Marlin 1895 won’t chamber a round

[Clay]

Round goes in chamber bolt won’t close.
Appears extractor catches halfway on rim of cartridge. Bolt will close if I push cartridge under extractor. I’ve heard people say to bend extractor out. Or lightly file extractor? Thoughts? The rifle is used, appears to never have been fired.
Thanks in advance

 

[pre64hunter]

Sounds strange, I've never had any problems with the 1895.
The bolt is easy to remove on an 1895. Open the action, remove the lever screw with a properly fitted screw driver, slide out the lever, hold down the hammer and slide out the bolt. It goes back together just as easy, just line everything up and giggle it back together while holding down on the hammer, make sure the ejector is properly in place.
Then you can check everything for fit and burrs, check the extractor notch by the chamber too, check that the bolt serial number matches the gun.

 

[jimbobborg]

Are you single loading it into the chamber or feeding through the mag tube?

 

[Clay]

Feeding from magazine and single loading, same issue. I’ve read that the extractor should engage prior to round moving forward in chamber. I’ll disassemble and see what’s going on. Appreciate the tips.

 

[Triggerfinger]

Couple of questions
1. Is this a Remington made Marlin?
2. Are these reloads?
3. Is the round catching in the throat at an angle?

 

[Clay]

1978 Marlin - JM
Using snap cap (and Hornady Leverevolution in the field - gummy tip had feed issues)
Round starts to feed at angle but does not go under extractor- please see pics

 

[Doco Overboard]

Extractor could have too much tension.
Remove extractor and gently polish bottom leading edge with a stone to allow the rim to break over.
Check the extractor slot to make sure it doesn't bind in the bolt.
Touch the top and bottom edge of the extractor with a stone to make sure it doesn't bind/remove any noticeable burrs in the slot for a start.
Try some action proving dummies made from a real cartridge. Those snap caps are a bit fiddly for action proving I think maybe in some, but not all cases.
It doesn't look like the rim is breaking over without too much effort to me.

 

[John from MD]

Some of the later models had extractors that were never fitted properly and had sharp edges that would dig into the rim. As DO said, you need to remove it and stone the lower front edge of the extractor and the lower side where the rim slides into so it is rounded.

 

[Clay]

Thanks again, all, great tips. Field stripped the action, extractor is sharp and does appear to be the culprit. Smoothe down the edge a bit, did not fix the issue, may need to do more.

 

[Doco Overboard]

Clearance the extractor. Essentially lengthening it very slightly at its bottom portion, so the rim slides up into it without interference/unhindered.
The flat part of the extractor that meets the 90 deg claw could be polished up to dependent on how it appears.
If there is a burr there becuase the way the spring was made at the 90 deg intersection. It will force the rim outwards potentially causing clearance issues elsewhere that are hard to detect.
Reassemble the bolt, smudge the extractor up with a candle flame, like a birthday candle, then work dummy cartridge through it to determine where its binding at its bottom third.
You could probably accomplish that without actually reassembling the bolt to the rifle using your fingers and an empty case.
The wise old man says, "you need to remove it and stone the lower front edge of the extractor and the lower side where the rim slides into so it is rounded."
When your done, the extractor should hold a bulleted or weighted safe case so that it doesn't drop free from the bolt face while its in your hand. Or the tension would be too less. Height of the extractor plays a role during that action. SO dont reduce the height of it until a case slides under it a bit and its working smoothly.
Extractors for that model shouldn't be too hard to get or very expensive either if it doesn't work out so well. Make sure the spring doesn't bind in its slot lengthwise may be helpful too.

 

[pre64hunter]

Before you start altering parts, be sure you can get a replacement.
Will the action close if you exsert more pressure on the lever to close the action?
While you have the extractor removed, try the action to see if the extractor is indeed the problem.
Check for a burr on the extractor ring or in the groove on the bolt.
Check for another possible problem, if you're sure it's the extractor then I'd do as Doco suggests.

 

[Clay]

Thanks again for the additional tips. Have looked online for 1895 extractors and they are as hard to find as hens teeth.

 

[John from MD]

Thanks again for the additional tips. Have looked online for 1895 extractors and they are as hard to find as hens teeth.

Contact these guys. They might be able to point you in the right direction.

Wild West Guns

www.wildwestguns.com

 

[pre64hunter]

Thanks again for the additional tips. Have looked online for 1895 extractors and they are as hard to find as hens teeth.

Did you ever get the chambering issue resolved?

 

[Clay]

Thanks for all the excellent advice. Have put the project on pause due to other things coming up. Might cave and take it to a gunsmith