So, I walk into a local sporting goods store to purchase a Marlin 45-70 and a mid-range scope. Never shot that caliber, but I understand it will lay down hogs with monotonous efficiently, and I'm a lever-gun geek, so I wanna try it. When I asked to see the gun, the guy says, "You know, I really recommend not buying this gun. They've had some nasty quality control issues since the big changeover."

Initially, it really pizzed me off. I walked in, cash in-hand...geeked up to buy myself a new shooter, and now this guy's opinion has me questioning myself. So I left. If he's right, then I don't wanna buy one. If he's full of outhouse-input, then I certainly don't want to buy it from this arse-hat.

Anyone know anything about Marlin having QC issues with their lever guns since Remington picked them up in '07?

Thanks for any input!

I have no experience with the newer Remlins but I will say there is a lot of smoke about the quality of the newer ones and like the old saying goes "where there is smoke there is fire". I figure there is a good reason why everyone wants the JM stamped Marlins over the newer ones.

I agree. Searched the internet quite a bit, and it's hard to tell the blowhards from the knowledgeable contributors, but there does seem to be quite a bit of "smoke"...

An 1895 from last month on Marlin Owners..

http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/marlin...ufacturing.html

I have a pre Remington model 1895G (45-70) that is my favorite rifle. Its compact, handy, and powerful. Hearing all the QC issues with newer Marlins makes me sad because mine is a thing of beauty.

Eeeeehhhhh.....More likely he wanted to put you in a pricier firearm. "I can tell you're a serious hunter, so you don't want this gun. What you really need is this." Just salesmanship, nothing more nothing less. Walk away or insist on what you want.

remington/marlin/h&r had quite a few q.c.
issues. my rifle new out of the box had
zig-zag cut rifling mid way in the barrel.
meaning it changed directions a couple of times
and looked like a lightning bolt when looking
down the barrel. they replaced the barrel,
but something like that should have never
made it out the door. if a consumer can spot
that within 5 minutes of inspecting a gun, a
guy doing it for a living daily durn sure
ought to catch it. in fairness to them,
it is a tack driver now, and they've supposedly
got their act together now. remlin is supposed
to open a new plant so maybe they'll split
marlin and h&r back off and they can focus
on business at hand instead of freedom group
corporate bs

watch this for more: youtube death of the marlin lever gun
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUOrbeQNi2E

also www.marlinowners.com/forum/

Not this time, the guy was 100% correct in steering J.R. away from that gun. The Remlins are garbage.

Not saying what the salesman said wasn't true. It's just not very "salesman-like" to turn a potential buyer off something in the store without an ulterior motive.

Or maybe he has a conscience.
I ordered one for Xmas. It came in and it looked like a blind guy with the shakes cut what could loosely be called checkering. There was glue on the barrel and the stock wasn't even finished/sealed.

Looks like the salesman who steered you away from the Marlin knew what he was talking about. I'd buy his lunch. He's the kind of guy who I like to do business with.

...what retfuz said + a 100...IMO

As per usual anytime Big Green gets bought out again, the QC goes to Hades 'cause the new set of Beancounters will get fired if they don't find ways to make a bigger profit than the last set of BeanCounters. In the past they only hurt Remington...now they are taking their dog & pony show on the road with other small, poorly financed, weak or older Name Brands that can live on their past reputations.

I got my education in the early 1980's as the Sales Manager of a Dallas Based, Founding Family owned Sporting Goods Distributor who was the oldest continously operated Company in Dallas County established in 1854, with 128 years in Business in downtown Dallas, from a Chicago based crowd who's claim to fame was similar in buyouts & "restructuring " of family owned Sporting Goods & Hardware Distributor's...and the "Milwaukee/Atlanta" Braves Ted Turner deal.

My company went thru 3 Bankruptcies as they fleeced 3 set of Investors while loading us up with Debt we'd never had before being bought out... and sold off our largest prime asset of a debt free 1 square block of Downtown Dallas close to where the new City Hall & nearby Convention Center was planned for...and made beaucoup bux off the land alone, paying off the loan used to buy us and a sizeable profit as well.

Just "The Romney - Bain Capital Way of the World" in real personal terms for me and the other 75 Employees that lost their jobs & pensions as many of them had worked there for their whole working life...and the support we gave to the 1000+ mom & pop Lawn & Garden and Sporting Goods stores we financed their inventory & kept alive.

Google "Cerebus Capital Management" the "new" new Investment Holding Company and see what Firearms related holdings they own....if any outside of Marlin & H&R. Their next acquisitions appear to be Safeway Stores Holdings (grocery stores) and Jewel Osco? (drug stores). Money is the ONLY Thing these guys understand or respect.
Sorry for the Rant, but I hate Big Box Retailers supply chains
JMHO & YMMV
Ron

I have a pre remlin 1895gs and it is finished well. I have seen a few other 1895's in cabelas and some of the remlins are not so great. I would search for a used marlin with a JM stamped on the barrel and with the serial number behind the hammer. If you do get a newer one search it over really really well, some have rifling issues, sights do not line up, won't extract, won't feed, big wood gaps, and poor machining. There are still some really nicely finished new ones that some have said shoot better than their real Marlins. I have been meaning to check out the Rossi Rio Grande rifles after reading some reviews, may want to look into them.