Plinkster or Model 60

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Lupinus

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So I was at Wally World to fondle the .22's to see which I want since I have finally accepted that I can't really afford the XD right now and checked out two rifles.

The first was a Marlin Model 60, felt good. I like it and the price is right (113 give or take), only downside I see to it is that it's tube fed. For an autoloader I would have preferred magazine fed but I can more then easily live with tube fed. Just means the ammo will last longer at the range since it will take a bit longer to reload.

The other was a Mossberg International 702 plinkster. Magazine fed, auto loader, synthetic stock. I don't know if it was just me but it felt really light. Not that that's a bad thing to be light but it just didn't feel as solid as the Model 60 did. Might just be my imagination. Was priced under a hundred bucks.

The last that interested me was a Marlin 795, but that requires special order and I don't know about your Wally World, but when mine says it will order something it can take weeks to get in. That and I haven't had the chance to handle it and the only upside I can see to it over the model 60 is that it is magazine fed, though the tube holds more. I don't really like buying things where I haven't had the chance to handle them at all especially when there is no real advantage seen.

Anyone have any thoughts on the way to go?

Also I have never bought a firearm from Wal-Mart before. Is the gun the fondle the gun you get and they just hand you the manual and paperwork or do they keep boxed ones in the back or something?
 
The Marlin has a solid rep. I have a friend who's nuts over 'em. When I had an FFL I got one for our gun club raffle. It was a stainless gun with laminated stock, pretty gun and rugged looking. I have a stainless Ruger 10/22 now I like a lot, but that Marlin was prettier and a little bigger/heavier.

Mossberg is making a .22? I have an antique M152 with the fold down hand grip stock thing. Never did figure what worth that was, LOL! My step dad bought it used back in the late fifties. He was working the oil fields running heavy equipment up in Oklahoma and got it for the Coyotes he was always running across out there. I got it after my mom married him when I was about 14. Thing still shoots and it's still accurate.
 
Im thinking of going with the marlin. It just feels a bit better built to me but that could just be an overreation to the lightness of synthetic stock on the Plinkster.
 
walmart keep the guns in the back in boxes guns in the sporting goods are for looks thats not the one you get you get the ons in the back. im thinking own geting the marlin 795
 
They're probably both fine rifles. I went and googled the Mossberg. It has a removable box mag, looks like my old M152 with more modern styling. :D Wonder if the magazine fits. Mine's a 7 round mag.

I can attest to the Marlin's accuracy for basically a plinker. It shoots quite well. I've killed a lot of squirrel with my Mossberg. It'll group 'em under an inch at 25 yards, but it's not quite as accurate as my buddy's two M60s. I can whoop his Marlin with my old Remington M512X bolt gun, though. :evil: I think it's pretty much a toss up between the Marlin and my Ruger accuracy wise. Both guns are bone stock. Neither is a target gun, but both will head shoot a squirrel at 25 yards.

I really like my Ruger, have to fight the temptation to put doo dads all over it, spend money. I did break down and buy a Hogue stock, LOVE that stock. That's the neat thing, and again the curse, of the Ruger. If you give in to the aftermarket, you could wind up spending real money on a plinker. :rolleyes:
 
Might get a 10/22 in the future but right now the Marlin is cheaper and Im not much into customization anyway.
 
The Marlin's MicroGroove barrel is very accurate with the right ammo choice.

If you go with the Model 60 the tube feed magazine isn't all that much of a handicap. Speed loaders are available that will top off the 60 in no time. I've also used aluminum arrows (compound bow style) with one end cut off as a sort of speed loader as well.

And just think, when the brady bunch bans all firearms with detachable mags, your Marlin will be safe. :neener: (Kidding of course - nothing is safe from that bunch).
 
In actual field use, I kinda like a tube magazine. My old Remington M512X is a tube fed mag. I top it off with 14 rounds and I can hunt squirrel all day without need to add any more and to add more is no big deal. They are a little more pain at the range, but not really much more than having to pull a box mag out and fill it. Easier on the thumb than some box mags. I don't know why you'd wanna have a dozen box mags loaded up for a range trip unless they were charging buy the minute for range time or something or you had to go to the range on your lunch hour. I have five mags for my 9mm, but usually just take the guy and maybe a mag to practice reloading with. I don't go down there, shoot up all the mags, and come home.
 
Hard to beat a Model 60...Mine shoots FAR better than an inexpensive .22 has any right to...Mine shoots dime sized, 10 shot groups w/ good ammo(and when I'm having a good day!)

Historical note: When I heard Mossberg was making a "Plinkster" again I was thrilled until I saw one. I had one of the original ones from the late 60s, which was a totally different gun...It had a synthetic thumbhole stock,and was tube fed from the rear of the stock..No iron sights. I foolishly traded it for something way back...Been looking to find another for some time now. Apparently they weren't very popular, as I've never seen another one for sale. If anybody knows where I can get one let me know!
 
marlin 0

ok guys and gals, i got my 60 from my mom and step dad, no im not a kid i'm 28. but still this rifle is very good in my book. this is not what i asked for! i wanted a henry .22 ohh well. apparently the guy who worked there talked my mom out of buying what i really wanted! well a marlin 60 is way better that a pair of socks so i said what the hell! i wanted a little cowboy experience thats why i wanted a henry and still do but i tell you what! that 60 is bad ass. i bought a red head scope for like 50 bucks and its right on. me and my step dad who also has a target pistol was bustin out some rounds when i just put him out of bussines with the 60. no ???? 1/4 moa at 25 yards. hell my target pistol that cost 3 times as much was even in the race. but lost! i got a ss 60 put a sling and scope on it and it is a very good hunting rifle! would very much recommend!
 
I can't see how a mag fed gun would be quicker to reload than a tube fed gun. I grew up shooting tube fed 22's and can load them WAY faster than a mag fed. Now if you have 35 or 40 loaded mags laying around, yeah, it may be quicker, but who wants to put more into mags than the darned gun cost in the first place. Get the Marlin. :)
 
After much thinking (and the fact the Plinkster just felt cheap) I have decided on the model 60 :)

They also had a remington for in the neighborhood of I believe 139 or so but the extra twenty bucks means over a thousand rounds of ammo more :D

That and it was camo stocked, I've never been highly fond of camo stocks.
 
Camo is cool for hunting squirrels. For range work, it's bling. :D When the Mossberg 500 came out in Camo I HAD to have it, the bling factor, said "I'm a waterfowler" just looking at it. :D But, I found out it really does work better in the marsh, less to stand out against the background of reeds.

You didn't go wrong with the little Marlin. They're really accurate for such an affordable plinker style gun.
 
Lupinus said:
The first was a Marlin Model 60, felt good. I like it and the price is right (113 give or take), only downside I see to it is that it's tube fed.
Click to expand...
You can't go wrong with a Marlin.

The other was a Mossberg International 702 plinkster. Magazine fed, auto loader, synthetic stock.
Click to expand...
Cool for a first rifle, a cheap "truck gun", or for out in the barn. Not the best choice because of potential magazine and parts availability, and I would'nt expect ruggedness or accuracy.

The only other suggestion I'd offer is the Ruger 10/22.
Simply because, it's a mag-fed reliable affordable semi-auto with infinite customization options and no lack of parts and/or magazines, including hi-caps. ;)

Also I have never bought a firearm from Wal-Mart before. Is the gun the fondle the gun you get and they just hand you the manual and paperwork or do they keep boxed ones in the back or something?
Click to expand...
Buying there is easy, manager comes over, calls in your paperwork, and escorts you out. Can't buy ammo at the same time as a rifle! As for the "display model" if it's all they've got, you can get 10% off. My 10/22 was a display model, alas... the only one they had. You'll get the box and paperwork and everything regardless, display model or otherwise.
 
The Plinkster is imported by Mossberg and not actually made by them, I believe it's from Brazil. Unlike other older Mossberg 22's, I've rarely seen a good review of the Plinkster. Most owners/users complain of problems and the few that don't seem lukewarm in their endorsements. I personally have never handled one outside a store but all the negative comments have swayed me away from even considering this model.

Especially when there are many, prettty consistantly, good comments about the Marlin 60, a model that has been around for decades. I now own 2 recent issue model 60s (one is the wife's) and they have both been reliable, accurate, fun little rifles.

Neither gun is really expensive, I can't see making a relatively few bucks difference be the deciding factor between an iffy product and one with a solid reputation.
 
i bought the plinkster last fall, as i wanted a cheap "bang around" rifle to plink with on my friends property.
I havent had any problems with it and ive shot around 1000 rounds through it. it seems reasonably accurate (im not much of a shot, but rested at 25 yards i get .75" groups, with some dipping under that )

Not really a pride-inspiring weapon... but it works fine for me. the light weight is a positive to me, as it helps me work on holding steady when shooting offhand, more than a heavy rifle does.
 
The current Mossberg plinkster that has appeared at Walmart appears
to be based on the Brazilian 7022 imported a few years ago by Mag Tech of Nevada. I own a 7022 and it is a good, inexpensive gun, but disassembly
is not as easy as the Marlin. The plastic follower on the clip ... err,
detachable box magazine ... is the bolt-hold device after last shot
and may eventually give problems. I have only had experience with
the old Mag Tech 7022 and cannot speak for the Mossberg Plinkster
version, except to say the synthetic stock with schnabel forearm
looks neat.

My experience with one, two... five model 60s: still have two
myself and gave one to my younger son. I have shot them
enough to wear out two feed throats (takes abut 20,000 rounds);
I replaced the feed throats and they kept on shooting. I
bought M60 when I was fifteen when they were called M99;
thats forty years ago and 200 or 300 rounds a weekend was
common for me.

The newer M60s have a few upgraded features: the ejectors
are better, the bolt handle can be used to lock the bolt open
for cleaning, and the bolt locks open on an empty magazine.

Originally, M60s had 22 inch barrels and full length 18 shot magazine;
to be legal in New Jersey, a shorter 14 shot magazine tube was
used; now I see M60s with 18 inch barrel to match the magazine
length. There was a M1 carbine look-alike model, and of course
several models made for Western Auto and Montgomery Ward,
among other retailers.

How does a gun stay in production all these years? By being good.

The newer M60s are easier to disassemble for cleaning: the older
models had three screws and a metal post holding the firing
mechanism on the receiver: the newer M60s use a nylon post and
two interlocking studs (no screwdriver rewuired); the inside of the
action has more space for fouling to accumulate or even move away
from the action, allowing longer runs before requiring thorough
cleaning. Most parts appear to be back-ward compatible over the
forty plus years of production. And there's after market goodies too.

The M60 is the tube magazine version, the M70 is the box magazine
version.
 
Lupinus said:
So I was at Wally World to fondle the .22's to see which I want since I have finally accepted that I can't really afford the XD right now and checked out two rifles.

The first was a Marlin Model 60, felt good. I like it and the price is right (113 give or take), only downside I see to it is that it's tube fed. For an autoloader I would have preferred magazine fed but I can more then easily live with tube fed. Just means the ammo will last longer at the range since it will take a bit longer to reload.
Click to expand...

I love my 60. I got around the "tube feed slowdown" by buying a couple of speed loaders designed for tube fed. Cabela's sells 'em.
 
The Mossberg Intl. looks an aweful lot like the Marlin 795... ESPECIALLY the receiver. They both have almost identical specs...

Mossberg 702 Features:

Black or camo synthetic stock models
Blued or chrome metal finish models
.22 LR Only
Aluminum alloy receiver
Automatic bolt lock
Receiver grooved to accept 3/8" scope mounts
Convenient crossbolt Safety and Magazine release buttons
Detachable 10-round magazine
free-floating18" blued barrel (37" O/A length) or 21" chrome barrel (40" O/A length)
1 in 16" RH twist for optimum accuracy
Fold-down rear sight allows up to 32mm objective diameter scope
Easy assembly/disassembly for trouble-free cleaning and maintenance
Includes a firearm gun lock
One-Year limited warranty

Marlin 795 Features:

Caliber 22 Long Rifle only
Capacity 10-shot nickel-plated clip magazine
Action Self loading; side ejection; automatic "last-shot" bolt hold-open; manual bolt hold-open; cross-bolt safety.
Stock Monte Carlo black fiberglass-filled synthetic with swivel studs and molded-in checkering.
Barrel 18" with Micro-Groove® rifling (16 grooves).
Twist Rate 1:16" r.h.
Sights Adjustable open rear, ramp front sight. Receiver grooved for scope mount.
Overall Length 37"
Weight 4.5 lbs.


:shrug
 
The Marlin model 60 is the most underrated 22 around in my opinion. I've always had a model 60 in my gun safe. The one I have at present wears a Simmon 22 mag A/O scope and loves subsonic ammo. I have it sighted in at 50 yards and it will shoot half inch groups all day using the right ammo. About the only thing I have found it doesn't care for accuracy wise is CCI Stingers. But then my other 22's don't like the stingers either.
 
i LOVE my M60 marlin, that is always teh first gun i grab when going to the rifle range. i have weaver see through scope rings and a tasco 3-9X40 scope on it. so far my best with my old scope at 25 yards was 0.28inch 3 shot group. old scope was a 4X12 tasco. at 50 yards i can get a 1inch group with all 14 shots.
 
Marlin 60

Tube-fed is not a downside. It works very well, doesn't fall in the dirt, and IMO on the 60, it helps balance the gun better. And versus the 10/22, the Marlin is accurate and ready to use when you buy it, not after you modify it.

You can get a very similar Marlin with a stack magazine, also.

Anyway, while I won't buy junk, if I can buy a good product for a good price, I'll choose the Made in USA product if I can. And in this case, you can. (The Plinkster is imported from Wheretheheckistan, not made by Mossberg.)
 
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