The Marlin 39 Club

[Nomad17]

I have been looking for any .22lr lever action and found a Marlin 39A.
I can't remember what year but I think the delaer said around 1950 or 1960. The dealer told me he would hold it while I gave it some thought.
He is asking $375.
It has two small rust spots about 1/8 inch. One on the receiver and one on the barrel. The barrel looks to be about 22" long. The blue has dulled.

I know the dealer fairly well and he has shot it on his range.
It also has the old original scope which is almost non functional but cool.

Is $375 a good price or should I wait for another to come along?

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

New one are going for $445.00 WHOLSALE, add 20-50% for the retail price.

[COMBO.RICO]

Nomad17: What kind of condition is it in?

If it is is/almost mint condition, then shoot yeah it's a good price to me.
If it's beat up, then it depends on how damaged it is; the aesthetics of the rifle is important to a lot of people, but may not be to you.

[Nomad17]

I called around and found a place that can get me a new Marlin 39a for $525 including tax. I am thinking of going new.

[teetertotter]

Nomad, may I suggest buying a good bore light. Knock it apart too. The inside is the critical criteria. Perhaps a good cleaning is all it needs! A good inspection would be in order in the decision making process vs buying new to be assured of accuracy. Good luck.

[flusher]

Can the 39A tube be loaded with a mixture of 22 shorts, longs and long rifle cartriges at the same time and function correctly?

[cottonfarmer]

Sitting down and leaning against a tree while plinking limb rats with my 39A. Still got the old girl and she's as accurate as ever. It's a gold trigger purchased in the early 1970's.

[JustsayMo]

Flusher, Yes you can mix them up.

A pretty good review of the Marlin 1897 Cowboy, a variation of the 39a is on youtube. Worth watching and also demonstrates the use of shorts later in the video.

If any one has an 1897 Cowboy for sale or trade... let me know.

[Nematocyst]

Interesting question, Flusher. I've never thought of that.

As for the "function correctly" part, while I agree with Mo that it will work if you mix rnds, I have my doubts about whether you'll be able to be accurate with such an arrangement, especially at any range. Seems like the different trajectories will foil you, no?

Cottonfarmer, welcome to the club. I'm envious of you sitting down, leaning against a tree. I've got plans to do more of that real soon.

(Heads up; my professional life is about to change. Over the next few months, I'll be moving into a new, much better (hopefully) professional arrangement, that will (hopefully, after a bit of initial time) allow me to spend more time leaning against trees & shooting.)

[flusher]

The seller of this mount claims it is a Weaver mount for a 39A. It looks identical to that supplioed by Marlin with new 39's. Is it in fact the same mount?

[kengulo]

I just bought this today for $400, sold a 10/22 SS target to help fund the purchase. It's a 1956 pre "Mountie" original scope base, rings, scope made by Weaver. Some surface rust spots. What you guys think? Good deal?

[JustsayMo]

What you guys think? Good deal?

I say anytime you buy something you could sell for more is a good deal. I would have had a hard time walking away without it...

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // Very nice purchase/condition for a 1956, I'd have bought it.

[kengulo]

Final cleanup with some of his new rimfire friends.

[johnmcl]

kengulo,

You have a beautiful rifle there. You did just fine. I also like your photo of the rimfire family. I know which one will shoot the hottest though. The non-39s will get mad.

[flusher]

I received this original 39A manual which is dated 1974.
It has 13 consecutive numbered pages and ends with Recommended Service Centers for the last half page and both sides of the back cover.
What I think is strange is that it does not list any parts or have a schematic of the rifle.
It does not look as if any pages have been removed.
Does anyone else have this manual and is it correct in content?

[Nomad17]

Here it is. $400 OTD.
A 1948 (E18xxx) Marlin 39A with Weaver J4 scope. Scope and rifle work great. Shot .22 Shorts, Longs and an assortment of LR. The cheapest I could buy; Remington Golden, Western (cheap winchester) and thunderbolt. The rifle took them all. I even mixed shorts and longs with the LR in random order and the rifle didn't miss a beat. Yes. I am proud.

[teetertotter]

Outside appearance is very nice! Don't know why you'd like to mix long and shorts though. At least you know it fires, right? Have a great time with your new found 39! I have to go practice some today, indoor.

[Nomad17]

Originally Posted by teetertotter

Outside appearance is very nice! Don't know why you'd like to mix long and shorts though. At least you know it fires, right? Have a great time with your new found 39! I have to go practice some today, indoor.

Thanks Teeter.
About the Long and Shorts. I read someone ask if you could mix them. I didn't see a reply so I wanted to try and see for myself. I will probably never shoot Longs or Shorts again but wanted to take the challenge.
Your right that there is very little benefit.

By the way. I like your quote on what fathers can do for their children.

[flusher]

here's my 1978 39A. Mint for under $400.00
Cancelled a new one to buy this one
Bought a Lyman 66MC peep

[Retired in 2001]

Hello to all it has taken me a few days to read most of the great post here.I have always admired Marlin`s my first a 336 in 35.Rem traded it sadley for some work done on a new home.Hated myself and still do lol.Bought a used Model 39 on line it shoots much better than me.They have a rim fire silhouette match staring in May.My eyes were never that good and I wear progressives lenses.I was thinking lyman or williams.And it is only iron sites.Any suggestions would be of great help.Oh and another request LET ME INTO THE CLUB>

[JustsayMo]

Welcome Retired!

A peep sight will improve your scores. I like the Skinner sight myself - http://www.skinnersights.com/ - I think they look the best and there is plenty of adjust-ability for the ammo's I use.

I use the Federal Bulk ammo for Silhouettes. I sight in for the Turkeys (75 meters) and that and I can run the match with one sight setting. Chickens I hold on the foot, Boars touching just under the belly, Turkeys right on and Rams top edge of the back. Works with Opens and Peeps for me.

The other nice thing about the skinners is you can get a smaller aperture. I went a size down from standard and it sharpens the front sight for me.

It took me a while to adjust but once I got some repetitions, my scores really improved with the peeps. That being said I can still squeak by with the Opens but every year it seems to be more of a struggle.

I've had the Williams and it is a good sight too - more windage and elevation adjustment than I needed and aesthetically less pleasing. Worked fine though.

[timbertoes]

greetings, all

Am now the owner of a new manufacture 39A ...and took it to the CLS silhouette match, hitting 31 out of 60 targets with the factory iron sights. So she is a keeper
Also have an 1894M .22mag, and 57M. But will be selling the 57M as I am looking to get a 32-20 or maybe a 25-20.

Have a peep sight and lyman front on order for the 39A. Hopefully I will hit more turkeys and rams next time!

[JustsayMo]

Congratulations Timbertoes! Tipping over silhouette targets with a 39 is about as fun as it gets. Totally addictive. Take pictures next time - it's interesting to see other range setups. Be sure to include a few of you 39 too.

Do you use the 1894M for pistol caliber silhouette? I'd love to have one but feeding it sure is costly these days.

At our matches the 25-20's do really well in the pistol caliber class. Mostly Winchesters. A pard of mine just scored a 32-20 Marlin 1894... He's been working to get a good Silhouette load for it. I'd love to find a 32-20 Marlin Cowboy... wouldn't mine one in 32 H&R mag either. With rimfire ammo getting as expensive as it is, casting and reloading pistol calibers is they only way left to shoot on the cheap... 4 cent primer, penny's worth of powder and less than that for a cast bullet if you scrounge your lead.

Next month the rimfire/pistol caliber matches start up again around here. I'm trying to shoot this month's Rifle Cal match. I'll take the 336 in 30-30 and the 1895 in 47-50 and see which one I'm shooting the 200 meter Rams the best with on that day. Man! Can't wait!

[timbertoes]

thanks, I love the silhouette game...its always on my mind.
Yes, Pistol Cart CLA for the .22mag.
hopefully I can move up to a 32-20 or 25-20 by this summer