Author Topic: Marlin Model 60 (Read 2148 times)

ABaker · « **on:** September 28, 2005, 06:52:04 PM »

I am looking into buying a .22. I am in the Air Force so I have 2 homes. Arizona and Ohio. I have all of my guns in Ohio at my parents house. I need something here in AZ to play with. In Ohio I have 2 .22's and when I am home I shoot them often. I am looking at the Marlin Model 60. I have seen them for $129 here in town. What is your overall opinion on this gun, and what kind of ammo does it like? Also I would be putting a scope on it, if you have tried this let me know. Thanks for the help.

Keith L · « **Reply #1 on:** September 28, 2005, 10:22:19 PM »

The only gun I have ever truly disliked was a model 60. No matter what ammo I used, or how I cleaned and lubed it, it was a jam o matic. It was fairly accurate, but so unreliable that I wound up giving it away and buying a 10/22. I have several other Marlin guns which I like a lot, but I will never have another Model 60. That was years ago and maybe they have improved since then. Good luck.

moontroll · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2005, 05:12:37 AM »

I'v owned a couple 60's in my life and never had any jamming issues,I think all brands have lemons occasionally.The 60 is kinda heavy compared to other autos ,but I like this it makes it a little more steady.Mine always shot CCI mini mags well,for bulk stuff try CCI blazzers,Winchester Dynapoints and some people like the Federal american eagle(I think federal makes those but not sure).I dont own a 60 anymore went and got the Marlin 7000,if accuracy is your thing thats the gun you want,mine shoots 1/2 inch groups at 60 yards.The 7000 is a light gun compaired to the 60's I'v owned.My 7000 shoots the federal game shoks and Winchester power points.

IntrepidWizard · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2005, 05:21:04 AM »

I too dumped the 60 off to a Son in Law as it jammed to often when shooting mostly Ground Squirrels and I went to a 10-22 and have never been sorry.

Charles/NM · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2005, 04:16:56 AM »

Sorry, double post.

Charles/NM · « **Reply #5 on:** September 30, 2005, 04:23:50 AM »

The model 60 is very accurate and reliable IF you clean the action around every 300 to 500 shots. It's very susceptible to powder residue getting in there and mixing with lubes making a sticky sludge. This rifle needs very little lube, only a trace on the bolt. If you don't mind doing a little maintenance once in a while it's a good gun for you. I have two of them and they are great.
I bought a cheap BSA Classic fixed 4 power by 32 mm scope from Wal Mart and like it a lot after I refocused the front element just a little bit for closer shooting. Actually I've transferred that scope to my Browning BL-22 and currently have a vintage Redfield 4 power scope on my favorite model 60. I tried a 3 to 9 power scope but like the fixed 4 power better on these plinking rifles.

Keith L · « **Reply #6 on:** September 30, 2005, 03:10:33 PM »

Well, Charles, I am quite prepared to take care of my guns, and tried all kinds of care and lube, with no results. It was far easier to rebarrel a 10/22 and do a trigger job to get a tack driver that doesn't need to be fussed with and has a far better trigger than the Marlin. Far as I am concerned the Model 60 is not worth the trouble. If I were to follow your lead I would now call you an insulting name, but that leads no where does it.

ABaker · « **Reply #7 on:** September 30, 2005, 07:25:17 PM »

I decided to go with the Marlin 7000. I am going out to shoot it tomorrow, I will let you guys know what happens.

moontroll · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2005, 09:37:48 PM »

The only problem with the 7000 some people have is the scope walking after a while(the rings slipping backwards on the groves).If this happens youll see shiny places on the groves right in front of the rings.It will seem the scope wont stay set,and you haft to rezero it.The fix if it happens to you is the BKL 257 rings,their airgun rings that have more clamping force,this works for most.Your going to love this gun its a real sleeper.

LDThornton · « **Reply #9 on:** November 05, 2005, 12:16:45 PM »

Ruger 10/22 vs. Marlin model 60: I own two Ruger 10/22's and both have the Hornet trigger group in them that give me about a 2 3/4# trigger pull. Yesterday, I received a brand new Marlin 60SS from a collector that purchased the rifle new in 1993. It is a beautiful stainless with the gray/black laminated stock. The first thing I did was cock the Marlin and squeeze the trigger and was very disappointed with the trigger pull as it was very heavy (probably about a 20# pull on the trigger). I knew the rifle had been test fired in the past but I didn't know how many rounds had been fired thru it. I took the rifle apart and it had a sandy feeling material inside the action. The material was apparently unburned gun powder. After flushing all the internal parts with G96 I reassembled the rifle and re-tested the trigger. It felt like it was about a 5# to 8# trigger so cleaning it definately helped the trigger and I guess I can live with it. I'll have to live with it because nobody makes an after-market trigger group for this rifle. I haven't shot the Marlin yet but I believe I will like it just fine after I put a scope on it and figure out which ammo it likes. At this point I wouldn't say that I could choose which one I preferred because they both have limitations and I also haven't shot the Ruger 10/22T custom that I am building which looks very promising.

TeePee · « **Reply #10 on:** November 05, 2005, 07:37:22 PM »

It is just to bad that MARLIN can't produce millions of model 60s that are all perfect . You know as are all the cars, trucks, tv's, and what ever that are ALL JUST SO PERFECT as are the 10/22 and all other firearms. Gee did I get lucky with my two 60's. Guess MARLIN only made two good ones just for me. Now I'm special !! :shock:

QuailKiller · « **Reply #11 on:** November 06, 2005, 09:48:37 AM »

I love my Marlin Model 60! When a gun is made since 1960 and 11 million have been made, you can't go wrong with it! It has been thought the test of time and passed with an A+

Charles/NM · « **Reply #12 on:** November 07, 2005, 06:25:13 AM »

I shot one of my model 60 rifles yesterday with friends. Have around 700 shots of Winchester Dynapoint ammo thru it with no malfunctions. Lubing the bolt with Tetra gun grease followed by wiping it off like the instructions say is working. The bolt is not getting sluggish with grease/powder residue. I also enjoyed the light crisp 3# trigger. I have also added a trigger stop and a hex head machine screw behind the rear scope mount to keep it from walking off the back of the receiver. You don't need to buy fancy
expensive scope mounts to keep tht scope in place. Some other shooters shot it. All had big grins. It was declared the most accurate rifle at the outing by all who shot it. This Marlin has an old Redfield 4X scope with a fine triplex reticle mounted on it that I have refocused for closer 22lr shooting distance. I originally had it on a Savage 110 .270 deer rifle.
Although, for some odd reason some readers seem to resist the idea, rebending the trigger return spring can cut a Model 60 trigger pull in half. I know, I've done it to several of them. Take the trigger guard out of the rifle and pull the trigger. That pull is added to the resistance of the sear. Duh (sorry, I couldn't help myself). A dab of moly or Tetra grease on the sear will further reduce it. Cutting a coil or two off the hammer spring also helps. All these changes actually resulted in one of my model 60's trigger being too light. I had to add some trigger return spring pull back in so it wouldn't double it from the pressure of my finger on the trigger. So I dont buy the argument that the Model 60 trigger is untunable. And I sure don't want to buy a 10-22 that I have to spend the price of a good gun on to make it shoot.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/CharlesC_1940/Mod60Side.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

LDThornton · « **Reply #13 on:** November 19, 2005, 06:41:43 PM »

Quote from: Charles/NM

I shot one of my model 60 rifles yesterday with friends. Have around 700 shots of Winchester Dynapoint ammo thru it with no malfunctions. Lubing the bolt with Tetra gun grease followed by wiping it off like the instructions say is working. The bolt is not getting sluggish with grease/powder residue. I also enjoyed the light crisp 3# trigger. I have also added a trigger stop and a hex head machine screw behind the rear scope mount to keep it from walking off the back of the receiver. You don't need to buy fancy
expensive scope mounts to keep tht scope in place. Some other shooters shot it. All had big grins. It was declared the most accurate rifle at the outing by all who shot it. This Marlin has an old Redfield 4X scope with a fine triplex reticle mounted on it that I have refocused for closer 22lr shooting distance. I originally had it on a Savage 110 .270 deer rifle.
Although, for some odd reason some readers seem to resist the idea, rebending the trigger return spring can cut a Model 60 trigger pull in half. I know, I've done it to several of them. Take the trigger guard out of the rifle and pull the trigger. That pull is added to the resistance of the sear. Duh (sorry, I couldn't help myself). A dab of moly or Tetra grease on the sear will further reduce it. Cutting a coil or two off the hammer spring also helps. All these changes actually resulted in one of my model 60's trigger being too light. I had to add some trigger return spring pull back in so it wouldn't double it from the pressure of my finger on the trigger. So I dont buy the argument that the Model 60 trigger is untunable. And I sure don't want to buy a 10-22 that I have to spend the price of a good gun on to make it shoot.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b397/CharlesC_1940/Mod60Side.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com">

I bent the trigger return spring and the disconnector spring and now the trigger pull is a little better but not great. Taking a coil out of the hammer spring sounds like it could help also but I hesitate to do so. Don't want it to go on full automatic.
Today I decided to cut one coil out of the hammer spring...still need to test though.

LDThornton · « **Reply #14 on:** December 02, 2005, 03:15:17 PM »

Quote from: TeePee

It is just to bad that MARLIN can't produce millions of model 60s that are all perfect . You know as are all the cars, trucks, tv's, and what ever that are ALL JUST SO PERFECT as are the 10/22 and all other firearms. Gee did I get lucky with my two 60's. Guess MARLIN only made two good ones just for me. Now I'm special !! :shock:

Somebody must have peed in your tee-pee. I was trying to be constructive and objective. Why did my post warrant your sarcasm?

TeePee · « **Reply #15 on:** December 02, 2005, 05:00:16 PM »

LDThornton didn't mean to be to offensive. Just me sometimes. I type out my thoughts as they occur and can tend to become sarcastic. Tee Pee be dry now. :lol:

LDThornton · « **Reply #16 on:** December 02, 2005, 08:21:58 PM »

Quote from: TeePee

LDThornton didn't mean to be to offensive. Just me sometimes. I type out my thoughts as they occur and can tend to become sarcastic. Tee Pee be dry now. :lol:

Ok....I sometimes get defensive. Too many years of working around inmates I guess. Probably why I got fed up and left 8 months ago after 14 years of service. I need to learn to let he water roll off my back. I am sorry also.

Emmett Dunham · « **Reply #17 on:** January 09, 2006, 06:17:09 PM »

Someone gave a Model 60 with a round jammed in the chamber, I took the barrel off the receiver and installed a new barrel. The receiver was full of powder mixed with lube through out the working parts and the round in the chamber was fixed in place by the same mixture. I have fired 250 rounds through the rifle 4 times and have had no jams.

Keep it clean and it will come!

Emmett