Reviving a vintage Marlin

[Whit Spurzon]

Probably should title this "John Taylor to the rescue."

Last year I found an "affordable" vintage (1905) Marlin on an auction site and bought it. Unfortunately it was not in the described condition... The bore was a sewer pipe...

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k542/WhitSpurzon/1905a.jpg

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k542/WhitSpurzon/05Marlin1894.jpg

It was however in a configuration that was very desirable to me - 24" Octagonal barrel, 32-20 Winchester Caliber... So I sent it off to be relined. (John Taylor)

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k542/WhitSpurzon/Yonderosa067.jpg

Since its (re)arrival it has been getting a lot of action. First at the range to working up a few loads and more recently in the field. So far the loads that have stood out are;

-Lyman 311008 (115gr) over the Lyman (48) MAX of Unique, averages 1320 fps.
-Lyman 311008 (115gr) over W231 over the Oregon Trail Reloading Manual's starting level for about 950 fps
-RCBS 32-98 SWC over the Oregon Trail Reloading Manual's max of Unique, that averages 1370 fps

On paper these loads are printing 1" groups, front rested with me pulling the trigger using the iron sights. More tweaking of the loads is in the works but these are getting the job done.

I've found the Lyman/Unique load to print about 4" high at 50 yards on the lowest sight setting and the RCBS/Unique load to print about 1" high at the same setting and distance.

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k542/WhitSpurzon/CritterCam110-Copy.jpg

I spent an extended weekend out at my place taking the rifle for walks, checking the game cameras, scouting, competed in a silhouette match and over to a friend's for some long range shooting. The rifle is a joy to carry and shoot. Its appetite for ammunition may be its only fault as any in the vicinity seems to evaporate in its presence.

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k542/WhitSpurzon/Yonderosa030.jpg

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k542/WhitSpurzon/Yonderosa025.jpg

http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k542/WhitSpurzon/Yonderosa028-1.jpg

Here is some video of it in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTOWQu07gJ4

Too bad these old rifles can't talk. 107 years of lost memories but I'm glad to have the opportunity to add to the chapters to the book.

[Bulldogger]

Beautiful, just beautiful. BDGR

[Jack Stanley]

It's rifles like that one that just seem to have a personality about them . It looks like it's had honest work for the last hundred years . Thanks for the photos .

Jack

[ajjohns]

Nothing better than checking out the forest with a good lever. Nice! Looks like fun and shoots to boot.

[sharps4590]

Good on you and good for you Whit!!! Fine, fine little cartridge the 32-20. It already was everything the 32 H & R wanted to be. Excellent rifle also! I'd take a Marlin from that era any time.

I really can't tell you how good it was to read your post. 20 or more years ago I did the same thing with a '92 Winchester rifle in the same caliber. I felt a little guilty relining an old Winchester but I wanted a shooter and the "sewer pipe" bore you described was exactly what I had, so it got relined. I also have 3 revolvers in the 32-20, 2 SAA's and a Colt Army Special.

My "standard" load for almost the entire time I've been shooting 32-20's has been the RCBS 32-98 you mention over 5 grs. of Unique. Occasionally I'll "Elmer Keith" the rifle and load 10 grs. of 2400. I need to run that load over my chrono and see what it does.

A fine rifle in a fine cartridge.....good for you! Enjoy it immensely.

[Bret4207]

I have a very similar rifle with the sewer pipe bore. Can you give a ball park figure on what this ran you? Well done job!

[w30wcf]

Whit,
Neat gun, Great story! It is indeed awesome to get a vintage levergun talking once again.:-):-)

w30wcf

[atr]

well done Whit !.......

[sharps4590]

Bret, mine was done quite a while ago so it probably isn't an accurate figure for these days. I'm pretty sure mine was around $200.00. At that time I think liners in that caliber were less than common so it cost a little more than a "regular" caliber liner.

[TCLouis]

32-20 or even the 25-20 just seems like the perfect cartridge to have in a woods walking, plinkin, playin kinda gun.

Maybe the Rossi 92 if one must find one in a modern gun.

[TXGunNut]

Nicely done, appears to be a rifle well worth the trouble.

[Salmoneye]

Tis a thing of beauty...

[OverMax]

I like the yonderosa label. Catchy. Appears there wasn't any bad cosmetic draw backs having to deal with other than the usual for its age (a dark barrel sometimes.) To bring an old 94 back to life for a couple hundred is worth the effort. Nicely done.

[Whit Spurzon]

Have I said how much I like this rifle?

Took it out to the U-Pick Sagebrush Ranch for some long range fun. Here are my 600 yard efforts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJp32Tj5yIk

[Salmoneye]

Amazing...

Thanks for the update!

[smkummer]

That rifle has been given a new life ready to put meat on the table or in this case plink away forever. The "new" barrel will never be put away wet with coorosive ammo fired in it, it should last another lifetime.

[Jack Stanley]

I watched the video and found myself listening for the impact on steel as well . Great shooting for sure and thanks for sharing that !

Jack

[Whit Spurzon]

That rifle has been given a new life ready to put meat on the table or in this case plink away forever. The "new" barrel will never be put away wet with coorosive ammo fired in it, it should last another lifetime.

It has 107 years of lost history. I'm hoping the next guy that owns it will know where its been and what it can do. With luck I'll have a pile of memories the next guy can build upon.

Who know's how many riflemen have owned or fired this rifle? The mystique is kind of cool but I'd like to know where its been and what its done.

Old guns - it don't get no better... It was almost as old as I am now when I was born. Where was it then? What did it do? Who's the fool that let it degrade? What game has it taken?

Regardless of its history, I plan to make a lot more before it goes to the next guy.

Have I said how much I like this rifle?

[jlchucker]

A beautiful job! You are well justified in being proud of yourself for reviving this old classic--and making use of it! Let's hope it's a long time before it "goes to the next guy".

[PatMarlin]

Outstanding. What a great thing to do. I'm curious on the cost as well ...:drinks:

[Rick R]

It looks to me like you gave a fine old rifle a new lease on life. Lining the barrel seems to have made it fairly useful, if repeated hits at 600 yards are an indication. ;)

I'm interested in the relining process too as I've got a small ring M98 Mauser sporter in 8x57 that saw too many corrosive primers and too few cleaning patches during it's first 100 years.

[frankenfab]

Mr. Whit, that is an awesome rifle. Now I want one!

[Spruce]

Great looking firearm, looks like it carries well. Great videos, looks like it is as fun to shoot as it looks.

[Ken B]

I love Levers, Trying to talk a Freind out of his Marlin 38-55!!!

[sharps4590]

Great video and shooting Whit! I never, not in a million years, would have thought to try my '92 in 32-20 at 600 yards! I wonder what the mid-range trajectory is....lol!!!

Yes, old guns are where it's at for me also. The history with which they reek and we will sadly never know is overwhelming. I have kinda gravitated to pre-1900 German Cape guns, drillings and double rifles but it's always a hoot to take out one of my old Winchesters or Colts and run some lead down range or do a woods walk with one. Memories are made of this!

[smkummer]

PM sent about a Colt Army Special 6 in. in 32-20 that was made in 1922 for sale.

[sharps4590]

I have an Army Special in 32-20 except mine has the 4 in. barrel. I carried that old revolver for years in a shoulder holster when working or just out and about on our farm. Took a lot of feral cats with it and more than a few rabbits. Good revolvers except that they stack up a little when fired DA. At least mine does.

[Whit Spurzon]

PatMarlin: It cost me $400 for John Taylor Machine to do his magic. VERY reasonable considering what I got back compared to what I sent in. He did it in the time frame he said he would and obviously, the work is stellar. If I'd have known ahead of time what I'd get back I'd have paid double and still thought I got a bargain.

Have a said how much I like this rifle recently?

The next day I shot this rifle (without cleaning it for more than 200 shots) in an 80 round silhouette match. Managed 61 of the 80 and probably would have done better if it wasn't 100 degrees and way hotter than that inside my skull - I thought I could smell something burning... All the misses I knew the instant I touched it off as the front sight had just left the circumference of the critter and the subsequent dirt splash was right where the front sight was when it barked. I wasn't having a particularly good day steadiness wise and I was dehydrated and baked. That being said the rifle performed amazingly. While not my best performance I can't blame the rifle at all. If anything it improved my score by at least 20% based on my concentration level and environmental conditions. I'm hoping to get it out again this weekend for another match. If I do my part, it'll do its.

Sharps4590: According to my calculations, the trajectory at it's peak is a little over 47 feet over the 600 yard distance. I had the rear sight on the top notch and then put about to front blades worth of elevation into it. You can see in the video me dropping the barrel and pushing up to find the aiming point - the target is completely obscured by the barrel and I'm making an educated guess at the elevation. I was amazed that my first shot was that close. I really should have done better with as many spotters as I had. Just goes to show it's the nut behind the trigger that makes the difference.

[skeet1]

Whit
Very nice rifle! I looks like John Taylor did and outstanding job. Just curious, what groove diameter did you get?

Ken

[Whit Spurzon]

Skeet: If I recall correctly it was .3124"

I'm shooting the Lyman 311008 (as cast ~.313-314") over enough Unique to get it going 1356 fps. Starline Brass, CCI SP primers with an OAL of 1.592" roll crimped into the driving band.

[skeet1]

Whit,
thanks for the info. I have long been a fan of the .32-20 and I hope you enjoy your refurbished Marlin. This should be a great rifle.

Ken