Marlin 1894 Loading Gate / Spring

[Ozark_Captain]

The loading gate on my Marlin 1894 is really stiff - to the point my wife has a difficult time loading the rifle with 38s.  I have read about "weakening" the spring to make loading easier but no specifics are given.

My question is :  How does one weaken the spring (the section between the screw and the loading gate itself)?  Do you grind of some from the front? Back? Top? Bottom? All of the above. Or does it make any difference?

Thanks.

[litl rooster]

have you tried to just loosen the screw directly to the rear of the gate? It's generally the other way around and that screw needs tightened.  I don't know what you really mean by "stiff" I know some folks use a  device ( a stick or a nother round) to assist their rounds thru the loading gate to the magazine tube.

[Daniel Nighteyes]

It will ease up over time.

In the interim, may I suggest that you don't push each round all the way in -- leave the base in the gate so that the next round will (a) have an easier time of it, and will (b)  push the preceeding round into the magazine.  Then use the push-stick to seat the last round.

This is much easier on the fingers and etc.

[Ozark_Captain]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I will give them a try.

[Ozark_Captain]

I found this procedure on the Marlin Owner's forum (http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,46403.0.html)

I measured the thickness of the middle part of the gate and it was .035" thick. I then used a grinding stone and thinned down the mid section from where the screw hole starts to the gate door itself and took off .009" making it .025". I did not change the bend figuring it will line up exactly the way it came off nice and flsuh with the inside of the reciever.

I tried it today and it worked like a charm.  Problem solved.

Maybe this will help someone else.