Marlin 25mn Free Float

BountytheDogHunter

BountytheDogHunter

New member
I have a Marlin 25mn that hasn't ever shot really well. I can see marks where the barrel is rubbing on the stock, so I want to free float the barrel. I have been sanding the barrel channel down in front of the screw, but it doesn't seem to be creating any clearance. Has anybody done this with the Marlin before or have any tips? Your help is most appreciated!
 
Does your action have one screw or two? My old one only had one screw, in front of the action. Newer ones have two. If yours only has one, no amount of sanding will help. You can order the rear screw from Marlin for about $3(look on their website for exploded views for the part#). You'll have to drill out the trigger guard screw hole in the stock, and it should screw right into the action, which should already be drilled and tapped for that screw. Don't ask me why they didn't put the 2nd screw in in the first place?

Bownut
 
Just a though. Befor I drilled out for a new screw I'd bed the barrel under the chamber. Gouge out the stock about 1/8". Build a dam across the barrel channel. You could do that with tape around the barrel where you want the bedding to stop. Make enough wraps around the barrel at the fore end to keep the barrel centered in the stock and floated all the way. Next bed under the chamber and pull the barrel action into the stock with your one screw. Tighten just enough to hold the whole thing together.

The bedding will act like a fulcrum in front of the action screw and will pull the barrel away from the stock. Won't rub anymore.
 
Bownut- Mine has the one screw, I kind of figured that the sanding would be useless with only the one screw and the barrel weight hanging on it.

Don- I will take a look tonight after work at that, I'll have to see if I can get the action to lay nice in the stock with the shimmed up barrel. If I can't get that to work, I'll go ahead and order the screw.

Thanks all!
 
Originally Posted By: Don FischerJust a though. Befor I drilled out for a new screw I'd bed the barrel under the chamber. Gouge out the stock about 1/8". Build a dam across the barrel channel. You could do that with tape around the barrel where you want the bedding to stop. Make enough wraps around the barrel at the fore end to keep the barrel centered in the stock and floated all the way. Next bed under the chamber and pull the barrel action into the stock with your one screw. Tighten just enough to hold the whole thing together.

The bedding will act like a fulcrum in front of the action screw and will pull the barrel away from the stock. Won't rub anymore.

IIRC...the one screw is about an inch ahead of the chamber...your method's not really possible. Believe me, it takes about 2 seconds to drill out the hole in the stock and screw in the 2nd screw. Then you can float the barrel.

As for bedding...after I added the 2nd screw, I tried a bedding job on the action. There's not much under there to bed (big hole where too much inletting was done) and it didn't turn out too well. Made absolutely ZERO difference in accuracy...maybe worse actually.
 
I got home and looked at my rifle, and I don't see where a longer trigger guard screw would go. Mine has a slot on the underside of the receiver near the back, and there is a piece of the trigger that sits right above the rear trigger guard screw. Is there still a good way to float the barrel?

100_2663.jpg


100_2661.jpg
 
It's hard to see, but in the bottom pic (of your action), there is a large screw holding on the mag release lever. What happens if you take out the smaller screw, pictured just to the right of the larger screw? I don't think that screw is holding anything is it? Mine doesn't have it at all, just a threaded hole.

I'm almost certain that's where my action was threaded for the rear screw. All I had to do was remove the front trigger guard screw, drill out the hole and screw in the new screw.

I bedded mine in the tang and around the front screw lug, but as you can see in the top pic, there ain't much wood there to bed to. I think bedding was a waste. Adding the 2nd screw did allow me to free float though.

bownut
 
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I'm an idiot... Sorry I garbled things up between reading your post at home and taking the gun apart. I was looking at the rear guard screw, but you said the front guard screw. When I get home tonight I will look at it again, and should be able to get it to work. Thanks for your help bownut!
 
Originally Posted By: BountytheDogHunterI have a Marlin 25mn that hasn't ever shot really well. I can see marks where the barrel is rubbing on the stock, so I want to free float the barrel. I have been sanding the barrel channel down in front of the screw, but it doesn't seem to be creating any clearance. Has anybody done this with the Marlin before or have any tips? Your help is most appreciated!

FWIW - I my 25m didn't shoot well at all. I changed the trigger to the MAR-917 from RifleBasix and now at 50yds I put my rounds into the bullseye.

While my 25m has the 2 screws, I didn't notice whether the barrel was rubbing or not. In any event, the trigger work did the trick.

Good luck!
 
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