Savage or Marlin?

[Ky Headhunter]

Hello everyone, new to the forum.

In the market for a new .22 lr... have been researching for several weeks now & have narrowed down to these three:

Savage Mk II
Marlin 925
Marlin 60

Have very slight leanings toward a bolt action (generally speaking, less problems with feeding rounds), but the Marlin 60 has a pile of good reviews out there, I love it's look, and I put several hundred rounds through a buddies with no jams- so it's still in the mix.

My three main criteria are, in order of preference:

reliability
out-of-the-box accuracy
ease of maintenance

I'm pretty good about keeping my firearms clean, but I don't baby them during use. Have no use for a weapon I'd be afraid to "drag through the bushes". It'll be used for small game hunting & target shooting (informal).

Interested in all feedback, but especially from those who have experience with at least two of those models & can better compare/contrast them vs. my criteria.

Thanks,

Greg Baker

[EVOC ONE]

Hello and Welcome   

I'm a bit partial to the Marlins for no other reason that they just suit me fine.

The Mod 60 has a reputation for superb accuracy.  Some report them to be a bit temperamental with ammo choice.  I've not found that to be typical.  As with most semi auto's there is a need to keep them clean.  Many of the used 60's I've acquired were improperly maintained or had worn parts (mostly the recoil buffer, firing pin and/or recoil spring.  All of which are easily replaced) which led to malfunctions.

Marlins bolt guns also have an excellent reputation for accuracy and durability. They can have heavy triggers.  This is easily remedied on the older guns with a bit of minor tinkering.  The new rifles have a revamped trigger, which is an improvement over the older version.  There are also aftermarket trigger systems available.  They are a solid rifle. 

Even on the Model 60 maintenance is a simple process.  Marlin used to include instructions that provided step by step procedures for dis-assembly.  This is a very simple process.  I mentioned "used to" because its been a long time since I've bought a new Model 60 and do not know if the dis-assembly instructions are still included.  However, they can be found from the Internet.

The bolt actions are pretty straight forward regarding maintenance.

Maintain each as instructed in the owners manual and you should have no problem putting them through the paces.

I believe that some of the newer bolt actions are drilled and tapped for scope mounts as well as still having the 3/8" dovetail rib.  The Model 60, with its aluminum receiver has just a rib.

My suggestion would be to buy one of each.  You probably will not have to search long or hard to find several good examples at local shops.  You will be amazed at the many variations that have been produced over the years.  Depending on the market in your area, decent versions should be obtainable for either side of $100.  The Model 60's are usually in the $70+ range.  The Mod 25's closer to the $100 mark.  Still a bargain for a decent rifle.

I hope this helps a bit.

Good luck with your choice.

[Doug K.A.]

I have a savage Mk II and it is very reliable. It is light and accurate. I like it alot. My dad had a marlin model 60 but he traded it. It would jam alot. It wasn't as reliable as my savage. Good luck

[ironglow]

  My personal experience with Marlin autos ( #60 & # 7000) is that they are quite reliable, but the 60 didn't like less than high velocity ammo..functioned fine with CCI mini mags, WW power points etc but occasionally balked with subsoniics etc. Perhaps after it is broken in more..but that went to my Marine grandson.

   Of course, for reliability you would best stay with the a bolt.
 
  Marlin/Savage is a matter of taste..both are accurate, although the Marlin is perhaps most consistantly accurate from piece to piece (IMO).

  The Savage does have the Accu-trigger, a definite plus. The Marlins can be had in greater variety ..clip, tube feed, wood, walnut, synthetic or the new techy Kevlar style stock. A couple different autos #60 or # 795..and Marlin builds the reliable as rocks NEF sportster or Versa-Pack..which one can add 3 or 4 more barrels onto, over time.

[TribReady]

My first gun of any kind was a Marlin Model 60. Very accurate but also tempermental like mentioned.
You really can't go wrong with any of your choices. Really.

I definately like bolt actions now and if I was forced to chose, would go with a bolt action

[Oldtimer]

I have had several of each and you don't have a bad choice either way you go.  I just saw an ad for Dick's Sporting Goods that had a Savage with walnut thumbhole stock, Accutrigger, and heavy barrel for $299.  This is a full sized quality gun all around, and the Accutrigger is a real asset.  I recently sold a field grade 93 to a friend and then went up to Dick's to get one with an Accutrigger.  He saw the thumbhole rifle and fell in love wii h it, and ended up buying it, too.  Mine had a regular stock and came with mounts and a scope.  I am happy as a hound in a meathouse with it.

[ironglow]

  KY headhunter;

   If you are planning on using a lot of "Hyper" ammo..best not get an auto or a rifle with a Benz barrel. Most manufacturers of semi-autos don't reccommend hypers,
   they are a bit rough on the recoil buffer.
  The Benz chambered barrels such as the Marluin 7000 and thje 880SQ have the Benz chambers and longer cased rounds like the CCI Stingers and Aguils hypers are
   not recommended.
    If you want to go with lots of hypers, the Marlin 925 or Savage Mk II would be good choices.

[smittty]

I like all of them but have a preference for those that don't have a magazine hanging out the bottom because it doesn't carry as nicely for hunting.  I think both savage and marlin have 5 shot mags that might fit almost flush with the bottom but I don't know for sure.

Have you considered the CZ 542 American?  Extremely reliable, extremely accurate, great trigger and it's an adult size rifle.  The mag fits almost flush and carries very nicely.

smittty

[rbergum95]

savage. gun was savage mark II FVT with williams peep sights. ammo was aguila 40 gr. subsonic rifle match. 5 shot group on left was fired at 75 yards from a rest. card on the right was cut edge-wise from 25 yards. almost cut it with the first shot (the lower cut) second sliced it like a knife.

[ironglow]

  There you go, Ky Headhunter ! You really didn't need a lot of advice, because you had 3 good models picked out already.
    ...And the CZs are some fine rifles if you can cough up just a little bit more cash.. Just get one of those 4 choices and ..enjoy !!

[mcwoodduck]

Scope or Iron sights?
If you say scope the marlin.   I really like my two one in .22 mag and the other in .17 hmr.
If you say Iron sights.  I will have to agree with ironglow.
Nothing beats the CZ 452 with the adjustable rear sight.  Short, fast bolt action with a box mag.  I have shot a lot of ground squirrels and cottontails with mine and the adjustable rear is accurate out to 200yards.    I have broken clay birds out to the 200 yard mark off hand.  New mine was around $225.  It will also shoot 22 CB longs for a quiet back yard garden gun.  And they will feed out of the 5 round mag.  Ten round and single shot mags are also available.   I have also racked up a few rats that were getting into the dog food with the crimped shot shells.  I own 6 .22lr rifles and the CZ goes with me to the range 90% of the time even if I'm shooting something else or shooting in a match.   
Tube mags scare me in, I'm afraid to lay it on a tree branch and possibly dent the thing when going after a squirrel.

[ironglow]

 i like my CZ452 as well..it and my 880SQ are very close in performance..

[mcwoodduck]

My CZ looks and feels like a full size rifle.  The hooded front sight give the appearance of the classic Safari rifle.  Heck the same factory made the BRNO safari rifles people like Hemingway took to Africa.
Grey Squirrels become Leopards.
And cotton tails are kudu, Cape buffalo, or Impala.
Get the CZ and make the next trip into your hunting field a Safari.

[ironglow]

 Right McWooduck;
   My CZ does look and feel more like a quality centerfire than my Marlins, Ruger or even my Anschutz rifles..

[mcwoodduck]

TM 7
Don't get me wrong I really like my two Marlins but if your going to stay with open sights rather than optics I really like my CZ.  The sights are real and do not look like the ones on my Daisey red rider.
The single set trigger is not on the cheaper models only on the American and varmint.  CZ 453 is the one with the set trigger.
I found a cheap BSA pistol scope in the gun parts pile the other day and joking put it up on one of my 10/22's and set it forward as a scout scope.  Holly cow is that a good idea.  I'm now looking for a used marlin bolt action in .22 LR to mount a scope rail on as a test gun.  The marlins have bull barrels and think it would be easier.

[SuperstitionCoues]

I still have the first Marlin bolt action .22 that my Dad gave me when I was a kid.  It is just as accurate now as it was then, and it definitely has not been babied.  I would go with the Marlin.

FWIW, I'm playing around these days with a Marlin 39A that my wife got me for Christmas last year.  I just don't  think you could go wrong with a Marlin.