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Anyone have a template or chart showing each model and mag capacity for half(button), 2/3, 3/4, & full.
RickC
Just a followup to my inquiry. This might be a project for the collector with every model & mag tube configuration. I know you’re out there. Hint hint.
Also I can’t remember seeing CFM letters with the words 2/3 or 3/4 magazine. Anyone?
December 21, 2006
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Rick; pretty common; 
or sometimes “4 or5 cartridge mag” I had a ’94 that said 2/3 mag
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
Yes I’ve had several letter with half mag but never saw 2/3 or 3/4 on any or that I ever saw. Thanks for confirming Henry.
Is 4 cartridges a special order mag tube? I thought all 30WCF/25-35/32WS half mags held 4 cartridges. Maybe it’s only 3 ??♂️. Why would they add “4 cartridges” along with the “half mag” entry?
November 19, 2006
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RickC said
Just a followup to my inquiry. This might be a project for the collector with every model & mag tube configuration. I know you’re out there. Hint hint.Also I can’t remember seeing CFM letters with the words 2/3 or 3/4 magazine. Anyone?
Here’s an ’86 of mine that letters with a “3/4 magazine”:
Thanks Steve. That definitely confirms it like Henry said.
December 21, 2006
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I think it depende on who was making the ledger entry whether it was 1/2 mag or 4 cartridge mag.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
November 19, 2006
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Henry Mero said
I think it depende on who was making the ledger entry whether it was 1/2 mag or 4 cartridge mag.
We know the customer sometimes specified how many cartridges they wanted the magazine to hold. I think when this happened, that was often recorded in the ledger.
September 19, 2014
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RickC , Sounds as if you would be a good one to start gathering data and producing such matrix. I can provide the start of the data by extracting advertised capacities from the few catalogs I have. Here is your start:
Per the Feb 1890 catalog, Model 1866 rifle with 24″ bbl 17 shots
Musket, 27″ bbl, 17 shots
Carbine, 20″ bbl, 13 shots (Note: I do not know if one in the chamber counts)
Model 1873 Rifle, 24″ bbl, 15 shots Half mag, 6 shots
Musket, 30″ bbl, 17 shots
Carbine, 20″ bbl, 12 shots (nothing reflected ref custom mag length)
Model 1876 Rifle, 28″ bbl, 12 shots
Musket 32″ bbl, 13 shots
Carbine 22″ bbl, 9 shot
Express Rifles with 26″ and 22″ show no capacities listed
Model 1886 Rifle, 26″ bbl, 9 in .45-7-405, and of that length. 4 in half length magazine
8 in .50 EX, 45-90, 45-70-500 etc, 3 in half magazine lengths
Moving up to the Jun 1893 catalog, it repeats the same data but adds the model 1892. However I did not see any magazine capacities for the new 1892 listed, nor did it show a carbine nor musket version. I suggest you pursue documenting data as you can, and putting it into a matrix for your and our edification. Not a question I would have thought of.
Tim
Tag I’m it lol. Ok Tim thanks for this info. Anyone else who can help out with providing mag tube capacities for 92/94/95 in any or all configurations & calibers would be appreciated.
RickC
September 28, 2016
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The capacity of the 1886 does not seem correct, take the 45-90 for example. If the loaded casings are over 2″ in length it’s impossible to get 17 cartridges in a 24″ magazine tube……… It sounds correct for a model 1890 with 22 shorts.
Erin
I don’t see 17 for the 86 Erin. This is what I have so far.
Model 1886 Rifle,
26″ bl, (45-70)-9
Half mag 4
50 EX, 45-90, 45-70-500 etc – 8
Half magazine lengths 3
September 19, 2014
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RickC, you have it correct per the catalog, anyway! I hope you have a good sense of humor! And “tag” was a great response!
Tim
November 19, 2006
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Erin Grivicich said
The capacity of the 1886 does not seem correct, take the 45-90 for example. If the loaded casings are over 2″ in length it’s impossible to get 17 cartridges in a 24″ magazine tube……… It sounds correct for a model 1890 with 22 shorts.Erin
I think this was for the Model 1866. Here’s a question – how long is a compressed magazine spring? I assume the longer the magazine, the longer the spring as it needs to hold forward tension on that very last cartridge.
January 26, 2011
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Here’s a group shot with quite a few magazine length examples represented. And no, I’m not going to jam them all full of shells to see how many will fit. I’ll leave that task to the retired folks in the group with more time on their hands. 
Oh, and never mind that lowly carbine in the bunch…..
~Gary~
September 19, 2014
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I might also point out the 1895 does not have a tube magazine. I see I overlooked providing the info on the shorts and longs for the 1873 rifle. It said in the Jun 1893 catalog that the 24 inch barrel would allow 25 shorts for those so chambered, and 20 longs for those so chambered. I had extracted that previously be seemingly missed entering it the first time. Sorry about that.
Tim
April 15, 2005
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Magazine tube/capacity ??? My Single Shots don’t have that problem… they all hold ONE cartridge!!
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 19, 2006
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Has anyone seen a, “2/3rd” or, “7/8th” length referred to in a museum letter?
September 28, 2016
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RickC said
I don’t see 17 for the 86 Erin. This is what I have so far.Model 1886 Rifle,
26″ bl, (45-70)-9
Half mag 4
50 EX, 45-90, 45-70-500 etc – 8
Half magazine lengths 3
My bad Rick, In Tim’s post I mis read 1866 as 1886………
I need to quit posting after 10:00 P.M…
