Marlin 39A vs. CZ-452 Family

[Avenger29]

I am seriously contemplating the purchase of one of these .22 rifles. As far as I am concerned, they are the two best under $500 dollar current production .22 rifles available today. I have a 1964 Marlin 336 .30-30 that I adore, and a Winchester 69 .22 (extremely similar to the CZ in that it is a bolt action fed with a detachable mag) that I also adore. Both are from my grandfather. I would like to get a new bolt action to save wear and tear on the 69, and a .22 lever rifle would help save on ammo costs. I cannot get both right now (although, I hope to eventually have both)

The first and foremost question is which one is more accurate. A bolt action is usually considered more accurate than a lever action, although I really do not know why. I especially would like to hear from Nemocyst-870 if he has his 39 yet because I know he had a CZ.

Please do not suggest other .22 rifles. I already have a 10/22 that really does not please me. I prefer manually operated actions, which is why I have narrowed it down to these two. The pawnshops around here do not have much in the way of used selections (most of their guns are way overpriced for the condition). I do wish Marlin would make a new pump action- that would be great. I know about the Tarus option, but I know that it probably will not match up to these two.

I also chose these two rifles because they are made of wood and steel, not aluminum and plastic. I do not plan on mounting optics, instead, I would like to use the iron sights. I know that the CZ 452 has some of the best iron sights on a rifle today, and the 39 can easily be equipped with good arpeture sights.

So basically, how do these two rifles stack up against each other?

 

[tubeshooter]

Unfair question. Kinda like comparing a stunning brunette and a stunning redhead.


Get both when you can. Doesn't really matter which one you get first. I suspect you'll like both.

 

[Avenger29]

Damn. I like brunettes and redheads. Although, if I tried to have both of those at the same time, the redhead would probably shoot me with one of my newly acquired rifles

 

[CZguy]

Unfair question. Kinda like comparing a stunning brunette and a stunning redhead.


Get both when you can. Doesn't really matter which one you get first. I suspect you'll like both.

That's a good way to put it. I own both, and determine which one to shoot is pretty much a matter of what I feel like shooting that day. They are both excellent and very accurate rifles.

 

[DMK]

I wouldn't consider the 39A a tack driver compared to a good traditional boltgun like the 452. The 39A has that tube mag and handguard hanging off the barrel, and you can't freefloat the barrel or bed the action. My 39A is a good shooter and it's very well made, but it was never designed to be a very accurate target rifle.

 

[cslinger]

Unfair question. Kinda like comparing a stunning brunette and a stunning redhead.

I couldn't have put it any better. These are two of the best rifles I own. Not two of the best .22s, two of the best RIFLES period.

If you are looking for pure accuracy the edge goes to the CZ but damn if the Marlin isn't damn fine gun.

With your criteria buy the CZ...............................................first.

 

[Cosmoline]

I've owned both, but the 452 is the one I still have. It's one of my few "forever" firearms. The Marlin is cool and a lot of fun, but it's never going to be as accurate and the iron sights are far more primitive. Now, if you're comparing a 452 with a Marlin 1891 I might have to change my conclusion.

 

[Tom C.]

I got a 39A as my first gun in 1963. My most recent .22 is a 39M, made in 1969. I also have a 452. While I have played with scopes on my Marlins over the years, the 452 has the scope now. It can really use it. The Marlins have pretty good accuracy, but the 452 has serious accuracy, approaching 1” at 100 yds. The Marlins are a lot of fun, but they can’t match that.

 

[Tylden]

There is a lot of credit due to both rifles as they are both outstanding at what they were designed to do. I have both a CZ 452 Ultra Lux Super Exclusive (an absolute tack driver) and a CZ 452 Scout (don't underestimate the little Scout because it's a youth model....VERY impressive little rifle), and a Marlin 39A. I will agree that for accuracy and target shooting, the CZ's win hands down, BUT the 39A is no slouch either, and frankly is down right respectable considering its a lever action going up against a bolt action. I will say though that if I could only keep just one of them, it would be the Marlin 39A without question. The Marlin is the one that goes to the range with me and it's an absolute blast to shoot. I may not outscore you target shooters with it, but I bet I'll more fun Also of note, the 39A is a takedown and an excellent hunting tool and has earned a spot in my bug out/survival kit. The CZ 452 Scout goes in my son's kit.

 

[wuchak]

I have both and would not want to part with either. They are very different rifles and each is fun in it's own way. That said, if I had to choose one to keep the Marlin wins hands down. With a 3-9x32 scope it groups tighter (though not by much) than the CZ (with Brooks trigger kit installed) wearing the same scope. Both have produced dime sized groups at 50 yards and I have no doubt they could do better than that consistently but they are limited by the shooter.

With open sights I don't think you will find any difference in the groups you get between the two since the inherent accuracy of both is more than all but the very best shooters will ever match with open sights.

I think the Marlin is more comfortable to shoot off-hand and that 19 rounds in the tube is more convenient than 5 round magazines and much easier to load. My 39A now has XS Sights,http://www.xssights.com/store/rifle.html, excellent ghost ring/post combo. It's a blast to pop balloons at 50 yards as fast as you can work the lever.

If you decide to go with the CZ be sure to get the trigger kit offered by Eric Brooks at http://cz452.com/. The ghost ring, weaver adapters, and action screws are worth getting as well if your model needs them. He also has posted instructions for pillar bedding the CZ American. If you get a model with a barrel lug you can use the washer trick (go to the CZ forums on Rimfire Central) to float it forward of the lug.

 

[tubeshooter]

I agree that for flat-out target accuracy, the CZ probably comes out ahead.


Both very fine rifles, though.

 

[frank c]

I bought a marlin 39a brand new about 2 years ago,from day one I had feeding/jamming problems with it.Sent it back to marlin to have it fixed an it did the same when it got back.I sold it and bought a 22 lr. henry golden boy.I have been very satisfied since.I do own 3 CZ,s 223 cal. varmint,22 hornet,and a CZ woodcock shotgun.All are great shooters,and very accurate.

 

[Avenger29]

I bought a marlin 39a brand new about 2 years ago,from day one I had feeding/jamming problems with it.Sent it back to marlin to have it fixed an it did the same when it got back.

That does not appear to be common at all in relating to the 39A. I am not going to buy one of the Henry rifles because of the construction.

Lets talk iron sights for the Marlin. I think I am going to try to get it first. I know that tang and reciever sights are available. If I get a reciever peep sight, I would like one with knobs so I don't have to adjust it with a screwdriver. I would also like a fiber-optic front sight, if possible. If there are any unusual sights available for the Marlin, such as tangent sights, please let me know...

 

[CB900F]

Avenger;

The comparison between the redhead & the brunette is an excellent way to put it.

Make a decision as to which you want first and for what reason. If the gun is to be scoped & used as a target/hunter, then my nod goes to the CZ. If the gun is to be a hunter/plinker, sans glass, then it's the Marlin. What distances are you going to be shooting at, & for what reason(s)? Figure to get both & just determine which is going to be first.

900F

 

[CZguy]

Receiver sights

I mounted a Lyman receiver sight on mine with a Williams Firesight on the front. This model of receiver sight does require a screwdriver for fine adjustments, but the elevation can be adjusted by depressing a detent, and sliding the sight up. It has a scale on the side so that you can return it to it's prior setting. Overall it's a very slick setup.


http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=122655

http://www.midwayusa.com/esearch.exe/search?TabID=6&category_selector=all_products&search_keywords=firesight&Click+to+Begin+Search.x=17&Click+to+Begin+Search.y=14

 

[Avenger29]

I am going to go ahead and try for the Marlin first.

Is there any way at all to get the tangent sights like on the CZ for the Marlin? I think that the marlin rear sight dovetail is a standard size.

 

[kentucky_smith]

My .22 chores are split between the 452 and a Remington 572, which is also an overlooked tack driver.

The 452 is hard to beat, but the pump is just so handy for shooting shorts.