so who has a marlin model 60 22 rifle and your thoughts about it?

[midland man]

I have much enjoyed playin with the ruger 10-22 but have decided to try something else! so I am looking at the marlin model 60 22 rifle at Walmart for $157+ tax. in which looks to be a nice rifle in the blued/wood configuration, so what you guys think? or experiences you have or had with them??

 

[ColtPythonElite]

They are good plinkers. Most find them more accurate than the average 10/22.

 

[clearcut]

I have two old ones they are a little better than a 10-22 for accuracy but the 10-22 is easier to load .The 60 wants to be cleaned more often and seems to be picky on ammo.

CC

 

[Skylerbone]

Of late several posters have noted problems with them. Everything from sight alignment to the unthinkable: an inaccurate one was finally found.

The 60 taken as a whole is fantastic. I’m not a huge tube fed guy, guess I like buying and having magazines around for the sake of owning more stuff (I know it doesn’t make sense). The rifle is svelt, reasonably light, very accurate for an inexpensive rifle, and man they can be fun.

Working on them or fixing the abysmal trigger pull is a less enjoyable endeavor but a one-time right of passage you can easily forget about in a day or two (ok once the nightmares subside, jk). Are they worth chancing $160 bucks on? Sure, but when I’m hugging the bench I usually reach for the Ruger, though not for accuracy’s sake, it’s those 25-round magazines that can be loaded at home.

 

[Shimitup]

I love my 60. I don't think it has ever had a malfunction, trigger is a little heavy but clean. It easily shoots 1" at 50 yds with a cheap Simmons 4x scope with CCI standard vel. Like the Ruger MK1 it has a reputation for reassembly issues however like the MK1 once you know the trick it's not hard at all. One caveat, all that said mine is 25 years old, I too have heard the post Remington horror stories. I suppose you could take your chances on a new one or see if you could round up an old one.

 

[boom boom]

I have an late 70's early 80's Model 60 that I obtained cheap as it was a special model with the Chipmunk stock made for a defunct chain tire and auto/general merchandise store called Otasco (Oklahoma Tire and Supply Co or something like that). Have some fond memories of that store so got the rifle for nostalgia more than general need.

One thing that some do not like is that it is tube fed and it can be a little tricky to take down to clean thoroughly which I did. Get some of the improved trigger springs from MCarbo and you can lower and improve the trigger pull (they also make a set for the Savage 64). https://www.mcarbo.com/store/p/27-Marlin-60-Trigger-Spring-Kit.aspx

They are accurate and reliable but their open sights are perfunctory at best. Scoping helps get the most out of the accuracy from it. I have avoided Remlins but have several older Marlins that give good service.

Personally, I like them and have had good service from mine with decent accuracy, of course YMMV. There are a fair number of them around used in relatively good or even almost new condition for not that much.

Oh, they used to make speedloading tubes for Tube fed .22 LR rifles. Haven't looked for them recently but I do know that some have made homebrewed ones as well.

 

[joed]

I have one from the early 1970s. It's a good shooter though I have to admit I never shoot it anymore. It is not picky on ammo and rarely jams. I just do not shoot .22 rimfire anymore.

 

[WestKentucky]

Am I excluded because I have 3...well kinda 4?

I was given one when I was about 4. Granddaddy bought 2 Marlins and 2 NEF topper 410s as he had 4 grandkids to outfit. The boys got the rifles and the girls got the shotguns, and we all had firm instructions to share and let him know when we were out of ammo. If we hit we got more, if we missed we did chores to earn ammo. That one is the rifle version.

Then I bought a beater carbine and fixed it up a bit, I have about 75 bucks in it. It's on permanent loan to a friend who had a bad divorce with a crazy ex husband.

Then I found one squirrel hunting. Amish kid was trespassing and his horse was startled and bucked. He lost the gun and I found it while riding in my buddies jeep when it smacked the fender. That's how the stock got broken I think...hi have 20 bucks in a new stock for that one. It's on permanent loan to my grandpa who only has a single shot, and who is worried about his new trashy neighbors.

My girlfriend who became my wife wanted a 22 rifle and I did the unthinkable...I gave her free run of the gun shop and told her to just pick what felt nice. I told the clerk to not pass a single price tag over the counter. She got it down to a 10-22 stainless fancy gun, and a marlin 795 which is a detachable box version of the 60, stainless in synthetic. She settled on the lighter weight rifle and we got marlin 22lr #4.

All 4 guns are remarkably nice for being cheap guns. The 795 especially so, and if I were to buy a new 22 rifle today I would buy the twin to hers. My only gripe about it is that the mags are expensive, and it only comes with 1. They are all extremely reliable with any ammo, and they have never had any major hiccups (except for the one that was found, it had mud and crud in it that had to work out, but was fine afterwards).

 

[Reloadron]

I have one which goes back maybe 25 years with me and it was old when given to me. I also have a Ruger 10/22 stainless which was bought new 25 years ago. I like the Marlin better but that is just me. Shooting off the bench the Marlin seems to deliver better groups. I guess given a choice I would, in my case, take the Marlin over the Ruger. Truth be known neither gets much use anymore as I like my older Remington bolt guns and I have an old Savage / Anschutz target gun I really enjoy shooting. Someday they will go to the grandchildren and they can sort things out.

Ron

 

[Tentwing]

Just my opinion, but I might look around the used rack or pawn shop to pick up a pre Remington model. Now I have heard folks that have bought the newer ones with no issues , and I have heard a few horror stories. your mileage may vary.
I have been through several over the years. Mine have tended to end up in the hands of my kids and now my grandkids. I currently have a 1966 Glenfield 60 , and a 1776 Marlin 60. In my experience they have all been fun and accurate. The Glenfield likes everything. The Marlin likes Federals,CCI, and Aguila,but will occasionally fail to eject Winchester and Remington ammo more so when it's dirty.
Midway sells several different lengths of Speedyloader. I kinda like tube mags especially on the older models that will hold 18 22lr rounds.
Admittedly I am a little bit a 22 junky . As much as I love my 1022's I do favor my model 60's. Now according to your post your "looking for something else" .....Might I suggest a lever action for no other reason than they are just plain ole fun.

 

[dieselchief]

triggers suck, in spite of that the two I played with were extremely accurate. one is a north haven, other is a hunstville gun.

 

[jmr40]

I got one for Christmas around 1970 when I was 12. I still own it, but it hasn't worked in at least 30 years. The weak link to either the 10-22 or the Marlin is the magazine. The tube magazine will only handle being taken apart, loaded and unloaded a certain number of times. When it wears out the cost to repair is more than the gun is worth. With the Ruger you toss worn out magazines in the trash and buy another. Actually I have quite a few around. I'd take the 10-22 ten times out of ten.

I have an late 70's early 80's Model 60 that I obtained cheap as it was a special model with the Chipmunk stock made for a defunct chain tire and auto/general merchandise store called Otasco (Oklahoma Tire and Supply Co or something like that). Have some fond memories of that store so got the rifle for nostalgia more than general need.

That is the same one I have. Dad bought it at Otasco.

 

[someguy2800]

I just bought one a few weeks ago. Sights are unfit for a BB gun. Factory front sight was a shapeless blob of paint and installed crooked and was too tall to zero with the stock rear sight. Trigger was horrific. Action was gritty. I looked at 3 of them in the store and picked the only one without runs in the painted reciever finish.

After discovering the crooked front sight I drilled and tapped a new hole and put a proper front sight on it. I cut down the rear sight and put a peep sight on it. Sanded the paint overspray out of the inside of the reciever. Took apart the Rube Goldberg trigger assembly and made the trigger a nice crisp 4 lbs. Stripped the sprayed on dyed varnish off the stock and put a decent finish on it.

It’s nice now and only took 12 hours of work to make it as nice as a 10-22. Now the bolt doesn’t go into battery 30% of the time so I have more fixing to do.

Consider it a kit that can be made into a rifle.

 

[Danoobie]

I prefer tubies, so I guess I am a little biased. I have 2 of them. They are fairly well balanced, and shoot accurately. Not a great fan of trigger safeties,
and the trigger is ... ...mushy? Hard to describe, just not crisp. Need a tear-down and cleaning occasionally, (STOP, once the internals are exposed,
just knock the crud loose with toothpicks and Q-tips. Then re-assemble.)
and expect an older one to eat a buffer every 15 years or so. But they are cheap, and a few suppliers stock them.

 

[Doc7]

Love mine.
Shoots 3/4” at 50 yd with a 4X Nikon. Using Tech Sights I made Rifleman at an Appleseed weekend. I shoot coons with terrific accuracy treed over dogs and squirrels as well. It’s a family heirloom for sure!

Mine is even an early “Remlin”. Doesn’t diminish the value this rifle has to me - the first firearm I ever bought. 2011-2012ish.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I have one my Dad bought 20 or so years ago, looks new. I have not shot it much at all. The trigger is quite good, I'll shoot some paper when the weather is decent.

 

[midland man]

Just my opinion, but I might look around the used rack or pawn shop to pick up a pre Remington model. Now I have heard folks that have bought the newer ones with no issues , and I have heard a few horror stories. your mileage may vary.
I have been through several over the years. Mine have tended to end up in the hands of my kids and now my grandkids. I currently have a 1966 Glenfield 60 , and a 1776 Marlin 60. In my experience they have all been fun and accurate. The Glenfield likes everything. The Marlin likes Federals,CCI, and Aguila,but will occasionally fail to eject Winchester and Remington ammo more so when it's dirty.
Midway sells several different lengths of Speedyloader. I kinda like tube mags especially on the older models that will hold 18 22lr rounds.
Admittedly I am a little bit a 22 junky . As much as I love my 1022's I do favor my model 60's. Now according to your post your "looking for something else" .....Might I suggest a lever action for no other reason than they are just plain ole fun.

well thanks for the reply guys as a matter of fact I do own two henry 22's one the model h001 and the other is a h004m goldenboy 22mag but I got this marlin model 70pss and fell in love with it so much I have a second one be here anytime! and so now this model 60 is eating at me to try as they look very nice and appealing, eye candy lol...

 

[WestKentucky]

well thanks for the reply guys as a matter of fact I do own two henry 22's one the model h001 and the other is a h004m goldenboy 22mag but I got this marlin model 70pss and fell in love with it so much I have a second one be here anytime! and so now this model 60 is eating at me to try as they look very nice and appealing, eye candy lol...

If your buying new, skip the 60 and go 795 stainless.

 

[RedlegRick]

Glenfield 60 was my first .22, and I won't repeat what the others have said about the sights, trigger, and reassembly issues. That said, I loved the dickens out of mine and pretty much shot her to pieces inside of five years, but I used her as hard as you can imagine.

No safe queen, she was my truck gunand do-all shooter for everything except deer back in the 80s. The trigger smoothed out on her own after a few thousand rounds and I figure I put something like 20-25k downrange before she locked up for the last time. Buddy of mine was taking one of those mail order gunsmithing courses and needed some 'patients' to work on and we cut a fair deal. I miss her once in awhile, but afterward, I found I preferred box mags for the safety aspect over tubes. Still, a darned good little rifle if you find a good one.

 

[tactikel]

Very accurate, utterly reliable, a great value.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

As many here have mentioned, the Model 60 tube mag can have issues. On older guns, especially the Glenfields, the feed throats will eventually wear out and are not fun to fix.

There's always the Model 70- basically the same gun but box mag fed. IIRC they are still in production as well?

My daughter loves her pre-Remington 70. Very accurate and feeds at least as well as any 10/22 I've ever had.

 

[Varminterror]

I have 5 model 60's, plus a 99M-1, same action, just an external aesthetic package to look like a miniature M-1 Carbine. There are good reasons the Marlin 60 is the highest selling consumer firearm in America.

 

[Fiv3r]

I have an old Glenfield that was my dad's. I love that gun. I switched to a shorter mag fed 795 years ago as a truck .22. Mainly because I wanted something that could fit under the seats and used a detachable box mag for locations that frown upon loaded firearms in the vehicle.

I'm thinking about picking up a 10/22 simply because I want a new rifle. However, for the money, especially an old one, the Model 60 is a lot of gun for the money. The 795 is more compact if you want the same function.

 

[hdbiker]

I woulden't take a 60 apart unless I absolutely had to. To clean just remove the stock and use spray cleaners,and light oil to lube. They all run great when clean, very accurate. hdbiker

 

[bassjam]

I have one a buddy got me as a wedding gift in 2014, it shoots a little better than my 10/22.

I've never had any problems with various Marlin tube magazines over the years, I actually prefer them over Marlin's cartridge magazines. For the price, a Model 60 is hard to beat even if it's a Remlin. You'll have an accurate gun that'll last a very long time. Just keep it clean, a Marlin will start to hiccup from dirty .22 ammo before a Ruger 10/22 will.