The Marlin 39 Club

39M

Pics of 39M Square Lever. Its on its way via USPS

39 Wildlife

Sure is a Knockout..

39 Article II

Sorry pics not loading.

So, . . . is it more likely that you'd have to replace the front sight with the Skinner than it is with the Williams?

Beautiful Collection!!!

Wildlife, those are some BEAUTIFUL Marlins!! Wonderful condition!

Thank You

Hello Texasred777, Thank You for the kind words. I try to get the most
bang for my buck. I have paid to much for most of them but once in a
while I'll get a fair deal. I just today picked up the 39M Square Lever,
made 1982 no cross bolt safety. I want to post pics of them all together.
I'll work on that soon. I got to go now but Thanks Again for your comment.

Thank You All

Thank You Nematocyst for your comment. Its just been recently that I
was able to gather this collection. I know there are others here that have
been able to obtain other Marlins in better condition and have owned them
longer. I hope to post other Pics when I can. I enjoy the things that are
talked about here and what you can learn about them Marlins. I can't
teach but learning is more fulfilling. Thanks Again Out for now.

Yes, Wildlifeforever, you DO have some excellent rifles.

As for my question, I must ask again:

So, . . . is it more likely that you'd have to replace the front sight with the Skinner than it is with the Williams?

I don't want to make a decision too soon.

The Williams has a lot more adjustment then the Skinner so it should work with most factory fronts.

"Probably" you won't have to replace the front with either, and if you do, it's not a major operation to change front sight blades.

The Skinner is a more compact, more streamlined sight, the Williams offers more adjustment, including fine micrometer clicks with the higher grade version, and adjustment scale markings for repeatable adjustments.

Thanks for the input.

Orion8472: Anything dfariswheel posts should be printed and saved. You'll not find a higher authority on 39's. A couple of thousand years from now some archaeologist will find his musings in some cave and wonder why there has been so little real advancement has come since 1892 in rifle technology. Your 39 will sell for five quadrillion dollars and poster 5,389,004,763 in this thread will write "can you believe those guys way back in 2010 were bitchin' about paying $450.."

On sights- what are you using the rifle for? How good are your eyes?

I've shot silhouette matches (out to 100 yards) with my 39's with the original stock sights, Skinners and Williams Sights. I've shot other matches out to 200 yards with my Cowboy out to 200 using both the original and Marbles tang sights.



While hunting I've never taken a shot beyond 50 yards on game.

Fast Frank has smacked some targets WAY out there with his scoped 39a and a young friend of mine can ring steel out to 400 with his tang sighted 39.

In my experience Skinners will get you about the same range as the stock open sights provided you have good (young) vision. If you're over 40 the Skinners will likely be better, especially at range.

The Williams sight will get you a bit farther and the Marbles tang sight a good bit beyond that.

It really boils down to what you're using your 39 for. My primary use for my 39 is metallic silhouettes though come September I LOVE hunting Grouse (legal here) with my 39/1897 Marlins. Load up the tube, take a limit and then plink your way home. Better days are few.

If you live or recreate in rural areas critters on up to Coyote size (35 pounds) come into play. Kerr over at Marlin Owners (and maybe here too) took a nice Bobcat with his 39 - one shot, no tracking. Coyotes are tougher than cats in my experience, even a solid hit with a 243 could lead to a long track and finishing shot - especially at range. 30 caliber and above seams to anchor them provided the shot is delivered through the boiler room. A 22lr at ethical range is very capable on Song Dogs and I've not noticed any real difference in performance as far as distance of track or necessity of a finishing shot compared to similar diameter center fire rifles though the destruction is visually more impressive with the faster bullets. Put it where it needs to go and a majority of the time a track is short or not needed.

That being said a Marlin 39 is NOT my first choice for varmints or predators, but if it's all I had, I would and have taken the shot. For Grouse and other small game, My 39 and Single Six have made more meat than all of my other guns combined.

My AR can easily take woodchucks off my property, my Marlin 60 doesn't let me down.... but my 39s do it with style.

a 56 and 77

JustsayMo, . . . my eyes are okay. But at [going on] 45, they are needing some level of correction now. But I can still see [and use] the original rear sight. I just sometimes seems a bit less precise. Most likely I will leave it with the original sights.

Thanks [everyone] for the input.

Some folks have asked about Skinner sights on the the 39, so here are some pictures:

Matt,

Great photos of your Skinner sight. I have one on my older 39A and love it. In fact, I ordered additional apertures as there was a lot of space in my sight picture. I ended up using the next smaller size.

I did not replace the front sight. A target rifle a 39A is not.

Happy shooting,

Here's one with a Skinner Brass Peep Sight w/.050 Aperture. Blends nicely with the trigger.

I love my Skinners! I kept the original aperture because I mostly hunt with this rifle and like the bigger sight picture. My sights were right on and I did not have to replace my front sight.

Can I get in?

Hi all,

I have recently started getting reacquainted with my Marlin 39D & have come to the realization that is by far my favorite firearm. I got it new for Christmas when I was 16 years old (41 years ago) & have shot many thousands of rounds though it over the years. When I was much younger and still into hunting, nothing thrilled me more than slipping into the squirrel woods before dawn with a pocket full of .22 long rifle ammo, my little 39D and high hopes. It has been many years since I have hunted, but when I daydream about the sport, it is this recurrent vision of peering into the treetops with that sweet little rifle at the ready.

When I got the rifle it had a Marlin 4X scope mounted but I removed it some years later in favor of the iron sights when the little rifle was relegated to garden security - she has dispatched many questionable raccoons and other varmints over the past couple of decades. I recently started thinking about a new high quality scope to aid my failing eyes, but have settled on the idea of adding a Skinner peep sight to maintain that simple, clean and trouble free persona that seems so natural for this sweet little gun. My far vision is still pretty good, but I require the assistance of reading glasses (1.25) for near vision duties such as reading. Does anyone with similar eyesight issues have experience with the Skinner peep? How about aperture size recommendations?

Thanks in advance for any help. I have committed to reading every post on this clubs thread and have already learned a lot from lurking around.

DanMar757

DanMar757: What a GREAT POST! The only thing that would have made it better would be a picture of your 39D. Still, a stellar post.

An aperture sight will definitely improve your iron sight performance with the 39. The question is on the aperture size. Typically the smaller the aperture the better the sharpness (target and front sight). The downside is the reduction in field of view. Not generally an issue with stationary paper targets but something worth consideration if'n your bustin bushy tails with it.

My wife shares the same eyesight affliction that you do and does quiet well with the as issued Skinner Peep. My eyesight is better near than far and went with an aperture smaller than the stock Skinner (substituted without charge) but larger than the typical 'target' aperture. I sacrifice some sharpness but I'm still able to find a Grouse in thick cover and put him on the menu.

The Williams apertures will fit in the Skinners so you could switch them out depending on your needs for the day. Though the Skinners are slow to adjust (compared to the factory opens, Marbles and one of the Williams) for various ranges, I've found them quite serviceable out to 100 meters with a 50 yard zero for toppling Silhouttes (Ram hold is just over the back with HV ammo) and soda cans. For hunting I impose limitations on shots I'll take on game but I've not found the Skinner sights to be any handicap.

Another consideration when going to a Skinner with a smaller aperture is replacing the front sight with a slender front post rather than the stock bead as it does take up a lot of the field of view. I like the stock bead as I can pick it up in less than perfect light on targets that are typically dark but a slender post does improve the precision and give a better field of view.

It's all about what works for you. Best of luck and let us know how it plays (with picture if possible!)

Nema,

I judge from your LatLon that you are located somewhere near Rangeley, ME? I nearly bought a camp right on the lake a few years back. I still love that place and hope to get back up there for some ice-out salmon fishing one of these years!

DanMar757

JustsayMO,

Thanks for the quick reply. I will definitely post some pix when I get the sight mounted and get her cleaned up a little. There are some mighty purty rifles posted here and mine it is but a humble little workhorse - nothing fancy - and carries the scars of those early years crawling around in the thickets of Southeastern VA, but I love her just the same!

DanMar757