Any experts on Marlin Lever guns out there?

[LaGriz]

Any experts on Marlin Lever guns out there?

I own a 308 MX in .308 Marlin Express in walnut/blued configuration with a 22" barrel. While looking at similar one of these guns that was for sale on line, I stumbled on an interesting comment. The seller said his rifle had a serial number beginning with 93. He claimed that weapons manufactured in this run are not supposed to suffer from "barrel drop". Does anyone out there know what the seller is talking about? Is this "barrel Drop" some kind of manufacturing defect? If so, what serial numbers might be effected? I only hope someone on his sight has a deep understanding on this subject.

Thanks to all
LaGriz

 

[swehrman]

I think he's referring to barrel droop. Do a google search on 308 Marlin barrel droop and you'll find many pages on the subject.

-- Scott

 

[hodgeman]

How does your gun shoot?

If it shoots good, don't worry about it. Gun folks tend to worry excessively over minutiae.

 

[LaGriz]

Thanks hodgeman,
Your correct it is Barrel Droop not drop. Never had a scope on this one. Accuracy has been less than stellar. I have attributed that to my worsening eyesight while using a peep sight. I will do a search and see if I can find some details.

LaGriz

 

[hodgeman]

Accuracy has been less than stellar. I have attributed that to my worsening eyesight while using a peep sight. I will do a search and see if I can find some details.

LaGriz

I'd probably stick a scope on it and figure out any accuracy issues from there. I know my eyesight went downhill pretty quick in my mid-40s and my iron sight ability is pretty abysmal now.

 

[Wapiti1]

It's easy to check for droop. Put a straight edge along the top of the receiver and see if the barrel angles down. The straight edge should be close to aligning with the top of the front sight base if things are good. The front sight will be low if your receiver has droop.

Quick and easy way to check for barrel droop...

www.marlinowners.com

Jeremy

 

[LaGriz]

Guys,
I have a forward mounted scout scope rail mounted on this rifle. I have never mounted any optic on it to date, either on the rail or in a more traditional location.

Question: Wouldn't the scout scope rail location be more likely to follow line of the barrel regardless of any droop? Not sure I want to purchase a scout scope just to prove or dis-prove the condition. Might be throwing good money after bad. With a Lyman peep sight mounted at the rear of the receiver, I would think any droop would be magnified. I do remember that once I installed the peep, I learned quickly that my original front sight was too low. I then ordered a Williams fiber optic front sight as a replacement. its been years since these improvements took place and I don't remember if the rifle shot low with the original equipment sights or not. Just remember I could not see well enough to use them effectively,



Why a peep in the first place?
I enjoyed like fast acquisition one gets with a peep at close range in heavy cover. I grew up using a peep sight on an older Remington bolt action 22 that belonged to my grandfather. Later (in the late 1980's) I purchased a Lyman Dear Stalker .54 cal. muzzleloader. I installed a peep on this rifle in the early 1990's. In 1995 I had RK surgery on my eyes with pretty amazing results. I went from having 20-280 vision to 20-25 in my right eye and near 20-20 in my left! My corrected vison (prior too) was decent, but I got a huge gain in peripheral vison. That October I shot a decent 7-point whitetail off hand with the this side lock. I also killed my first elk in New Mexico, be it with a scoped centerfire rifle. Several deer fell to the Lyman (all at close range) in the next few years during our late January primitive weapon seasons. In 2007 I took my best mule dear with a 222 grain round ball at 85 yards. The projectile took out both shoulders dropping the buck where he stood. In 2005 I harvested a cow elk (at 45 yards) in an OTC unit of Colorado, using a .50 cal. iron sighted Knight Bighorn that I picked up in a RMEF banquet auction. By this date the regulations had switched to allow inline muzzleloaders most everywhere. I liked the added reliability of the 209 primer ignition on the Knight rifle. Now around 2010 I noticed my vision was starting to be a problem. In 2011, missed a longer shot at a mule deer with the side lock and found I need my reading glasses to reload and recap with the #11 cap. The buck watched me as I struggled to reloaded. . To my surprise, I could see the buck much clearer at distance while warring the drug store reading glasses? WTF is this all about? I took a second shot at the buck (with the glasses) that also missed. I attributed this to nerves and a mild case of buck fever. Next day I learned the rifle was off 4" at 60 yards, The shot was probably a foot off at 100+. Going forward, began replacing scopes and bino's with higher quality glass I could now at this point afford. I shoot a trad bow (both eyes open) and that began to be problematic as time rolled by.


Fast forward to the last two years I have issues with "floaters" that resemble a dust particle traveling across my eye. I have seen an eye specialist (regularly) and been told that my RK procedure makes me a non-candidate for any corrective laser procedure. Astigmatism and the scars from the RK are playing a part I'm told. Also, the beginning of a cataract is forming in my dominate eye, and have that to look forward too in the future. It sucks getting old! LOL!

LaGriz

 

[Wapiti1]

You are correct that a rail mount on the barrel negates any droop issues from an alignment of scope to the barrel standpoint.

However, the droop issue also causes the bolt face to be mis-aligned with the cartridge and bore. This can cause poor accuracy since there is extra movement of the cartridge and flex in the action that normally wouldn't be there. I say can, not will. It might also be a complete non-issue. Think of this as similar to truing the lugs on a bolt action so there is no flex and good alignment with the cartridge and bore.

Short answer is the scout scope is the best option, and you'll have to try it and see.

Jeremy