Marlin 60 jammo-matic

whens the last time it was cleaned???

whens the last time it was cleaned???

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^^^This. Except for the occasional worn feed throat, a lack of cleaning is the root of all (most) Model 60 malfunctions.

my bet is a disintigrated buffer.

stick with CCI...

My M60 jams on the Rem. Golden Bullets, but never on CCI

Try different ammo and check it out.

thunder173 said:

my bet is a disintigrated buffer.

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That would be my first guess as well for a malfunction rate that high.

This design has a nylon block behind the bolt that retards rearward travel of the bolt and (I think) protects the back of the aluminum receiver from being impacted by the heavy steel bolt. They have a tendency to dry out and get crumbly over time. Once it falls apart the gun becomes much less reliable. The last one I replaced was in the 90's and I think I paid $7.

You will know immediately if that's the issue when you take the gun apart because it will fall apart when you remove the trigger group from the action.

Thanks Elkins45.....you said it better than I wouldve. Quicker too. ;-)

I used to have photos but can't find them now.

The ejector on the 60 is a wire that needs to rest on top of the chrome feed block, for lack of a better description. When you look in the receiver with the bolt open, it's on the forward end and the wire needs to be at the back of the receiever.

If you have the exploded view diagram, that chrome piece I refer to is part #20.

If you don't see a little wire/spring on top of that chrome piece, that's why you're getting FTE's. The wire has simply fallen off to the side and needs to be put back in place.

It's worth a try.

I'm conflicted as to my first reaction answer.

First - only one ammo always leaves that suspect in my experience.

However, I of course first thought it should be cleaned - then the OP says "I clean each firearm after every shoot" which makes me do a 180 to that's too much for a Marlin 60.

I'm thinking if it isn't ammo - it's the result of cleaning fluids degrading the buffer or simply buffer age.

Chamber complications though, are unlikely to be buffer caused.

I return now to ammo... for the time being.

Todd.

Have you tried U-Tube ? I believe there is a tutorial on the subject Audio/visual.

Nothing like pic`s!

FTE is definitely the spring ejector noted earlier.

I shot my old model 60 (back when Itwas a Glenfield) for many thousands of rounds. Found 2 thing that were consistent. It did not like standard velocity or target grade stuff, would fail to eject or load most of the time, (sound familiar), and after a few thousand rounds it would get dirty enough to do much of the same things. Messy but quick way to tell was to squirt some WD40 into the action, if it was just dirty it would normally fire for the rest if the day. If it was the ammo it wouldn't help.

FTE is for sure the wire adjustment for the ejector. There is an adjustment you make to the wire that you'll find out how to do over at rimfire central in the Marlin section. There are several stickys on how to keep these great little rifles running right.

Be careful putting the Marlin 60 back together. The skinny mainspring can EASILY be bent in half, and whatever you do, NEVER use products like Breakfree Power Blast or brake cleaner to use on the plastic parts... I say these things from experience, learn from my mistakes!

Really, the Marlin 60 is a very fragile rifle when you get right down to it. You can literally rip one apart with your bare hands if you're frustrated enough. I speak from experience on that too!

Cooldill and ApacheCoTodd beat me to it. Cleaning solutions and heat will greatly accelerate the disintegration of the plastic buffer in both the Marlin 60 and the Marlin 795's. Just don't ask me how I know.

Tentwing

My Model 60 runs the same way with that Federal load. Remington Thunderbolt works the action like a champ.

Marlin #60

Don't take a 60's action apart unless your very good at gunsmilthing,remove the action from the stock and spray it with some gun cleaner,work it,blow out with compressed air,several times.It'll run like a champ .60' like Hi Vis ammo best. hdbiker

Waveski - follow the link, read the stickies, be happy!
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=217

I gave my old Marlin 60 to my adult son, but when I had it, it wouldn't run anything but brass plated or copper clad bullets. CCI Mini-Mags were always 100% through it.

I had it 12 years, after inheriting it from my uncle, and it never had a hint of a malfunction, except its appetite for clad bullets.

My old (now retired) model 60 started getting finicky after several bricks. I had to break it all the way down and clean up the breech bolt and inside the receiver. Those areas get a surprising amount of crud after awhile, which impedes free movement of the bolt.

Back when you could be a little more choosey about ammo, this experience is what really got me away from Thunderbolts. They tend to shoot dirtier than average.

As mentioned, be very careful not to kink or bend that recoil spring. Very easy to do. Mine is slightly bent, but still works. It is the re-assembly part where you have to be careful. If you have another set of hands to help you, that is a plus but not absolutely necessary.


You shouldn't have to clean the gun at this thorough level very often, but it does need to be done occasionally. A spare mainspring and a few buffers are not bad to have laying around either, especially if the gun sees a lot of use.

My stainless 60 generally runs like a sewing machine, but it has glitched a few times with a couple different bulk Federals. Lots of folks like it, but I find it to be very inconsistent (lots of squibbs). It hasn't been shot much, but I haven't cleaned my 60 in several years, and lately I've been taking occasional pot-shots at some troublesome squirrels,using sub-sonic Remington, and even that lighter-loaded stuff is running fine in it.
As suggested above, give her a good cleaning.