Marlin 795

[Trin Tragula]

I went ahead and picked up two 795s today.  One for the missus, to replace her tube-fed Marlin model 60, and one for me.  I scrapped the idea of shooting at the Appleseed event with my AR and a .22 conversion kit.  That other Marlin we have has been so reliable, and the price was very decent.  Decent enough to just get two of them.  Already had a pair of tech-sights for her model 60, so I swapped them over.  I ordered another set for mine.

Big Marlin fan here....

[Francis Marion]

What does the manual say, OK to dry fire the Marlin?

[TaosGlock]

795 hands down. Out of the box it's a winner.
The controls make the rifle a dream, especially for newbies and youth on the line. Speeds up the learning curve for them.
Unlike the rotary mags of the 10/22, the 795's straight line mags work flawlessly and are easily cleaned.
It can't be dry fired unless a mag is in it, so during prep you just squeeze a trigger that dies not click or reset.
The gun is not ammo fussy and the micro-groove barrel shoots as good as my expensive tricked out heavy match barrel 10/22.

[LavaTech]

That looks like a wonderful LTR rifle, can a magazine be rendered as a dry firing device-only, and painted red to distinguish it from "live" mags? Alternatively - could an enterprising individual whittle a stub of wood from Home Despot into such a device? Adapt...overcome.....
I think that I may just have to work up an LTR from one of these to find out the answer. I'd be interested to see how my AQT scores differ between this Marlin and my M44US.

[Trin Tragula]

What does the manual say, OK to dry fire the Marlin?

That's a good question.  I have always been told that you should never dry fire any rimfire gun without having snap-caps in the chamber.  Centerfire OK because the firing pin hits nothing.  Rimfire because firing pin hits metal - should always have brass or other material such as a snap cap in there to take the hit.  That's what I've been told anyway.

[Francis Marion]

Ruger says their 1022 is ok to dry fire; I didn't know if Marlin design also permits this.
So, the Marlin must have a mag in, or it won't trip the sear.
But if you have a mag in, the bolt locks back. 
  So, IF the Marlin is OK to dry fire,
Can you stick the mag in far enough to allow the cocked rifle to be snapped, but not so far in that it keeps the bolt back?
Or take the follower and spring out of a mag body, and insert the empty mag body to permit sear function, but not bolt retention.   

[SamD]

So, the Marlin must have a mag in, or it won't trip the sear.
But if you have a mag in, the bolt locks back. 

That what a bolt release is for.

Sam

[funfaler]

22LR snap caps   Just because I like it simple and easy.

[Trin Tragula]

Many of you folks already know this:  The Marlin model 795 rifle is incredible.  I bought two of them last weekend.  One for my wife and one for myself to take to the Appleseed shoot in May.  Her military sights from her Marlin Model 60 fit perfectly.  The sights were already zeroed on the 60, and only needed slight adjustment to zero on the 795.  I put another pair on order from tech-sights for mine - should be here in a day or two.

Both rifles shot flawlessly, without a single jam.  Winchester Super X 40 grain, CCI mini-mag 40 grain, CCI mini-mag hollow point 36 grain, and Remington bulk 36 grain from WalMart.  All fed and fired perfectly.  Both rifles shot tight groups.  My wife was putting out the center of the target from 25 yards with her iron sights right off the bat.

$169 each bucks at Gander Mountain - included a scope.  Black synthetic stock - very light.

[SamD]

They are a nice shooter.
I put a couple of weights in the forend of mine, approx 12 oz. and it seems to make a lot of difference in balance and shootability.   Several others have done the same with good results.

I think you'll be more than happy with them.

Sam

[BaldDragn]

I love my 10-22s

My oldest (of three) was born about 3 years after I was SN 68xxx. God only knows how many rounds have been fired through it, and because I'll never have a safe queen it's still doing duty, and flawlessly went through another 500 rounds of bulk ammo last weekend.

I have no better argument than a 40+ year old rifle with as many thousand rounds through it, that still shoots better than I do.

I have nothing against the 795, obviously it's an excellent rifle, but, like the old Volkswagen beetle that could be anything from a street car to a Baja racer, if it can be done with a 22 you'll find aftermarket parts for the 10-22 that will turn it into whatever you want it to be.

[Trin Tragula]

What's the procedure for doing that?  What did you use for weights, and where exactly did you put it?  The rifle is just right for my wife, but a little light for me.

[SamD]

Trin,
I used some sections of 20 ga. bbl that Ihad turned down to line a Damascus gun with.
They measured .719" OD, are cut to 2.48" and poured full of lead.

ashrn03 has told me that 1/2 EMT(conduit) is .710. That is close enough. Just cut it to length, punch 3-4 dimples in it to mechanically hold the lead after it cools. Stand it on end on a board, hold down with vise grips, and pour it full of molten lead.  Any old alloy will do.  After it cools, file off any that works out the bottom and any overflow.  Secure it in the forend with RTV or rubber cement.

Sam

[Wheeler44]

Another way to achieve the same end is to mix some 2 part epoxy with lead shot and smooth into place with an old butter knife.

[Robbvious]

Well, I have both, and both are equipped with Tech Sights.  For my money the Marlin is superior in nearly every respect, from operation, to accuracy, to controls.  That said, I love the 10/22, it's just a nice little rifle that feels and shoots like a rifle, not the AirSoft sorta feeling I get from the Marlin.  Maybe if the 795 had a wood stock I'd feel differently, but there it is.  There are two huge distinctions between the two, length of pull (14.5" for the 795 vs. 13.5" for the 10/22), and after market support.  The list of stuff available for the 10/22 is staggering, for the Marlin there's only one thing, the Tech Sights.  Not that I need to trick out a gun, but it's cool to have the option.  For what I spent in getting the 10/22 into LTR trim, I could have bought 2 Marlins.  YMMV.

[Old Dog]

You can get an extended butt plate for the Ruger.

I've never had a Marlin but I've heard good things about the older ones.

I choose Rugers.  I've done stuff with one of my Ruger revolvers that I don't think most guns would survive so I believe between the thinking that went into the design as well as the effort that went into the fabrication, they are hard to beat.

[Ninsho]

The Marlin 795 seems like an interesting rifle, I'm contemplating getting one, but I was wondering about the new tech sights for these and the reports of the front sight post not being long enough.  What size front post would you guys recommend for these sights on this rifle?

[wcmartin1]

The Marlin 795 seems like an interesting rifle, I'm contemplating getting one, but I was wondering about the new tech sights for these and the reports of the front sight post not being long enough.  What size front post would you guys recommend for these sights on this rifle?

Front sight is adequate.  You merely have to loosen a set screw and raise it when zeroing.  Don't forget to lock-tite in place.

[Ninsho]

Thats good to know.  I'm going to try and check one of these rifles out tomorrow, sounds like a great inexpensive LTR option.

[SamD]

I made a proper front post for ashrn03 but I'll be D@%#ed if I can find my note on how tall I had to make it.

Sam

[ashrn03]

I had to file the base pin down to get the flange to rest on the sight base, then I filed the post down until the group was the proper elevation.  I'll measure the final dimensions tomorrow.  I'm thinking you left the post at least 0.020" taller than the original.  I recall the birdshot I used to raise the original post was 0.010" diameter.

[SamD]

Thanks ashrn03.
I usually make notes and drawings on stuff like that and didn't that time.

Sam

[oldbolts]

Anyone know if they would work on a Savage 189S ?

[Colorado Sam]

YES! Now I dont have to go buy one of those dang 10/22's to make a LTR

[UwharrieTrail40]

AZ:

You can drill and tap with the proper tools...probably buying the tools will be the same cost as having a gunsmith do it.

I used the Williams FP etc rear sight on my 795 LTR last year, and then used a Marlin 336 front base and blade (all from Brownells).  The bases are availible in different heights. A little file work can drop the front sight or thin it up on the sides (I thinned mine up a bit, then dabbed on a little cold blue).

I've shot both my 795 and a 10/22 at an Appleseed...the Marlin was far more reliable in terms of feeding (and I don't really clean it much either) and cheaper overall. 

I like Marlin rifles. I bought a Marlin 336 lever gun, stainless steel version (30.30) and love it. I put Williams Full Proof receiver sights on it along with a Williams fiber optic front sight. Nice rifle, looks good (carbine) and has tremendous knockdown power with the 30.30 old school round.  For the knockdown power it possesses, its short, light and handy.

Marlins are also inexpensive. And some of the big bore lever guns, while they have no range compared to an M1A, M-1 Garand or even an AR-15, the big bore Marlin lever guns in 45-70 or .444 Marlin have tremendous knockdown power.    Marlin big bore lever guns make a 30.06 or .308 look like a .22 isolated at just knockdown power.

These lever guns are the guns that won the Wild West, afterall!

Dont know anything about the Marlin .22's, but Im sure they are fine rifles.

Eric

[Nishnabotna]

Did you notice how these new tech sights attach?  One of them little T0-9 rails, same as you can get for your 10/22.  A post over at Rimfire states taht these will work on 10/22, but you might have to change out the front sights.
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=254517

[LayloPro]

Hey all,
picked up mine over @ Big 5 a few weeks ago, got the GI sling & my little scope on it, then started searching for 10 rd mags.......everybody previously mentioned was/is still out of stock, back ordered.....

I found a place called www.MidwestHuntersOutlet.com that has the 10 rounders for $16.99 ea...PN = Marlin 707135
S&H was $8.95.......4 new mags brought it to $76.91 to my doorstep.....

Make sure they stay clean, & they won't stick as much.....

My $.02.......I -hate- waiting for backorders........

LLP

[AFTERMATH]

Any ideas on how to improve/extend that mag-release?

[red headed stranger]

I' d like to point out that marlin is running a $20 rebate on the 795 until the end of this month. 

[SamD]

Thanks Red Headed Stranger.
Between the $135 price ordering from Wal Mart and the rebate, that's a terrific deal

Sam,