Author Topic: marlin model 60 advice needed (Read 2959 times)

glock fan · « **on:** August 11, 2004, 12:25:19 PM »

Hi,
New to the forum. This looks like the perfect place to get info. on Marlin 22LRs. Academy has the model 60 on sale for $98 right now. Has a nice Monte Carlo stock on it. Has the tube feed magazine. Looks good. Looks like a good buy but how is the accuracy on these puppies? I know Marlin has a good reputation but I'm not familiar with how well their model 60s shoot. Any advice or comments, particularly from those that have one or have shot one is appreciated. TIA!

glock fan · « **Reply #1 on:** August 13, 2004, 04:23:51 AM »

Well, I thought this would be a good place to get comments on the Marlin model 60 but I guess I was wrong.

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #2 on:** August 13, 2004, 04:29:11 AM »

Hi there! Welcome to Graybeard. I own a Marlin (Glenfield) Model 75 (which is similar to your Model 60). Can't say as I have checked accuracy, but as far as I know, it's a great gun to own and I say go for it. The only thing I warn you is be careful not to damage the gun in anyway. Parts are very hard to find nowadays. Had my 75 in the shop for almost 2 months b/c of one little part that fell out of the trigger assembly. Hope I could help.

Nightrain52 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 13, 2004, 05:02:52 AM »

I saw your post the other day but was kinda waiting to weigh in. I can only say that over the years I have owned several model 60's or it's variations [glenfield] and they have always been reliable and accurate. I have also heard a lot of complaints from a lot of others that are having a lot of trouble with them. In my experience the 60's action must be kept very clean and very lightly oiled. The easiest way I have found to do this is to remove the action from the stock and flush out the action with aerosol gun scrubber or brake parts cleaner. Don't get this stuff on the stock or plastics because it will eat it away. This should also be done outside in good ventilation. I clean out the action every 500 to 750 rds. When oiling do so very sparingly. Oil+gunpowder residue=sticky gunk that can foul the action. In my opinion for the money they are hard to beat. You may have to try many brands of ammo to find which ones shoot the best in yours.

Nightrain52 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2004, 04:21:42 PM »

By the way. I forgot to say welcome to Greybeards Glock fan. Look the sites over and enjoy.

cbagman · « **Reply #5 on:** August 13, 2004, 04:34:03 PM »

:-D Howdy.. I have owned several of these and usually the accuracy is adequate for plinking and close squirrel hunting, but after a few years they get to jamming a lot and like the man said they need to be cleaned thoroughly. None of them had any good trigger pulls..I would prefer the model 80 Bolt action for reliability..Actually, I sold all I had and shoot Marlin 39 lever actions and Ruger 10/22's now. cbagman

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2004, 04:39:20 PM »

bagman, you lucky somethin or other. Here in PA, we can't use autoloading .22's for hunting. Don't ask why...but we can't :cry: Oh well...a 12 ga. works just as well on squirrel :twisted:

glock fan · « **Reply #7 on:** August 13, 2004, 06:41:08 PM »

Thanks for your replies. I appreciate the advice. I currently have a Romanian 22 military trainer and like it very much. I thought I might go for a marlin semi-auto this time but your responses seem 50/50 as far as good vs bad . I guess I'll go for another Rom 22 trainer. The one I have is very accurate & reliable. However after shipping & transfer fees it will cost about as much as the marlin 60 (approx. $100). So I thought why not go for a marlin 60 in semi-auto. However, I do want something pretty accurate & reliable. I may be unreasonable in my pursuit but I know the Rom will fill the bill but it is bolt action vs semi-auto. Thanks again for all your input.

Oquirrh · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2004, 04:03:31 PM »

I've got a Mod. 60 very old. and a mod. 75, a little older.
With a minimal cleaning [spray with brake cleaner] after about every 500 rounds and a dry lube. they both function as well as my Rom 69, which will choke on the last case every so often. (BTW, if you don't clean the rom as often, it'll stop feedin')

And yes, they have lousy triggers, but the Rom's trigger ain't the best either.

Parts aren't hard to find for the newer ones.

At the price you quote for new a Mod. 60, you ain't going to do any better.

BamBams · « **Reply #9 on:** August 15, 2004, 09:45:54 PM »

I've got an old Glenfield/Marlin 60. What everyone has said is correct so far. I use Remington dry spray lube on the action. I LOVE that rifle. You paid a fair price for it if it's in good condition. That is about what a used model 60 is going for these days.

glock fan · « **Reply #10 on:** August 16, 2004, 02:47:39 AM »

Well, I decided to get the Marlin 60 after all. For $100 its hard to go wrong. It looks nicer than the Rom military trainer. Its new vs milsurp. Its semi-auto vs bolt. Should be a great plinkin' gun. I like to plink every now & then. So I'd say it'll be a good match. I really appreciate the responses and thanks for the warm welcome to the forum.

Nightrain52 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 16, 2004, 04:02:24 AM »

glock fan-I don't think you will be disapointed. Actually the accuracy of some of these rifles is plenty good enough to plink and small game hunt. Just be sure to try several different brands of ammo to see what it prefers. I love to take my 60 out to the range with a box of Remington bulk ammo and shoot the whole box.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2004, 02:37:03 PM »

I bought 2 used Models 60's that were stored for about 15 years, each with a cheap scope and the inspection stickers still on them. I replaced one cheap scope with a much better 4x and returned to other Model 60 to iron sights. They are great, reliable accurate semi-autos. I also have a 10-22 but the Model 60 gets the nod when a pesky squirrel trys to rob my wifes bird feeders. Head shots all and 250+ and counting. The Model 60 is great!!! I would like to replce it with a single shot H&R Sportstar in .22 LR add a scope and shoot Colibris out of it (for the squirrels) because it would be much simpler to load the single shot the the auto one at a time but I own the 60 and it works so it is what I use. It is a great, inexpensive semi auto....<><.... :grin:

glock fan · « **Reply #13 on:** September 29, 2004, 06:45:12 PM »

msp ret,

If you decide to sell your model 60, let me know. I'm sold now. I took my new model 60 to the range three times this week and it is very accurate. Put a Tasco red dot scope on it and @ 50 yds. it produces ragged holes. I plan to get a second one in the near future. It even outshot my Rom M69s and I thought they were pretty accurate. Plus semi-auto is a lot of fun. Thanks for everyone's advice. I'm very happy with my new .22lr.

Nightrain52 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 30, 2004, 06:31:48 PM »

Good to hear you are happy with the 60. It seems like you either love'm or hate'm. The ones I have owned were good rifles and they were all accurate enough for small game and plinking.

Charles/NM · « **Reply #15 on:** October 03, 2004, 06:48:10 PM »

Don't be fooled by the cheap price of the model 60 Marlin. I've found their accuracy to be good enough to win smallbore silhouette class B and outright wins in hunter shilhouette on the larger animals. If you know what you are doing it's easy to get a crisp, reliable and safe 1 1/2# to 2# trigger pull. I set my three model 60's at 2#.

theguyfromplt · « **Reply #16 on:** December 28, 2009, 07:10:57 AM »

Quote from: Nightrain52 on August 13, 2004, 05:02:52 AM

...I have also heard a lot of complaints from a lot of others that are having a lot of trouble with them. In my experience the 60's action must be kept very clean and very lightly oiled. The easiest way I have found to do this is to remove the action from the stock and flush out the action with aerosol gun scrubber or brake parts cleaner. Don't get this stuff on the stock or plastics because it will eat it away.

I would like to add something that I learned from my Grandfather. In the Korean Conflict the Army was having trouble with lubrication due to the extreme cold. On just about any (and maybe ALL) semi-auto .22's, you can use a graphite #2 pencil on all the metal to metal surfaces. I have found this works great! It doesn't reduce the amount of crud blown back into the receiver, but it DOES keep it from sticking into the mating surfaces which allows for a little less frequent tear-down to clean it. I use carb cleaner to get any oil out of mine, again - avoid getting it on plastic (like the trigger guard or the plastic buffer in the action).

slim rem 7 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 29, 2009, 12:09:44 AM »

ive got a marlin 60 ,with 4-12 scope on it ..with velocitors it as accurate as my cz452..
best backyard predator hunter i have..it will dot an eye.. slim

Buckhammer74 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 02, 2010, 04:44:37 PM »

CharlesNM

Could you give some info on trigger work for the 60?

LaDano · « **Reply #19 on:** January 14, 2010, 03:37:27 PM »

I would like to know about the trigger work also. My 60 shoots great, except the trigger.

Guy Pike · « **Reply #20 on:** January 15, 2010, 01:28:58 AM »

I spent $1000 to get my 10/22 to shoot as well as my Model 60. I sold my 10/22 and got my money back so I was very lucky. Castbullets.com has a very good tutorial on the Model 60.

Redneck Kyle · « **Reply #21 on:** April 16, 2010, 05:32:37 PM »

i got a model 60 and i love it its front sight is messed( dangt walmart) up so i have to aim off alot but its keeps good groupings at 50 meters. Its extremly relible, iv fired 500 rounds through it in one sitting and it failed to feed twice. so thats good by my standers. You can fire the most corrosive piece of crap ammo with no problem.

slim rem 7 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 17, 2010, 01:06:19 AM »

im gonna add something ,i didn t see mentioned..its excellent for home protection..
i keep a shot gun set up with num 2 steel shot.. but the wifes doesn t like it an shes just as well protected with the 60..i use high velocity cci[its clean] hollow pts in mine.... handles easy , an if you need it you have rifle accuracy..
now i admit i prefer the older 18 shot 60 for this ,,but the 14 shot magazine would get the job done ..good luck slim..
ps.. i use one set up with rnd in the chamber.. also for this rifle ,,a scope is just in the way on the one i have set up for home protection..all shes got to do is use the right index finger to push the safety off an shes got plenty of firepower to stop mr. bg ..she just plans to open up on him until all aggession is stopped ..pity da fool..

Siskiyou · « **Reply #23 on:** April 17, 2010, 09:31:50 AM »

Last fall a Western Auto Revelation 120 which is a Marlin Model 60 came my way. It had a small .22 scope on it what I found unsatisfactory for my old eyes, and I could not adjust it.

A friend has three or four Marlin Model 60 and side by side the action is the same as the Model 120. He likes his rifles. But for real accuracy he has a Ruger 10-22 with a heavy barrel, custom stock, and a good scope. I cannot compare the rifles because of the upgrades. He has many more dollars in the Ruger.

I went on line and found the manual for the Marlin 60, and followed the recommendation for cleaning. The original owner must not have believed in cleaning. The inside of the receiver was coated with hard, black gunk. In all my years I have never clean so much gunk out of a firearm. I gave it a good cleaning and lubed with Break-Free.

At the range performance was hindered by the scope, the caps were already missing and I blame myself for not replacing the scope before going to the range. I had grabbed the rifle as time filler. The primary object was to shoot a 270 and then let the barrel cool. While the barrel cooled I tried out the 22.

The 22 shot about 6 inches high and 3 to right at 50 yards and I could not adjust the scope to move the point of impact. I have since replaced the scope but I have not been back to the range. The only way I was able to move the point of impact was Kentucky windage.

I fired a few box of old Blazer 22 LR I had on hand. It was a little strange, now that I have lost my hearing I was wearing double hearing protect, foam plugs and muffs. I could hear the action function but the muzzle blast was shut out. The rifle functioned without any hang-ups to the point that I kind of like it.

I did not try the iron sights. The back sight has a very fine groove.

When I returned home I pulled the trigger group and checked out the receiver as I had when I received the rifle. There was only a couple of powder flakes in there. This indicates the rifle went thousands of rounds without cleaning. Most likely this rifles dates back to the days when shooters used 3 and one oil to lube their firearms. Marlin recommends cleaning the action approximately every 250 rounds.
http://www.marlinfirearms.com/pdfs/manuals/MFC_Self_Load_RF_Tube.pdf

I pulled the scope that came on it off the rifle, if I did not toss it in the garbage I will. I installed a one inch tube, 4x scope that came on my 30-30 Marlin years ago. I used the Lazier bore sighter and I am ready for a trip to the range.

Because of the scope issue it is hard to issue a final judgment regarding accuracy; I hope for an improvement. When I was at the range the accuracy was not on the par of Savage bolt action I had at one time or the .22 bolt action my wife bought me for Christmas 42 years ago. Nothing like an accurate .22 to get kids excited and interested in shooting.

saddlebum · « **Reply #24 on:** April 17, 2010, 09:58:38 AM »

Sorry for the slow response, 5.5 years late! I bought a M60 years ago for 60.00 new. I never did put a scope on it. It was responsible for filling the freezer with cottontails every winter I had it. We only do head shots on rabbits. We don't like to waste meat. As mentioned above you have to keep it clean or it will stop going to battery without help. I taught my stepson to shoot with it. He got to where he would fill his bag limit of 10 a day with no problem. I liked the gun and when I sold it I got the same price I paid for it. CCI mini-mag HPs were most accurate in it and do a great job for hunting. I suspect Federal HPs at Wal-Mart by the brick will do just as good. The original poster has been enjoying his M60 for years now but maybe some one else will benefit from this, maybe.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #25 on:** April 17, 2010, 10:43:46 AM »

I missed the date on the orginal post, shows how some subject are timeless.

saddlebum · « **Reply #26 on:** April 17, 2010, 02:19:51 PM »

Me too! I passed it by once and then came back, clicked on it and saw his feelings were hurt cause nobody answered him. So I posted before I noticed the date. Oh well *&^%$#@

Siskiyou · « **Reply #27 on:** April 17, 2010, 07:42:04 PM »

Must have hurt his feeling real bad, because he last posted December 26, 2007.