and it seemed fine, but when I got it home and took it apart, I found that it had a broken firing pin. It was broken just about in half (it still worked in two pieces). I found a replacement online and the store covered the cost.

    Now that I think about it, I replaced the ejector also.
    http://www.wisnersinc.com/model/center-fire-lever-1881/

    Here's a link to the forum posts I made when I bought the rifle:
    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...parts-question
    Last edited by Battis; 07-22-2020 at 04:35 PM.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    Hmm..so I may be in for some gunsmithing. Thanks for the info.
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

    The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery

    NRA Benefactor 2008

  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master


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    Greetings 45-90
    I like our 45-90 !! Anyway I have a basic idea about pre-98 firearms and smokeless. If you feel it needs used I would not use any load that exceeded the old BP load. Personally I use 3F in our rifles I want to pass on. Even 3F Goex will burn clean and expands cases so there is no blowback in our rifles.
    From 32-20 up to 45 Colt we are very happy 3F shooters.
    "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
    Male Guanaco out in dry lakebed at 10,800 feet south of Arequipa.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    Thanks missionary!! I am not a stranger to BP. Until I stopped shooting competitively I bought it by the case. If it's a keeper I will be using the '89 Marlin and a BP load is on the list. I recently worked up two excellent BP loads, one for my Jeffrey Rook rifle in 25-20 and another for my Uberti '73 Winchester clone in 44-40. I guess once a fella gets a good whiff of BP smoke you can never get it out of your system. I was infected in 1975.
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

    The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery

    NRA Benefactor 2008

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy
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    If this is your first 89 firing pins are a pretty commonly broken part on these guns. If you keep it get a spare.

  10. #10
    Boolit Bub
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    Most data you find for the .32-20 is for modern guns like the Marlin 1894CB or CL. Those max loads are well over what a 130yo rifle should be subjected to. If it was mine I'd pull those and either use BP or a pistol powder ei. Unique, Titegroup, Trail Boss...

    CS

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    ford, it is, I will.

    10 grs. of 2400 isn't a max load. If memory serves me, max. is 11.8 grs. however, this old rifle will see lighter loads.

    Rifle is supposed to be here today then we'll see if it's a keeper.
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

    The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery

    NRA Benefactor 2008

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
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    Battis, ford, any of you other guys, do you know of a set of tear down instructions? I can't find any on line and my NRA book doesn't list the 1889. The only ones in the book are the 39 and 336. Are they much different? I'm no stranger to pulling rifles down but I'd like to have a reference. 'Preciate the help.

    Oh, the rifle isn't bad. Actually it's pretty good except for the broken ejector and I don't know about the firing pin. It's been apart a few time evidently, judging from the screw heads. It fires but I understand they will anyway. My only....concern, is the bore. For its age it really it's really pretty good but I'd like it to have been better. Jacketed bullets would be fine I believe but I'm a pretty hard core cast shooter. Jury is still out as to whether I'll keep it. Just gathering info at the moment.
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

    The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery

    NRA Benefactor 2008

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    I'm trying to remember what I used for take-down instructions - it'll come to me. It's pretty basic to disassemble and assemble.
    Ejection is very weak - the fired case basically drops out. Mine is a good shooter with black powder. It kicks like a .22.
    Maybe jacketed bullets will clean up the bore.
    From what I was told (on this forum, I think) the 1889 Marlin in 32-20 is pretty rare.

    I think I got some good info from this video:
    https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...6&&FORM=VRDGAR

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    If I remember correctly the seller had looked up how many were made in 32-20 and I want to remember he said something like 15,000.

    I had the same thought about jacketed bullets. Oh, and thanks for the link!!
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

    The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery

    NRA Benefactor 2008

  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    I bought an Argentine Mauser at a good price because the bore was frosted. I shot jacketed bullets through it and now it's nice and shiny. If you need help putting it back together, let me know.

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    I had mentioned that my Marlin jammed when using smokeless powder, but not with black powder. Then I was watching the video that I posted above and the kid in the video mentioned the "Marlin Jam". I googled Marlin Jam and found some interesting stuff. I gotta check it out further.
    https://www.ktgunsmith.com/marlinjam.htm

  17. #17
    Boolit Master
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    Boy, that rifle is a lot like the '94 and, I was wrong. The ejector is not broken and you guys were right, the ejection is not very robust!! Rolls out is a good description. The firing pin is fine as well. I only had 8 jacketed bullets and they cut out some of the gunk. Valve lapping compound got quite a bit more but the bore is never going to be nice.. I ordered a box of 100 bullets but they won't be here for 8-10 days so unless I can find some locally I'm at a standstill.

    I looked briefly at the "Marlin jam" link but I'm not far enough along to worry about that, yet.

    Thank you so much for everyone's help.
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

    The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery

    NRA Benefactor 2008

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    I checked out my rifle and the Marlin Jam doesn't seem to be an issue with it.

  19. #19
    Boolit Bub
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    I don't think the "Marlin Jam" was even an issue until SASS came about. It is caused by the carrier repeatedly dropping down on the pointed part of the lever. An average gun never sees near the amount of use that a competition gun sees. That 1889 may have been used in SASS but I doubt it. I had an 1888 in .44-40 that I shot in a couple matches but parts for them are almost non-existent so I didn't do that anymore. Your '89 is the great-great grandfather to todays '94 it should takedown very similar.

    CS

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    I don't think the "Marlin Jam" was even an issue until SASS came about.
    Good point. My 1889 jams occasionally so I thought it might be a Marlin Jam issue, but I don't see any sign of it.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check