Talk me into some model of the marlin 39

[Soybomb]

I've been planing to buy a .22 rifle just for cheap range fun for a while. Originally I was thinking of the marlin 981t as a rifle thats accurate enough and has the flexibility of feeding shorts if I want it to. I'm starting to think maybe a marlin 39 would be better. Its more expensive, and I probably give up a little accuracy for lever action, but it might be a bit more fun for plinking because of it too.

Which one do I get though? The ones sound nice although there are rumors the fit isn't quite what it used to be and of course some people don't like the new safety features? Is the mountie model the way to go? I'm not sure if the straight grip would be preferred or not, never tried it. I think there might even also be a 16-18" variant out there?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

No one should have to be "talked into" buying a Model 39!!

 

[stalkingbear]

marlin 39

The marlin 39 speaks for itself and is the most accurate lever rifle I've ever seen-this observation comes from about a dozen 39s. You WON'T be giving up accuracy by going to 39!

 

[Soybomb]

No one should have to be "talked into" buying a Model 39!!

Not so much a 39 in general, but which specific model and vintage

 

[CajunBass]

Why the one you like the best of course. I doubt you'll notice much practical difference (if any) between the accuracy of the different models. Personally I like the classic 39-A. The straight grip Mountie just didn't appeal to me. Squirrels will go climb a tree when they see me coming with this one. Oh wait. They climb trees anyway. They know they don't have worry about me with any rifle.


(I GOTTA take another picture of this gun, without that Ruger Box. )

ArchAngel is right. If you have be talked into a Model 39, you don't want one bad enough.

 

[Walkalong]

They rock, go buy one.

 

[Slugless]

I've got a Mountie and have plenty of trigger time on a regular 39A.

I prefer the pistol grip and long barrel of the regular 39A. The Mountie is harder for me to hold steady and my lever hand doesn't really know where to go. My Mountie is old enough it has the rounded lever. Perhaps the squared lever on the newer ones is meant to address that problem.

It is, however, an extremely handy little carbine so I haven't given up on it yet. But if I bought another new/used one it wouldn't be a Mountie.

Don't sweat the accuracy issue. You do your part, the rifle does it's part. As we say, "the bullet goes where the bead is." For me the falling hammer seems to require better mounting and trigger techniques but shooting really well requires good technique anyway. (I don't really know if it's the hammer but that's the impression I have).

 

[waterhouse]

I've owned the regular 39A as well as the Mountie. I prefer the handiness of the Mountie. Both great guns, it just depends on how you want it to feel when you pick it up.

 

[eliphalet]

Don't buy the 39 cost your ammo costs will increase substantially. Shooting will be so pleasurable you'll shoot more and your final costs will be much more than with the other gun.

 

[aka108]

One of my favorite rimfires. Buy it, you won't like it. You'll love it.

 

[mainmech48]

I've had my 39M for well over 25 years now. Wouldn't trade it for diamonds. Without a sophisticated machine rest of some sort it'd be pretty much impossible for me to tell if I'm giving up anything in the way of accuracy vs a 'field'-grade BA of any sort, given the use of each rifle's preferred ammo. So many of the quality-made .22 RF rifles I've run into over the past 30-odd years have proven to be capable of grouping better than I can hold for when fed the right stuff and pointed by a better marksman that I just try to find the brand I do best with and let it go at that.

The Marlin 39 series is a true classic, the oldest continuously produced longarm design in the world. Rugged, reliable, slick-handling, accurate and still manufactured to the same high standards of quality in materials and workmanship as it was in G' Grandpa's day.

As an everyday working tool it may well be a 'toss-up', practically speaking, between a 39 and that 981T. But which one is most likely to end up as a treasured heirloom when you pass it down to your kids?

The 39 will feed and fire Shorts, Longs and Longrifles too. This isn't as much of a factor now as it was back in my boyhood when the cost difference between a box of Shorts and LRs down at the Western Auto was the difference between 'can' and 'can't' go shooting. The Shorts were $0.39 and the HSLRs $0.79. When a quarter was a not-inconsiderable sum to aspire to, representing more than an entire case of discarded soda bottles scrounged from along the roads or a week's worth of household chores, having that option was the sine qua non for us in a .22 rifle. Things have changed a good deal, but I personally still like having the option, even if it's been rendered mostly pointless.

My 39M isn't a "Mountie" per se, just the carbine version with a 20" bbl. and straight-grip stock. I like its more compact dimensions and just-a-tad faster handling when afield. YMMV. There was an even more compact "Take-down" version with a 16 and-a-fraction" bbl. made a few years back. Only the full-sized 39A is currently listed in Marlin's catalog, but it shouldn't be too hard to locate either of the others on the used market with a bit of effort.

 

[Fast Frank]

Here... Read this. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=3907090#post3907090

I bumped it for you.

These guys all LOVE their 39s.

 

[Kman]

If ya like the marlin, try a Browning, half the throw and twice the beauty!

 

[Clipper]

That's for sure, Kman. Try a Browning and you'll throw rocks at anyone else's lever gun.

 

[Slugless]

Kman & Clipper bring up a doubleplusgood point. Check out the Browning.

I have a Browning as well as a Marlin.

The Browning is such a well made rifle, very fine. Accurate. The short throw is great.

To me if feels like a child's rifle and I'm just an average sized guy. I've got the Browning and I bought a Marlin anyway. Gave the Browning to my GF as a Valentine's day present.

But YMMV. Definitely check it out.

 

[TCB in TN]

I have owned and shot both, like the browning, love the Marlin. The browning shot great, but the Marlin feels more like a real rifle. (And I love my Browning BLR .308). Buy a 39 you won't regret it.