Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires 10-22 or Marlin model 60? Decisions, decisions!

Twenty plus years ago, $100 would take you just as far (if not a bit farther) as $200 does today ....

bsa1917hunter - I noticed that the other day when buying groceries. Paid $50 for stuff I could put in my shirt pocket... I like to squeeze nickels sooo hard they scream! Regards, Homesteader.

I did a bit of reading before I handed over my money. With the Ruger you seemed to have to spend at least the same again as your original purchase to get anywhere near the performance of the Marlin out of the box. I kept getting told there are a lot more 'go faster' bits available for the Ruger, but I figured the Marlin just didn't require them. Trigger job is very easy on the Marlin.

Yo, GADGET; Where can I find the instructions for the easy trigger job? Thanx.

Well, I made my choice, based upon economic$.
My son-in-law had a $70 off coupon from Cabela's, so off we went.
When the when the man behind the counter couldn't find the gun the special order manager had reserved for me, he brought out another 10-22 DSP with a nicely-grained walnut stock. I thought it over for all of 10 seconds, and said; "I'll take it!

$230 + tax out the door.

I ordered the VQ target hammer kit, watched trigger job videos several times, and had at it. While it was apart, I decided to do the whole job.

Installed a Tuffer Buffer, Polished the sear and the trigger return plunger, used the hammer kit trigger return spring, reinstalled the trigger, installed the new hammer with the kit's shims, because the VQ hammer is narrower than the stock one, put the whole thing back together, using bamboo chopsticks for slave pins, and voila! a 2 1/2 pound trigger pull, and it is smooth!

Whilst it was apart, I did the auto bolt realease modification, which works like a champ. I installed the scope rail, mounted my 4 X Weaver scope in Millett Angle-lok rings, and in the True Spirit of Never Leaving Well Enough Alone, replaced the cheap-jack floppy, non-detachable Ruger sling swivels with a set of Uncle Mikes QDs.

Unfortunately, the weather has been too cold, rainy, snowy, or otherwise miserable to take it to the range so far.

Soon, soon...

Only Ruger part on my so called 10/22 is the Factory Magazine. Love that rifle, but love my Model 60 more.

Paid about 65-70.00 bucks for my Marlin from a Holiday Gas Station back about 1990



Regardless, good luck to the O.P

If you're going to build on it, buy the Ruger.

If you're going to shoot it in its stock trim, buy the Marlin.

JEff

My Marlin was my first rifle, back in '71, got it for my 13th birthday. It outshoots every 10/22 I've owned, (about a half-dozen of those). It does have reliability issues, though, most new ammo has a more blunt nose than the stuff sold in those days, and the rifle simply will NOT feed anything but a true-round nose bullet. So, it gets a diet of CCI Mini-Mags, at least they feed MOST of the time.
My 10/22 works well, it's nice and reliable, and both it and the Marlin are squirrel-head accurate, but the Marlin DOES balance better in my hands (it's the older 18 shot capacity tube). The DSP still gets in the woods from time to time, but that old Marlin has killed more rabbits and squirrels than I can count.

I have both. A newer Ruger Dlx Sporter and an old tube fed Mod 60. My Marlin is more accurate and my Ruger is more dependable.

When I retired, my son gave a Rem 597 in .22mag. I have had it for over 10 yrs. It is a real tack driver and has never missed a shell. I have good luck with the old Rem Nylon 66's, also.

I had a Glenfield model 60 with the "squirrel" stock. My friend had a 10/22 most any day I could out shoot him. The Glenfield seemed a bit more reliable as to feeding as well. The 10/22 can be made into what ever you are willing to spend. The model 60 will do pretty good out of the box.

If you want to have an accurate, reliable 22 that all you need to do is clean once in a while buy the Marlin, if you want a hole to throw money into buy the Ruger Russ

The Marlin Model 60 is a great choice. I tried a Glenfield Model 60 Squirrel stock rifle I paid $100 for, added a 6x rimfire scope. It shoots as well as a 10/22 if not better groups at 50y. I like the tube magazine feature on the Model 60. The triggers are about the same as 10/22 out of the box.

Now, I will work on getting the Marlin model 60. Da Deluxe is really attractive.

Good choice. You'll be happy. I personally have a 10-22, but the marlin is known to be a good shooter. I've actually had about 3 of these so I can attest to that from personal exp.

Marlin if you want to load and shoot. Ruger if you want the shooter's version of Lego blocks.



Bruce

10-22. I've had both.