I found and picked up a beautiful used pre-CBS Marlin 39A for my 12 year old son for Christmas. He likes the action of my 336, hence, the 39A. I have an old Ruger 10/22 as well - and he likes it. He has told me he would prefer a lever-action, but he seems to like the look of the 10/22 International. I know they are both different animals, and more than likely he would be thrilled with either one. What would you get your son - the Marlin 39A or a new 10/22 International?
Marlin 39A or Ruger 10/22 International?
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JohnBT
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The 39A.
But I've hated the 10/22 since the day it was introduced, so maybe you should ignore me. I already had a 39A Mountie at the time and thought the 10/22 was the answer to a question nobody had asked. And it was fat and inaccurate.
But I've hated the 10/22 since the day it was introduced, so maybe you should ignore me. I already had a 39A Mountie at the time and thought the 10/22 was the answer to a question nobody had asked. And it was fat and inaccurate.
Omaha-BeenGlockin
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10/22---I wanted a 39A for forever---when I finally got one---it was way too heavy and a PITA to load---wound up ditching it. It was well made but I really didn't like it.
cleardiddion
Member
Get the 39a.
Honestly, I think he'd get more value out of it in the long run.
Plus having a 39a will keep him from going all tacticool and falling into that sort of mess.
Honestly, I think he'd get more value out of it in the long run.
Plus having a 39a will keep him from going all tacticool and falling into that sort of mess.
MightyTygart
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I vote Marlin 39a. My dad bought me one at the ripe old age of 12. I still shoot it to this day and I love it. I really don't know what else to say other than it wont be a bad purchase.
cleardiddion
Member
Also, the lack of a detachable magazine does have the benefit of making him learn the lesson of making every shot count.
Just saying.
Just saying.
fiddleharp
Member
Is a pre-CBS Marlin the same as a pre-Remington Fender Twin Reverb amp? 
When I was 12 I skrimped and saved for a Winchester 9422, a few years later I bought a 10-22 deluxe, I have only shot it a couple of times. After shooting my friends 39 I "had" to have one, and now I am always torn between the 39a, 9422, and an old 69a bolt action. There is something about having more activty than just pulling the trigger, plus the 39a is a very accurate rifle right out of the box, not that the 10-22 is horrible.
I'll stick with the 39A. I was making a decision on something I have not shot. While I had the 39A, it was sitting in the safe and I decided to shoot it (never shot one before - but have shot the 10/22 many times). After cycling through a few rounds I new I'd give it to my son. It was just very smooth, refined and accurate. I live in a suburb and took it down to the finished basement and fired it into 2 2x4's. I forget how much of a punch a little .22 can have. I shot Winchester hollow points and it went through both 2x4's and stuck in the door jamb. I'll have to start saving phone books or Newark catalogs. My wife will not be happy. Time for a patch job.
aka108
Member
I bought my 39A new in 1955. Nicely built and accurate. Some years late I bought a 10/22 when they came standard with walnut stocks. Never really liked it and it was inaccurate, at least when compared to the 39A andsome other rifles I had. Sold it about 2 years ago on consignment with a dealer. Hope the new owner is happy.
TimboKhan
Member
I have both, and I like both. I like the 10/22 because it is so customizable, and that rotary magazine pretty much rules. On the other hand, the 39A is pretty fun to shoot. In terms of accuracy, its pretty much a draw. Why don't you see what your boy likes between those two and let him make the decision? That way, he gets to feel like he is part of the process and has some real ownership of it.
Timbokhan: good idea. I need to stop looking though. Now I'm eye-balling the CZ-452 and the Savage MK II Classic. However, I think I'll stick with Marlin and if my son likes the 10/22 better, I'll keep it and he can have a new 10/22. I think my wife would like the CZ-452 for Christmas
76shuvlinoff
Member
Shot a few 10/22s but I've had the same 77 39A since the early 80's. A buddy didn't know what he had and I didn't know what I was buying but looking back this was one of the better deals I've ever made. I don't feel there is much out there that compares to an older 39A
If this was all about semi autos I'd probably go with the Marlin 60, or two of them, over a 10/22... unless I enjoyed modifyin which is not a bad thing either.
The 10/22 is a good time proven rifle but dollar for dollar make mine Marlin.
If this was all about semi autos I'd probably go with the Marlin 60, or two of them, over a 10/22... unless I enjoyed modifyin which is not a bad thing either.
The 10/22 is a good time proven rifle but dollar for dollar make mine Marlin.
Maverick223
Member
IMO a lever action repeater would be a better choice than a SA for young folks. It serves to teach them proper shooting technique. Both are fine rifles, and if I were a 12YO I would be thrilled with either...heck i'm not 12YOA and i'd be happy with either!
AJumbo
Member
Since I own both, I recommend.....owning both.
planetmobius
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Go with the 39A. If it's his first gun, making him crank the lever every time will teach him to take care with each shot and avoid falling into the "pray and spray" method of shooting. Also, there is something purely Americana about a lever action rifle. I don't know about you but my hunting and shooting practices are ripe with traditions passed down to me from my father and from his. Picking up a good lever gun kind of connects me to all those days gone by. days of both family and Ameerican history. Finally, the 39A is all the gun any center fire lever gun is. It's a quality piece built to last a lifetime and then some. Some day, when your son is an old man and his sight is too poor to shoot, he could conceivably hand that 39A down to his own grandson. I have a couple of 10/22 rifles and while they are OK, when I handle them, heirloom quality does not come to mind.
Flintknapper
Member
Easy, the 39a hands down.
Can't stand the 10/22 unless you just want to go "tat...tat..tat..." real quick.
The ONLY good thing about the 10/22 is the "action". You can build a pretty decent rifle out of it....(after you've thrown all the rest of it away).
Can't stand the 10/22 unless you just want to go "tat...tat..tat..." real quick.
The ONLY good thing about the 10/22 is the "action". You can build a pretty decent rifle out of it....(after you've thrown all the rest of it away).
millertyme
Member
39a's are winning this by a great margin. I'm 32 years old and I would rather have a 39a than my 10/22. Lever guns are fun in general, more so than semis
Maverick223
Member
It took me a while, but I see where this is really going...you just wanna find out which one you should keep...gotta' feel sorry for the poor kid, only getting second best.
After shooting it, I think I would like that 39A. I actually found another older one in the local gun shop here. It has a really fat forearm and someone mounted a side-mount sight on the receiver so there are some additional holes in the left side of the reciever, but those can be plugged. I can probably get it cheap. Lever runs very smooth. Tempting...
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