My answer, to the word. Marlin 39A in 1962.I started plinking many years ago with a Marlin 39A. These days I tend to go with a custom Ruger 10/22.
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Clem
Didn't the early guns, before the mid 80s, have an 18 round capacity with the 22 inch barrel? Unless you put some rounds in the magazine tube, chamber a round, then fill the tube to the 18 round capacity for 18 + 1 = 19 rounds? All in all they made around 11 million of those rifles. I have an old Glenfield Model 60 and if I see an old Marlin 60 for a good price I'll take it home.marlin 60 w/ the 19 shot capacity: you'll never be the same!
The 510P was my first rifle (1958) used from a friend of my uncle. Really like the 510, 511 and 512 rifles. The 510 is a really nice accurate single shot bolt action 22. Enjoy them.Recently I have been playing with a few old Remington 510's picked up at estate sales.