Sent A Marlin Back

[softpoint]

I sent a Marlin back to the factory today. I've owned a good many Marlin rifles, and the few issues I've had with them I always repaired myself. Usually "tuning" that the factory wouldn't do anyway. But I sent a new 39A back to the factory today, It had failures to extract with some ammo, (a problem I could fix, but shouldn't have to), After over 600 rounds of about 12 different types-brands of ammo, still having fliers that would open a normal group up to over 3 inches at 50 yards. Maybe a chamber problem? Maybe the crown, but I don't think so, I looked at it with a magnifier and it looked OK. Then upon re-assembling it after taking it apart to clean it, I noticed a small piece of steel laying on my workbench, turns out it is a piece of the receiver! The small part of the rear of the barrel half that is a bolt guide had simply snapped or fallen off! I guess when I dis-assembled it. Anyway, It's on its' way back to Marlin already, so I guess I'll find out what thier customer service is like. I tried to call them a number of times today, but could never get through, so I just packed it up and put a letter inside and sent it back.
What's others experience with Marlin service like? Are they pretty good to deal with, or am I in for an ordeal ?

[NVcurmudgeon]

I hope your letter to Marlin was very detailed and complete. I have owned six Marlins, used and new. All vere very satisfactory except one. The exception was a new 39A in the early eighties. This rifle shot so ridiculously low with several brands of ammunition that I could not zero it properly with a scope. I was able to zero it with a Williams Fool Proof aperture rear sight, but the sight was so high above the receiver that I couldn't rest my cheek on the comb. (A lower front sight would not have helped as the factory sight was as low as I have ever seen.) I sent it back to the factory TWICE to no avail. Each time I received a brief note to the effect that it shot just fine. I solved the problem by trading it off. I'm sure to this day that I got a bent barrel or cattywampus receiver, but couldn't convince Marlin. About the same time a friend of mine had a 39A with the bore so far off center at the muzzle that it would have run out the side if the barrel had been any longer. I still like Marlins very much, but am off of the 39A forever. That's OK, I can shoot ground squirrels through the diamonds of my chain link fence with my CZ 452 and Federal bulk .22 LR. What was it with 39A barrels in the eighties?

[Jack Stanley]

I quit buying Marlins mostly because of their service department . I do have a couple that run fine but I won't ever suggest a Marlin product to anyone .

Jack

[lastmanout]

I have had a lot of good Marlin Rifles-- But--- one 39A - 1980's production had an unhardened elevator. It would bend if used briskly. Bump with the lead hammer and OK until next time. Traded it off. I also have a CZ 452 now-- good stuff !!!

[Gee_Wizz01]

I just got my brand new never fired Marlin 1895G back from Marlin. I bought it new and when I got it home the lever would not stay latched. Since it was new I took it back to Gander Mountain and they sent it back to Marlin. It took 3 and 1/2 weeks to get it back, and that was only after I raised cane at Gander Mountain and they called Marlin and it was expedited. It shoots good now, but I missed the hog hunt I bought it for.

G

[jlchucker]

Except for one Marlin in 35 Remington that I had bought well-used, every Marlin that I ever acquired new either shot so low or so high that the front sight needed replacing. That's an easy enough fix--not worth sending back to the factory, but one has to wonder about the quality control at assembly at that place. One of those rifles was a Classic model in 25-20. I should have sent it back, because in order to get enough height on the front sight I needed to add a ramp to make it shoot well. A friend liked that rifle and its ramp-and receiver sight setup, and bought it. Except for the sight issue (and the ridicuously fat forearms) I never owned any Marlin that I needed to complain about.