Here you go:
Marlin's First Bolt Guns
Actually, the MR-7 is not really the first of Marlin's bolt-action
centerfires.
The Model 322, introduced in 1954, was chambered
for .222 Remington and was built on Sako's miniature Mauser receiver.
The late Bill Brophy, author of Marlin Firearms, wrote
of the Model 322: "After numerous complaints about deterioration
of accuracy from the Micro-Groove rifle barrel (after as few as
500 rounds), Marlin attempted to resolve the problem by fitting
a 24-inch stainless-steel barrel of featherweight configuration.
The new rifle was identified as the Varmint King (Model 422) and,
except for the new barrel and a new design of Monte Carlo stock
that had a cheek piece, all other features remained the same.
"A total of 5859 Model 322 rifles were manufactured,
and 354 Model 422 rifles were produced from 1954 to 1958."
With a total production of 6213 rifles in both models, the .222
was not setting any production records.
