Marlin Model 60 or a Henry Lever?

[unlearned69]

I'm looking to buy a new 22 rifle for fun, general target shooting, maybe the occasional varmint eradication. My birthday just passed, and I have some cash to spare. Local store has the Marlin 60 for $150 and the Henry Lever for $100 more. Which is more fun? I've had a 10/22 and it was OK, but it would need a lot of aftermarket parts before I would have thought it was nice. Rough trigger and so-so accuracy with factory sights. Also thought the magazines were pretty cumbersome to load. What say you?

This is posted on another forum, but I'm looking for a large group of answers.

Thanks guys!

 

[CDignition]

get both..I have one of each for sale..

 

[woof]

Depends on whether you're a cowboy at heart. If so by all means the Henry. Love mine.

 

[ds92]

Whatever fits you better

But in my opinion, I say definantly the Henry. I have NO complaints about mine, it will eat any type of ammo and it is very accurate. Also, Henry Repeating Arms has excellent customer service. If your gun breaks, and you send it in, they'll fix it for free. Also its an American made. I have nothing bad to say about the Henry rifles, only now I wish i bought mine in .17 Mach 2.

 

[unlearned69]

I knew someone would say to get both. I may have to do that in the end. The 60 would be cool to add to my marlin 336 and 1895g, but at the same time the henry would make 3 levers for all occasions.

 

[Savage Shooter]

Buy them both you know you want to
The marlin 60 is awsome mine eats anything and is tough as nails I plan on getting a henry in the near future a friend has one and loves it. I am going to get both. When in doubt buy them both

 

[Mike U.]

I love my Marlin 60.
BUT! I love my Winchester model 150 even more.

Why?

Because that lever gun allows me to shoot .22LR, long and short.
It's sweet because I can shoot anything from Collibri to Aquila Super Max and Velocitor hyper velocity.
With CCI CB Shorts it shoots minute-of-tree-rat at 18-25 yards all day. Yet, it still does a very good job of paper punching at 75 yards and 100 yards just for fun.
Kind of like getting your cake and eating it too.

Get the lever gun if that's what you want from your rimfire rifle.

 

[fastbike]

There's a reason Marlin has sold 11 million of the Model 60s. Cheap and re;liable are two of the top reasons.

 

[rangerruck]

I would not buy a new marlin mod 60, I would buy one used, since they are all good, accurate, and allways work. Oh yes, and accurate. the henry , bought new, will only go up in value.
the best marlins to get were made between 85 and 88, they had the long feed tube, that went all the way to the end of the bbl, and it also had the last shot bolt hold open. they cut the feed tube, down to 14, back in 89.

 

[papajohn]

I have both, shoot both, and love them both. If you need serious accuracy, I'd go with the Marlin, they make GREAT barrels. No flies on the Henry, but the accuracy on mine isn't as good. Both are a hoot to shoot. Tough call......which one to get FIRST? I say get the Marlin. Tomorrow I might say get the Henry!

PJ

 

[tantrix]

Good choice not going with the 10/22...just as you said, it takes some cash and a few aftermarket parts to get it to tack-driver capable.

I have a Marlin 60 with a cheap BSA .22 scope on it, and it shoots 1" ragged holes @ 50yrds easily with crap Federal bulk ammo (and the cheap scope). With good ammo and a better scope, who knows what it would do.

The Henry is going to be the nicer looking and better-built gun, and of course you can shoot shorts, not have to worry about jams like a semi-auto, etc. The only real con I can think of (if you consider it a con) is, you won't have rapid-fire follow-up shots like the semi-auto Marlin 60.

All in all, I see no reason to not go with the Marlin 60 for what you want to do...but if you prefer lever-actions and don't mind spending the extra cash the Henry is definitely worth the extra dough...they truly are nice guns.

 

[Vaarok]

Personally, I'd choose a levergun, they're more fun. I would then buy a USED Marlin 60 afterwards, because an autoloader is also fun.

But really, the levergun is worth the extra money.

 

[bensdad]

Technically, I have two of each. One good 60 and one beat-up and re-painted (red, for the kids). I have the Henry lever (octo. barrel, not the Golden version), and I got the youth model for my youngest son.

All four guns function well. I have a slight preference for the Henry factory irons. I get a little more specific target with them than I do with the 60. However, I have a scope on the good 60 and can shoot much better with it than with the Henry.

If I had the lever to do over, I might spend a little more and get a Marlin.
http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/22Rifle/Golden39A.asp

 

[DonP]

I'll second a used Model 60 ... or two or three.

I have four of them now that I bought used and they cost me from a low end of only $50 (it's the best looking one I have) to a high end of $75. Anytime you can buy a reputable gun for the cost of a few of boxes of ammo, you should probably get it.

The reason I have/had 4 of them is every time I get one cleaned up and running, put a little scope on it, one of my kids makes it disappear. My oldest daughter (34/school teacher) has referred to the Model 60 she "borrowed" as "My Gun for when the Zombies come".

They shoot a lot better than they should but, unlike the 10/22, there aren't a lot of tacticool accessories to buy and hang on them. With a $14 Spee-D-Lodr you can shoot all day, run through 1000 rounds a session, and never spend more than $30.

I looked at a Henry lever action and opted for a Puma in .45 LC instead for around $350. I just didn't like the tube feed loading for a lever action and wanted the traditional trap door side loading. But I'm old and set in my ways.

In .22's the only rule I have is buy what makes you smile the most when you shoot it, because you're going to shoot it a lot

 

[FMJMIKE]

My Henry is so much fun it should be illegal.....

 

[76shuvlinoff]

My 60 is a tool, an accurate but cheap fun tool. I am now and always have been a lever fan. I don't own a Henry or a 10/22 yet but my Marlin 39A is more precious to me than it's brother the 1894C.

Gotta get em all!

 

[mstirton]

I like shooting my Henry (octagonal barrel) more than my stock 10/22 or my brother's Marlin 60. However, I think a semi-auto 22 is nice to have and if it is you're only....
I had to give in and get a bolt (452) and the Henry lever after shooting the 10/22 since I was a kid.

I know, bigfoot sighting.

 

[ArmedBear]

I like lever guns a lot. I have two .22's, both Marlins. They're really, really fun.

OTOH my Marlin 60 is a favorite, too. For the money, I think it's the best gun out there. Accurate, reliable, with good geometry. Nothing fancy, just a good gun for cheap.

The Henry is a fine little gun, likewise a good deal for the money.

I also don't care for the 10/22 or its magazines. I prefer the tubes. They're a tad awkward sometimes, but so much more pleasant to load than the Ruger mags, especially after a few hundred rounds.

The Marlin 60 trigger can be tuned up for cheap, BTW. Rimfire Central has instructions.

 

[chriso]

I bought my girlfriend a henry lever action 22. She loves it and it can shoot damn well! I find my self shooting her 22 more than my 10/22 when we plink around with the rimfires it's such a joy to shoot i prefer the lever action than the semi auto any day it makes it more fun to shoot for me atleast and the henry is a pleasant looking gun not to mention you can load shorts,long, and long rifle.

 

[tomh1426]

I have a Model 60, it has a crappy trigger but is very accurate and reliable.
I also have a old pump .22 that is more fun to shoot than you might think.
That said, I think the big loop Henry is gunna be my next buy.

 

[Nhsport]

Couple of points for you to ponder.
Thr 10/22 does have a poor trigger but there are proven ways to improve it (just add money) , with the marlin and the henry you get what you get.

With the Henry you pretty much have to run the standard sights,mounting a scope would be difficult , and it would look silly.

Another option to consider would be a marlin 39. A used one would likely be in the same price range as the new Henry

I really like my Henry but I didn't buy it untill I had 6 or 7 other 22 rifles.

22 Rifles are a solid good time , every one needs 5 or 6!

 

[Urbana John]

I bought my grandson a new Henry lever, put a scope on it and he can out shoot me now!! Gave my son a used marlin 60, and it has some problems. Doesn't seem to work right if it's too clean or too dirty, but is fine somewhere in the middle.
Of the 2, I like the Henry better, but I'd rather shoot my 10/22!
Quit fix on the 10/22 mags---1/2" pvc water pipe, cut in half (length way), then cut in length to fit in the bottom of the mag, and glued in place. Gives you a half moon "grip" to pull on. UJ

 

[Kind of Blued]

You asked which was more fun... I say the Henry!

Or a 39A!

 

[B.D. Turner]

Tough question. I have a Henry but I am saving a spot in my collection for a Marlin 60 in stainless steel. The Henry lets you shoot .22 shorts if you want to do some quiet shooting too. Sorry I can't answer the question they are both fine rifles.

 

[Furncliff]

Marlin 60... tons a fun. Issues with a heavy trigger can be taken care of. See post about this on RIM Fire Central.

For lever... Marlin 39 or Browning Lever Action.