Reader Forum

Marlin 336 and 338 I’m writing about a problem I’ve had come into my shop in the last couple months. It concerns the Marlin 336 and 338 models. The lever locks in the open position and cannot be freed until you take out the screw which the lever pivots on. Of course, this "cures" the problem and the customer goes on his way. Of course, this doesn’t actually repair the problem. I want to solve the issue and keep this from happening again, which I’m pretty sure it will.

What are your suggestions for a more permanent fix? George Geiges Newfoundland PA Your "cure" presents a problem. How does the shooter chamber another round without the lever in the rifle? Please see the May 2008 issue of American Gunsmith. It carried an extensive article on the 336 and mentioned several possibilities for your locked open levers. One would be a badly bent lever. If so, a factory replacement is recommended rather than an attempt at straightening. Another is a damaged or bent lifter.

The same recommendation is in order unless the action has been reassembled incorrectly and interference has been created as a result. A third possibility would be a seriously worn and out-of-round lever screw hole. Filling, smoothing the filler and re-drilling is possible, but a fresh lever will probably do more to bring the customer back to your shop because it will end up costing him less. Customers appreciate that sort of pro-active thinking from their gunsmith.

Winchester Model 370 In the Reader Forum January 2010 issue of American Gunsmith, Mr. J. R. Weaver has problems with his Winchester Model 370, 12 gauge, single-shot shotgun. While I do not have hands on his shotgun, it is possible there is no problem to fix on the gun. I believe the gun may not even be broken. I have owned one of these shotguns for 45-plus years and have taken whitetail deer with slugs, right on down to doves with it.

It has been the best shotgun I ever have owned, but I have experienced the same problems as Mr. Weaver with my personal Winchester. It did take meawhile to figure out what was going on with the shotgun. When I fired heavy loads (threeinch shotshells, which are safe as the gun has a three-inch chamber) usually it would open up and eject the hull on firing. I looked the shotgun over thoroughly and could not find anything wrong with it. I discovered when I had a tight grip on the shotgun it would not open up.

I let my brother fire it and watched closely. The gun recoiled and actually moved back into his hand, working the opening lever and opening up the gun. When this happened the hull was ejected. The opening lever is close to your hand and the grip shape allows the shotgun to move back into it, working the lever upon recoil. I also found if the forearm does not snap fully into place it can come off the shotgun when fired and open up on recoil.

A little cleaning and oil usually lets the forearm snap fully into place when putting the gun back together. I may be wrong but engagement of the locking block problems should show up with regular loads of 2-3/4 inch shotshells, not just the heavy loads. This has been by experience with other models of single-shot shotguns as well. Note: The Winchester Model 370 had swaged chokes in the barrels. Do not shoot steel shot in these guns, only lead shot.

Thank you for your insights, "Trader Horn." Perhaps your suggestions will resolve Mr. Weaver’s problem. Just in case it doesn’t we advised him to contact the Winchester Authorized Factory Service Center. Notch Cuts for 1911 Sights I have searched high and low for this information, and am hoping you can help. I need to know the dimensions of the dovetail cuts for "Kimber Cut", "Novak Cut", "Heinie Cut" and 1911 Standard Cut for sights (front and rear).

Robin Miller Irvington, AL We know the M1911 rear dovetail is a 60 degree cut. A front dovetail cut for the same pistol would depend on the dimensions of the sight to be installed. For example, Novak and Heinie are sight manufacturers and we have no statistics on their line-up except that the low profile rear Novak requires milling of the slide aft of the dovetail. We don’t know which sight(s) Kimber uses but the factory should have no objection to giving out that information.

Marlin Glenfield Model 60 I have received a Marlin Glenfield Model 60 that jams upon the first attempt to load. Once you get the first round loaded and fire it, the rifle works flawlessly. Could it be the cartridge lifter or the spring? The Marlin Glenfield Model 60 was produced from 1950 to 1982. Starting in 1983 it became simply the Marlin Model 60. Receiver components between the two models are not all interchangeable and it is within the receiver we think your problem lies.

We covered the Marlin Model 60 in the April 2005 issue and believe reprints are still available. What has us puzzled is the jamming only occurring on the first round but not thereafter. Regardless, the receiver is likely the cause. Whether that be the cartridge lifter, ejector lifter spring, feed throat or other of the multiple parts housed Daniel P. Horn Huron, SD

in the receiver there is little you can do about it. Any receiver experiencing problems is restricted to factory service. The exception to that would be a toothbrush and solvent cleaning of everything between the receiver side plates. H. J. Sterling I have an old H. J. Stering double barrel side-by-side 12 gauge shotgun with outside hammers and a double trigger. I’m looking for the left hammer and screw. Do you know where I can find parts for it? Russ Wildes Get-R-Fixed Gunsmithing H. D.

Folsom (Folsom Arms) imported shotguns from Belgium with this brand name on them. A large sporting goods importer, retailer and distributor based in New York City, Folsom also owned Crescent Firearms of Connecticut until the early 1930s. Neither company is presently in business. It could be possible that your shotgun has Damascus barrels, in which case it should not be fired using modern shotshell loads. Exception: It might be both possible and plausible to install full length inserts in the existing barrels.

This would reduce the gauge but make firing presentday loadings possible. The source for the inserts is Briley Manufacturing Briley also has the capability of fabricating anew hammer and screw. Otherwise, you are in for an exhaustive search of the parts in the aftermarket. Remington M7400 I have been an AGA member for ten years and have a technical question for you. I am working on a Remington M7400 in .270 caliber, serial number 812XXXX.

It will fire and eject the chambered round, load the next round, but will not fire it. The hammer is uncocked at that time. I have cleaned and inspected the gas system and the trigger assembly but found nothing wrong. Any ideas? Larry Middlerg Middlerg Gun An article on the 7400 appeared in the May 1997 issue of American Gunsmith. While the article did not delve deeply into troubleshooting, it stressed the need for complete disassembly in order to provide proper cleaning.

If you don’t happened to have that issue, how can you do that without the article in hand? The 7400, 742, 4 and 74 Sportsman Remingtons all come down similarly and instructions for the 742 are published in the Gun Digest Book of Assembly/Disassembly, Part IV, Centerfire Rifles. The 7400 is known to have lessthan-perfect reliability and many gunsmiths referred to it as "The Jam- O-Matic." A detailed cleaning is how most problems were solved with the this rifle.

Beyond that, the hammer failing to cock might have an equally uncomplicated resolution. The disconnector may not be properly engaging the action bar in front because it’s not positioned properly under the left connector on the firing mechanism. Next to dirt, this common reassembly error ranked as the top cause of 7400 malfunctions. A second possibility is poor hammer and sear notch engagement. A third is a weakened or damaged sear spring.

If repair needs require restricted parts, ask Remington Customer Service for the address and phone of the authorized service center closest to your location. Auto Mag 3 Pistol I’m looking for information on putting an Auto Mag III pistol together. A customer brought this gun to my shop and, so far, I’m stumped. I don’t know where to get maybe an exploded view or diagram of the internal components. Can you help?

David Dell Orbisonia, PA Google "Automag Pistol." A link to Wikipedia provides an extensive history on the pistol with links at the end to articles, reviews and even Dirty Harry’s use of the boomer Automag in the movie Sudden Impact, after losing his famed Model 29 .44 Magnum. Additional links, e.g. "Modern Firearms," might turn up a schematic. Don’t ignore the links to Auto Mag (AutomagParts.com) and High Standard (High Standard. com), who show the Automag II on its product list. AG