Another Random Remlin (Marlin) Anecdotal QC story

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Unlicensed Dremel

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So handled another 336Y last night at a local shop:
-Wood to steel fit tight (that's good)
-Front sight aligned (that's good)
-Rear sight attached materially off-center to the right (that's not good)
-Action was moderately stiff (that's not good)

Store says "we got a pile o' these in the back" so I'm going back when they're slow to look through them all for a gem.

I'd say that as a *blanket statement*, 'Marlins are good now' has a truth value of false. But seem to slowly but surely be getting "better". Maybe it's just current inventory that's still got sketchy ones - don't know.

What a sad state of affairs.
 
I thought the 336Y's, and W's were the lower quality ones? For close to $400 a good lever action like that is hard to beat. I've heard they're pretty darn accurate at reasonable ranges too. I'd like to handle one once.
 
Bought a 1974 336 from original owner,..

just functioned fired by him.

Brought home and detailed it, noticed that verticl cuts in action were gritty, and not a smooth cycling.
Took triangle "Norton"stone to all parts and now can used fore-finger to cycle it.
 
Maremlington still has a way to go before I plunk my cash down on the barrel for a brand new gun. While they seem to be getting "better", they appear to be addressing a particular issue as a whole before moving on to the next one.

I looked at an 1894 .357 that was just received by an LGS that overall looked better. The butt stock was fitted as well as any Remlin I've seen to date, but the rear of the front hand guard had a noticeable gap between it and the receiver. The action was stiff but smoother than some of the ones that felt like a hand full of sand was tossed in during assembly.

I recently traded into an unfired 30AS from 1993 that when compared to new guns from Marlington, was buttery and smooth, fitment excellent, and sights centered.

Getting better QC but just not quite there yet.
 
I see dozens of older Marlins and some newer Remington/Marlins at my shop about this time every year. Yes, in general, the older Marlins were pretty good, but there were some that were pretty bad, too. A stainless 336 in 308 Marlin Express that had .030" excessive headspace, several 336s that have a steel shim/washer between the barrel and receiver to get the barrel to index, a 336 that would not feed more than 2 rounds no matter what because the barrel band screw notch was cut into the magazine tube so deep that the screw went through the mag spring and would not let it move, and so on. Yes, I know, the older Marlins were better than the Remlins, and smiths just see the sick ones, but Marlin's QC issues are nothing new. Personal opinion: it has more to do with manufacturers chasing a price point than who owns who.
 
I looked at a 336SS Friday at my LGS . I was not looking to buy , as I have a 336C I got new ( my first rifle ) in the late 70's . I did not see anything that would keep me from buying it . I could not work the action , they wire tie all their display new long guns .
 
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