Marlin 1895 Barrel is off center

2

2500ak

New member
A few months back I bought a new Marlin 1895 in 45-70 (Guide Model).

It's been a good rifle so far, action took some breaking in but overall it works well. It hasn't been terribly accurate though.

I figured it was either flinching, or that I just wasn't much good at buckhorn style iron sights.

So I ordered a skinner tactical receiver peep sight, it arrived and I installed it. Upon installing it I looked though the sight I realized that even at full windage correction the front sight was still way off to the right (looking down the barrel).

Low and behold, the sights are not orthogonal to the receiver, but off by I'd guess about 10 degrees. It seems that either the dove tails are just wrong, or the barrel was never screwed down all the way.

Not the best picture but iy should give you some idea of what I'm dealing with.

DSC_0648.jpg


I think it also explains why the factory sights didn't shoot all that accurately at long range.

How do I go about fixing this? Should I call call Marlin? Should I take it to a gunsmith? It should still be under warranty, but if I have to send it back to the factory, how does that work (shipping etc...)?

Any input is appreciated.
 
Well that is a bummer ! As for sending it back to marlin...the jury is still out as to weather the company will continue to exist. Their quality control the past few years has been ify at best. Good luck !
 
Sorry it is hard to tell from that photo since you have the rifle cocked to the side? Also were is the peep sight? Not is the picture.

Take it to a gunsmith and have it sighted correctly, maybe $25.00.

Kroil - now how many Marlins have you personally had trouble with?????

I don't know about others, but I am getting tired of people bashing companys who products they have never purchased. This is not what this forum is about. Best place for comments like that is "rumors dot com".

Jim
 
I don't know Kroil, but in his defense, I've owned several Marlins from the model 60 which is admittedly a good yet disposable rimfire, two guide guns- the first was so bad Marlin finally replaced it and the replacement was a gritty jam-o-matic that had to be sent back twice to get it right. Then being a slow learner I traded it in on an 1895 Cowboy that ended up being as bad as the first guide gun, looked great but wouldn't cycle 45-70 rounds reliably, would jam constantly and was terrible accuracy. I won't be buying any more Marlins.
To the original poster: send your rifle back to Marlin. Have patience, they"ll make it right, maybe.....eventually.
 
Looks like the receiver was threaded crooked

ADJUSTING THE SKINNER SIGHT

Windage adjustment is accomplished by sliding the dovetail piece left or right in its slot. The fit is tight, so you may need a BRASS PUNCH to move it. Once adjusted, it is locked in place with the set screw on top of the sight in front of the peep. When adjusting, move the rear sight in the direction you want to bullet impact to move.
 
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Misaligned sights are common on later Marlins, even before the Remington buy out. Approximately the last ten years or so. I have an 1895 I bought in 2004 with crooked sights. I just learned to live with it, it shoots great.
 
Here is a better picture:
DSC_0649.jpg


Even with the windage all the way over it's still a little off (though it is centered in this picture).

I know sending it into Marlin is probably the surest way of getting it corrected, but I think I might swing by Wild West Guns sometime this week, or the next, and see if they can adjust the barrel like Jim suggested.

I've heard they do a lot of awesome 1895's in custom builds; I get the feeling that locally, they'd be the ones to ask. Their shop is only about 10 minutes away.
 
Good luck they should be able to drift your sight for you. I like your ghost ring but why do you have the buckhorn sill up instead of folded. They should be able to tell you if it needs to go back.

Again good luck.

Jim

If all else fails, then scope it.

SAM_0319.jpg
 
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I had a Remington BDL with the same problem. The front sight was not at 12:00. More like 1:30. I called them and sent it back. They sent me a new rifle. No charge.
 
If you ship a rifle back to the factory does it have to be shipped through an FFL, or do you ship it yourself?
 
You are the owner of the rifle. You can send the rifle directly to the factory for repair with no FFL needed. The factory will send the rifle back to the owners house with no FFL needed.
 
" but I am getting tired of people bashing companys who products "

You best not go near the marlinowners forum then. They have pics to go with the horror stories.
 
Dropped the Marlin off at Wild West today, they're going to put it in a vise and see what can be done to fix it. They said they've seen this problem before.
 
KROIL-Well I do have two. A mid 80's 1894 in .44 mag & a 2002 1895 GS. I have had zero problems.
Click to expand...

I think the "problem guns" started circa 2009-10 when Remington bought Marlin. The older Marlins are the ones people are looking for with the "JM" proof mark. My understanding of the problem is new never before made levergun Remington emplyees. Remington supposedly didn't keep many of the original Marlin employees.

I am very hope full that Remlin will get the bugs worked out.....I am a levergun fan an trying to figure out how to sneak home a 308MX now.......
 
If you call Marlin and tell them about the problem, they might send you a prepaid UPS shipping form and maybe even a box. Remington did that for mine.
 
"Here is a better picture:"

Surely you jest. You want us to analyze your sights, so you post this HUGE picture showing your walls and curtains and the trees outside? Do you know how to CROP a picture to throw away all the garbage off to the sides??? :mad:


Sorry, just had to rant.
 
Well got the gun back today. The guys at Wild West were able to adjust the front sight and boresight it. It looks pretty level as opposed to the buckhorn sight, which I haven't removed yet.

Range isn't open today, but will be tomorrow. I'll post of further results after sending some lead downrange, but if they've managed to fix this and only charge me 25$ for it then I'm pretty happy.

I'm considering going down there later this week and seeing about having them re-chamber the gun in .457 Magnum, and looking at fiber optic front sights.
 
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