Contemplating on purchasing Levermatic in good condition, opinions on reliability & accuracy welcome. To be put to work as varmit gun

I'm a '39 guy......

but read away.......

http://www.marlinforum.com/Marlin-Short-Throw-Levermatic.html

Welcome to the Fire, BR. I have a 56, which is the detach. mag version of the rifle. I like these rifles (don't plan on getting rid of the one I have) and while not up to a Marlin 39, it is a unique piece of rimfire history. The action is extremely fast cycling as indicated in the article… It shoots rather well but the trigger is "mushy" and long. It would not be my first choice as a varminter but would certainly be worth owning. Good luck, Bruce

The Achilles Heel of the entire 56/57/62 series of "Levermatic" rifles is that they have horrible triggers.

I think that there are lots of more practical and at least potentially more accurate .22 Magnum options out there. I'm both a Marlin and .22 Magnum fan, just not a fan of the Levermatic triggers.

PS - I have 2 Marlin 62s, a 256 Win Mag and a parts gun chambered in 218 Bee.

Thanks for your replies, it's good to get honest input from members of this forum. I currently own several makes & models of rimfire rifles, carbines, revolvers and pitols. I don't need (shouldn't use that word) more rimfire firearms but just can't stop the desire to acquire. Ray from NW Pa

I had one in .22mag as a kid.. I really liked it but sold it to a kid who lived on the next farm..

Br- I put a 4X older Weaver with dot reticle and we had a lot of fun plinking. Like you, I have several 22 rimfires including Kimber, Marlin and CZ and Winchester. When I need to quickly grab a 22 rifle here at my place for varmints, it is almost always an older Winchester 69 with old 23/4 X Redfield Bearcub scope. The 56 gets left in the closet but I'm still glad I have it!

I've heard that these are very accurate rifles. The 22 Mag version is highly sought by Cowboy Silhouette shooters.

I got the Levermatic fever a few years ago. I've got four of them at this point. Two 57s; a tube fed .22 lr and a .22 mag. Also two 62s, a 30 carbine and a 256 Win mag. I like them all, but the 22 mag is my favorite. It has the best trigger of the group, and I like the large capacity of the tube magazine. The short throw of the lever is very cool. You just need to flick your fingers to load another bullet. I have a 2x - 9x Leupold on mine and it's very accurate with several brands and styles of ammo. It's a very nice walking around varmint gun.

for those who read the article linked in the second post and are curious just what the mentioned Kessler was - 16 gauge

That was cool to see, thanks Gene.

I'm a huge fan of the Levermatics. I started with a .256. After I shot a 40 yard one hole group with it, I thought, um, damn, this thing shoots don't it? I've had 57 in 22LR and 22 mag. I had ground squirrels overrunning my property when I bought the 22 mag. I went out on the back porch and sighted it in, went around the front and proceeded to shoot 100% until I had no more squirrels. No joke. Not one miss. I finally sold it because I had eliminated all the squirrels. Let them go for a few years and I might have 5 now. LOL.

Those Marlins are hard on squirrels. Damned accurate. Here's my 56 in 22LR.






I'm still watching for a mint 57 in 22 LR myself.

That's a nice one FB...never seen one checkered. Mine is quite plain-not as pretty as yours but I like it. I need to find another magazine for mine. I picked up a new one and it might be adaptable but doesn't go all the way up to pick up a round. Not sure about some I see on Ebay.

Looked around a bit, looks like the 56 uses the same magazine as the 89c. Numrich allegedly has them for 25.99. Part #195950A

I almost bought one, last fall, its still at the dealers, I still look at it, but its a rough. might thro out a lowball offer on it!

Fireball.....thats fuggin' beautiful.....

all I have is 39 Mounties.......

need a 57M now.........

Yeah, I got lucky that thing is mint. I put target front and rear peep on it for fun.