The Marlin 39 Club

[dfariswheel]

Simplest option is to buy a small bore mirror and LOOK.
If the barrel or chamber are getting fouled, clean.
Otherwise, don't.

As above, I only cleaned my Anschutz target rifle at the end of the season. I never saw any degradation in accuracy or signs of fouling.

If you're getting fouling in only a few boxes of ammo, think about buying different ammo, or a better grade of plated ammo.
When I got my 1950 Marlin, it'd been in that family since it was new.
No one had any idea of how many rounds it'd fired, but at least 7 or 8 kids and many adults had used it.
The action was badly fouled, and someone had attempted a trigger job and ruined the hammer and trigger.
The rifle had never been cleaned.
Other then the fouled action, the bore and chamber were 100% like new. No fouling at all.

So, considering the bore hadn't been cleaned from 1950 to about 2007, I'd say that cleaning other than for storage isn't needed.

 

[bsaride]

I shoot Winchester T22 in my 1929 Winchester M52. I only run a dry patch through it after shooting to remove any unburned powder.

 

[JustsayMo]

I've been shooting the Mountie quite a bit lately. Shot my first 30 (out of 40) in the Cowboy Silhouette match, even managed to go 10 for 10 on the Turkeys!

Its also getting some field time chasing Grouse. Lately it has been pretty slow though - must have killed all the dumb ones already... Still a day in the woods with the Mountie is about as good as it gets.

After the match went over to a friends house and did a little more shooting. Here he is shooting a 12" x 16" gong off hand at 300 yards with a 113 year old Marlin 1893 in 32-40! I couldn't do it offhand but off the sticks it was easy. Gotta love those old Marlins.

 

[Mal H]

That second pic made me laugh out loud, literally!

Frankly, I would worry a little about standing so close to a barrel that was an obvious target for some idiots at that range.

 

[JustsayMo]

Yup, it's a tough range when the targets shoot back...

It sure is a fun game. Where else do you get to seen a dozen or so Marlin 39's (plus a few Henrys, Winchesters and Brownings) in one place? It's amazing how giddy a bunch of grown men and women get when those critters start tipping over.

 

[teetertotter]

I have been without my 39A for 2 weeks. I stopped by the gunsmith who is also one of our club members, yesterday. Bore sighting new 6-20 replacement scope and trigger work to 2 - 2.5lbs. Even though is cold in these parts, we have indoor paper Silhouette at 50ft. Does anyone know what it is like to be without your 2nd best friend for 2 weeks? Gunsmith said he would have my rifle done today or tomorrow. He has been busy with deer rifles and mine is being done in between as told him mine can wait. He will be charging me aligning/bore sighting and trigger work is free. I can't complain. I know he will continue to tell me I should join his Saturday morning, 50yd, bench rest group. With his guilt trip, I probably will in 2010. Who knows, maybe my 39A can be some what competitive. Maybe win a door prize.

 

[JustsayMo]

Teetertotter, We expect a review on your upgrades.

The 39 club matches we held a while back demonstrated what the 39's are capable of in skilled hands, Mal & JohnMcl produced targets most of us would be pleased with out of our bolt guns and absolutely thrilled to post with our leverguns.

Let us know how you do.

 

[teetertotter]

I will surely reply to how I feel about the upgrades. I wish it weren't so cold for sighting in at 40, 60, 77 and 100m. Getting rid of the heavy trigger is the real key to improving accuracy and excited how much it should improve. My follow through is what I have been concentrating on of late. I keep forgetting how important that is. That has been part of my problem too. I have learned a lot this past year and have 1 mentor that does it all from Chickens to high pwr to Trap with state recoginition in all. Yup, I am excited to try out my trigger even though will be indoor at 50 feet for next few months.

 

[twocrows]

Sign me up. I'm the proud owner of a 1968 39A. Leather sling, 4x32 scope. Traded for it in 1970 and love it.

 

[JustsayMo]

Welcome in twocrows! I hope you'll share a few hunts, amazing shots and adventures you've had with the 39. We have almost 100 pages worth of 39 related discussion and I'm guessing we've just scratched the surface.

 

[JustsayMo]

39 Club Members,
If the members of this club could convince Marlin to create the official THR Marlin 39 club rifle, what would it be?

Barrel Length- 16, 20, 24?
Barrel Shape- Round, Octagon?
Stock - Pistol Grip, Straight? Checkered or Smooth?
Sights - Semi Buckhorn, Marbles, Tang or receiver peep site?
Scope Mount Fast Frank Beefy mount, Mal Duct Tape, just drilled and tapped, none?
Color- Case Hardened, Blue, Stainless?

 

[AStone]

Oooh, I like this game.

My vote :

Barrel Length - 16
Barrel Shape - Round
Stock - Pistol Grip - Checkered
Sights - receiver peep site
Scope Mount - drilled and tapped
Color - Case Hardened or Blue (hmm. interesting option case hardened)

Disclaimer: my short barrel bias may not represent best club;
it could be 20", then those of us that wanted to could cut it.

 

[SGW42]

Barrel Length - 24"
Barrel Shape - Octagon
Stock - Crescent butt w/steel plate, pistol grip with the "wavy" grip cap, like I see on some vintage Marlins
Sights - Marbles
Scope Mount - None
Color - Case hardened

 

[bsaride]

Barrel Length- 20
Barrel Shape- Octagon
Stock - Pistol Grip, Smooth
Sights - Receiver peep rear sight, Lyman 17 front sight
Color- Case Hardened

S shaped pistol grip and S shaped steel buttplate
This would match perfectly with my 1908 Marlin 1893 30-30

 

[264killer]

quick & easy stock finish use future floor wax apply & fine steel wool it if u want it shinney dont steel wool the last coat. if u scrach it just touch it up

 

[loquito]

Barrel Length - 18
Shape - Octagon, though I would settle for a round one also.
Stock - straight and smooth
Fore-grip - smooth and slim
sights - Receiver peep
Scope mount Drill and tap
Color - case hardened with blued as a distant second.
True Half Cock
No safety ( ya right , but )
The serial number on the bottom tang.

I wouldn't mind a bag similar to the TDS but without the writing on the bag, or with the writing on the bag being more discreet. That way I can walk to the car without the added "He's caring a gun" attention from the neighbors.

I know I'm not asking for much.

But, if you think about it I am not asking for any more than previous customers got.

 

[AStone]

I'm curious: why do some prefer smooth fore end v checkered?

Not being critical, just curious.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

OK, I'll throw my hat into the Club gun's ring.

Barrel, 20" octagon.
Traditional straight stock, fat forearm, high grade wood, no checkering, crescent butt plate.
Case hardened color action.
Traditional iron sights, but the action drilled & tapped for a scope mounting if desired. Irons must be a quality set of goods, but I'm not picky about who's.
No white line spacers or bull's eye sling swivel points.

900F

 

[seuss]

Does anyone know if the 39D was manufactured in stainless or nickel finish?

 

[JustsayMo]

My 39 Club rifle would be

20 and/or 24" octagon barrel
Case hardened coloring at least on the receiver
Straight stocks with the flutes like my 60's vintage Mounties
Crescent butt plate would be cool
Marbles sights with optional tang sight available
Old style half cock safety
No sling swivels

 

[dfariswheel]

No.
The 39-D was made from 1971 to 1973, long before Marlin ever made any firearm in stainless.
There's no record of Marlin offering the 39-D in any plated finish either.

 

[chuckles]

I like this.
24" barrel
Octagon, Pistol grip, checkered, Marbles Tang peep, D&T only and case hardened.
I'll buy one right now.

ETA Yes on the crescent buttplate also. (Good call Just)

 

[shoot]

Marlin 39 Club Rifle:

Barrel - 22in, Octagon, Ballard rifling
Stock - Pistol grips, Checkered
Receiver - Real (not phony) Case-hardening
Sights - Tang or Peep sight

I wish that Marlin would go back to Ballard rifling so I can shoot lead ammo. It seems like they went to Micro bore in the fifties just to save themselves production costs. I'm really diappointed how my 39A hates lead bullets. In my opinion the factory should disclose that this rifle only shoots copper-jacketed rounds.
I own a 2007 model but aside from the apparent high quality of it, I'm "loosing my religion" over this major shortcoming. Sorry for the negative vibes but I think there has to be a balance to all of the glowing opinions out there.

 

[JustsayMo]

Shoot, I'll give you $100 for that inaccurate lemon right now.

I've owned four 39's, all microgroove. All shoot lead and copper-washed bullets just fine. My favorite ammos for the 39 are lead 40gr solids by Aguila, Federal and RWS. I started shooting more of the copper washed bulk ammo due to the cost - have a hard time paying more than $30/brick for 22 ammo when I can load centerfire cast loads for about the same...

 

[dfariswheel]

In my opinion the factory should disclose that this rifle only shoots copper-jacketed rounds

There are no copper jacketed .22LR bullets. All .22LR bullets are lead. Some have a clear lubricant on them and some use a extremely thin copper or brass plated coating as a lubricant.
The Marlin 39 is famous for outstanding accuracy with Micro-Groove rifling.

I suggest doing what many .22 owners do: Buy a box of every .22 brand and type you can find and shoot each for accuracy.
Once you find one that shoots in your particular rifle, buy a case of it.