10/22 v Model 60

I have a 10/22 and a couple Mossberg 702's and my brother has a Marlin Model 60. I have fired all of them and I like them all. To me each has it's own advantages and I could use any one of them in any given situation.

Not to be contrary but, I don’t think that it is the Coke vs Pepsi debate as others have posted. I like Coke can’t stand Pepsi. I think it is more the Ginger vs MaryAnn debate. Both are great for what they and every 22lr enthusiast should have at least one of each. Also like Ginger one has lots of way to dress up and like MaryAnn one has beauty in simplicity, and they both get more expensive the more you enjoy them.

.... Tentwing

I use 10/22’s for competition, because competition begs for rule-specific modifications. I use Marlin 60’s for working rifles, because I know it’ll shoot small, carry light, and go bang when I ask it.

I have a couple old 60’s and a 99 (precursor to the 60) which have eaten hundreds of thousands of rounds. New recoil springs and buffers, as appropriate, lubricating as needed, and cleaning when you can’t see rifling showing through the fouling, they do their job, and typically shoot as small as I could ever ask them. The new ones run and shoot the same as the old - although.I do miss the older style bolt handle, and the old 17+1 capacity.

My 10/22’s are all heavy guns, meant for small groups and fast fire, and ready to change their stripes at any time as I might transition from one game to another.

A few years ago I did a side by side with a 10/22, model 60 and 597.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/side-by-side-597-10-22-model-60.811602/

I still have all three, it’s a “what floats your boat” thing, no right or wrong choice. Any of them with ammunition they like will be more accurate than the others with ammo they don’t and unless you do extensive testing (more than I did that day) you won’t really know what you can get out of them.

Old Stumpy said:

Does that make the Browning SA-22 the Dr. Pepper of the rim fire world?

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I have always been partial to Dr. Pepper!

I've had both and still have the 10/22. If you have ever done a complete take down of the model 60 you will know why I didn't keep it.
I feel the same way about my Marlin camp 45 but I can't seem to part with it.

Another .22 auto-loader that seems to be overlooked here that was very popular along with the 10-22 and the Model 60 back in the day is the Remington Nylon. These were first marketed in the 1950s and are significant as being one of the first guns to make significant use of polymer.
The butt stock, receiver, and fore end were all one piece of Dupont Zytel. A formed sheet steel action cover held the parts in and the bolt slid in bolt ways in the polymer itself. It had a tubular magazine inside the butt stock. They were marketed as being very accurate, reliable, scratch resistant, and unbreakable.
I can't say if they were unbreakable, but the one that I owned was very reliable and accurate. The design really discouraged taking it apart, since it was difficult to reassemble, but it seemed to never really need anything but basic cleaning and oiling.

Old Stumpy said:

Another .22 auto-loader that seems to be overlooked here that was very popular along with the 10-22 and the Model 60 back in the day is the Remington Nylon.

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The fact they haven’t been made in 30 years really puts a damper on their popularity in the current market.

They were fun little rifles, a common man’s plinking rifle, but they weren’t much beyond that. 15-20 years ago, I used to see quite a few of these come into the shop, and hated seeing it every time, as there wasn’t much to be done if they weren’t running properly. Clean thoroughly, replace the magazine tube with one you hope has better spring life, and hand it back. Replacement parts weren’t so common back then already, haven’t seen one in years now, but I venture it’s worse today. My only source for parts was finding used Nylons at estate sales and farm auctions for $25-50 and take-off parts from Numrich, as Remington wasn’t stocking parts by then.

With 30-60 years of use and exposure on any Nylon 66, and knowing what I know of UV stabilization and plasticizer denaturization for polymers of the time, I wouldn’t buy a Nylon 66 today to be a “using rifle.” Equally, the nostalgic pseudo-collector market for the Nylon 66’s has driven their prices to match or even exceed the price of a new Marlin 60 or 10/22 carbine, so I can’t really say there’s an economic advantage to buying one either. If a guy finds one at a farm sale for $50-100, great, buy it and enjoy it for the cost you have in it. But dollar for dollar, I’d look elsewhere.

My 39 bought new in 1994 is still on its first firing pin. However, I do plan on taking it out next weekend at a friend's property for some high capacity lead slinging. I sure hope I don't end my day early with a broken firing pin.

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Mine was from around that same time frame; probably a bad batch from poor heat treating

Varminterror said:

The fact they haven’t been made in 30 years really puts a damper on their popularity in the current market.

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I did say: "back in the day". Nevertheless, a great .22 rifle.

Varminterror said:

They were fun little rifles, a common man’s plinking rifle, but they weren’t much beyond that.

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Pretty much how you could describe the stock versions of the 10-22 and the model 60. They were quite accurate and quite reliable though. They did make over a million of them, and they did make them for 30 years, so obviously it must have been a pretty good rifle.

Varminterror said:

With 30-60 years of use and exposure on any Nylon 66, and knowing what I know of UV stabilization and plasticizer denaturization for polymers of the time, I wouldn’t buy a Nylon 66 today to be a “using rifle.

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This 1987 example in this 2017 video below seems to be holding up very well. In fact it looks near new. Anyone who has watched this guy's channel realizes that he knows his stuff and is an excellent shot. If it wasn't a good rifle, he would say so.
The one that I owned 15 years ago looked like new, was extremely reliable, and was just as accurate as any other .22 auto-loader that I ever owned.

I have both a 60 and a 10-22 take down. I like them, both have seen thousands of rounds and have been reliable. I prefer the 10-22 for careful target work. Mine is more accurate than the Marlin and has a much better trigger. (Maybe I just got lucky.) The take down feature makes it easier to maintain. Also, I like the thicker stock.

For fun plinking I use the model 60 as it is more than accurate enough, thoroughly reliable, and I can shoot longer without reloading. I don't mind using the tube to reload and it has given me no trouble.

Of course, these are just my preferences for specific guns. Both are fine rifles. When someone asks my opinion about a 22 rifle, I suggest they handle both to see which is more comfortable.

I'm glad I don't have to choose among the Marlin 39a, the Winchester 9422, and the Henry 001 lever actions. They all have their pros and I wouldn't be without any of them. For some reason, I just like lever actions. Probably watched too many westerns in the 1950s.

Jeff

I've had a Ruger 10-22 for 30 years or more. Always accurate and reliable. Also had a Marlin that I gave away. Not as accurate and Tube magazines are more of a problem in the long run. The lifter can get gummed up or wore out. The inner tube can get lost bent or broken and you are screwed. Plus they are a pain to unload and load compared to a clip magazine. Odd that so many on here have Marlins that are more accurate. I don't see that at the range but there are millions of both. I think we had a prove it match that confirmed that the Marlins weren't tack drivers. Now days I prefer CZ's and other bolt actions. I have a Ruger American rimfire that is real good too. I like my old Winchester model 74.

Old Stumpy said:

I did say: "back in the day". Nevertheless, a great .22 rifle.



Pretty much how you could describe the stock versions of the 10-22 and the model 60. They were quite accurate and quite reliable though. They did make over a million of them, and they did make them for 30 years, so obviously it must have been a pretty good rifle.



This 1987 example in this 2017 video below seems to be holding up very well. In fact it looks near new. Anyone who has watched this guy's channel realizes that he knows his stuff and is an excellent shot. If it wasn't a good rifle, he would say so.
The one that I owned 15 years ago looked like new, was extremely reliable, and was just as accurate as any other .22 auto-loader that I ever owned.

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The Nylon Remington 22's are considered very desirable and sell for more than a Marlin or Ruger now. They are pretty accurate as well. Kinda ticked that my brother got my dad's.

The 10/22 is a good rifle, I've got a BreakDown. But I far prefer the Model 60. Feels better and shoots better, for me.

earlthegoat2 said:

I have a 10/22 and only ever shot a 60. I guess I prefer the 10/22 because you can find them a tad easier.

I prefer a Remington 572 above all others but oddly, I also prefer a Remington 597 if I would have to choose a semi auto. You can usually find them cheaper than 60s.

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I, too, like the 572. I have had mine since 1969 or 70. Wouldn't trade it for anything. Still as accurate as the first time I shot it. Often wondered if the 552 was as accurate as the 572.
I kinda got the hankerin' fer a 552. Don't tell the missus!

Old Stumpy said:

Bill Ruger was a smart man. Along with innovative design and manufacture, he knew that history and nostalgia would sell guns for him.
So the Standard Auto looked like a Luger. Luger & Ruger? Brilliant.

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A Ruger that looked like a Luger ..... but actually inspired by a Nambu.

Ok , off topic - I admit it.

These threads come up from time to time....you get three people in these threads

1) the 10/22 is the most fantastic 22 ever made
2) The 10/22 is the most over rated tomato stake ever sold to the public
3) they are just rifles.

midland man said:

i was the same way about the 10-22 and after owning three of them I went to the marlin model 60 blued/wood I really liked it! so for me the marlin 60 is my favorite! I just went up the scale and last Tuesday I got the Remington model 572 fieldmaster and wow what a gun its super sweet and high gloss wood and smooth action but it's not cheap but very nice and accurate!

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I had a Rem 572 and it was very nice, but the forend rattled a bit. It was pretty accurate and I loved shooting aerial targets with it (in safe areas). The only thing that bothered me was the tinny sound when pulling the trigger on an empty chamber. I don't remember ever scoping the rifle. It carried very well in the woods and shot quite a few varmints for me. Just another nice rifle that I loved, but traded in my teenage years when I wanted to explore many guns, but could only afford one or two at a time. Fortunately, I had friends in "sporting goods places".

My next rifle was a Marlin 39A Mountie (straight stock) on which I mounted a receiver sight. We were able to shoot about 1/2" groups at 50 yards with that sighting system. I kept that rifle quite a while and shot squirrels out of the trees at the Webber Pond camp in 1965 (Vassalboro, ME)...after all the other campers were gone for the winter.

Chevy

fpgt72 said:

These threads come up from time to time....you get three people in these threads

1) the 10/22 is the most fantastic 22 ever made
2) The 10/22 is the most over rated tomato stake ever sold to the public
3) they are just rifles.

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I am a 2.5

ColtPythonElite said:

I am a 2.5

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Most move closer to 1 after they toss a catalog at the thing.

Stock 10/22 LVT except for trigger stoning.

I guess I don’t see the real point in boasting about quarter vs half dollar groups at 50 yards with stock rifles meant for chopping down the squirrel population. I know everyone has a ... that makes one ragged hole amid tornadic winds while the ... they used to own was pure garbage.

My take, FWIW

1. If you’re quibbling over the $20 price difference you probably don’t shoot much.
2. If the thickness of the stock (too fat/too skinny) is a deal breaker then you really must find louder complaints. I recommend something to the effect of “the shade of red used for the safety band is far too gaudy”.
3. The AR feeds from a magazine and lever actions feed from tubes. Would we wish it otherwise or opposite for either? Then deal with what’s in front of you.
4. For the love of all that is holy if your sub $200 rifle shoots single hole groups then please please look up ford8nr’s “Rimfire Prove It” thread and show us.
5. If you like one or the other, buy it and shoot it. Neither requires accessorizing or customization to shoot a group. Of the 5 examples in my safe, to include both models, the only aftermarket parts are a few ballpoint pen springs and some buffers, hardly $1,000 worth of “Legos”.
6. Shame on anyone who cannot see their way to make room for as many rimfires as possible in their lives. Nearly every one I have owned brought joy on some level.
7. Ford and Coca Cola are the correct answers.

Skylerbone said:

Ford

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You are not my hero anymore. I’m a GMC/Chevy person.

What Skylerbone said ...
Except the correct answer is Chevy.

I probably own ten .22 rifles from cheap plinkers to full blown target bolt guns. They all serve a purpose. They are all accurate in their own right, but NOT all are comparable. The 10/22 LVT I shot that group with wouldn't keep up with the bolt target guns in 4 position 50ft matches. Find a gun you like and then start looking for the ammo the gun likes.