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Junior23 
Southern Miss Fan
Member since Sep 2012
696 posts
| Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 3:44 pm)
I know they've had problems in the past with them not firing but has anybody had this happen? If so how did you/somebody fix it? A friend of mine has one and has killed deer with it and he was going to shoot it the other day to see if it was still sighted in and it wouldn't fire.
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4X4DEMON 
Northwestern St. Fan
NWLA
Member since Dec 2007
9977 posts
 Online
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 3:45 pm to Junior23)
I wasn't aware of any problems with this model. I've had mine for quite a while and never had a problem. Was the hammer dropping and the firing pin not making a dent on the primer?
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Junior23
Southern Miss Fan
Member since Sep 2012
696 posts
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 3:50 pm to 4X4DEMON)
I'm not sure on all of the details but I'll find out. I know when I bought mine the guy that sold it to me had an already shot shell in it with a live primer and he shot it probably 10 times to make sure it wouldn't do this. The gun in question has been in a gun cabinet since last deer season. I can't think of anything that would cause this with it just sitting there chilling in a cabinet.
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4X4DEMON
Northwestern St. Fan
NWLA
Member since Dec 2007
9977 posts
Online
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 3:52 pm to Junior23)
Depending on how well he cleaned it, it could be gummed up firing mechanism or something mechanical that was broken last year that he never realized.
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Junior23
Southern Miss Fan
Member since Sep 2012
696 posts
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 4:02 pm to 4X4DEMON)
This is true. Like I said I don't know exactly what's up with it except it won't fire. I'll find out though and let you know.
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4X4DEMON
Northwestern St. Fan
NWLA
Member since Dec 2007
9977 posts
Online
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 4:18 pm to Junior23)
sounds good, it may be something that I need to keep an eye on.
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TClayboy99 
LSU Fan
in the woods...
Member since Dec 2007
17723 posts
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 4:22 pm to Junior23)
Mine shoots too good... it jarred the weaver rail loose on top of the barrel.
I just re-tightened the screws, but I mean, shite.
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Nascar Fan
LSU Fan
Columbia La.
Member since Jul 2011
10458 posts
Online
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 4:56 pm to Junior23)
quote:
I wasn't aware of any problems with this model
me niether
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DownshiftAndFloorIt
LSU Fan
The devil dreams on an idle horse
Member since Jan 2011
31317 posts
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 4:59 pm to Junior23)
Does it have a hammer extension? Those can cause problems on exposed hammer guns sometimes.
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greasemonkey 
Alabama Fan
Macclenny Fl aka south JAWJA
Member since Aug 2012
1481 posts
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 5:01 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt)
quote:
Does it have a hammer extension? Those can cause problems on exposed hammer guns sometimes.
my TC encore would not fire with a heavy hammer ext.
I had to put an aluminum one on it
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TigerOnThe Hill
Springhill
Member since Sep 2008
1863 posts
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/5/12 at 5:34 pm to Junior23)
Junior, Nice of you to try and help your buddy. A few details would help us out. What kind of gun does he have? How old is the gun? What does the firing pin strike look like on rounds that did not fire? Would be good if that could be compared w/ last years rounds that did fire. Do the primers appear to be seated deeper than usual in the primer pocket? (Properly loaded, the primer should fit flush, or just a smidgen below, the case. Looking from the side, w/ the nose of the bullut pointing down, run a straight edge on the bottom of the case, from one side to the other. Where's the primer in relation to the straight edge, below it, at it or above it?) Is this new ammo or same ammo from last year? Any chance of any chemicals possibly coming in contact w/ the primers? (WD40 is said to be a good "primer killer.")
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Junior23
Southern Miss Fan
Member since Sep 2012
696 posts
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/6/12 at 9:15 am to TigerOnThe Hill)
It's a H&R Handi Rifle. The gun is probably is 2 or 3 years old. I talked to him last night and he said the firing pin is hitting the primer but it's not hitting it hard enough to make it go off.
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Rantavious
LSU Fan
Bossier ''get down'' City
Member since Jan 2007
1118 posts
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/6/12 at 10:39 am to Junior23)
quote:
It's a H&R Handi Rifle
I knew where this was goin.
You gotta be forceful closing the breach on H&Rs.
Just clickin it together like your Browning S/S doesn't get the job done.
I would also suggest hand milling the breach faces, both the receiver and the barrel, to eliminate high spots.
My H&R closed with a nice 'snick'
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DownshiftAndFloorIt
LSU Fan
The devil dreams on an idle horse
Member since Jan 2011
31317 posts
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/6/12 at 10:42 am to Junior23)
Hammer extension?
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TigerOnThe Hill
Springhill
Member since Sep 2008
1863 posts
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/6/12 at 11:27 am to Rantavious)
quote:
You gotta be forceful closing the breach on H&Rs.
Same thing w/ Thompson Center Contenders.
Are the primers that are not igniting seated deeper than usual in the primer pocket? The area of metal covering the bottom of the primers might be a little "hard" or thicker than usual. Couple that w/ a slightly weak firing pin spring and you've got misfires. As mentioned earlier, the primers might be "dead".
The 444 Marlin is a rimless round. Two things to consider w/ this type of problem in rimless rounds are: 1. primer seated too deep in the primer pocket. 2. A headspace problem w/ the ammo (unlikely if this is factory ammo). Trying a different box of ammo might take care of at least 4 different causes of the problem.
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4X4DEMON
Northwestern St. Fan
NWLA
Member since Dec 2007
9977 posts
Online
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/6/12 at 11:48 am to Junior23)
The topic title threw me off with the Marlin. I thought it was the lever action. I'm limited on my h&r experience from what I do know you have to slam the breach closed or else it doesn't line up exactly right.
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Junior23
Southern Miss Fan
Member since Sep 2012
696 posts
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/6/12 at 12:17 pm to 4X4DEMON)
quote:
The topic title threw me off with the Marlin. I thought it was the lever action.
Yeah, that's my fault. I'm just used to everybody around here having the handi rifle and not the lever action. Us here in Missisisisisppi can use the handi rifle as a "primitive weapon." So that's why I'm used to the handi rifle going with somebody saying "444" my fault peeps.
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Junior23
Southern Miss Fan
Member since Sep 2012
696 posts
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/6/12 at 12:18 pm to Rantavious)
Oh I talked to a gunsmith today and he told me he's seen this problem a few times and he told me the hammer spring is probably weak. My question to him was "how does a spring get weak sitting in the gun cabinet?" He told me the get weaker over time which is obvious.
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mack the knife
LSU Fan
SE Louisiana
Member since Oct 2012
658 posts
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/6/12 at 1:00 pm to Junior23)
MANY 2-3 year old H&R have had this problem. some even came new from the box with this issue. when i was looking at acquiring one 2-3 yrs ago the salesman said that it is such a common problem that even he wouldn't get one at this time (again 2-3 yrs ago).
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Bien Fou 
LA-Lafayette Fan
Laffy
Member since Jul 2009
1937 posts
| re: Problem with a 444 Marlin not firing? (Posted on 12/6/12 at 1:38 pm to Junior23)
Had one miss fire on me this weekend, i pulled the hammer extension of to lessen the weight on the hammer and also replaced the spring with a heavyone for more pull. Worked good for a box of rounds then did the same thing, not hitting the primer hard enough. Gun smith said the breech plate may be mis aligned lettting the round fall to far forward, he is sending it back to H&R, its a common problem.
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