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SEE PART I - Marlin 795-Inexpensive Training, Plinking (and Survival?) Rifle

So we picked up our 795 and showed that it is an accurate little rifle. What’s next? How about we wring the most out of it and make it into a field capable all around carbine.  This little rifle has the potential to be more than simply a cheap plinker. It can be built into a fairly good training rifle used to emulate center fire military rifles.  As such, the 795 also shines as a fine hunting rifle and as a kick around piece that could be placed behind the back door of any farm-house, used as a truck gun or trunk gun for impromptu shooting sessions. The hollow stock, with a little thought can hold cleaning, hunting, survival supplies or extra magazines and ammo. In addition, it has some value as a stash away or survival gun, ready at a moments notice. To get there however we have to make some additions.

First Up…Sling

The 795 comes equipped with sling studs and as such just about any kind of detachable swivel will fit. Most accessible are Uncle Mike’s swivels which cost about $12 at most sporting goods stores or online. However, the sling is worth consideration.

If you have ever had the opportunity to learn how to shoot with a sling, you will know that there are slings and then there are slings. We tend to think of them as little more than carrying straps. The military however have used slings as shooting stabilizers for over a century. They have come up with the best all around device for increasing accuracy ever invented. That is the USGI web sling as found on the M1 Garand and M14 rifles. Simple, effective and inexpensive ($12-15)  this sling can be used standing, sitting, kneeling and prone and will improve anyone’s ability to put rounds on target.

The GI web sling does however need some adaptations for civilian use. It uses two J hooks on either end which go the fixed sling loops on the Garand and M14. In addition the sling is 1.25″ wide unlike most 1.00″ wide civilian slings. Therefore one needs  1.25″ sling swivels to accommodate the sling. The sling can then be installed either of two ways. The first is to simply hook the J hooks over the swivel loops.  The second it to remove the J hooks on the sling and replace them with the swivels.  The later results in a bit less weight and less noise from the metal on metal contact between the hooks and swivels.

Once installed the sling is quick adjustable to be used as a hasty sling or hasty, hasty sling which is useful for hunting. In addition the QD swivels allow the butt end of the sling to be removed from the stud so the sling can be used as a loop sling for standing, sitting or prone shooting.  The loop sling offers the most stability of all sling configurations.  My experience is that the best place to obtain the GI sling is from the Appleseed store. Cost is $12.50.   1.25″ swivels are hard to find in stores and most often have to be ordered online. Try Midway for both the sling and swivels. CDNN also carries web slings. $9 plus flat rate shipping (order on the weekend for reduced shipping.

Next Up…Sights

Manufacturers seems to regard sights as a necessary evil on low-end guns. I don’t know if they just don’t care or if they figure most people only use these rifles for informal shooting and/or put scopes on them so it really doesn’t matter what sights are on them. From the factory, most of these rifles, the 795 and Ruger 10/22 have sights ( U-shaped notch type rear sights, ramped or beaded front)  that prevent precision shooting.  Adding a scope helps overcome the sights but also adds weight and complexity to the system. If target shooting (and the 795 is certainly accurate for target shooting) a scope has lots of value. Since we want a knock around trainer/field gun we want accurate, robust iron sights for our project. Once again, the military came up with the best iron sights ever invented more than a century ago. The basic peep rear and post front sight has been the standard since the 1903 Springfield, through the Garand, M1 Carbine, M16 etc. Add a pair of protective wings along side to protect the peep and post and you have a durable and accurate set of sights.

Fortunately for us a civilian version of the military sights exists made just for our little rifle. Tech Sights are easy to install with just a screw driver and provide a valuable upgrade to the factory sights.

The TSM200 sights are fully adjustable for windage and elevation. Both the rear aperture and front post are replaceable to suit the shooter.  While not inexpensive at around $70, they so improve this little rifle that the could be considered a bargain. A rifle with good peep sights for less than the cost of a basic 10/22 with factory sight is not a bad deal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next Up…Enhanced Capability

One aspect of the Marlin 795 that is interesting is the polymer (plastic) stock. It is obviously hollow and lessons the weight somewhat. It is less obvious how to gain access to. Yes, there are screws in the butt plate but removing them does not release the plate. With considerable effort one has to pry the plate off with a very thin bladed tool.  Once removed however, the void opens up all kind of possibilities.

 

My curiosity was piqued when I saw the empty stock. I bought the 795 to play around with and/or use at Appleseed. I often carried a 22 rifle in my truck when I went to my hunting cabin and the thought of an all in one package, gun and ammo intrigued me. Originally I had thought about some cleaning supplies and perhaps and extra magazine. I found that a small brush and an extra magazine and piece of rag fit easily inside the stock. How about two extra magazines? Yup, two extra fit in addition to the original.

Well if three is good, how about four?  Or five?  Four works pretty easily, five seem like they should fit but it took some time to figure it out. Eventually I was able to get 5 in the stock with a little room to spare.

The Set Up…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking at the photos, the mag at the far right goes in first. Tip the rifle on it’s back and slide the mag in. Then put mag #2 in right behind it. At this point you will want to lay the rifle on it’s right side.  Set mag #3 next to #2, or below it as seen in the photo. Mag #4 slides in behind #2 and

then #5 is wedged in next to #4.  That leaves some space below mags 4&5 and behind mag #3. I

found that 50 rounds in a plastic bags fills that space.

So where are we now?  We have an accurate little carbine that holds 5 loaded mags in the stock and an additional 50 rounds of loose ammo for a total of 100 rounds. Not a bad self-contained package.  Of course you can substitute cleaning and/or survival supplies for any of the mags and/or ammo. Depends on your needs. Might want to add a small flat screwdriver to take the stock screws out as well.

What else can we do?  After carrying this little gem around in my truck for a couple of months I returned to my man cave and was fiddling around with an M1 carbine I bought from a friend whose father died. He was a WWII veteran.  I was intrigued when I bought the carbine that the old vet had stored two rounds of ammo in the fore stock under the barrel. The rounds had been wrapped in aluminum foil. The rifle came with an

aftermarket plastic folding stock as well as an original wood stock. The plastic stock had some space under the barrel and that’s where the ammo was located.

That gave me the idea to take off the 795′s stock and take a look-see. Sure enough there was empty space there. The question became how many rounds would fit?  I started wrapping ammo in aluminum foil and squeezing it into place. After some fiddling around, I was able to get 12 rounds in the first section. 11 rounds in the second section and 7 rounds in the third for a total of 30 rounds.  One question is that came to mind is if putting ammo next to the barrel is safe. I made sure that I wrapped the ammo in several layers and then folded over a couple more layers near the barrel.  A few weeks later I took the rifle to the range and fired about 300 rounds through it before I remembered that there was ammo in the fore stock. With the barrel still hot, I took off the stock and checked the foil. It was barely warm.

So, there you have it. A cheap little carbine with peep sights, web sling, 5 magazines, 130 rounds of ammo together in one package. If you can think of anything else to do with this neat little rifle let me know. In the mean time, if you decide to buy a Marlin, a web sling, Tech Sights and/or Uncle Mike’s swivels etc, tell them that you got the idea from www.nylonrifles.com.   Help spread the word.

UPDATE!

Took my 795 to an Appleseed a couple of weeks ago and found that it was difficult to hold when I was sweating. Both the pistol grip and buttstock gets slippery.  The solution was an application of a product called Vet Tape, or stretchy wrap. This stuff is like an elastic bandage that is coated with a rubbery substance that somewhat tacky and sticks to itself. It is easily removable and leaves no residue. It can be found in the medical aisle of most drug stores, in the running sections of most sports shops etc. It is found in pet stores and animal medical sections. It is what they wrap around the ankles of race horses. Comes in all kinds of colors. I know Bass Pro, Cabelas, Dunhams etc sell a camo version.  You can also use the wrap as a field expedient fix to raise the comb of the store if using a scope.

Another alternative for wrapping the butt stock is to use para cord. Always handy to have in the field. I had a 15 ft piece of paracord left over from another project so I wrapped the stock with it. I may just keep it that way.

Next thing I did was add a few things to go into the stock. I put a small key chain LED light in. The light is 10 for $5 from www.dealextreme.com. It is very bright and I keep one on all my keys and kits. I also added pair of foam ear plugs and about a dozen ibuprofen tablets. In the photo you may see a small wrench. At the other end of the wrench is a flat screwdriver. It is nice and flat and came from a Dremel type rotary tool. Slides right in.

The pistol grip cap can be removed with two screws. Not much space inside but enough room for a hook, line and sinker. The foam ear plug doubles as a bobber.

 

 UPDATE II….

I had an inquiry as to how to dry fire the 795 and if the magazine/trigger safety can be disconnected.  The short answer is the only way to dry fire is to use an empty magazine so that the mag disconnect is engaged.  Doing so means you have to retract and then release the locked bolt each time you pull the trigger.

There is a way to disconnect the trigger safety. WARNING-DOING SO WILL VOID THE FACTORY WARRANTY AND LIKELY IS UNSAFE PARTICULARLY IF USED BY CHILDREN AND OTHERS UNFAMILIAR WITH FIREARMS OR THIS FIREARM. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. I accept no responsibility for any consequences should you attempt to do this. I DO NOT RECOMMEND DOING THIS. DO NOT DO THIS IF ANYONE ELSE SHOOTS YOUR RIFLE. IT SERVES NO PURPOSE.   But if you do want to dry fire you can bend the little silver tab up. This tap holds the trigger bar/sear down out of contact with the sear unless a magazine is inserted. Bending it up prevents it from holding the bar down allowing the sear to engage. Nothing further is needed and no permanent modification is needed. It does not improve the trigger so there is really no benefit in doing it. I offer this for informational purposes only.

PS. To get the most out of any rifle, learn to shoot it. The best way to learn is to get instruction. The best instruction I know of is the Appleseed Project. Check it out. It teaches you to use your rifle like a rifle should be used. It is also lots of fun. www.appleseedinfo.org

 

Part III- Marlin 795 More Stuff 

 

 

 

 

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Tags: 795, Information, marlin, Shooting

This entry was posted by Mac66 on Tuesday, September 20th, 2011 at 6:20 pm and is filed under 22 rifles, Appleseed, Guns, Information, Marlin, Marlin 795, rifles, Shooting, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.