Marlin used to make quality guns.

[STUMPJMPR]

I have been in the market for a new .22 for a few weeks now.  I decided to go to academy to pick up a marlin this weekend.  Well I get there and I look at 3 different marlin 795's and 60's.  Everyone of them had an extremely crooked rear sight.  I wouldn't buy one because of this.  I plan on scoping it, but this is garbage.

[Squib]

define crooked    put on wrong, bent, misadjusted?

[PowPow]

So, did you look at a Savage?

[hoosierdome]

Marlin's coming out with a new .22lr with an adjustable trigger. I'm in the market for a new .22 myself. Its down to a Savage or CZ.

[STUMPJMPR]

define crooked    put on wrong, bent, misadjusted?

I believe the rear sight is manufactured crooked.  It was angled away from center line by about 10 degrees.  I believe the dove tail it slid into was cut square to the bore.

[PowPow]

does it have a windage adjustment screw, or do you just lick you finger and bend it like Jed Clampett?

[Squib]

whether it's way off or just a t-i-n-y bit, you might be able to compensate by adding a cheek pad.

[STUMPJMPR]

does it have a windage adjustment screw, or do you just lick you finger and bend it like Jed Clampett?

It's one of the old style sites that you drift left to right with a punch and had notched ram for elevation.  However, the rear of the site is so crooked it would be out of the dove tail when you finallly got it on target.  The back portion of the sight was almost 1/4" off center.

whether it's way off or just a t-i-n-y bit, you might be able to compensate by adding a cheek pad.

No sense in compensating.  I wouldn't by it because of this flaw.  I don't plan on using Iron sights, but it was an eye sore and made me question everything else about them.  I have aspare 10/22 action and have decided to just order a barrel and stock.

[Squib]

do tell the details.... spiral fluted heavy barrel and turkish walnut?

[Lon371]

 I am afraid a lot of things in the world are going to this type of quality. You would think with all the competition out there companies would try to insure quality products. I think a lot of companies are just getting to comfortable with their profits. Not really concerned if they grow.

Lonny

[semperfi1970]

Stumpjmpr, go buy the new junk one in stainless and I will trade you for the old glennwood 60 boat oar. Its old so its gotta be good. Or you can just buy a Ruger 10/22 and be a very happy camper.

[bagdadjoe]

I'd go with the CZ if it were only between Marlin and CZ.  Is it worth the extra? Well, pick up a CZ and then pick up a Marlin.  I like Marlin and Savage, but if you look at a new Savage notice how you can see daylight between the boltface and the breech.  I looked at all of them.  The CZ feels (and shoots) like a real rifle, not a plinker and the wood is usually outstanding. Not much outstanding laminated wood in my opinion.  I'd go with a 452 Varmint.  Marlin and Savage are building what's bottom line instead of what's a solid build.  They are a lot more money than what they "feel" like they ought to be.   

[NickSS]

I have owned a few Marlin 22s and still have one of their lever actions but when you are talking quality at a reasonable price the CZ is hard to beat.  I bought a CZ 453 Varminter and fell in love with it.  I have added a 452 Lux and a 452 Scout since then and all three of them are outstandingly accurate.  And I mean 3 to 4 inch groups at 300 yards through all three of them.  The only 22 rifle that can even come close to shooting with them are Anshutz and Kimbers that cost a lot more.  The only issue with the 452 models is that they come with a creepy trigger (not unlike most other brands).  However, I bought new sears from Rim fire technologies and installed them and now I got a nice crisp 1.5 pound pull in both my 452s.  My Scout is my favorite 22 rifle and it goes everywhere with me.  As it is a kids sized gun, I had to put a slip on limbsaver butt pad to give me an inch more length of pull but that little carbine shoots as good or better than my Kimber target rifle all the way out to 200 yards.

[cwlongshot]

I'd go with the CZ if it were only between Marlin and CZ.  Is it worth the extra? Well, pick up a CZ and then pick up a Marlin.  I like Marlin and Savage, but if you look at a new Savage notice how you can see daylight between the boltface and the breech.  I looked at all of them.  The CZ feels (and shoots) like a real rifle, not a plinker and the wood is usually outstanding. Not much outstanding laminated wood in my opinion.  I'd go with a 452 Varmint.  Marlin and Savage are building what's bottom line instead of what's a solid build.  They are a lot more money than what they "feel" like they ought to be.   

Like Nick and Joe above I quoted I too suggest you look at CZ.

I have a very nice 452 Special with the really long 28" barrel and this thing is unbelievably accurate. Its a GREAT peep site gun. But really began to shine when I stuck my big air gun 6x18 Bushnell Trophy air gun scope on it!!  I had to look far and wide for a set of rings tall enough. But surprisingly the euro stock allowed for good cheek weld with only a bit of creeping. The lack of recoil in a 22 so there is no worry of ballistic eyebrow. 

If your dead set on a Marlin, I also really like my first production run SQUIRREL. Being in CT, I took it back to the factory and bought the nicest walnut stock they had for a std bolt 22 and opened the barrel channel up for the nearly 1" barrel and glass bed the front of the receiver and the barrel. Like you do with a 10/22. I then gave it a trigger job, drilled and tapped for real scope bases and mounted a Simmons AETC A/O scope that I had. This is now also finely accurate, good looking little rifle. It shoots Remington Cyclones into tiny little groups.

CW

[PowPow]

All you CZ guys:
I like my CZ too, but this post started because Stump was looking for a throw-in-the-truck 22 auto.
Say you got the itch to come home with a new 22 (not used) and a budget of $ 150 that could stretch to $ 200.
What do you come home with?

[SM Bob]

All you CZ guys:
I like my CZ too, but this post started because Stump was looking for a throw-in-the-truck 22 auto.
Say you got the itch to come home with a new 22 (not used) and a budget of $ 150 that could stretch to $ 200.
What do you come home with?

I have been hearing some good things about the 702 Mossbergs. $147 shipped from Buds.

 Robert



http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_758/products_id/15407                                         

[cwlongshot]

Why limit to new only??? I have bought and sold too many firearms to list and I can accurately say about 1percent was brandy new!! Of all those one or two have been problem guns!!!  People don't usually sell them all wore out like a old cheby. They sell them to get something newer or better or the perceived latest and greatest.

Buying used really streacher you hard earned dollar! Something all of us can use in there 4$ a gallon gasoline days!!

If a semi I would look to a used 10/22 or Marlin M60

[1911crazy]

Semi-auto 22 rifle??  My choice i a Ruger 10/22 its a great rifle in its orginal form but there are so many accessories if you want that special look and performance too.

[troglodyte]

I have been in the market for a new .22 for a few weeks now.  I decided to go to academy to pick up a marlin this weekend.  Well I get there and I look at 3 different marlin 795's and 60's.  Everyone of them had an extremely crooked rear sight.  I wouldn't buy one because of this.  I plan on scoping it, but this is garbage.

I went by Academy a few weeks ago and the display and two cut-the-tape-to-open-them new boxes had the same problem.  Academy said they would send them back. 

Went by today to see if they had gotten any new stock in.  Display looked to be the same.  Another NIB had same problem.

I'd love to buy one.  The price can't be beat (especially with the rebate) and I used to have a 60 that ran great but I guess I'll look to another manufacturer.

I did write to Marlin about three weeks ago......have not heard back.  Anybody know of an email address?  They don't have one on the website.

[jakeemt]

I dunno man a marlin 60 is a hard rifle top beat for the money. For 150 bucks (and a lot of time much less if u hit the flea market) u get a pretty accurate rifle that holds 15 or so rounds,feeds even when dirty, and you'll never cry when u scratch it. If you wear it out just get another one. Can't go wrong with a 10-22 either same reasons as above. Bet you good money that you could find plenty of 10-22 with factor defects aswell. Bought a little savage that wouldn't extract rounds. Easy fix (little metal band on the bolt) but I'd still buy another. That's just mass production man.

[Kirkned]

I own several Marlins 22 and 22 mags all are very nice rifles for the price.  I do not know about the new ones. 

As for me i'll keep shoot what I have and will pass them on when I am gone.  They should last a good long time if their taken care of. 

[Dalgo]

Have you seen the prices people are asking (and getting!!) for used Marlins right now? Crazy! Go on Gunbroker or Marlinowners.com and see. Especially the Marlin 39s. Tells you what is happening ever since Remington took over Marlin, and moved them to New York.  Quality has gone down the tubes.  I have a Marlin .45-70 of the early 2000's and the quality (and accuracy) is superb.  I have seen many recent examples of Marlin rimfires and big bores, coming out of the Remington plant that are just pitifull. Crooked sights are just the beginning, and most obvious, of the problems.  It's just a shame what Remington has done to the wonderful Marlin brand.  They trashed it. My choice:  I just got a Savage Mk II BTV (bolt action heavy barreled laminated thumbhole stock). Wow! Talk about quality.  Superb! Shot less than 100 rnds so far. Accuracy? With Win. T22 Target, I've gotten less than 3/4 inch groups at 50 yds.  With Wolf Match Extra ammo, 1/4 inch at 50 yds! New rifle. Not broken in yet. Quality? Oh my, yes! It is really put together well. Savage has my vote in bolt action .22s for sure! In autos, It's tough to beat Ruger 10/.22s for price and reasonable accuracy.  I sure would stay away from Marlins, though, until Remington wakes up, and decides that making a poor quality product in order to make a quick buck is not where it's at.  The buying public will not tolerate crap workmanship. There are other quality options out there!

[JPShelton]

"Marlin" or at least Remington's Mayfield, KY plant that is making "Marlins," appearantly can STILL make a quality gun, if my XT-22 is any barometer.
 
The build on the rifle is flawless.  Very precise wood to metal fit.  Very "Remington-like" polish and blue.  Sights correctly installed and rear sight dovetail correctly cut.  Scope base holes correctly drilled and tapped.....Yada, yada, yada.....
 
The action feels...... well, it feels precise in the same way that an Anschutz M-54 does.  And the trigger is crisp and creep free and its adjustable. 
 
Best of all...  Bulk-pack Winchester X-pert 36 gr. hp's well under 1/2" at 50 yards.
 
I've had a Browning A-Bolt .22, a Remington 541-T, and a CZ model 452-2E and this new Marlin is everthing I wanted the others to be, accuracy-wise.
 
JP