Marlin 60 .22LR?

MotoSook · 11-22-2010, 05:39 PM

I'm looking for a .22 rifle for pest control on the farm. I like the cylinder magazine, and I hear these are more accurate out of the box than a Ruger 10/22.

I'm not interested in tricking out the rifle, just put a scope on it for varmint eradication.

Is there a better bolt action or lever action in the same price range ($160 or so)?

legion · 11-22-2010, 05:44 PM

For that price, you can also get a decent air rifle....if neighbors are a concern...

Normy · 11-22-2010, 05:45 PM

I have a Marlin 783 chambered in .22 WMR. It was inexpensive, I've had it for 20+ years, and it will knock the biggest raccoon you can find right on its ass. Look around for one of these.

N

jsmithcds · 05:50 PM

I have a marlin model 1894 .22 lever action and like it. Very accurate but it will not shoot mag shells(long). I have to drop in one shell at a time for goose patrol on the pond at 130 yards. Great gun just wish I could run the shells thru with the lever. I use the AR-15 223 when i need the high percentage eradication.

Jeff Higgins · 11-22-2010, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soukus

I'm looking for a .22 rifle for pest control on the farm. I like the cylinder magazine, and I hear these are more accurate out of the box than a Ruger 10/22.

I'm not interested in tricking out the rifle, just put a scope on it for varmint eradication.

Is there a better bolt action or lever action in the same price range ($160 or so)?

Great choice.

You really can't go wrong with either, and accuracy differences probably boil down more to individual examples of each rifle than any significant design features or quality of manufacture. Whichever is available for the best price in your area, or feels best in your hands, will be the way to go.

EarlyPorsche · 11-22-2010, 06:07 PM

I have a marlin 60 and I think it is one of the quintessential .22LR's. It is wildly accurate using just iron sights. It will easily cycle on most .22 ammo available. I only clean mine from time to time and it still works well (usually just cleaned with a good spray down of PB Blaster and letting it sit and then more spray on all the mechanism). Get the Marlin 60 and you won't regret it. Oh and feeding the tube fed magazine is soooo easy.

tswaney · tswaney's Garage

love my mod 60

Red88Carrera · 11-22-2010, 06:31 PM

I had a Marlin 60 for years. I now have a Ruger 10/22. For getting ready quickly to stop a varmint, the 10/22 wins. Unloading is also quicker. Put a cheap 3-9x40 Simmons scope with Weaver mounts from Wally World, and you can really reach out and touch em!

MotoSook · 11-22-2010, 06:34 PM

Neighbors shouldn't mind....there's gun shots every weekend around here. Guys hunting on their land or neighbor's land. Neighbor's kid reported took a 12 point and 8 point from the adjacent property with a bow. And there are hoove prints all around my pond. Might have to get me one soon.

Quote:

For that price, you can also get a decent air rifle....if neighbors are a concern...

MotoSook · 07:19 PM

I've got a .22LR kit for the ARs but I think a dedicated .22 rifle loaded in the barn might be more convenient and accurate (?). Be nice to grab it when I'm working in there early in the morning or at twilight when I see the little fuchers.

"Red" besides the magazine, why else do you prefer the 10/22?

Red88Carrera · 11-22-2010, 06:58 PM

I like having the safety on the front of the trigger guard. I believe it is in back on the Marlin. Also, when the Marlin magazine is empty, if you pull the bolt back, it locks open automatically, and it's a two-handed deal to unlock it. I don't like the fact that it locks automatically every time. I also was never a fan of messing with the business end of the Marlin just to reload. It was a great piece, very accurate, I just like the Ruger features better, and it is just as accurate.

vash · vash's Garage

i had a marlin. not the M60. it had a shorter magazine tube..any idea what model it was? i actually let my brother lose that thing. i have zero idea.

MotoSook · 11-22-2010, 07:13 PM

Thanks Red.

Bud's has a blued Model 60 with a synthetic stock for $159 shipped. A stainless 60 with a birch stock is $201. A stainless 10/20 for $234.

I'm leaning towards the $159 Model 60. I'll have to check the rural Wally World to see if they have a deal on a 10/22. However, I hear the Wally 10/22s are not on par with 10/22s bought at a gun store...just Internet rumor?

Tim Hancock · 11-22-2010, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soukus

I've got a .22LR kit for the ARs but I think a dedicated .22 rifle in the loaded barn in the barn might be more convenient and accurate (?). Be nice to grab it when I'm working in there early in the morning or at twilight when I see the little fuchers.

"Red" besides the magazine, why else do you prefer the 10/22?

I had one as a kid and I bought my daughters mod 60's when they were little. One daughter is still at home and one lives in an apt, so I still have both theirs. One is out in my shop and one is in the house. During daylight hours both are our go-to guns for dispatching varmints (I use a lighted 12 ga pump shotgun at night). I recently checked the "iron" sights on both and put a cheap scope on one just for kicks. When fired from a rested bipod shooting cheap Walmart Federal bulk pack ammo, they both will shoot 1" or less groups at 50 yards and they both were hitting a four inch square steel plate every shot at 100 yards (holding just a few inches high). I have not cleaned them in years and they always eat cheap bulk pack ammo (each have probably had a couple thousand rounds shot through them over the last ten years). When new and tight, they both required a hose down with cleaner or penetrating oil on occasion as the dirty .22lr ammo would cause the action to grit up and fail to function 100% until they wear theirselves in a bit.

Everything I have read says that they are typically a bit more accurate than the baseline 10/22's new out of the box, but either gun will be up to the task of killing varmints.

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

11 million owners can't be wrong.
I'm sure I've had several hundred come through the shop.
Jim

Gretch · 11-23-2010, 03:52 AM

I've an 882. pictured below.

I also have a 10/22 for monk plinking and it is the perfect tool for the job.

The Marlin is bolt action and VERY accurate. it is now wearing a Luepold 2 x 7 x 30. (WMR .22)

futuresoptions · 11-23-2010, 04:01 AM

I think .17hmr would be more "fun" for pest control... but one of these in .22mag would be dreamy... From EAA

MotoSook · 05-17-2011, 08:29 PM

While looking for a good deal on a Marlin 60, I decided I wanted a tube feeder bolt action Marlin 918T or 918TS, but it's NLA. I ultimately bought a Savage Mark II GXP. it came with a cheapo Chinese 4x32 scope on a beautiful walnut stick. I've read good reviews of it so I'm itching to put some lead down the barrel.

It looks and feels like a well built rifle.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

WallyWorld has the 10/22 with Stainless barrel and black composite stock for $239......

MotoSook · 05-17-2011, 08:54 PM

I didn't want a semi-auto, otherwise I might have considered the 10/20 at Dick's Sporting good for $203. The Savage was $170 so I could have a good bolt rifle with a scope. I can put a better scope on it later.

Coincidentally they were having a sale on the Crossman G1 .177 air rifle. I ended up buying that too for the kids. I convinced the guy helping to give me another $10 off so I got it for $89. It's suppose to do 1000-1200 fps. They also had a Gamo big Cat on sale for $139, but it felt cheap compared to the Crossman.