981T or 925

[bluebayou]

I am in the mood for a .22.  I know that I want a Marlin.  The 981 appeals to me with the tube magazine.  It holds more and I don't need fast reloads or anything.  I have heard complaints from customers that the 925 magazine has troublesome feeding.  Most say that they cannot touch the magazine or it will misfeed.  My concern with the 981 is that the rifle would be awkward when the magazine is full of 18 rounds.

So any thoughts would be appreciated.  Also can you bed a tube feed action?

[TC Shooter]

I was trying to make the same decision last year. Not sure if  the 981 will be too awkward with a full tube? I used to own a 783 22 mag with a tube and did not recall it feeling much different when it was fully loaded.

 The only feature I did not like when handling the 981 was the plastic stock. The 925s wood stock is not really a thing of beauty either! But the plastic stock just made the 981 seem too light.

I went with the 925 for nostalgia reasons - was very much like the Glenfield I owned as a kid. I have not had feeding problems with it but have not fired it too much. I replaced the stock with a Marlin laminated stock and it looks 100% better! If I chose the 981 I would have replaced the stock on it as well.

I don't like the way the 925's mag protrudes out the bottom of the stock. With the 981 this is not a concern. The 925 is easier to reload from at the bench , just pop out the mag and leave the rifle resting. The 981 requires more work to reload but as you mentioned , with the higher capacity you need to reload less often.

For carrying in the field with the rifle slung over the shoulder the protruding mag of the 925 could be a pain - literally! The 981 with the tube might be better in this case.

Well , hope I helped a little!

[RicMic]

I went with 925 laminated stock because I don't care for tube feeders looks wise.  I have not yet had any feeding problems, even with CB longs.  However, I do have a Mossberg 146B bolt tube feeder (it holds 20 LR's or 30 shorts!) and dynamically can't tell the difference full or empty.  Although my plam gets tired of that "cool" T-handle trying to empty that many rounds.  Anyway, I also thought that the 925 would be more accurate without the tube hanging off the barrel.  Just my 4 half pennies.

[bluebayou]

Well, thanks for the replies.  I'm with you on the cheap looking, flimsy stock on the 981.  Can't anyone make a decent synthetic stock.  I don't want an McMillan, but come on.....

I guess I am leaning toward the tube fed 981 for nostalgia too.  The only gun that we had when I was a kid was a Model 60.  I would rather have a bolt gun though.

I will study on it, thanks again for the input.

[506th]

I've had a 925 for over a year now and I have no problem with the magazines feeding though I've only used two types of ammo. Great gun. But all Marlins are great guns.

[tlightburn]

It handles quite nicely and I have had zero feeding problems, lr, long, shorts all cycle just fine.  I got the laminated stock for the 881 and with some minor fitting it's good to go.



Needs a rear action screw cut to length, the original won't fit and the stock comes without one (has a wood screw in there)



Be careful that the screw doesn't protrude into the action




Dremel work to get the new trigger mech. to fit

[PA-Joe]

The trick with tube mags is to consistently hold the front of the stock at the stock screw so that you do not torque the barrel. With teh marlins it also takes 35-50 rounds to stabilize the barrel for new brands of ammo. You should not clean the barrel thereafter until the groups open up or you change ammo brands.

[bluebayou]

When you say, "consistently hold the front of the stock....." are you talking about when assembling the rifle or when shooting?  Looking at one in the store made me think that bedding might help.

Tlightburn, where did you get that stock?  Very nice, especially comparing it to the Tupperware.

[TC Shooter]

bluebayou - the laminated stocks can be ordered directly from Marlin. You can check their website. Here is my 925 with the laminated stock.

[tlightburn]

Two-tone Brown Laminated Stock for Bolt Action 22’s.
Ready to attach to your barreled action.
Models 880 & 925
Part # 599026 Model:  Models 880 & 925 Models 881 & 983 Models 882,982,25MN,925M
Quantity:  
Price:$77.60

Check out the marlin store, it's the last one on the stock page, pull down menu for other models includes the 881

[PA-Joe]

I was talking about while shooting. The old ones only had one stock screw, the newer ones have two stock screws. With the older ones you had to hold it on the screw when shooting. This way you did not torque the barrel and tube.

[Grizzly_A]

I want a 981T but without the plstic stock.  My father had an old Sears & Roebuck bolt .22 tube feed that he bought as a teen for $20 new.  It's a gem, and shoots really well.

I would suppose that if you got the 981T into a wood or laminate stock that it wouldn't matter where you held it as much because the stock would be stiffer?  If you had 2 action screws to hold it in place, I would guess that it would be pretty secure.

[strut64]

I just got a 925 today and overall I am pleased.  A couple observations.  Shorts would not feed through the clip.  Also they didn't shoot worth a hoot.  I wanted something quiet for stray feral cats which plague the meighborhood.  However, I tried three brands of LR - all standard high velocity 40 Gr solids ( Win, Fed, Rem) and they all shot to about 1 1/2" at 50 Yds.  and to the same point of impact.  I did not spend big bucks for a Match grade, high end rifle and I should not expect to get that sort of performance.  But I got what I needed for the Ground hogs, cats and other vermin around the place.  Next I am going looking for subsonic LR ammo.  The barrel is stamped LR only and it does a pretty good job of it.