10/22 vs. marlin model 60

jrainer · #1 07-07-09, 17:54

Hey I'm looking at picking up a .22 plinking rifle for my sister and I came across a pretty good deal on a used Marlin model 60 with an 18 round tube magazine.I've never shot one before and I was going to get her a 10/22 as that's what I have and grew up using. Wanted to know if there was any signifigant drop off in performance or reliabilty in these two rifles. I can get NIB 10/22 for 210.00 out the door or I can get the marlin for 110.00 out the door which is the better deal?

11Bravo · #2 07-07-09, 18:43

Man, that question is harder to answer than you know.
I have and like/love my 10/22.
Nice piece of machinery there they are.
But I do think/agree that they are overpriced.
The Marlin is a "cheaper" firearm in my opinion but there is nothing wrong with them in my opinion either, if that makes sense.
I would say that the better "deal" would probably be the Marlin. YMMV
If you likely will be shooting with her, I would definitely say get the Marlin and you can swap back and forth till your hearts' content.
And, what since with the way things are going a brick of .22LR will likely cost that $100 difference, at least you could get some lead for them.
If you are willing to part with the extra $100 I don't think you'll go wrong with the Ruger.
If not, I don't really think you'll go wrong with the Marlin either.

Didn't help much, did I?

dhrith · #3 07-07-09, 19:18

Plinking rifle you can put alot of rounds down range quick. Tubular feed gets old real quick for me. Better quality and accessories 10/22. Owned a 60 as a kid but never a 10/22, if i had to do it again i'd probably get the 10/22.

woodandsteel · #4 07-07-09, 19:40

I grew up shooting a Marlin 60. Talk about some good memories. Yes, I am biased towards them.

Although, if I were to buy a new semi-auto .22, I would probably go with the Remington 597. I know that the 597 had some growing pains, but the folks at Remington seemed to have taken care of those.

But, you can't go wrong with the 10/22 either. There are loads of after market accesories.

I can't make up my mind. That is why I don't have one yet.

Sorry, I'm not much help either.

hatt · #5 07-08-09, 00:32

Get the Marlin. I think it's a plus to not have to worry about mags for a .22. Sure you can reload the gun faster at the range but it's much easier to load a tube mag than a 10/22 mag. If you want accessories you have to go with the 10/22.

dookie1481 · #6 07-08-09, 01:10

10/22 is a good rifle, but as you say, it is DRASTICALLY overpriced...our margin on them has increased about 500% in the last year or so. Unless you're stuck on a box mag or aftermarket parts I would say the model 60 is a much much much much better value.

Jay

kaiservontexas · #7 07-08-09, 03:19

I vote 60.

Sam · #8 07-08-09, 06:51

The Marlin 60 is an excellent rifle. It was my first rifle, dad bought it for me for $40 from K-Mart in the late 70s, back then it was sold under the Glenfield division of Marlin. It's reliable and accurate. I gave it back to him years ago so he can dispatch pests in his back yard.

Recently got a 10/22 for around $200. Nice compact rifle, also reliable and accurate. Although the barrel is a little shorter than the Marlin.

Either gun would work well. Under the circumstances you've described, I'd go with the Marlin.

austinN4 · #9 07-08-09, 08:23

The 18-round tube Model 60 is an older variation with a longer barrel. Today they are 14-round. If it is in good shape for $100 I want it if you don't.

My Model 60 was way more accurate out of the box with iron sights than I will ever be capable of. An incredible value for the money.

Yes, changing magazines on a 10/22 is faster, but for those that think loading a tube has to be slow you need to get a Speed-D-Loader: http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0012788222343a.shtml .

The Speed-D carries up to 15 rounds in each of 8 partitions for a total of 120 rounds.

The downside to the Model 60 is very little in the way of aftermarket gear to customize your rifle if that is what you are into. The 10/22 wins hands down on aftermarket parts for customizing.

If you want to research each more closely, I recommend going to Rimfire Central and read the Marlin and Ruger forums:
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums...play.php?f=217
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums...isplay.php?f=9

larry0071 · #10 07-08-09, 08:34

Because of just exactly what you said, aftermarket accessories and options... The 10/22 just has the largest and most varied following of aftermarket in its catagory.

It is also a very nice machine that works well.

I'm going to vote 10/22 because of the endless versatility of the platform.

JHC · #11 07-08-09, 09:01

I would definitely choose the Marlin. I've one 10/22 now and used to have another. Neither especially accurate or impressive in any manner and I don't much care for loading those magazine. I've shot one Marlin 60 and it was a peach. I've a Marlin 39 Century LTD I've had since I was a kid and it was brand new. I much prefer the tube loading on .22s.

austinN4 · #12 07-08-09, 09:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by JHC

I've a Marlin 39 Century LTD...........

Very nice! There is one on GunsAmerica with an asking price of $1,000.

John_Wayne777 · #13 07-08-09, 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrainer

Hey I'm looking at picking up a .22 plinking rifle for my sister and I came across a pretty good deal on a used Marlin model 60 with an 18 round tube magazine.I've never shot one before and I was going to get her a 10/22 as that's what I have and grew up using. Wanted to know if there was any signifigant drop off in performance or reliabilty in these two rifles. I can get NIB 10/22 for 210.00 out the door or I can get the marlin for 110.00 out the door which is the better deal?

When was the Marlin 60 produced? The new ones on the shelves these days are made of a disturbing amount of plastic and they have triggers that are uglier than Whoopie Goldberg tongue kissing Rosie O'Donnel.

Older model 60's are better, in my opinion. If the rifle you're considering has a plastic trigger guard my advice would be to skip it and buy the 10/22. In general I would prefer the 10/22 because you can do literally almost anything to them. The aftermarket for the 10/22 is massive compared to other options out there.

justin_247 · #14 07-08-09, 09:39

I own a Marlin Golden 39, as well, that I inherited and I have nothing but good things to say about it. It's an absolutely fantastic little rifle and loads of fun to shoot.

austinN4 · #15 07-08-09, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_Wayne777

If the rifle you're considering has a plastic trigger guard my advice would be to skip it.............

If you have a Glock or an M&P, or others, you have a plastic trigger guard on it.
Non operational plastic parts don't bother me in the least, but YMMV.

The current Model 60s can be had with either synthetic or wood stocks. I intentionally went with with synthetic.

Current Model 60 models: http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firear...Loading/60.asp

But, as I stated earlier, the 18-round guns like the OP is looking at are older models.

Sam · #16 07-08-09, 11:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_Wayne777

If the rifle you're considering has a plastic trigger guard my advice would be to skip it and buy the 10/22. In general I would prefer the 10/22 because you can do literally almost anything to them. The aftermarket for the 10/22 is massive compared to other options out there.

FYI, the current production 10/22 have plastic trigger housing group.

I do agree with others that the 10/22 have a lot of aftermarket parts available, but does all of that matter for this man's sister. Also the speedy loading issue, I don't think it should be the deciding factor. Just two years ago, while getting back into .22LR, I bought a Mossberg bolt action rifle with a 10 round magazine. I was perfectly happy with that. What did that famous instructor say, "Speed is fine, AccURcy is final".

John_Wayne777 · #17 07-08-09, 11:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by austin12gauge

If you have a Glock or an M&P, or others, you have a plastic trigger guard on it.

I noticed. The internal components, however, are *not* cheap plastic on the Glock or the M&P.

Quote:

Non operational plastic parts don't bother me in the least, but YMMV.

The Marlin 60's I'm talking about have an entirely plastic trigger group....meaning that everything in the fire control group is polymer...and cheap black paint on the receiver that flakes off with the slightest provocation.

Every sample I've tried has a trigger that sucks hosewater. The Marlin 60 that rolls off the assembly line today isn't in the same league as the older guns, in my opinion.

Again, they would not be my choice. Everybody I've seen who has bought one has later wanted something different. Yet I know lots of satisfied 10/22 owners.

hatt · #18 07-08-09, 12:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by justin_247

I own a Marlin Golden 39, as well, that I inherited and I have nothing but good things to say about it. It's an absolutely fantastic little rifle and loads of fun to shoot.

It's really hard to beat a 39 for a .22. They're pretty pricey these days but I guess not bad when you consider all the cheap tacticool .22 autoloaders out there for $500+ and $600+ .22 upper halves. And then the expensive mags.

With a Lyman peep and that long sight radius, it's pretty hard to miss things out to reasonable distances.

austinN4 · #19 07-08-09, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_Wayne777

The Marlin 60's I'm talking about have an entirely plastic trigger group....meaning that everything in the fire control group is polymer...

Really, springs also? Personal preferences are one thing that we all can disagree on, but fact should be fact. You made the claim - prove it.

John_Wayne777 · #20 07-08-09, 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by austin12gauge

Really, springs also? Personal preferences are one thing that we all can disagree on, but fact should be fact. You made the claim - prove it.

I have no idea why you're getting all worked up about this, dude...but I suggest letting it go.

The major pieces of the current production Marlin 60's FCG are plastic. The springs, obviously, are not. The end result is a rifle with a really bad trigger. Guns that are hard to shoot are generally not regarded as much fun by their owners...especially if we're talking a novice shooter.