marlin 336 bolt removal

[riverrat6340]

I recently picked up a 1971 vintage marlin 336 in 30-30. I cannot remove the bolt for cleaning. After removing the lever the bolt will not come out of the reciever. It does not appear to be hanging on the extractor and seems to be against something pretty solid. I have tried a wooden block and hammer to move it without success. I have an 1895 which has the same action and I have no problem removing the bolt in it. I can clean from the muzzle but would like to get the bolt out. Any Suggestions? Thanks

 

[R.W.Dale]

Is there possibly a hammer extension that's in the way of things?

 

[Jim K]

Will the bolt come back part way or not move at all? It is possible (with some fiddling) on the 336 to remove the lever without disengaging the locking block, so if the bolt is all the way forward and won't move at all, that could be the problem. Just reinstall the lever and open the bolt before removing it again.

Jim

 

[riverrat6340]

There is no hammer extension on the hammer and bolt is fully to the rear. I can put a rod thru the bore and attempt to drive it out with a bigger hammmer, but I'm concerned that something may get damaged in the process. Since it ain't broke I think I won't try to fix it.

 

[Chawbaccer]

I suggest you take the bottom tang- trigger group off. Hammering would likely cause whatever is jamming it to break or jam it worse. Can you tell if the ejector is still where it is supposed to be? Maybe if you gave it a good oill soak and used the lever to run the bolt back and forth while holding the gun at about every angle you can think of trying to make whatever is hanging it up fall out of place.

 

[ronto]

Take the ejector out, hold the hammer down as far as it will go... wiggle, twist and pull out by hand...BTW, put the hammer back in the tool box.

 

[GHF]

Removing the Bolt

As an owner of JC Higgins knockoff of the 336 since 1962, I learned to remove the bolt by:

1. Making sure that the chamber and the magazine tube under the barrel are empty.
2. Throw the action completely open - bolt to the rear.
3. Remove the screw from the lever.
4. Remove the lever.
5. Wiggle the bolt out - make sure you catch the ejector when it pops out from behind the bolt.

Reverse to reassemble. Make sure the ejector port is open to the ceiling when you do, so you can slip the ejector behind the bolt.

 

[riverrat6340]

I cleaned the bore from the muzzle and it shines like a new penny. The action works perfectly and is about the smoothest I've seen on a lever gun. The action is clean and does not really need any further attention. I did not try removing the trigger group but will keep that suggestion in mind if I make any other attempts to remove the bolt.
The hammer is back in the toolbox and will remain there. I have learned thru the years that the old advice of "If it won't go--force it" generally results in a wreck!
Thanks for the suggestions.