Think I'm gonna get another plinking semi-auto .22 rifle.

Status
Not open for further replies.

lionking

Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2006
Messages
3,107
Leaning toward a Marlin 60, I have a early 2000's JM, that I shooting from time to time but thinking I want another new one for pure massive amount of shooting and plinking.

So many times I have been out at the range at the 100 yd lane testing ammo and such letting a center fire cool down and I sit there just waiting. Thinking of get a plinker and bust clay targets in between. Hey make up a reason to buy a gun right?

Never had a Ruger 10/22 but I like the Marlin better because the sights are easier on my eyes, but don't want to buy a used one because who knows how many rounds have been put through a used one.

Would like to spend my money at Rural King instead of Walmart, but RK is out of most guns like most everybody else so later today I think I'll do a Walmart run and see if they have a Marlin. Local gun stores don't have any new Marlin. Buying online is not a cost effective option, by the time I buy it, pay to ship it and pay to transfer it I'd be paying $75 more than one bought straight out of a store with tax.

So or the first time in a long time since Walmart went politically correct I may break down and spend some money there on gun stuff, even though I don't want to. The only other option would be Dick's sporting store...lol , which I don't know who's worse them or Walmart. Actually I dislike Dick's more I think.
 
Lionking,
Just my experience, not an absolute. I have a Marlin 60 and 10/22 take down model. Both are accurate but I found the trigger on the Ruger to be much better, at least on this gun. I've had other 10/22s in the past and this take down model is definitely more accurate. Haven't noticed the sights on either to make a difference but my eyes aren't what they used to be. I'm putting a scope on the Ruger to see what kind of long distance plinking I can do, like you, for fun.

Both models have been so popular for so long, it really does come down to personal preference. And any reason to get a new 22 rifle is a good one. :D

Jeff
 
I too, have both a Marlin 60 and 10/22 take down model. The 10/22 trigger was a little better, but in the end I did DIY trigger work on both. I like the tube fed magazine on the M60 better, but if I was starting over, I'd get just the 10/22. I just like it a little more, probably because I grew up shooting one plus aftermarket goodies are more numerous, including drop-in triggers...and the take-down feature fills a specific niche for me. YMMV
 
Lionking,
Just my experience, not an absolute. I have a Marlin 60 and 10/22 take down model. Both are accurate but I found the trigger on the Ruger to be much better, at least on this gun. I've had other 10/22s in the past and this take down model is definitely more accurate. Haven't noticed the sights on either to make a difference but my eyes aren't what they used to be. I'm putting a scope on the Ruger to see what kind of long distance plinking I can do, like you, for fun.

Both models have been so popular for so long, it really does come down to personal preference. And any reason to get a new 22 rifle is a good one. :D

Jeff
I'm 53 now, about when I turned 40 my close up focus went where I had to get progressive lenses where the bottom is split or close up seeing, I held a Ruger 10/22 few months ago and noticed the thin front sight and bead was blurry compared to the thicker front sight o a Marlin 60. It is my only reason or prefering the Marlin otherwise I'd give the 10/22 a whirl since I don't have one.

I want to keep it a 25yd to 50 yd plinker, so not really worried about a scope. I do have another .22 in the works to making it a 100 yd rifle a Remington 581 that am looking at scope options or it coming up.

However a Savage 64 i there is one in front of my face to buy when I go looking I might consider also.
https://www.savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=40203
 
I was just about to suggest a Henry. I recently put a vortex red dot on my Golden Boy, and it has quickly become my favorite gallery rifle for when I'm fooling around. Plus then you can use even the cheapest ammo with no worries with FTF or FTE
 
I too, have both a Marlin 60 and 10/22 take down model. The 10/22 trigger was a little better, but in the end I did DIY trigger work on both. I like the tube fed magazine on the M60 better, but if I was starting over, I'd get just the 10/22. I just like it a little more, probably because I grew up shooting one plus aftermarket goodies are more numerous, including drop-in triggers...and the take-down feature fills a specific niche for me. YMMV
I've had many .22LRs and most of the rifles have had scopes on them from time to time. One of my favorites over the years was a Marlin39A Mountie (straight stock, short barrel). The rifle, literally unmodified, except for a williams 5D receiver sight and taller front, was amazingly accurate and my eyesight was pretty great (with glasses). It would shoot 1/2" groups at 50 yards with the right ammo and took lots of red squirrels, rats in dumps, and other objects...mostly cans at various distances. I don't remember why I sold/traded that rifle, but it's been 50 years, so that's understandable, I suppose.

Anyway, I'll be chastised for saying this, but I consider most .22LR rifles to be, practically speaking, 70 yard rifles, but most of my killing shots were at a much shorter distance, say 40 yards for small critters, though at specific spots on critters' bodies...lung shots, for the most part.

I don't care for scopes on .22LR rifles used for small animals and plinking targets because, given the effective range, the height above bore is such that it leads to near misses due to the disparity between the bullet's trajectory and the scope's line-of-sight. A receiver sight arrangement makes the line of sight lower and more closely-matching the bullet's trajectory out to, say 50 yards and that leads to quick shots that don't require guessing at how much holdover/under is necessary. Accuracy is perfectly adequate, even with the screw-in aperture out, or with a smaller "hunting" aperture that has a smaller outside diameter (about 3/8") than the target apertures.
 
Hope you find a rifle with everything out of stock and inflated prices , LGS had Marlin 60's on sale $160 few months ago.
 
Went to Walmart today lol, they had a Remlin Marlin 60 or $160 , Ruger 10/22 or $230 and a 10/22 takedown or $330. They deal was killed though when I was told Walmart has a three day wait policy even though I have a carry permit. Also that the waiting period starts after I pay but can't pay until the background check comes back and it could take hours. No way I was gonna wait in Walmart for hours hoping the check came back so I could then pay.

Hit a local gun store, hit two pawn shops, nothing they are all wiped out of guns almost.

friggin Walmart, didn't want to go there anyway but make me wait three days even with a permit? With my work week I wouldn't be able to go get it till next Saturday. meh no.
 
Order a Browning SA-22 and have it delivered to your local FFL.
You won't have to buy magazines for plinking. You won't forget the magazines etc.
You can take it down and store it in a small package. It is all steel and wood. I bought mine through a online auction.
They have been called the ultimate plinker.
 
Went to Walmart today lol, they had a Remlin Marlin 60 or $160 , Ruger 10/22 or $230 and a 10/22 takedown or $330. They deal was killed though when I was told Walmart has a three day wait policy even though I have a carry permit. Also that the waiting period starts after I pay but can't pay until the background check comes back and it could take hours. No way I was gonna wait in Walmart for hours hoping the check came back so I could then pay.

Hit a local gun store, hit two pawn shops, nothing they are all wiped out of guns almost.

friggin Walmart, didn't want to go there anyway but make me wait three days even with a permit? With my work week I wouldn't be able to go get it till next Saturday. meh no.

My LGS has one of those on consignment at a pretty good price for the rifle and scope combination and it's been taken very good care of. It's been there for over a month now with no takers. I doubted it would last a week but I was wrong. I've had to twist my arm a little to leave it there but I really have no need for it.
 
Order a Browning SA-22 and have it delivered to your local FFL.
You won't have to buy magazines for plinking. You won't forget the magazines etc.
You can take it down and store it in a small package. It is all steel and wood. I bought mine through a online auction.
They have been called the ultimate plinker.

OP, you won't regret following @earplug's suggestion. Those SA-22s are a joy to carry and shoot.
 
Savage 64, from what I've read, feels more like an "adult" rifle than the Marlins due to the barrel length and stock size. Whether you get that or the Marlin, I highly recommend an M*CARBO trigger kit. Easy to install and made my Marlin a whole new rifle.
 
The 64, 60, 795, 702, Sa22s....uhh forgetting a few...are all slim and light.
I enjoy carrying them, but dont care to actually spend a bunch of time shooting them, as i prefer more heft and larger stock dimensions.
Thus i gravitate to thr non standard 10/22s (which feel too squat to me) or the 597s as off the shelf plinkers.
So far my 597s have had the least modification of any of the guns ive owned. Target hammer and spring kits all they have gotten.

The Savage 64s ive shot i liked better than the marlins out of the box, but honestly i think i liked the mossberg 702s the best of the smaller cheaper .22 plinkers.
 
I have a Marlin 60 and I like it just fine, but the 22 semi-auto that I prize is the Weatherby MarkXXII. You can still find them used for $400 or so, I think. They went out of production in the early 1990s. I have 7 10 round magazine for it which is plenty for plinking. It has a man-sized stock, unlike a lot of 22s that are made for young kids...
 
Hi Lionking - If you go to the 64, I too advise the MCarbo spring kit, just because the sear spring is an odd shape and for a few $$ worth changing. Otherwise, there are a few things you can do to the 64 as DIY. There are many posts on rimfirecentral and on Savageshooters.com that can guide you thru these. I have posted a few myself, if you search my login name. Also if you replace the trigger return spring with a piece of ball-pen spring you can take almost 1# off. finally, polishing inner parts with 800g wet/dry paper will remove a lot of drag. I have my trigger down below 3# - don't want it much lower. The mag release is very small, and I just drilled a hole and added a piece of heavy wire to extend it, and added a bolt to the charging handle since it's pretty short. And the mag well can be 'opened-up' with filing to allow easier insertion of mags. Here are some pics of the 64 work.
 
Sorry, hit Enter accidently before adding pics. BTW, I also have a Marlin 60 which I've also done lots of mods with, but avoided the MCarbo springs cause 'M' is not shipping to here in Canada and LGS would charge over $50 for ordering in. Also, I polished the sear and pivot pin and hammer edge of the 64 to 'smooth' release. Arrowdodger has lots of vids of his mod work on the 60 on y-tube, most of which I've followed thru on.
Savage return spring :
R-R-t-return-spring-w-pen-sprng.jpg

Charging handle :
Savage-22-Charge-Knob-2.jpg

Mag release & Mag well :
Sav-64-mag-well-opened.jpg

Sear and Pivot pin :
DSCN6796.jpg
 

Attachments

  • Sav trigger return spring w-pen sprng.JPG
    Sav trigger return spring w-pen sprng.JPG
    50.5 KB · Views: 2
Hi Lionking - If you go to the 64,.

Looks like I'm not going for anything right now nobody has nothing, unless you want to spend $100 to $200 more than what normally would be. Local gun store that I have spent thousands upon thousands o dollars in, just got four Ruger 10/22 in and they want $400 for one and won't budge on the price. I asked them a price quote on a plain Jane Marlin 60 to order they said $270. I want to support local gun stores but I am a bit peeved that the fact is they know me by name, they know I know about guns, and how much money I have spent there before yet quote me prices like that. Ya know what if that's the case I 'll take my money to anti gun Walmart and get a Marlin or whatever there. Sorry but at some point price and being smart with my money outweighs patronage.

Walmart sells the Savage 64 for $99 but is out they have the Marlin 60 or $170 and Ruger 10/22 or $240 but make you go through hoops to get one like I previously mentioned.

The only other game in town is Dick's lol no thanks who only has the Ruger, and Rural King wanting $150 for the Savage and is out of Marlin and Ruger.

Gunbroker lol has gun store prices PLUS shipping Plus credit card fee PLUS paying the transfer fee

Don't need it that bad sooner or later the panic will stop and I'll get one at normal prices when they are back in stock.
 
Marlin has probably sold over a bazillion Model 60 .22 LR rifles under their name and several others for the likes of J C Penny, Montgomery Wards and a few others. I, personally don't own one and would rather have one of their bolt action .22 rimfire firearms. Those, to me, are much better made and not as many internal parts. I won't even spend the time working on the Model 60's any longer. Time involved can add up to more than the rifle is worth.
If any LGS is selling a Marlin Model 60 for $270.00, OTD, that almost equates to "larceny". There are just too many other .22 semi-auto rifles out there that are much better for near the same price as $270.00, or even lower.
 
^^^ The Wikipedia Marlin Model 60 article lists number built as over eleven million citing a 2015 source. I seriously doubt the production has yet broken the twelve million mark, unless one cheats by counting the model variations (Marlin 99 and 49, Glenfield 99G, various models listed under store brands for Sears, JCPenneys, Western Auto, Montgomery Ward) and export versions, some customized to comply with foreign laws.
 
For those folks who don't like scopes, receiver sights, even the Williams 5D (which used to be the 5-Dollar) sight is probably twice as accurate and much faster than open rear sights, especially with large apertures or even without a screw-in aperture.

That said, I'm a scope guy, but had a receiver sight on my recently-sold Marlin 39A Deluxe (Please don't ask.) My first 39A wore a Williams 5D and I could group 1/2" at 50 yards with it. It was a killer, perfectly made, and never skipped a beat. The second...not so much.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top