Lots has been tossed around about Marlin 60 accuracy. Some claims are exaggerated, but the guns are actually pretty good.
Today I stuck on a Nikon 4x32mm ProStaff Rimfire Classic I got from Wal Mart for 100 bucks. I definitely recommend this scope! Could be the best value out there.
So, when I was almost done sighting it in with a bunch of messy moving groups, I figured I'd stop adjusting the scope, stick 5 rounds in the magazine and shoot them as carefully as I could at a fresh bullseye, and post the results here.
This is a 5-shot group of CCI Mini-Mag 40 Grain solids, claimed velocity 1235 FPS. 50 yards, outdoors, 4x32mm scope, off sandbags.
I think it's more than fair to call the stock Marlin 60 a MOA rifle. This won't win an ARA match, but IMO it's pretty damn good for a semiauto that sells for less than $150 brand new, shooting high-velocity ammo that's not specifically chosen.
Notes:
The longest distance (from the top shot to the one on the lower left) is 1/2" center-to-center.
This is not junk ammo, but it's not target ammo either, and I didn't try anything else. This ammo is all I had with me when I went to the range. I have no idea if something else would perform better or worse.
I was not using a machine rest, just shooting off sandbags. I only had a 4x scope. While it has a wonderful, sharp image, it's not a .22 target scope and is nowhere near the power used for serious .22 target shooting.
The Marlin 60 is 100% bone stock, recent production. I have not done any trigger work, or anything else to it. I use it for hunting small varmints in the sagebrush. It's had at least several hundred rounds through it since I last cleaned it.
The big hole at the bottom was from a .44 Super Blackhawk I was also sighting in today.
Today I stuck on a Nikon 4x32mm ProStaff Rimfire Classic I got from Wal Mart for 100 bucks. I definitely recommend this scope! Could be the best value out there.
So, when I was almost done sighting it in with a bunch of messy moving groups, I figured I'd stop adjusting the scope, stick 5 rounds in the magazine and shoot them as carefully as I could at a fresh bullseye, and post the results here.
This is a 5-shot group of CCI Mini-Mag 40 Grain solids, claimed velocity 1235 FPS. 50 yards, outdoors, 4x32mm scope, off sandbags.
I think it's more than fair to call the stock Marlin 60 a MOA rifle. This won't win an ARA match, but IMO it's pretty damn good for a semiauto that sells for less than $150 brand new, shooting high-velocity ammo that's not specifically chosen.
Notes:
The longest distance (from the top shot to the one on the lower left) is 1/2" center-to-center.
This is not junk ammo, but it's not target ammo either, and I didn't try anything else. This ammo is all I had with me when I went to the range. I have no idea if something else would perform better or worse.
I was not using a machine rest, just shooting off sandbags. I only had a 4x scope. While it has a wonderful, sharp image, it's not a .22 target scope and is nowhere near the power used for serious .22 target shooting.
The Marlin 60 is 100% bone stock, recent production. I have not done any trigger work, or anything else to it. I use it for hunting small varmints in the sagebrush. It's had at least several hundred rounds through it since I last cleaned it.
The big hole at the bottom was from a .44 Super Blackhawk I was also sighting in today.