Marlin 981T Pros and Cons?

[TexSabre]

I am new to this board so first let me thank the Admins, Mods and posters for all the great info here.

I am wondering what the Pros and Cons are for the Marlin 981T are?  I like the tube magazine but I have heard/read the trigger sucks.

I have an old Marlin Model 99M1 which is a neat little rifle, and it works great but parts for it are hard to come by so I am thinking about something new.

Thanks again y’all.
Bill AKA TexSabre

[Keith L]

Welcome aboard.  O think you will get some answers here.  I don't have experience with the rifle you are talking about, but I know someone here will.

[notnodak]

I bought this rifle for my son and it is a very good rifle. Trigger is pittiful but get a rifle basix trigger and you would have one of the best .22 out there. All marlin triggers are lawyer safe so you'll need to do something for all of them. I for one like the way it shoots and you can hold allot of ammo and never loose clips. I'll be geting a better trigger for him this spring. I forsee him using his 981t for a very long time.

[Doe]

I have the gun and love it!  it shoot one hole-er at 50 yards with the ammo it likes, mine has a weaver V-10 on it though, you can shoot (short/long/long rifle) in it.  I modify the trigger to 2# on it useing a spring from a ball point pen.  That was the only down fall.

[woodchuckssuck]

Pros:
-Marlin...
-have an accurate reputation
-feeds S,L,LR interchangeably...
-easily scoped
-great plinking/woods gun

cons:
-Tube mag requires extra safety at gun range or elsewhere
-trigger leaves a lot to be desired, unless they changed them the t-900 system are heavy. Crisp, but heavy.
-synthetic stock (ok that COULD be a plus, not to me)

Id buy one if i had the need for another .22....I have a few, dont NEED more. Marlin's are great guns, and unbeatable for the price. Savage are good as well, but marlins are made here in the good ole USA (savage rimfires are canadian, centerfires are american)

[TexSabre]

I had a heck of a time finding a 981T.  I wasn’t even sure I wanted one but because I couldn’t find one I figured they must be good so that IS what I want.  Then I had to go to Houston for work, called Carter’s Country before I left and they had them in stock.  I stopped there first and got one, the only problem then was I had to go work. 

I got home, unloaded the car, took the scope off the 99M1, grabbed my stuff and the 981T and headed out to shoot.  Started out at 25yds with the iron sights and started smiling right away.  Fired a few at 50yds then put the scope on.  Already I know I will love her.

The T900 trigger is/was heavy so I made a few spring mods and she is much better now.  Went back out shooting with the lighter trigger and really had a good time.  Groups weren’t great but the wind was outrageous.  I was still able to get 4 and 5 shots into a 3” Shoot N See at 50yds (5 shot groups).  I think on a normal day (wind wise) I will be more than happy. 

I think on down the road I’ll get the Rifle Basix trigger.

Thanks for all the info.

Bill aka TexSabre