What Would You Do With This Marlin/Glenfield Model 60

[DMW1116]

I have a Marlin/Glenfield Model 60 that was given to me by my (now gone) dad when I was about 10. It's been beaten up and treated pretty roughly. When I got into shooting about 6 years ago, I brought it out and tried it. The factory sights were not great, and I couldn't shoot it very well. I found out the rear sight would slide around in the dovetail. I wound up replacing the factory sights with Tech Sights. These sights are great and allowed me to zero the rifle and it would hold zero.

After shooting it a while, I found the taller front sight made a flaw evident. The front sight holes are off to the left. I thought it was just my eyes, but I had to run the rear sight all the way to the left to get zero. After testing last week and shooting some different ammo through it and my Henry H001 I discovered it's not all that accurate. The Henry groups around 1" at 50 yards with ammo it likes. The Marlin is more like 2" or maybe a smidge more. I know I'm comparing a scoped rifle to an iron sighted one, but I can typically hold just over 1" with an iron sighted rifle at 50 yards if the rifle is up to it.

Now for the question. I don't want to get rid of it as it has some history with me and my family. I'm considering re-installing the factory sights and leaving it alone or moving the scope on my Henry over to the Marlin. The scope on the Henry requires a chin weld instead of cheek weld, which gets awkward sometimes. I know how to fix the loose rear sight now, and the front sight is low enough the off-center hole isn't an issue with the shorter sight.

So there it is. I have three choices. Careful readers will notice none of these options will cost more than $10.

Leave it alone and use the crooked Tech-Sights. If I do this, I'd install a dovetail filler.
Re-install and zero the factory sights and shoot it for fun in its original configuration.
Re-install and zero the factory sights and add the scope from the Henry. This seems redundant I know, but if there are iron sights on the gun, I'm going to get them squared away even if I add a scope later.

 

[someguy2800]

I bought a new marlin model 60 and found the front sight was on crooked when I got home.



I replaced it with a williams ramp sight that I had left over from another rifle







I also put a williams WGRS sight on the receiver

 

[troy fairweather]

Give the barrel a good cleaning Marlins usually shoot pretty good. Put on what you like for how you will use the gun.

 

[someguy2800]

I should have know better because Marlin sold me an 1895 with crooked sights before. Funny story, this one also had the front sight cocked to the left so I sent it back. They “repaired” it by turning the barrel a couple degrees, thus making the rear sight and mag tube crooked! No wonder they went out of business.

 

[DMW1116]

That’s unfortunate. If I’d just left the original sights I probably wouldn’t have known it. The Leaning Tower of Piza on the front once I added the Tech Sights was more noticeable and I should have realized it when I had to run the rear nearly all the way left.

I’m leaning toward the restore and scope option. The scope is odd on the Henry. Some more shooting is probably in order before a final decision.

 

[jmorris]

So there it is. I have three choices

There are more than that but it doesn’t really matter to anyone except you or whom ever acquires the rifle down the line.

I know two things, one is any modification removes the rifle away from its original owner and personalizes it for the one who has it now.

The firearms I keep, to keep the memory of others remains as the way they had them, idiosyncrasies included, those are the memories. I can always remember what I like in firearms because I have a lot more of those.

 

[troy fairweather]

Should order a buffer and replace it to.

 

[DMW1116]

There is also that. I need a buffer (spare), recoils spring and guide pin. They current buffer is fine but I hear they can spontaneously disintegrate. The pin bent at some point and I mostly straightened it but there is always a little wonkyness after such things. The recoil spring has a small kink in it.

 

[Mosin77]

It’s a Marlin model 60, they made millions of them so I wouldn’t worry about making improvements to correct a factory flaw. If it were mine I’d either A) get a gunsmith to mount the tech sights foresight so it’s not canted, or B) just take the irons off and mount a scope, depending on if I felt like spending lavishly or not.

 

[jmr40]

Those rifles are typically pretty accurate. Why handicap it, put a scope on and don't worry about the iron sights.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

There is also that. I need a buffer (spare), recoils spring and guide pin. They current buffer is fine but I hear they can spontaneously disintegrate. The pin bent at some point and I mostly straightened it but there is always a little wonkyness after such things. The recoil spring has a small kink in it.

If youre going to go to all that trouble, inspect the feed ramp as well- older M60s have a 2-peice cast ramp which loosens up/ wears and will eventually cause problems. They can sometimes be tightened, but replacement is a pain and the part isn't cheap.

 

[Mike J]

I'd probably just put a scope on it.

 

[tubeshooter]

I usually find that when I have a choice of a few options like this, I have a preferred option deep down. You may also in this case, even if you're not articulating it here.

I guess I base my response on what doing something vs. doing nothing would be. If the Tech Sights shoot okay and you are used to them, you could just go with that.

The original configuration may mean something to you sentimentally. I suspect this is the case, otherwise why include it as a possible option?

If the scope on the Henry caused me to have to hold it in an unusual way, personally that would get old for me real quick. I might move the scope to the Marlin just on that alone. And I am pretty much an iron sight kind of guy with my .22 rifles.


Agree with the good advice to get some spare parts. I really need to do the same. My very first rifle I bought for myself was a 60 and I still have it. They made a gajillion of them and parts should be available for awhile, but I have learned not to take anything much like that for granted with this hobby.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

I’m leaning toward the restore and scope option. The scope is odd on the Henry. Some more shooting is probably in order before a final decision.

I'd vote for the scope route also. Given the cost of ammo, another $100 bucks or so for a basic rimfire scope and dovetail mount doesn't seem as much of an investment as it used to be.

 

[Mk-211]

Tacticool the F out of it!

 

[DMW1116]

Those rifles are typically pretty accurate. Why handicap it, put a scope on and don't worry about the iron sights.

Because the silhouette shooting I use it for requires iron sights. Either the Henry or Marlin will use iron sights for those shoots.

FWIW it’s an early 80s model with 22” barrel and 17 round tube.

 

[doubleh]

If in your shoes I would replace the factory sights and add the scope and also bring the innards back up spec. I wrote this before your last post. I would still do as I suggested and just use the Henry for silhouette shooting. since it will no longer have a scope. I bet both give almost the same accuracy with the same sight system.

 

[Odd Job]

Re-install and zero the factory sights and shoot it for fun in its original configuration.

That's my vote.
It sounds like the rifle doesn't have enough going for it to be anything other than a sentimental piece. I agree with not selling it, best to keep it in the same condition your father used it.

 

[DMW1116]

Well he didn’t technically use it. He got it for me. Then my step brother used it a lot. Rabbits, squirrels, raccoon, etc.

Based on shooting it off and on for a couple years now, it’s limited to about 2” groups at 50 yards in its current form. I’ve not shot it with a scope but a handful of times so I don’t know if it’s capable of more. The Henry can hold 1” at 50 yards with preferred ammo.

If I get time I’ll start the process today. I have to remove the current sights and re-install the factory ones. Then I’ll have to zero them. Following that I’ll install the scope and see how that does for a while. Again it just bothers me to have iron sights on a rifle if I am not sure they’ll actually work, even if there is another primary sighting system.

 

[Howland937]

Scrub the bore, then definitely put the scope on at least long enough to figure out if the rifle will shoot and what it likes best.

Take the scope back off, throw it on a shelf until you need it for something later...If it shoots the way it should (the way most 60's do) replace springs/buffer/etc... and shoot it with open sights. If it doesn't shoot, put the rifle up in its current state for whoever gets it after you.

 

[film495]

I keep anything that I have becuase it is sentimental in as original a condition as possible. I just do the maintenance and fix whatever is broken or not working.

 

[hdbiker]

Clean the action REAL good and enjoy the accuracy

 

[entropy]

Wait for a gun buy back.

A complete rebuild might fix it

 

[243winxb]

early 80s model with 22” barrel and 17 round tube.

Mine came in the door with most parts in a bag. After fixing it, great fun gun.

But every time the barreled action was removed for cleaning, the scope zero changed. Needed sighting in again.

 

[DMW1116]

Ooohhhh. I blamed the scope for that. Well, it’s gone now.