Marlin 60 vs Ruger 10/22

[MarkDido]

Hi Guys,

I'm new to the board, but I have spent hours reading all the strings concerning rimfire rifles.

I'm torn between the Ruger 10/22 and the Marlin 60.

Wally-World here sells the 10/22, blue/wood, for about $159.00 and I believe the Marlin goes for less than $100.00

I'm what you would call a "casual" shooter. Maybe once a month with either my handguns or my Mossie 12 gauge. Living in Orlando, I don't have the luxury of stepping out onto the back porch and doing a little plinking (at least not without my neighbors calling the Sheriff's Department) so all of my shooting will be done at either a range, or a local gun club in Titusville that I'm looking to join.

I also understand that the Ruger 10/22 has tons of aftermarket equipment, but I probably won't trick up the firearm too much.

So for the occasional shooter on a budget, which would you recommend between the Ruger and the Marlin?

Thanks in advance for all the replies.

 

[sm]

I"ve had both

10/22 I had was the Deluxe stock and blue. Accurate, reliable, and I had a fixed 4X. Only thing I did was tweak the trigger, buy mags, ammo and shoot. Yes there is more aftermarket stuff.

Marlin 60. One stock , accurate, reliable, no mags to buy or keep up with. I used good ammo. Inexepensive ammo though not in mine has given some Marlin 60 owners fits.
My other had been tweaked. Gunsmith did a trigger job, removed some plastic parts/internals and made metal replacements. This by far was a whole lot more accurate than the Ruger. Even outshot some of the tricked out 10/22's

Marlin 60's are like Remington Nylon 66's. DO NOT TAKE APART! This is for a competent gunsmith. Too many have been taken in to be fixed with the parts in a bag.

I don't have these, seems whenever I get one, someone pays me more than I have in them. Mine are currently playing games.

ON a budget, for fun, and learning I'd lean toward iron sights and simple. I wouldn't rule out a Marlin Bolt gun for this btw. You can always get a scope. I may actually get another Marlin 60 myself, for fun, and use iron sights. I have no experince with the CZ 's but a lot folks , for a bolt, are very pleased and recommend. Price is competitive with the Marlin IIRC.

Welcome to THR and good luck!

 

[HSMITH]

I have owned several of each, I still own the Marlins. I have tried and tried to find a 10-22 that was accurate enough to own but the box stock guns just won't do it, sold 3 of them off because they plain SUCK in the accuracy department. The target model may, but now you are up into the $400 range. I have never even seen a standard 10-22 that will shoot under 4" at 100 yards, I have heard rumors that they exist but will not hold my breath waiting to see one. My worst (of 3) Marlin will do 4" at 100 yards easily, with Thunderbolt cheapies. Feed the Marlins some good ammo and under 2" at 100 yards is pretty easy. The 10-22 may have a slight edge in reliability, but it is not very significant IMO. My M60's will run for a brick easily with no cleaning, a shot of oil and it is good for another brick. I wipe mine out and hose out the trigger group with contact cleaner every 3-4K rounds and just did not have any jamming trouble for the first 15 years on one, now it is getting worn out and jams once per tube or so. I don't mind really, it has WAY over 100K rounds through it with little and often no care.

No way would I spend the money on another 10-22 standard rifle, the Marlin is a LOT more gun for less money. The 10-22 would get a second look if the target model was within the budget, but unless that is the case pass on the Ruger.

 

[amprecon]

I own both. The iron sights on the 10/22 are horrible. I scoped the 10/22 and use the iron sights on the 60 and have about the same accuracy out of both now.
The Marlin seems to have a longer stock even though they measure practically the same. The Marlin feels thinner and easier to point naturally than the Ruger less the sights, it just feels lopped and chopped.
Magazines are another pain in the arse, I find it easier to just dump rounds in the tube than to load up those magazines.
One advantage the Ruger has is that you can use hi-cap magazines if you can afford them, it makes for alot of fun.
Four of us went nutria shooting from a boat in the canals near Vienna, MD and were using 25 rnd mags, I tell you, it looked like a war, water, mud and nutria flying. The most fun I've ever had with a .22.
It is true, the Ruger does have a better trigger than the Marlin, but neither are anything to brag about.

 

[Bainx]

There simply ain't no comparison. Get the 10/22 with a reasonable scope and don't look back.

 

[Marcus]

I have both and I`ll sum it up like this...

Ruger Pros:
1) LOTS of aftermarket goodies and gadgets
2) decent fairly reliable piece
3)LOTS MORE aftermarket gadgets
Ruger Cons:
1) Bizzare controls and manual of arms
2) Controls have very poor ergonomics
3) Trigger pull is terrible and heavy
4) annoying rotary mags
5) total suck iron sights
6) no bolt hold open after last shot

Marlin Pros:
1) decent fairly reliable piece
2) very accurate out of the box
3) half decent trigger
4) albeit cheap looking sights that work quite well
5) inexpensive
6) 14rd. (or 18rd. for the old timers) "hi cap" tube mag
7) slim,light and well balanced
8) intuitive,easy to use controls and bolt hold open after the last shot

Marlin Cons:
1)almost no trick goodies
2) folks won`t think it`s as cool because it`s not a 10/22

That said I still like my stainless/synthetic 10/22 okay especially since I put the red dot sight on it. I just like the Marlins better. Unfortunately after 16 years and gazillions of rounds my trusty Marlin is about worn out. I may replave it with another one like it or a stainless 795,then I can sell the 10/22. Marcus

 

[3 gun]

A vote for the Marlin 60 here. Two if my Dad getting one after shooting mine counts. Both were gun show deals that cost $100 or less to add to the safe with glass. Both run great and will group to an inch or less at 50 yards with anything that you can find. Mine even runs fine on the 60gr subsonic ammo. It doesn't group as well as normal ammo but it does do a better job on reactive targets.

 

[Dave R]

I've got an older Model 60 and a newer 10/22, and I much prefer the Model 60. It is noticeably more accurate than the 10/22, and has a much nicer trigger.

Of course, I'm not sure they are making triggers that nice any more.

I'd say get the 10/22 if you plan to customize. Otherwise, I think the Model 60 will give you better accuracy.

 

[444]

This is interesting about the Marlin Model 60. When I was a kid, most of the other kids had Marlin Model 60s. I guess their parents bought them because they were cheap. I always thought the triggers were terrible, and that was in my youth when I didn't have any experience with a custom trigger.
But, I would love to play with one again now.

 

[Ebbtide]

I never had a 10/22 but can comment on the 60.

I never took it apart, I cleaned it once a year, put over 6000 rds thru it, and could always hit a dime at 75 yards w/ a 4x scope.

Very few failures (all ammo or dirt related). I would let the kids run 500 rounds thru it in an afternoon. I could use the open sights for close stuff and the scope for the other.

I was happy with the 60 and would get one again before I go with the 10/22. It was just a real fun plinking rifle.

The only drawback was the pushrod for the magazine (cumbersome to work with in the field).

 

[Ian]

My sister and I both have Marlin 60s, and she also has a 10/22. Between the two, I find that the Marlin's stock fits me much better than the Ruger's. Also, the Marlin can use .22 long and short as well as long rifle.

 

[chaim]

I own both and I far prefer the Marlin.

The Ruger is more reliable with the cheap $10 bricks of ammo, but with anything decent they are both great. The Marlin is much more accurate and I think it is more fun to shoot. The Marlin's trigger is very good, the Ruger's trigger:

 

[Edward429451]

Another 10/22 vote

I've owned two mod 60's and FIL owns one. All three were the biggest POS I've ever seen. In fairness, all were bought used so....?? Most unreliable 22's for me ever. Accuracy was good.

We own 3 10/22's and are happy with them. Bought them new. Reliability is very good. Accuracy is acceptable but I do not require one hole groups from them either. They're no slouch though. Never put a scope on a 10/22 but did get the Williams peep sights which put the factory sights to shame.

Went overboard on the accessories for mine, para-military instead of target. Folding stocks, fat mags, extended release, handguard, flash hider, sights. Very utilitarian and the coolness factor is way up there.

Now I gotta build a target version.

Mmmmm, target 10/22...

 

[PATH]

Pos and cons for both. Get both and don't torture yourself. It surely is priced to buy in both instances.

Okay, Okay, just be glad Glock does not make a .22LR or we would really be in trouble here!

 

[Red Label]

Ruger for the reliability, Marlin for accuracy. The Ruger will hold up longer but you need to work on it to get it to shoot straight. The marlin will shoot straight but seems to need some repair every now and then. I put a scope on my 10/22 and had a trigger job done and now its not half bad. I may need to go with a bull barell though.

 

[sm]

Path

I know you were alluding to the" X number of posts insert Glock here". You did hit the nail on the head though.

Remington Nylon 66. Ahead of its time, not appreciated. Always worked, dang sight wouldn't adjust far enough for windage, until, -"persuaded". Another one you didn't take apart--but didn't have to, they always worked.

I especially appreciated the butt fed model. Muzzle control /downrange. when loading/unloading,and again-no mags to keep up with. One of those that everyone traded for "coolgunvirus"--wished they'd kept. Hindsight gets us all.

 

[MarkDido]

I certainly appreciate all the great advice. I like PATH's idea the best though - buy one of each...

Actually, the other day I brought up the subject with the spousal unit which went something like....

".....Um, honey, ya know I was thinking about picking up a nice little .22 to do a little plinking..."

to which she replied.... "Well, I'll go with you so I can check it out and see how it feels so I can shoot it too..."

What a woman!

 

[LiquidTension]

I've got 2 Marlin 60s. They are a royal pain to clean, and I have to clean them often because they start jamming after about 50 rounds. They cannot handle any kind of crud in the action. My buddy has a 10/22. Accuracy is about the same, Marlin has higher capacity, Ruger has WAY more aftermarket stuff. I almost bought a .22 a while ago when I had money, and I was going for the 10/22. IMO you'd be happier with the Ruger in the long run.

 

[PATH]

MarkDido,

You sir are a lucky fella to have such an understanding woman for a wife. Now the obligatory "does she have a sister?" question!

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

I have a Marlin 60 and like it a lot. Mainly went with it so I wouldn't have to deal with Mags. I picked up a Spee-D-Loader and can quickly reload and keep on firing away.

I'm pretty picky about cleaning (see my revolver topic, "Help my new Tracker looks used"), but I have only cleaned the bore on the rifle, and a little on the outside, once after the initial 400 or so rounds. Hasn't jammed or given any problems.

Would like a Ruger 10/22, but would rather get the Ruger pistol instead since I am happy with the Marlin.

 

[Okiecruffler]

I've got 2 marlin 60's, one tricked out 10/22, and a Rem Nylon 66, not to mention several other odds and ends. My Ruger is the newest, so right now I like it best, but if you aren't going to trick it out, I would go with the 60. Better balance, trigger, and mag. Accuracy for me has been a toss up between the 60 and the 10/22. The Nylon 66 is a good field rifle, I bought mine many moons ago because it weighs less than most pistols and I didn't have to carry loose ammo. Now my son has laid claim to it. Accuracy of mine is adaquate for squirrel at 50 yrds, but not near the marlin or the ruger. Best .22 I have is actually a Glenfield mod15 that I've had for 20 years now. I used to shoot it until the barrel got so hot the cases wouldn't eject. Hundreds of rds of rat shot went thru it to keep the baby chicks safe, and it will still shoot 2 inch groups all day at 100yrds. Needs a new spring, but after 20 years I can't hold that against it.

 

[Snowdog]

I'm on my second Model 60 now, the first being used in a trade w/cash for an M1 carbine. I am thoroughly impressed with my Marlin. I've taken it apart a couple times and don't recall having too much trouble with it, though it was a while back and I don't remember the specifics.

Handle each one and pick the one you like best, because one doesn't have much over the other (unless you plan on customizing).

 

[RustyHammer]

I've got the Marlin 60 in SS ... flat out love it. Accurate, reliable, cheap as heck to shoot. Daughter shoots the lights out with hers too.

Note: Had a little difficulty with my Ruger 10/22 new out of the box, but a couple good sessions at the range and a good polishing and it's punching dots at 100 yards too.

If I had to choose only one, I'd take the Marlin 60.

YMMV

 

[10-Ring]

I like the 10/22 because of all the aftermarket parts & acessories that are available for it.

 

[DMK]

I'll have to throw in a vote on the Marlin 60 also. My dad's had one for a while. I've borrowed it from him now and then and always enjoyed shooting it. So just about a month ago I finally picked up one of my own. It's a used one that I got at a gunshow, but it's an older '82 model with the long barrel and higher capacity mag(18 rounds in the tube).

The first time it was kinda ornery. However, I quickly figured out that this particular rifle doesn't like Winchester ammo. It also doesn't like shooting wet (heavily lubed).

I found that if I keep the lube light, just enough to prevent rust, it runs like a champ. Just yesterday, I shot up a brick of Federal 510 Lightning with it, my CZ-Kadet and my scoped Romanian 1969. The Marlin didn't miss a beat(neither did the other two for that matter).

One of the nice things about this rifle is it's so slender and light. It's got to be the lightest rifle I own including pellet guns.

Another nice thing about it is there are no aftermarket parts. That saves me money.