Does Marlin Still Suck?

[rodregier]

The Marlin buyers didn't transfer the employees who had the organization knowledge on how to mfgr or the machinery so it was like they were given just shop drawings w/o notes and told to start/ramp up production, probably on CNC machinery. Talk about a massive learning curve.

\\

FWIW I'm very happy with my two Japan-mfgr long guns both purchased new.
S&W 3000 12ga pump shotgun from years ago
Current gen BLR in .308 Win.

The BLR had a heavy trigger (Common issue w/factory long guns)
but I found a Canadian gunsmith that has BLR triggers in his repertoire *and* was willing to perform.

 

[CraigC]

Some folks obviously wear rose-colored glasses. Fact is that Marlin has never produced a rifle equal to the Japanese Winchesters at any time in their existence. They're good guns and a good value but their fit & finish was never that great to begin with. I was looking at their fancy 1897 Century Limited model years ago, long before Remington, hoping to see better wood to metal fit and fewer machine marks but no luck. Sure, it had engraving and fancy wood but other than that, it was rough as a cob. Just like every other levergun they made at the time.

 

[ScrapMetalSlug]

I was able to pick up a good one used on a partial trade from a local shop. It is the base model 1895 remlin in 45-70. I looked at several, and i could handle and inspect it before hand. Wood to metal fit was good, it cycled well, and the sights were straight. It shoots well with cast 405 grain loads.

There are good new ones made by remington, but YOU are the quality control. Look it over well with a skeptical eye and expect to find something wrong based on all the common issues, but you can find a good one. Be willing to pass on a "good deal" , until you can find one made right.

 

[Terminatorret]

I inherited my father's Marlin 336C 30-30 that I bought him back in 1980 (JM barrel). I put a Bushnell 1-4x32 on it last week and went out this afternoon to sight-in using Winchester 170 grain jacketed soft points. At 100 yards, it only took three shots to nail the elevation and 3 more to walk the windage into the bull. I am not an avid hunter nor a range groupie. I didn't use expensive optics. I only scoped my two rifles last week (the only rifles I have ever scoped!), so I'm no expert. Before that everything in my life has been iron sights. (OK, 20 years in the Marines may have had a little influence.) But my point is this: THAT 1980 MARLIN IS SOME KIND OF ACCURATE.
I deeply sigh when I read posts about once great firearms losing their prestige, and attention to detail, after changing company hands. Harley Davidson suffered the same fate when purchased by AMF in 1969. AMF sold Harley back to its workers in 1981 and the Harleys came back BETTER than ever!
Maybe, just maybe, this will happen to the Marlin legacy, too.

 

[midland man]

I inherited my father's Marlin 336C 30-30 that I bought him back in 1980 (JM barrel). I put a Bushnell 1-4x32 on it last week and went out this afternoon to sight-in using Winchester 170 grain jacketed soft points. At 100 yards, it only took three shots to nail the elevation and 3 more to walk the windage into the bull. I am not an avid hunter nor a range groupie. I didn't use expensive optics. I only scoped my two rifles last week (the only rifles I have ever scoped!), so I'm no expert. Before that everything in my life has been iron sights. (OK, 20 years in the Marines may have had a little influence.) But my point is this: THAT 1980 MARLIN IS SOME KIND OF ACCURATE.
I deeply sigh when I read posts about once great firearms losing their prestige, and attention to detail, after changing company hands. Harley Davidson suffered the same fate when purchased by AMF in 1969. AMF sold Harley back to its workers in 1981 and the Harleys came back BETTER than ever!
Maybe, just maybe, this will happen to the Marlin legacy, too.

i just hope the prices don't go too extreme when they do!