New but old

[Steel Hayes]

I’ve got a lot of flint and percussion time on my rifles, but I recently acquired a strange in line rifle that’s just a pleasure to shoot.
I found a
Marathon First shot .32 BP rifle.

Since acquiring it, I replaced the plunger spring and refinished the stock(can’t wait for small game season).
It takes a .38S&W cartridge (20grns 3f) and is a tack driver out to 50yards.
Anyone have more information on these rifles?

 

[Half-Cocked]

Very nice looking piece. Then again I am sucker for anything with a bolt hanging out of it be it bp or modern.

 

[deermanok]

Definitely an odd rifle. I never heard of it before. Looks to be in very good condition.
Does it use #11 or musket caps?

 

[HC]

So…..how is it loaded?

 

[Half-Cocked]

If I'm not mistaken he said it's a bp cartridge gun.

 

[Half-Cocked]

Something like these guys cowboys. I have been toying with the idea of getting a bp cartridge gun.

 

[HC]

I guess what threw me was the “ in line rifle” and (20 gr 3 f).
And a 32 cal rifle that uses a 38 cal cartridge.

 

[Steel Hayes]

So…..how is it loaded?

I suppose I shouldn’t really say “in line”, as it is technically a muzzle loader.
The percussion nipple is in line with the barrel.

 

[Steel Hayes]

And a 32 cal rifle that uses a 38 cal cartridge.

I use an empty cartridge to measure the charge.

 

[HC]

Please explain the loading procedure.

 

[Half-Cocked]

Actually if you want to get technical the inline part is probably okay the muzzleloader part is not because if it is a cartridge gun it's loaded not at the muzzle.

It's a single shot rifle that takes black powder only cartridges right?

Like 45 Long Colt typically used with cast bullets only loaded with black powder because the first cartridge guns used black powder the smokeless hadn't been invented yet like 4570 government etc.

 

[Steel Hayes]

Before I get any more confusing,
From what I understand, Marathon only made these rifles for 2 years(85-87).
It’s a muzzle loaded .32calPRB, the percussion nipple is in line with the barrel. The spring and plunger are built into the bolt.
It will not take any cartridges.
I hope that helped clear things up.

 

[Half-Cocked]

Yep I was way off then. You are indeed correct that would be a muzzleloader sir. Squirrel gun.

 

[Steel Hayes]

Squirrel gun

Exactly what I use it for.

 

[DESPERATE LEE]

Well it gets too confusing and you feel you needto dump somewhere, i have a closet full of junk parts and there is still room in there. Just saying....
DL

 

[Confederate rifleman]

The action is a copy of the old 514 Remington bolt action .22. Pretty nifty actually

 

[Steel Hayes]

Thank you, I had no idea.
There isn’t a whole lot of information out there on these rifles.

 

[Wyatt]

Seeing as how it loads from the rear, it's not a muzzleloader. It's a breech-loading-blackpowder rifle with ignition via an inline percussion cap. The lead and powder are loaded individually, unless you make up some paper cartridges.

 

[HC]

Before I get any more confusing,
From what I understand, Marathon only made these rifles for 2 years(85-87).
It’s a muzzle loaded .32calPRB, the percussion nipple is in line with the barrel. The spring and plunger are built into the bolt.
It will not take any cartridges.
I hope that helped clear things up.

 

[UndeadPoet]

And the .38 S&W cartridge you mentioned is empty and just what you use for the perfect size powder charge for this rifle. Got it. Thanks! Cool gun.