Reeder Custom Guns - Testing the Project Marlin 30-30

I put 120 or so through it this morning. Testing functioning .. seeing what would come loose.. and firing some groups.

Best group of the day
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Loads with 3031 and H322 shot lower so I will leave the scope set where it is for now. H322 hit POA.

Have a few issues to deal with but it is showing promise!

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I got one for my bday in 1979. I've never found a bad one. Was glad to see the 444 Marlin brought back too. Introduce the same year as I was.

Great shooting and those home projects are just plain fun.

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Marlin went thru the initial sell out to the Freedom Group, the quality wasn't as good as it should have been but it was due to worn out machinery. The head people were smart. They shut the plant down, bought all new equipment and they stayed shut down for over 6 months, until they had everything the way it should be. Then the Marlins that came out of the new plant were as good if not better than the old plant guns. A lot of "experts" jumped on the internet and started the JM crap that any gun without the JM proof mark was bad which was total BS. The guns from the new plant are now and have been excellent guns.

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the forestock. Very nice subtle touches. I am inspired by your sow's ear projects of late. I have an old Glenfield 60 that has been neglected too long. Also a Remington 550 that was taken apart and never fixed. A long forgotten .270 bolt gun too. Lots of projects on the cheap for fun.

Some cast FNGC would be interesting with some Unique or other pistol powder. The 150 or 170 gr. at 1500 fps will leave a mark and penetrate like the devil.

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The standard Marlin stock and forend of today feel fat to me.

I have some 168 gr. HPGC loads with Unique. I will get them a try after I get all the bugs worked out. No big issues with the gun. Worst problem is the ejection. It's what I call a "Limp Dick" ejection. The empty cases roll out onto my shooting hand and fall to ground by my feet. Makes it easy to find the brass but sometimes you wonder if they are gonna make it out of the gun.

I have some fixes for it but it's working and I would rather work up some loads for it... at least for now.

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Held in the back of the frame (with that peg and hole in the frame) and slides along in that groove in the back of the bolt. Pull the bolt and it usually falls out. It’s a real crappy design, in my opinion, they have been using for around 130 yrs. But what do I know?

Brownells sells an aftermarket better one. Of course you might try to just bend it out some and see if that helps. The spring may have just taken set. It’s worth a shot. It might even have the tip broke off. Need to check it.

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The ejector seems to be "short"..It won't throw the shell out.
there are several fixes ... I will keep tinkering till it's the way I want it.

Testing the Project Marlin 30-30

The Marlins have always been great guns...

I agree. I have also never seen a bad Marlin. When

LOOKS LIKE IT TURNED OUT FINE

Winner Winner chicken dinner!

I like the bob-job and how you trimmed

I like the thinner stock and forend.

The “ejector” as they call it is that bobby-pin

The rifle is actually new and if fired, not much.

Nice work Jim

If I go to an aperture sight it will have one!