Ktagman..
I always thought that the mag length chsnge happened in the early 90s as a respose to the 10 shot mag capacity restrictions in states like New Jersey etc..
I have a copy of every Marlin catalog from 1960 to 2010...
Let me check and see when the mag change happened as per the catalog specs.
UPDATE-
I just checked my catalogs..
The M60 changed from the Glenfield Brand to the Marlin m60 in 1983
Thr Bolt hold open tab was added in 1985
The first year of the shorter mag was 1992
My 1990 catalog shows the full length magazine.
1990 is probably full length but with the 19" barrel?
WHO said anything about a 19" barrel?
Not me.
Not the OP.
And not Marlin's catalogs up until the mag length change in 1992..
The m60 still had 22" barrels.
From 1983 to 1992 Marlin did make a m75c varbine with an 18" barrel and full length 13 shot mag.
In 2003 they dropped the 22" barrels and went with the 19" tubes with full length 14 shot mags.
