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Marlin 81DL Extractor (Old Style)
Starting a new project on an old Marlin 81DL 22 bolt action recently acquired. Appears to be made in the 40's. Not worked on one of these before and look forward to the outcome. There are questions, though. This early model year took two separate extractor parts, unlike the newer models that had a collar on the bolt front that utilized a spring clip. According to Gun Parts Corp the left extractor and right extractor (old style) can be purchased. I take it that looking down the bolt in the receiver from behind the right extractor is on my right of the forward facing bolt and left extractor is on my left to determine which extractor to purchase? If I am not accurate please set me straight.
Photos of what I am working on:
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As shown, the missing extractor slot still has the extractor plunger and a strong spring behind it.
The flat portion of the bolt front is the bottom that works with the clever feed mechanism that allows this rifle to cycle 22 shorts, long and long rifle ammo.
Yes, this is a dirty ol gal that needs a major cleaning up. The barrel, mag tub and receiver are currently getting a bath in Por15 Rust Remover, as they look far worse than this bolt does. But I have faith it will clean up to make a fun truck gun for squirrels and the like. Had grey squirrel and gravy for two lunches last week thanks to this long neglected rifle and deemed it worthy of a bit of my evening hours.
Any assistance you can pass through my way will be much appreciated. That bolt looks very tricky to reassemble once it is taken apart.
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Next Phase; Installation to Commence
"I suggest you clean out a little closet and do it in there, so you can find parts, HA! Good luck."
LOL! Excellent suggestion. I may have to clear out a small walled in space for this operation. If any of you fine gentlemen don't mind to share what all is involved in installing the left extractor I'm all ears. Does the extractor stud and spring have to be removed for this procedure or just the use of judicial force be required to manipulate the new extractor into that slot by pressing firmly onto the extractor stud and fastening it into place?
I noticed that a package from Kingston, NY was waiting in the mailbox this afternoon.
Attachment 309654
The sight elevator install will be simple.
The cartridge guide spring; maybe, maybe not for now. After removing all the rust from the barrel/receiver, giving it a good cold bluing and coating it with Boiled Tung Oil to resist rust I am not so sure I want to take a torch to the metal that might be needed to remove said barrel to install that little part. Then again, at some point I just might because I like to use shorts to squirrel hunt with. For now, I want to see how this will all work out when the left extractor is finally in place.
Testing of loading from the magazine tube before tearing this all down went pretty well. I couldn't slam a round in fast and recklessly but they would chamber and fire. If I cycled the bolt too quickly the bullet on the 22lr would begin to bend in the brass case as the grip of the case mouth to the bullet's heal isn't secure enough to take the force. Slow and steady allowed clean chambering.
Upon firing the empty brass would also extract from the chamber but not flip out from the receiver very well. Discussing this project with you who posted on this thread focused my attention on this needed item. So these little parts should get this rifle up and running pretty soon. I'll keep you posted.
Again, any and all advice is appreciated. Fingers crossed.
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Barrel Removal: Cartridge Guide Spring Installation
This went easier than I thought it would:
Attachment 310114
Woke up this morning and decided this was the time to remove the barrel on this old rimfire. Having soaked in ZAP P Oil since Thursday evening I began scrounging for the proper tools to complete this job. A section of 1/2" ID copper water pipe fit perfect as a sleeve inside the receiver. A 405 grain 45 caliber WFN boolit was hammer flattened / fattened out to about 7/16" diameter, sliding down the copper pipe to sit on top of the barrel face. The brass punch actually measures 3/8". The lead plug fits the face of the barrel much better and takes the impact of the brass punch very well.
Using the wooden covered jaws of my bench vise to hold the shoulder of the receiver yet allowing the barrel to hang down unsecured was the right set up for this operation. With my free hand holding onto the barrel below the vice two firm, but not heavy, taps with a two pound sledge through the brass punch into the lead plug released the barrel with aplomb. A couple light taps freed the barrel completely from the receiver. That was completely satisfying.
Next step, after cleaning, greasing the barrel shank and slipping the guide spring onto the proper spot on the barrel was to reinstall the two parts back together again. The witness marks on the bottom of the barrel and receiver were quite helpful to permit this to be a one and done action.
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This receiver is stamped with a lone 'J'. No 'M' is present.
Straightening and deburring the barrel pin made it fit well enough to be reused. I measured the two ends of this pin and found out that one side was slightly smaller in diameter than the other to facilitate ease of installing, while the thicker end kept everything tight and secure. It is fun to dig into a project previously not attempted and come away successful and with more knowledge than when begun.
All parts are back together except the stock, which I am reshaping, sanding and prepare for final staining and finishing. But, I did fasten the barreled receiver in the stock long enough to see how the Shorts and LR's will function. I've yet to purchase a cartridge guide rod for the tubular magazine, but that will be my next acquisition now that I've gotten this far. Still, with the barrel pointed up a LR, Short, LR, Short was put into the tub mag and they all fed and chambered without a hitch. Once this rifle is fully put together I'll post photos of this interesting restoration.
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Restoration Complete: Assembled and Tested
Restoration project on this old Marlin 81DL is basically finished. The stock is finished with an oil based stain and Boiled Linseed Oil. I may continue to add more BLO but for now I want to shoot and sight in this dandy rifle. All the refurbished, reblued and new parts have been affixed in their respective places. Even the new Cartridge Guide Rod inserted in the magazine tube without getting stuck, though it slid better with a light coat of oil to help insert it in smoothly:
Attachment 310364
The blocky stock was pretty ugly. Before finishing rasps and files were applied to shape and streamline it better in my hands. I kept the wider fore end that steps out just past the receiver area, but did round out the edges to dress it up to suit my tastes. The butt stock was bulky and wide, lacking any palm swell and eye appeal. It is now modified to hold in my trigger hand with much more delight than before. JB Weld on the butt plate filled in the decades of abuse and chips. Black leather dye blended all together after sanding it to fit the trimmer butt stock.
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I didn't get around to photo journaling this project until I dipped the barrel/receiver into the POR 15 Rust Remover. But to give you an idea what it looked like, these two old single shot 12 gauges were wrapped in the same blanket for decades that the Marlin 81DL was.
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This has been a fun winter project to hold my attention. It will never look brand new, with the finger tip pitting on the barrel along with the salt and pepper speckles elsewhere on the metal surfaces, but the fact that it cycles shorts and LR's interchangeably intrigued me enough to proceed. And, yes, it does perform those duties in cycling the cartridges pretty darn well. If I load the mag tube too full the new spring in the guide rod can cause some trouble. Not every time, but it has. Still, I've loaded and shot it enough now to have good success with LR and Shorts feeding whether all one type or both types staggered in the magazine. The mechanism isn't designed to slam the bolt in hard, but I've matured enough as a shooter to know when to finesse an action with respect.
Interesting, the barrel is longer than other 22's I've shot and that extra length almost acts like a suppressor compared. The LR's aren't too loud at all. The CB cap shorts, well, let's say I am glad my BIL was standing beside me when I shot the first one because I thought the bullet must have stuck in the barrel. There was hardly any sound at all. When I said I was afraid of a squib load he confirmed it flew because he saw the dirt pop up just under the jug cap I was aiming at 35 yards away. The next CB cab hit the jug and the puncture of the plastic in and out was louder then the non-report of the rifle.
All in all, I'm pleased to have rescued this rifle from oblivion and continuing to rust down or be thrown away. It has to go with me to the squirrel woods next Fall. I am looking forward to the pleasure it will bring.