The Marlin 39 Club

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Hi All,
I appreciate the previous three posts on my rifle's inability to digest lead. I called Marlin's customer service about this problem and was told it was because of the Microgroove rifling. Their customer service rep said this type of rifling does not generally work well with plain lead bullets.
When I said it only shot copper-jacketed rounds such as CCI MiniMags I was aware they are lead inside. O.K., the box says copper-plated. So my rifle only shoots copper plated rounds. It is, in my opinion, rather embarassing to shoot your new rifle and have it jam over and over after shooting lead rounds especially after buying a box of 500. First you say that no good Winchester company and their lousy bullets; but I was wrong. Then I tried Wolf and Lapua lead thinking these high quality and expensive rounds certainly would work but no luck.
So yes I have already stocked up on copper-jacketed bullets and I would no way sell it for $100 since that is just a ridiculous proposition.
I am just saying, I think I have an honest right to be a little upset at my rifle being so limited in its ammunition requirements. What if they stop making copper jacketed rounds.
I think Marlin could make just as accurate a rifle with Ballard rifling and, even if it cost more to make, I would be willing to buy it because, by their own admission, they are making a rifle that can't shoot lead well.
Again, I see there are some out there that can shoot lead in theirs and that's great but I don't understand it. In closing, I am happy that so many "love" their 39A's and I wish I did too. It has a lot of history and is fairly unique among 22s in quality and durability. They could really make a super rifle if they would go back to their roots with Ballard rifling. They did this with some of the other calibers of lever actions a few years ago so their must be something to what I'm saying.

Thanks,
shoot
 
Shoot, sorry you took my "ridiculous" offer seriously. It was meant in jest.

Marlin offers some of its models with Ballard rifling because of market demand. I'm sure if there was demand Marlin offer their 22's in a Ballard version too. I do think your experience is in the minority. The model 39 with MG sells faster than they can make them - why would they change a good thing?

My experience has been different and I prefer the MG, even in centerfire rifles. I own, or have owned MG and Ballard versions of 336's, 1894's and 1895's. The MG barrels are at least as accurate with lead as they are with jacketed ammo, some even prefer it. Conversely I have had two Ballard Marlins that shoot Jacketed ammo well but I've not found a cast load that will equal.

Another bonus to shooting cast bullets in a microgroove barrel is when a load is undersized or underlubed and leads the barrel it is a lot easier to clean.

Again, sorry to hear your 39 is finicky about the ammo it likes and yes you have a "right" to be a "little upset." I have other 22s that are that way, I have a Ruger and a Rossi that will actually 'keyhole' some varieties off ammo and I've only found one or two types that shoot worth a darn. Maybe Ruger and Rossi should offer a MG option :p;)
 
Update:

I picked up my rifle from the gunsmith yesterday afternoon with the 2-1/4lb trigger work and new replacement old model Simmons 6.5-20x44, Mag, turret, and bore sighted. I immediately ran out to the range to sight in at 40m, even though temp was 41 per car gauge. My group was 3/4 inch, benchrest, no wind. I estimate this is 40% better than in 70+ degree temps with Marlins orig. trigger factory setting. The temp is supposed to be 60 this weekend and should be able to shoot better plus sight in at the other 3 distances to see what improvement in accuracy I might have with the new trigger work. I can tell you MO, you are right that my accuracy should get better. It is so much smoother with no anticipation in mind either. NICE! The scope is what I expected with clear/sharp optics w fast distance adjustment and holds so far with 60 rounds. After sight in, I cheated and set up 5 pigs on the chicken rests via off hand. 3 out of 5 via 5 shots. That was around 4PM and the temp was a little colder. [Excuse] I can only see improvement in accuracy when we go indoors on paper animals. Happy I have new trigger and scope! Can only get better from here.

I have been using Winchester Wildcat 22. Tried Federal 510 not as good, CCI HV-have to try again, Remington Target is not quite as good as Wildcat 22, I have some CCI blazer RN to try, and Remmington Golden does not work well. To cold out now to try different mfg's and will wait till Spring.

Question - Before trying different mfgs, should I clean the barrel each time? Thoughts.
 
Excellent range report.

On cleaning the barrels while testing ammo... I'm not sure. My Mounties seem to like to be dirty. After I clean it takes a few dozen rounds down the tube before they'll settle in and shoot nice groups. I don't typically clean but I do shoot 50 or so rounds before giving up on an ammo - if the groups don't start tightening up by then, they probably won't. Usually some improvement is evident by the 4th or 5th group.
 
Excellent range report.

On cleaning the barrels while testing ammo... I'm not sure. My Mounties seem to like to be dirty. After I clean it takes a few dozen rounds down the tube before they'll settle in and shoot nice groups. I don't typically clean but I do shoot 50 or so rounds before giving up on an ammo - if the groups don't start tightening up by then, they probably won't. Usually some improvement is evident by the 4th or 5th group.
Since it will be up to 60 this weekend, I will try some other ammo. My barrel is clean right now as gunsmith said there was a lot of build up at the chamber end. Said to wire brush once in a while in circular motion w Hoppes. This morning after talking to him about testing ammo, he was up in the air about cleaning when changing brand ammo for testing. I have decided that it will take 50 rounds for sighting different ammo including maybe 15 rounds for the barrel to accurrately shoot with different brand ammo. I will NOT clean the barrel during testing. Also, will be at 40 meters. Thanks MO, yes I experience 15 or so rounds too if barrel has been cleaned before will seat. I will shoot dirty and see what happens.
 
Excellent range report.

On cleaning the barrels while testing ammo... I'm not sure. My Mounties seem to like to be dirty. After I clean it takes a few dozen rounds down the tube before they'll settle in and shoot nice groups. I don't typically clean but I do shoot 50 or so rounds before giving up on an ammo - if the groups don't start tightening up by then, they probably won't. Usually some improvement is evident by the 4th or 5th group.
Since it will be up to 60 this weekend, I will try some other ammo. My barrel is clean right now as gunsmith said there was a lot of build up at the chamber end. Said to wire brush once in a while in circular motion w Hoppes. This morning after talking to him about testing ammo, he was up in the air about cleaning when changing brand ammo for testing. I have decided that it will take 50 rounds for sighting different ammo including maybe 15 rounds for the barrel to accurrately shoot with different brand ammo. I will NOT clean the barrel during testing. Also, will be at 40 meters. Thanks MO, yes I experience 15 or so rounds too if barrel has been cleaned before will seat. I will shoot dirty and see what happens.
 
way behind reading (work is eating my lunchero),
but an interesting discussion here about
a topic that i've wondered about.

will read carefully this weekend ... hopefully.
 
JustsayMo,
Thanks for the informative post. There is a lot of good info there. I read it and realized I could have it much worse such as if I had a rifle shooting keyholing bullets. Maybe this club, with all the admiration for this rifle, was making me think I should have a perfect rifle. Instead I wanted to bring up a problem and find answers and I appreciate your help.
Thanks,
shoot
 
Hi all,

I find both of my 39As, one of recent manufacture and the other more than 40 years old, to have similar reactions to being cleaned and changes in ammo.

Both rifles are settle down quickly when I change ammunition brands. When I go from my favorite CCI Mini-Mags to say, Remington, that the first two to three shot string do not group particularly well. After that things settle down nicely. I attribute this to the rifle having a new lubricant expended in the barrel.

When the barrel is lightly cleaned, which means with something like a Boresnake or a pull through cleaner that there is almost no reset time. When the rifle gets a heavy cleaning, meaning with a rod, brass brush and the works, then I find that the first five shot string is looser than any following five shot string.

The moral of my story is that when I'm back from the range I use a pull through cleaner once or twice through the barrel and that's it. CLP and a toothbrush for the action, a shot of RemOil all over the exterior when assembled, and back into the safe she goes.
 
FTF on new 39A

Since last august, I took the MArlin to the range on a regular basis.
I mostly use rather expensive ammo (though cheap compared to the 223, 308 and 9 mm ammo or even the .22 match ammo I use in my other firearms)

I haven't experienced any FTF's after the first 200 rounds anymore, so maybe they were caused by some theething problems.

Very nice results with Remington Golden Bullet, Federal High Velocity and Remington HP ammo.

Accuracy is ok, flyers can mostly be attributed to the trigger pull.

Greetings

Peter
 
cleaning lever action rifles

What kind of material is best used to clean levers without a take-down ?
Some info on this pull-through would be helpful.

(I don't want to stick anything in the barrel from the crown end, because even small damage here ruins the accuracy)
greetings
Peter
 
Mo, Thanks for the compliments. I assure you that Gunnery Sgt Kowalski from another time and chapter in my life has had more affect on my rifle accuracy than anything else. I close my eyes, shut out the world and can still hear, "GoddammitsirIwasnotputonthisearthforyoutoshootlikethatDoitagain!!!"

Happy birthday, Gunny.

Vaupet, You are spot on regarding the direction of your cleaning. No matter which rifle, always try to clean the barrel in the same direction the bullet travels. You also make a good point on protecting the all too important crown. That advice should apply to 39s as well as anything else up the rifle food chain. This principle of crown protection draws me to the pull through cleaners such as Boresnake and the Otis line. I also very much like the Dewey coated rods. It is hard to get in trouble with a brass brush and a vinyl coated one piece rod.

To paraphrase earlier, go easy on cleaning rimfire (RF) barrels, 39 or not. RF ignition is a gentle process these days The bullets are made smooth and consistent. They are pretty darn clean these days too. Some precision shooters using high end RF ammo suggest *no* cleaning for normal operations. The thought here is that the shooting seasons the barrel. Much like cast iron cookware, they think that too much scrubbing removes the best part.

For the barrel cleaning solution, I'm good on Hoppes and CLP, in that order. My preference is because Hoppes is a solvent, CLP is not. CLP is my lubricant of choice for all things internal. RemOil is my preference for all things external.

Show us some targets, Peter.
 
Good news and bad news.

Good news.... I'm a new 39A owner!

Bad news...... 40%-50% FTF right out of the box.

But...... with all the excellent information on this forum, I solved the problem by following the advice of other members and ground down the lower leg of the hammer rebound strut.

No more problem! Without your help I would have been clueless.

Thanks,

Iron Horse Morgan
 
I am fortunate enough to have inherited my Grandfather's 39A. I am overjoyed to own it. However, it is a bit of a mystery. The serial number begins with an M which suggests it was built in 1955. The barrel reads 39A. However, the length of the barrel and straight stock suggest that it is a carbine or mountie model. The threads I have read tell me that if it is a Mountie or Carbine model, the barrel would also indicate "Mountie" or "Carbine". My rifle simply says 39A. How do I know if this is a mountie or a carbine? Is there a difference between the two?
 
Marlin also made rifles with a straight stock.

The Mountie was made as a rifle and a carbine.
Best way is to measure the barrel. The rifles models are 24", the carbines are usually 20".
Marlin made so many versions of the rifle and carbine, often with the same names, its hard to figure out what you have other than to go by barrel length.
 
Marlin 39

About five years ago, I "inherited" a Model 39, serial S135xx which belonged to a friends step father. I don't know if it had been fired in the last 40+ years. I finally took it down, cleaned and lubed it and took it to the range last week. Put about 100 rounds through it with no issues. It shoots very nice. I read somewhere that the Model 39 was produced from 1922-1936. Can anyone help me date it?

Thanks
Bill
 
Thanks,
So that would make mine between 1927 and 1932. I had heard about the standard velocity ammo. I'm just going to use it for light target shooting.
 
Thanks. My barrel is 20" so i either have a carbine or a mountie. Perhaps they are one in the same, just a different name for the same product...marketing play. Either way, I will never part with it, I am just trying to get as much info about it as possible.
 
Front sight hood on Mountie

If this topic has been covered here before, I apologize. I have a really nice old 1959 Mountie that's missing a front sight hood. I ordered one from Brownells, which also fits other current manufacture Marlin lever action rifles -- but it doesn't fit my gun. My ramp is too wide, and it doesn't have the little dimple in the groove for locking on the hood. Is this wide ramp correct for the time, or did somebody alter the gun?
 
1966 39a

Just found a 1966 39A and will make the deal next week. Fellow wants $300. Ist that a good price? It has an oil finish, no checkering.
 
Dieselgrin, as long as the action is sound and bore clean (of pits, rust, etc),
I'd jump on that deal like a fox pouncing on a rabbit.

Welcome to all the new members.

Will get fully caught up reading asap ...
 
I'm new to this forum. love this thread and all the info. solved a few problmes with my new to me 39a. Justsaymo can you send me the photo of your 39a with the scout mount and what p/n it is or which other guns it fits?
thanks
Tom
 
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