New Marlin Model 60, 50th Anniversary Edition .22

[billt]

I was looking at some of Quinn's Gun Blast videos on You Tube yesterday, and found one on one of the best Marlin Model 60's I've ever seen. It is a limited production, 50th Anniversary Edition.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_XHeDy-DSw

http://www.gunblast.com/Marlin-50thM60.htm

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/SelfLoading/60DLX.asp

I've had a standard, Birch stocked Marlin Model 60 for around 20 years now, and I've always liked the way the gun felt and shot. So I checked Davidson's and they showed 7 of the 50th Anniversary Edition rifles in stock as of yesterday, so I ordered one. This 50th Anniversary Edition Model 60 is the one I've been waiting for. It comes with a Deluxe Walnut stock, a shorter 19" barrel as opposed to the 22" on my standard model, nice checkering, a gold trigger, sling swivel studs, a nice rubber butt plate instead of a cheap plastic one, and a checkered, round, steel bolt handle, and nice thick buck horn open rear sights with a hooded gold dot in front. I'm going to keep it stock with the factory iron sights.

I've always thought the Marlin Model 60 was one of the best .22 auto loaders out there. I even prefer it to the Ruger 10/22 because of it's tubular magazine with increased capacity, (15 as opposed to 10 in the Ruger). This will bring me to a total of 4 Marlin .22 rifles. A Marlin 39-A, a Model 883 in .22 Magnum, and now 2, model 60's. When I retire it will be a nice piece that will get plenty of use because of cheap ammunition, along with a high fun factor. No gun collection can possibly have too many .22's. I'll try and post some pics when I get it, in the mean time the one link I provided from Quinn's website has some really nice pictures of the rifle. If anyone wants one of these I would recommend getting it quickly while they're still avaliable. Anniversary Edition guns always sell out fast and wind up being worth a few bucks more because of the limited number they make. This one is a really good buy.   Bill T.

[billt]

One little trick I've found with the Marlin tubular magazine fed .22's that really makes them work very slick is to every now and then remove the brass tubular magazine follower and clean and polish it with some Flitz Metal Polish and a soft Terrycloth towel. You'll be amazed at how much oxide comes off the brass. If you use a white piece of Terrycloth, it will turn black from all of the tarnish it removes. You'll be left with a bright, shiny, brass tube that looks like a piece of Gold jewelry, and really slides in and out slick as hell. Much easier and nicer than some of the steel tubes on other models, or a tarnished brass one.  Bill T.

[PegLeg45]

I like the Marlin 60 also. Only real disadvantage, compared to the 10/22 is speed of loading and the MArlin internal mechanism is a booger to work on.

I found a like-new Model 60 at an area pawn shop a few years back for $70, due to my b-i-l being good friends with the owner. I like the heavier factory barrel on the 60. It is almost like a 'light' bull barrel on the newer ones.

Yesterday, my youngest son made a deal with his brother's boss to trade one rifle for two. He had a Marlin XL7 bolt action in 7mm-08 that he just bought off a friend for $260. He didn't really need it, but the price was right. My oldest son's boss was looking for a rifle in that particular caliber and offered to trade an older (but in good shape) Savage 110 in .270 and a Marlin 60SB stainless that was new (only one brick of ammo through it). My boy made the trade, and I must say, the stainless 60SB is one nice looking rifle (and heavy too).

[billt]

Peg,

You brought up a good point I forgot to mention about the Model 60, and most Marlin .22's. That is the heavy barrel they all come with. This is something I hope Marlin never goes away from. I like a heavier .22. For me they seem to point and aim easier, and more steadily. As for the Micro Groove rifling, I can't say it's of any advantage or disadvantage. I do think it stays a little cleaner because it upsets the bullets less to pass through it, which IMO equates to slightly less leading and dirt transfer to the barrel. I base this on tons of ammo downrange to every cleaning. I never use a brush on my .22 rifles. Just a patch soaked with Hoppe's #9, followed by a dry one, then I repeat the process until they come out clean. After that I put one oil soaked patch down the bore and call it a day. Been working for 40+ years so I see no need to change. Now you're making me want a Stainless Steel one too! Bill T.

[fightingquaker13]

Quick trick with tube fed .22s. Get a narrow piece of aluminum conduit of the approriate size (I forget the diameter, but its pretty obvious). Crimp one end shut. Drill a hole near the top of the other for a (prefferably) brass cotter in. Voila! Instant speed loader. I had a couple of these for my nylon 66 and they worked beautifully and took 2 minutes to make.
FQ13

[Sponsor]

[PegLeg45]

Quick trick with tube fed .22s. Get a narrow piece of aluminum conduit of the approriate size (I forget the diameter, but its pretty obvious). Crimp one end shut. Drill a hole near the top of the other for a (prefferably) brass cotter in. Voila! Instant speed loader. I had a couple of these for my nylon 66 and they worked beautifully and took 2 minutes to make.
FQ13

Good idea, FQ.
Now I got to go to Lowes.   

I wonder if rigid plastic tubing would work?

[billt]

Quick trick with tube fed .22s. Get a narrow piece of aluminum conduit of the approriate size (I forget the diameter, but its pretty obvious). Crimp one end shut. Drill a hole near the top of the other for a (prefferably) brass cotter in. Voila! Instant speed loader. I had a couple of these for my nylon 66 and they worked beautifully and took 2 minutes to make.
FQ13

Another thing you can use are primer feed tubes from the older MEC Shotshell reloaders. They are even flared at one end with cotter pins at both ends. I fill them before heading out to the range. When ready I just remove the tube follower, place the flared end over the magazine tube, pull the pin and let 'em slide on in. You can get 30+ in one tube, enough for a couple of refills. If you can find the tubing size like you mentioned they are easy enough to make. It's nothing to drill through both ends with a small dia. drill for a couple of cotter pins. If you can find larger tubing sizes you can make them for the larger caliber Henry's as well. Their tubes slide out like .22 tubular magazines do.  Bill T.

[billt]

Another good thing to do with tube fed .22's I forgot to mention is to use a .35 caliber rifle mop to clean the inside of the tube itself. A lot of crap accumulates in them. I clean them with patches just like a rifle barrel, than after they are clean and dry run an oiled mop down them. Works like a champ.   Bill T.

[billt]

I wonder if rigid plastic tubing would work?

A guy at my gun club uses clear neoprene tubing. The kind they use in fish aquariums. He comes with a bunch of it coiled up over his shoulder, plenty of kids and .22's. He has a full time job trying to keep everyone loaded up! I can't say for sure how well it works, but it seems to work OK from as much as I've watched him. The only drawback I've noticed is you have to have the tubing straight or else the cartridges hang up. I'm thinking of trying one of these:

http://www.cabelas.com/fryprod-0/product--Spee-D-Loader--740381.uts.shtml

[GASPASSERDELUXE]

Use one on my nylon 66. Works like a champ.