Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Are the New Marlins really that bad?

I am talking about recent production. I keep going back and forth on a couple of rifles for Indiana,Ohio and Iowa and looking at a Marlin 444, I just love that round. Are the new Marlins finally looking ok or should they be avoided?

I have about a dozen Marlins,mostly old ones. But in the last year,I've bought two new ones,a walnut and blue 1894 in 44 magnum,and a stainless 1894cst in 357 magnum.

Both have been flawless. Look over the fit and finish of a new Marlin,if it looks good,I'd not be afraid to buy it.

My brother just got a new made 444 Marlin and it shoots extremely well, is very accurate and is put together just as nicely as any Marlin I have handled from the old plant. Blueing is a little different but still a very good rifle. Surprisingly, the sights were spot on during initial firing with their LEver 265 Flex Tips.

I cannot put my hands on one locally or within a 1-2 hour drive so I have to buy it unseen. Thanks for the input so far, looks promising

Update: I found a NIB one at a not so local gunstore. I will be there Saturday to look it over and if ok to buy it

Yep,

Look it over,if it's recent production I bet it's fine. I would not buy one without putting my hands on it because some real lemons left the factory before the move and especially just after.

A friend bought a new 45/70 a short while back and it was
well fitted and finished. He's been well pleased with it and
has no complaints so far.
The first remlins were a different story. I saw some that weren't
fit for tomato stakes. I can't say for sure what their problem was
back then, but I saw many firearms that should never have been
shipped out for sale including one of my own. I guess disgruntled
employees. I can't see experienced professionals turning out such
slipshod work. I don't know. . .

Thanks for all the replies, really looking forward to looking this gun over.

Bought a new 45/70 Marlin 1895 a few months ago. Finish on it is okay, not great, but not bad. Acceptable to me, at the price offered. Heck it was only $538 brand new. It's not as nicely finished as my old JM 1895 was, but decent enough.

The action worked smoothly. It's getting better now with use. Could use a trigger job, but it's not horrible.

Accuracy was quite good! The factory sights were adjusted well enough that I just left them alone. I put a 2.5x Leupold on it, and found it was shooting quite nicely at 100 yards using my handloads. I haven't put any factory ammo through this one yet.

Guy

Thanks for the reply

You can get good results by judicious shimming to get a better fit if required.

Finish can be radically improved with waxing the current flat Marlin finishes. Make sure any abrasives are approved by Sitka Beer/Sitka Spruce (?) member.

The newer ones are a little better, but it still is a crap shoot. Still hearing many horror stories over on Marlinowners from new purchasers. Definitely make sure you kick the tires.

Yeah, plenty of henry "owners" over there. WOT.

Update on this topic. I went to the not so local gunstore and handled it. I could not bring myself to buy it, the overall finish both metal and wood were underwhelming. It cycled smoothly.

That’s too bad. I know even my later North Haven guns weren’t awesome in that department either but as long as they work and function I am okay but you have to be happy when you handle the guns as well.

The NEXT store you go to that has them will most likely have one you like...

Some of the guys further down the road will be willing to send you photos of a particular firearm if...you ask.

UR better off to find one that has been in Gran Pa's closet for 30 years......

Even the older Marlins can use some TLC

Learn to pull the action down & clean it well........polish the pivot points

The worst part of the look was the stock, looked like Home Depot dougie fir died an almost reddish tint. I already saw a few on broker that have nicer stocks , that is the direction i will be going. Action looked and felt ok.

i have a 1895ABL in 45-70... the stock is laminate... so I cannot comment on others but this one is nice... made in 2017... incredibly accurate also... (very surprised)

I have noticed that the later Marlins (Remlins?) had a thicker wrist and pistol grip. This makes the rifle look clunky, IMHO.

Remington don't build Marlins like this no more.......1949

I'll post pic when its back up & running........