"Guns of the Old West" mag review of the new Marlin 39A

[guzzijohn]

First magazine review I have seen on the 39A since Remington bought Marlin out. Overall it was a fairly positive review (I guess one should not expect otherwise from a magazine). I was not impressed with the accuracy results but then they were shooting over open sites (1 1/4-1 1/2 groups at 25 yards). The other thing that really got my attention was that the trigger pull measured 8lbs.! My 39A was manufactured in 1976 and I bought it new in 1977 and has a Weaver K-4 mounted on it. While doing some cleaning up in the basement I came across some old targets I had shot back in the 80s. One target was from 50 yards bench rest using both CCI Stingers and Federal HV. Outside of the Stingers hitting about and inch higher both five shot groups were right at 5/8 of an inch. Hard to beat that with a lever action.
GuzziJohn

[.22-5-40]

Yup, those older guns have the new one beat for fit & finish..and accuracy..Heck, I have an original Marlin 1892 pistol gripped, .22 L.R. that can do alot better than 1 1/4" at 25yds. with its non-adjustable open V rear & tired 120 year bore!

[Tom C.]

My 39A was my first gun when I got it new in 1963. I put a Redfield receiver sight on it and it shot well. I put so many rounds through it as a teenager that the accuracy fell off. When I got a ’69 vintage 39A Mountie a few years ago I mounted a Williams Foolproof receiver sight on it and shot it against my old 39A. The Mountie was much more accurate. That got me to finally get around to sending the 39A into Marlin and having them rebarrel it. Accuracy is now fully restored. Fortunately I did this prior to the company being moved to NY. Hopefully as things get shaken out, the QA will improve and the new guns will be as good as the older ones.

[Keith L]

Ias at a Cabelas store a few days ago and looked at 11 new Marlins.  While unable to shoot them fit and finish were as good as found on my older Marlins.  I hope that is the case now, and not the exception.  They had no 39s.