Fix for old Marlin 22

[deadwolf]

I have an old Marlin 783 22 mag I’m getting together for my kids, and need some advice on how to re secure this tubular magazine to the barrel. Looks like at one time the dovetail was a tight fit but now it swings back and forth with little pressure. Wondering if I’d need to braise it or if some red loctite would do the trick? Open to suggestions. Thanks


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[Deplorable77]

Possibly staking it after braze?

 

[robtattoo]

Take a center punch and knock a single 'dot' into the female half of the dovetail. That'll raise a small amount of metal around the dot & that'll be enough to tighten up the fit & keep the male side tight in place.
I've done it a bunch of times with traditional muzzleloader builds & it's worked every time.

 

[Mk44]

A small piece of shim in the barrel dove tail should tighten it up.
Try using/cutting a small piece of aluminum as a shim from a beer can or soda can. wedge it into the barrel dovetail and the mag tube band. Add a 2nd piece if needed to tighten the gap.

I wouldn't braze it in case you ever need to disassemble for cleaning, repairs or replacement.

Side note: I can't tell from the photo, but there should be a pin in the magazine tube band to prevent the mag tube from spinning.

 

[deadwolf]

A small piece of shim in the barrel dove tail should tighten it up.
Try using/cutting a small piece of aluminum as a shim from a beer can or soda can. wedge it into the barrel dovetail and the mag tube band. Add a 2nd piece if needed to tighten the gap.

I wouldn't braze it in case you ever need to disassemble for cleaning, repairs or replacement.

Side note: I can't tell from the photo, but there should be a pin in the magazine tube band to prevent the mag tube from spinning.

There appears to be a pin in that band, but I can’t tell what purpose it really serves, as it between the mag tube and dovetail that it slide into on the barrel. For the time being I put some blue loctite in there and it seems to be holding just fine.


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[deadwolf]

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[Mk44]

Good looking rifle.
I can see the pin in your new photo.
There is a small notch on the magazine tube. The notch lines up with the hole on the magazine band. A small pin is inserted into the magazine band and slides over the notch on the mag tube holding the mag tube in place from sliding out of the receiver or rotating.

IDK how well the loctite will hold. You can always try sliding/wedging a small shim in between the dovetail & magazine band if it does come loose again. good luck

 

[deadwolf]

Thanks Mak45, I appreciate the info! Yeah, the more I’ve been playing with this 22 and cleaning it up for my kids, the more nostalgic I’m getting in remembering my old days with it. Lots of squirrels and ptarmigan with this thing. It’s cleaned up easy and should provide many more good years of use!


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