10/22 vs marlin 60?

[milemaker13]

I'm considering a new plinker. Maybe a ruger 10/22 or a marlin model 60.

Model 60 is less expensive and was the rifle my old man had, so was the rifle I started with.

The 10/22 has more after market parts and takes a detachable magazine.

What about accuracy and dependability ? Does either rifle do better or worse with the bulk ammo?

I have an old marlin 88 and love it, but it's super picky on ammo and can be a jam o matic at times. I'm looking for a fun plinker that runs almost anything without much down time.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

From what I have seen the average 60 is more accurate than the average 10/22.

I would look at the used racks for a nice Rem 550-I or 552.

 

[MachIVshooter]

If you want detachable magazines and gobs of accessory options, the Ruger 10/22 or Remington 597 are the way to go. In stock form, the 597 is generally more accurate.

If you want a classic looking tube feeder, the Marlin 60 is a benchmark. The Remington Speedmasters mentioned above are also cool, a bit chunky feeling compared to the Marlin, but lightweight and can run with .22 shorts. If you want a really svelte little autoloader, the Remington 24/241 or Browning SA22 are fantastic.

 

[Don Dayacetah]

It depends upon a couple things, IMO. I've got both, and I generally prefer the 60, but I'm a tubie fan. If you are looking for
streamlined, something to carry in the woods, I'd go with the 60.

But if you are looking to accessorize, the 10/22 is the way to go. The Take- Down is great, if you are seeking additional portability.

 

[milemaker13]

I'm really leaning towards the 60.. just got to get the misses on board. . Father's day this weekend, right?

 

[pblanc]

This is a post from a blog that is maintained by a Ruger 10/22 enthusiast, so take that into account. The post compares the pros and cons of the Ruger 10/22 to the magazine-fed Marlin 795, but I believe that most of the comments would also apply to the tube-fed Marlin 60:

http://1022companion.wordpress.com/2016/07/26/ruger-1022-v-marlin-795/

Stock Ruger 10/22s do vary significantly in accuracy so one person's experience might not match another. My Ruger 10/22 will easily shoot 1/2" groups at 25 meters, a little better than 2 MOA, with decent but not match quality ammo (such as CCI Standard Velocity). As for the bolt "auto release" that the Marlin has but Ruger does not, it is very easy to modify the bolt catch lever to allow it to release, or buy an inexpensive aftermarket bolt catch that provides for auto-release. One of the nice things about the Ruger 10/22 is that just about any aspect of it you don't like can be rectified with aftermarket parts, time, and money. If you don't like the stock trigger, send the trigger group off to Brimstone Gunsmithing, or buy one of the several drop in triggers that are available. Virtually every part of the Ruger 10/22 can be purchased as a third party, aftermarket part.

 

[cdb1]

Model 60, reasons already stated by other posters, accuracy being foremost.

I have no desire to trick out a rimfire, if I did I’d get a 10/22. The triggers on both stink to high heaven. My Model 60 has a proprietary trigger, made and installed by a guy named ArrowDodger at Rimfire Central, which makes it much more palatable. I believe the 10/22 magazine system is outstanding.

I’ll take my CZ 512 over a 10/22 or Model 60 any day.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Of the two choices Marlin 60. More accurate in my experience and built like a 22 rather than a club. The Ruger does have an edge in reliability due to it's mags. Any tube fed 22 I've ever shot has been finicky. If kept very clean they run well.
As has been said, there is an endless list of aftermarket parts for the 10/22. I have a very rare all original circa 1980 10/22.

 

[bannockburn]

One vkte for the 10/22. Still relatively box stock with only the addition of a scope and sling. Trigger was fine just as it came from the factory, reliability has been exceptional, and accuracy is outstanding with CCI MiniMags and Wolf Match Target ammo.

Can't say anything good about the Remington Model 597 so will let it go at that.

 

[mjsdwash]

I have a 10/22, and a few friends with them, and a few with 60's. We used to go out with only 22's and shotguns and shoot in the woods, casually, all day, since is was cheaper, and dumb as it may be, not wearing ear plugs made it more social. Everyone brought a 500rd box. Most of the 10/22's had the VQ extractors, because they need them if you shoot more than 2000 rounds in the life of the gun. Anyway, the 10/22s would make it through the 500 round boxes without issues with the factory mags. The 60's would hit around 100 rounds and start jamming. At around 200, they stopped working and needed cleaned. This was a consistent thing, and 60's aren't easy to clean. 10/22's are very easy to clean, but rarely need it. A little bit of oil in the ejection port to keep the spring guide lubed, and you can get thousands of round between cleanings. If you do go the 10/22 rout, I highly recommend https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...ger-10-22-10-22-magnum-mark-ii-mark-iii-22-45 . In my experience, with my 10/22, MK3 and several others, the factory extractors wear out after a few thousand rounds. These were made 10 years ago, and maybe they make them better now, but a bad extractor causes ejection AND feed issues. My 10/22 has an excellant trigger, zero creep, about 4lb pull, and shoots better than people think. `The 10/22 will win the durability contest for certain.

 

[George P]

I have both and I have had less issues with the Marlin and it is more accurate.

 

[milemaker13]

Mjsdwash - Wow, that's quite a condemnation of the 60. I don't think I'd ever shoot less than 200 rds at the range (rifle range is a bit of a drive for me so when I get to go I tend to make a day of it).

Has anybody else seen this type of reliability issues with the 60? I don't remember having this problem, but that was a much earlier production and I was much younger so I may not remember.

The reliability of tube vs box mags... is this something that everyone pretty much agrees on? I like tube mags in general (love my levers!), but the only semi auto tuber I have is the old 88... that one loads thru the buttstock so would basically be reversed I guess... and it is very finicky...

 

[Swifty Morgan]

What's wrong with the Savage A22? I'll mention a few advantages.

1. Accutrigger (you can get a weaker spring to make the pull even lighter)
2. Savage barrel (accurate without gunsmithing)
3. Drilled for scope bases
4. Has a milled steel receiver, not two little sheets of pot metal like the Marlin
5. Magazine that can be replaced in 3 seconds and doesn't force you or your kids to put hands in front of the muzzle
6. Can be dry-fired all day without damage
7. Comes with sling studs (try putting them on a Marlin without putting a clamp on the flimsy magazine)
8. Tough synthetic stock
9. Shoots all .22 ammo (no Stingers for the Marlin)
10. Has real iron sights with windage and elevation adjustments (not floppy sheet metal)
11. Has a dust cover that pops off so you can get into the guts
12. Real gun made with milled parts
13. Accepts 25-round magazine if you want to dress up like Rambo and play king of the barnyard

I got a Marlin. Putting sling studs on it was a pain. The trigger was heinous. I could not get a KAT trigger because "Arrowdodger," the guy who makes them, never responded to my efforts to contact him. I had to put about $70 into the second-best trigger (M*Carbo) and install it myself. It's a nice little rifle now, but I had to put about $250 into it to make it work, and the A22, which is still far superior in every way, cost $209. The Marlin is about 2/3 of the gun the A22 is, after a ton of aggravation and work, for about 15% more money.

I can dry-fire the A22. I can adjust the trigger pull. I can shoot any .22 round made. It's heavy (because it's a real gun) and it's not pretty, but it works.

 

[tarosean]

Has anybody else seen this type of reliability issues with the 60? I don't remember having this problem, but that was a much earlier production and I was much younger so I may not remember.

nope but mine is from 1970. it probably went thousands and thousands of rounds between cleanings. (I have no experience with any made after then).

 

[Choctaw]

I've been shooting my Marlin 60 squirrel-stocked rifle since 1976. I have also owned a mess of Ruger 10/22s. I keep getting rid of the Rugers. However, as mentioned in a post above my rifle needs to be kept clean or it will begin to suffer FTFs. My Rugers never gave me any problems but I just couldn't warm up to them. I think they are both good rifles.

 

[pblanc]

Mjsdwash - Wow, that's quite a condemnation of the 60. I don't think I'd ever shoot less than 200 rds at the range (rifle range is a bit of a drive for me so when I get to go I tend to make a day of it).

Has anybody else seen this type of reliability issues with the 60? I don't remember having this problem, but that was a much earlier production and I was much younger so I may not remember.

The reliability of tube vs box mags... is this something that everyone pretty much agrees on? I like tube mags in general (love my levers!), but the only semi auto tuber I have is the old 88... that one loads thru the buttstock so would basically be reversed I guess... and it is very finicky...

I have heard it said that the Marlin semi-auto 22s are relatively intolerant of being dirty. I have never owned a Marlin, so this is second-hand information. This thread might be of some interest to you. Check out particularly post #39, the last post on page 2:

http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/marlin-60-vs-ruger-10-22.1548638/

Here is a completely anecdotal and worthless observation regarding the Marlin 597. I was at an Appleseed shoot in April. Most of us were using Ruger 10/22s. One young women started out shooting a loaner that one of the instructors brought, a Marlin 597. It completely went down on the first magazine. She used a Ruger 10/22 the rest of the two days. The owner of the Marlin did say it was the first time it gave him any trouble.

I really like the Ruger 10 round rotary magazines. I have six of them and have not had any reliability issues with any of them. They do not stick out the bottom of the receiver so they are very unobtrusive. They are easily disassembled and cleaned if that ever becomes necessary.

 

[milemaker13]

Steve -
Had not considered the savage. Maybe I should. Not a big fan of synthetic stocks but not a deal breaker.

I'm still leaning toward the 60. I like it's plane Jane look and I can order it and pay the xfer fee and still be at about $185. That makes it attractive to me. . I can easily spend more on ammo on an average day at the rifle range (centerfire of course).

But since I'm still shopping around I will take a look at the savage. Any others I should look at in the plinker price range?

 

[Swifty Morgan]

You can always splurge on a Boyd's stock.

 

[someguy2800]

I have shot many many 10-22’s and own a marlin 60. The 10-22 is a much much much better rifle.

I do like my model 60 as well though. The factory trigger in a marlin is terrible but can be made pretty nice by an experienced trigger guy as I did to mine. Mine took some polishing and 1500 rounds to work right.

 

[MosinT53Hunter]

I loved all the Marlin 60's I have had, but what I do hate is the plastic trigger guard. They always crack and break for some reason. I do believe there is an all metal replacement one for that.

 

[SharpDog]

I started with a model 60 as well, that said, I got an amped up 10/22 (Magnum Research) instead (mainly bc I wanted the lightest, accurate .22 lr rifle with a decent price):



looks like they're running around $550 at Buds:

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog.../Magnum+Research++MLR22H+17/22+22LR+HOGUE+STK

 

[carbine85]

My model 60 will out shoot my 10//22. Both are stock and have scopes mounted. The tube magazine on the 60 doesn't bother me at all. I made a couple of rubber tube reloaders for it that I load before going to the range. It takes about 30 seconds to load the rifle. It takes longer to reload the Ruger.

 

[22250Rem]

I'm not into sinking lots of money into a .22..... I have a 10/22 but I like it 'as-is" with just a scope but I used to shoot my buddy's Marlin 60 a lot and it really grew on me. If I were to come across a really good deal on a Marlin 60 I think it would come home with me. It would be very satisfying to have one of each!

 

[mjsdwash]

oh yea, 10/22s are fat, so make sure you like the feel.

Mjsdwash - Wow, that's quite a condemnation of the 60. I don't think I'd ever shoot less than 200 rds at the range (rifle range is a bit of a drive for me so when I get to go I tend to make a day of it).

Has anybody else seen this type of reliability issues with the 60? I don't remember having this problem, but that was a much earlier production and I was much younger so I may not remember.

The reliability of tube vs box mags... is this something that everyone pretty much agrees on? I like tube mags in general (love my levers!), but the only semi auto tuber I have is the old 88... that one loads thru the buttstock so would basically be reversed I guess... and it is very finicky...

for what its worth, I really like the 60, and used to shoot a friends a lot, but got the 10/22 because I heard they run well dirtyer. My experience, as well as the experience of every person I know who ows or owns a 60 says a little heat, and some dirt and they stop working. My experience too. Maybe with better quality ammo its not so, but having never seen a 60 make it to 200 without multiple malfunctions has me convinced. Me and my hard line 60 loving friend came to the agreement that a 60 beat the 10/22 in reliability for the first 100, but the 10/22 evened it up by 200, and the 60 didn't run at 300. Funny too, we both agree the 10/22 wins in accuracy, but that may be more about the 10/22 having much better sights, and a 60 may win out with a scope. The metal trigger group 10/22's I handled had better triggers too, but I hear the newer plastic sets are junk. I can add with the original extractor, my 10/22 would FTF or FTE 2 times per magazine with the Ruger boxes, and 10 times with any aftermarket type. After the upgrade, its had 2 total, after so many rounds I cant even guess. So I guess you could say "as bought" the 60 beats the hell out of the Ruger.

 

[mjsdwash]

Has anybody else seen this type of reliability issues with the 60? I don't remember having this problem, but that was a much earlier production and I was much younger so I may not remember.

The reliability of tube vs box mags... is this something that everyone pretty much agrees on? I like tube mags in general (love my levers!), but the only semi auto tuber I have is the old 88... that one loads thru the buttstock so would basically be reversed I guess... and it is very finicky...[/QUOTE]
one thing I have found is that the 60's wear out. Theres a metal box that the tube feeds into, and holds some of the trigger parts. Its stamped and seamed, and the seam opens, and after it gets wide enough, it gets very unreliable. Bending it back every few thousands of rounds makes it work right again, but may make it more dirt sensitive. I have fixed a few, buts its been over a decade, so my description may not be exactly correct. I don't think tube feed is a problem itself.