99C -- Wall Hanger or Shooter?

940 Views 12 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Catt57, 2 mo ago

systemdesigner

Discussion Starter · 3 mo ago

After initial attempts to test fire a 99-C (1965 vintage based on the barrel stamp) gifted to me ended up with 10-15% FTE with multiple ammo types, I completed a more complete cleanup and mounted a cheap, generic scope. A trip to the range seems to show that this rifle has a fairly accurate barrel. I was using nothing more than a block of wood as a rest. While the target was only 30 yards, the Aguila SE HV ammo is not exactly known for high accuracy, yet it still managed to put together some reasonably tight groups, especially for my poor level of markmanship.
The FTE decreased to about 5% after the more extensive cleaning, with runs of 40+ with no problems, then 3-4 per 15 loaded in the tube. But the FTE still occur.

My question is "do I turn this rifle into a wall hanging, or do I spend the time and money to find the parts to eliminate the FTE?".
One note I can provide is that this rifle seems to have been taken apart in the past. At least one spring in the action seems to have been replaced with a later Model 60 spring that is not an exact fit (ejector ??). My 99 is an old version without last shot open, so the action is slightly different than the Model 60.
Sorry if some of my explanations are not exactly correct, but I am not much of a gunsmith.

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oldbird13

· #2 · 3 mo ago

If you use YouTube, go and view all of Arrowdodger videos regarding Marlin 60. He has helped many Marlin owners revive problem 22’s.

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oldbird13

· #3 · 3 mo ago

From limited view of your rifle, much too nice to be a wall hanger.

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Asterhunter

· #4 · 3 mo ago

That's a really nice shooter. I hope you can solve your FTE problem. I have an old model 60 that's never missed a beat. Does FTE happen with a near empty tube, a full tube, or apparently at random?

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greenyonline

· #5 · 3 mo ago

A rifle that doesn’t shoot is a just fancy looking club. Patience. Work with it. Shoot it.

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systemdesigner

Discussion Starter · #6 · 3 mo ago

oldbird13 said:
If you use YouTube, go and view all of Arrowdodge

Thanks for the tip. I found his and a few other video's that gave me some ideas on what to look for.
My issue seems to be a failure to properly eject. I have not had any failure to extract or feed. This tends to indicate an Ejector Spring problem, with known issues with adjustment (penny/nickle). So I plan on looking carefully at this spring and adjustment. It does appear that the current spring is not the original (does not match available OEM drawings for the 99 or 60) for the 'plate mount' side of the spring. The actual ejector portion looks very similar. So verification of 'adjustments' and the true source of the spring are near term projects.

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systemdesigner

Discussion Starter · #7 · 3 mo ago

Asterhunter said:
That's a really nice shooter.... Does FTE happen with a near empty tube, a full tube, or apparently at random?

FTE is completely random. I can put 5/10/15/18 in the tube with zero FTE or get a few stovepipes before empty.
Based on video's I was pointed to, there seems to be a know poor situation with Ejector Spring adjustment. This seems to be aggravated by the fact that this is not a last shot hold open, which can result in the spring being tweaked during re-assembly from a disassembly and cleaning.
But I was quite impressed with the ability of the barrel to create tight groups, even with my less than optimum marksmanship skills.

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LarDaBear

· #8 · 3 mo ago

Will an early Model 60 bolt work in a 99?

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Catt57

· #9 · 3 mo ago

systemdesigner said:
FTE is completely random. I can put 5/10/15/18 in the tube with zero FTE or get a few stovepipes before empty.
Based on video's I was pointed to, there seems to be a know poor situation with Ejector Spring adjustment. This seems to be aggravated by the fact that this is not a last shot hold open, which can result in the spring being tweaked during re-assembly from a disassembly and cleaning.
But I was quite impressed with the ability of the barrel to create tight groups, even with my less than optimum marksmanship skills.

Look up the "Nickle trick" by Arrowdodger, easy way to adjust the ejector spring.

Edit: here it is.

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Chickenhater

· #10 · 2 mo ago

I'd say your most likely correct with the spring being the culprit, but I've had failures in some SA's that only occur with certain types of ammo, so trying some mini mags should be in order. Also when you cleaned the rifle did you clean the chamber and lead area with a cotton mop and some JB's... or similar type of aggressive cleaner?

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systemdesigner

Discussion Starter · #11 · 2 mo ago

LarDaBear said:
Will an early Model 60 bolt work in a 99?

I have looked into that. While most of the individual parts are interchangeable, the bolt itself does not appear to be because my 99C does not have 'last shot open'. But if it is just the 'Extractors', they can be replaced with 60 parts.
So unless I find more accurate information, I can only use some of the 60's parts. But I appreciate the suggestion.

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systemdesigner

Discussion Starter · #12 · 2 mo ago

Chickenhater said:
I'd say your most likely correct with the spring being the culprit, but I've had failures in some SA's that only occur with certain types of ammo, so trying some mini mags should be in order. Also when you cleaned the rifle did you clean the chamber and lead area with a cotton mop and some JB's... or similar type of aggressive cleaner?

I did attempt to clean the chamber area. But based on some other video's I found, it appears as if the area the extractors fit into can result in a poor extraction with any amount of carbon buildup. So that will be another thing I clean, taking a little 'pick' to and ensure nothing to impede the extraction is left.
I actually tested with CCI MiniMag's (40 g Target), getting worse results than with Aguila SE HV (who would have thought that would happen). I have not tried anything SV as of yet, although I saw video's were CCI SV cycled best in a problematic 60. Since I tend to shoot HV in my Plinker's, I want to explore every possibility of minor mechanical/adjustment issues in the rifle first. So another deep cleaning and probably replacement/adjustment of the Ejector Spring is in order.
Thanks for the suggestions!

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Catt57

· #13 · 2 mo ago

systemdesigner said:
I have looked into that. While most of the individual parts are interchangeable, the bolt itself does not appear to be because my 99C does not have 'last shot open'. But if it is just the 'Extractors', they can be replaced with 60 parts.
So unless I find more accurate information, I can only use some of the 60's parts. But I appreciate the suggestion.

The LSHO is going to be the newer action style. For the 99C I suspect you'll need the older style (Pre 80's) M60 bolt.

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