Thursday, I picked my new, 40 year old 1894 Marlin .357 from my local FFL.
Yesterday, I broke it down cleaned it, and reassembled it.
Today I took it to the range and...
...
...
It JAMMED!
No matter how many different rounds I tried it wouldn't load any cartridge into the breech.
The RSO came over and we looked at it together....then I saw...
I had assembled it wrong, installing the ejector and its spring incorrectly and it was in the way of the breech. The RSO had a full-size Leatherman (I just had my cricket) so I removed the lever screw, the lever, and the bolt. I reinstalled the ejector, and put it back together...and started shooting!!! (but was I really, really embarrassed! )
Wow! This is easily THE most fun gun I've ever shot! I enjoy my two PCCs, but this was just more fun, and far more fun than hand guns! I shot .38 special FMJ, .357 Magnum FMJ, and at least one lead ball round. Occasionally, the action was tight on .38 but smoother on .357. As I shot more and more it got smoother and smoother and downright buttery.
Here are 9 rounds, a full load, from 25 yards, the maximum at this range, using the iron sights and my aging, myopic, astigmatic eyes! The target is 12"x12" from edge to edge.
First Time Shooting 1894 Marlin
1"Even if the bee could explain to the fly why pollen is better than shit, the fly could never understand."