I've been thinking about getting a .22 rifle. Just something cheap to play with really, probably won't even get much use past 25 yards for a while. These two seem the be the logical choices that are coming up. The marlin seems to be reported to have the better out of the box accuracy. Will I be sorry I didn't get the more customizable ruger later though? How do you load a tube fed 22 like the marlin anyway? Up through the bottom to the back like a shotgun?
Marlin 60 or Ruger 10/22?
- Thread starter Soybomb
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rangerruck
Member
you can get the marlin, and all accessories, plus scope, ammo, etc. and still not pay what you will for a souped up ruger, and the marlin will be more accurate. if you go to a gun shop , get an older marlin with a longer feed tube on it. they hold 18 rounds, me likey.
rangerruck
Member
some of mine:
these were at 100yds, 10 plus winds constant, from left to right, all with different ammo. this is stock except i molycoated everthing twice.
these were at 100yds, 10 plus winds constant, from left to right, all with different ammo. this is stock except i molycoated everthing twice.
MatthewVanitas
Member
I like Marlin, myself. Balances well, etc.
I found the 18 rounders a little long for my size, but not bad. The ones currently sold off the shelf at Academy Sports for $99 are 14-round.
At least here in Texas, buying used you can get the handy little carbine versions that they no longer make. I've bought 3 Marlins in recent months from pawnshops, all around $60.
Used or new, you really can't go wrong with a Marlin. Ruger makes a fine product, but I wanted to be a little bit different, dug the tube mag, and had no desire to spend money on add-ons. Your mileage may vary,
-MV
I found the 18 rounders a little long for my size, but not bad. The ones currently sold off the shelf at Academy Sports for $99 are 14-round.
At least here in Texas, buying used you can get the handy little carbine versions that they no longer make. I've bought 3 Marlins in recent months from pawnshops, all around $60.
Used or new, you really can't go wrong with a Marlin. Ruger makes a fine product, but I wanted to be a little bit different, dug the tube mag, and had no desire to spend money on add-ons. Your mileage may vary,
-MV
Tube is fed from underside near front. you can get "Speedloaders" that hold multiple stacks of bullets, for quick reloads at the range.
Unless you're really sure you wanna do alot of customization. get the Marlin. You can always sell it later, but I bet you won't. Mine is SCARY accurate for an inexpensive .22, as well as super reliable. My best shooting buddy won't even bring his 10/22 to the range with me...He has a Model 52 Winchester Target Gun w/ 24x scope(mine has a $40 Tasco!)--and I still shoot slightly better groups at 50 yards. His gun cots a total of $2500.
Mine shoots well with almost any ammo, but some are still better than others. I've tried almost everything I can get my hands on. Wolf Match Target, followed closely by Win T-22s have yielded best groups so far.
Unless you're really sure you wanna do alot of customization. get the Marlin. You can always sell it later, but I bet you won't. Mine is SCARY accurate for an inexpensive .22, as well as super reliable. My best shooting buddy won't even bring his 10/22 to the range with me...He has a Model 52 Winchester Target Gun w/ 24x scope(mine has a $40 Tasco!)--and I still shoot slightly better groups at 50 yards. His gun cots a total of $2500.
Mine shoots well with almost any ammo, but some are still better than others. I've tried almost everything I can get my hands on. Wolf Match Target, followed closely by Win T-22s have yielded best groups so far.
Here we go I prefer the 10-22. The marlin is a great gun dont get me wrong but there are so many different things available for the Ruger. Yes it costs more but I like the ability to unload my rifle without having to catch all of those loose round. (gun safty-Crossing fences) #2 reloads you run out drop a fresh clip in. #3 my 10-22 standard model will shoot 1 hole groups at 25 yards with the cheapest of 22 shell. And at 100 yards with a good rest (further than I like to shoot with a 22 lr) it will shoot 1 1/2 inch groups. My Suggestion shoot them both then decide which is right for you.
"give em another barrel
"give em another barrel
BillinNH
Member
This is the classic choice question, like chocolate vs vanilla, Ford vs Chevy, etc. It ultimately comes down to a matter of personal preference. Both are excellent guns. I have a Glenfield (Marlin) 75C which is the short barreled version of the M60 and a standard 10/22 as well. I love both of them, wouldn't give up either, so you can't go reallywrong. The Marlin has better handling, egonomics and accuracy (my experience) but they are very close. I put synthetic stocks on mine and 4x scopes, don't feel the need to customize further. Maybe the best way to choose is to ask yourself whether you prefer detachable mags or tube mags.
My recommendation: get a Marlin and live with it. If you still lust for a Ruger , get one of them too. Keep them both.
Bill
My recommendation: get a Marlin and live with it. If you still lust for a Ruger , get one of them too. Keep them both.
Bill
loose cannon
Member
i prefer ruger 10/22s because i like the mags i keep several of the stock 10rders and 4 eagle 30rders for fun plinking.i also like the easier to clean design.
if you ever need to sell one a ruger will go for alot closer to what you paid for it than a marlin60.
if you ever need to sell one a ruger will go for alot closer to what you paid for it than a marlin60.
twoblink
Member
I bought my 10/22 for $169.. And it's brought bazillions of people joy, and in LA at least, my 10/22 is the first gun they have ever shot, at least for 60+ women in LA.
That said, I can tell you both are excellent guns. But I picked the 10/22 for one reason and one reason only (over all the others including the Marlin), the rotary magazine. I love the fact that it sits flush, and doesn't have a mag sticking out. It makes for easier sandbagging, and just smoother handling.
No losers of the two, so you will end up with a winner no matter what.
I changed the sights to Williams Firesights + a rear peep sight, and put a bolt buffer from buffer tech on it. I also changed the trigger group. Result?? Super accurate rifle with ZERO recoil. In fact, I sometimes don't know if I fired it in outdoor ranges while next to someone with a big gun in the next lane.
One of the reasons I changed to a peep rear, is after the newbies shoot it for a while, I can move them up to my M1A, and they are now comfortable with the controls (which are almost alike) and with a peep rear sight.
I plan to probably have an M1Carbine eventually, so I can do a:
10/22
M1 Carbine
M1A
Progression to take newbies on bigger guns with more recoil and range, but maintaining the peep rear, front blade sighting familiarity, as well as the bolt charging handle being on the right side.
Newbie logistics.
That said, I can tell you both are excellent guns. But I picked the 10/22 for one reason and one reason only (over all the others including the Marlin), the rotary magazine. I love the fact that it sits flush, and doesn't have a mag sticking out. It makes for easier sandbagging, and just smoother handling.
No losers of the two, so you will end up with a winner no matter what.
I changed the sights to Williams Firesights + a rear peep sight, and put a bolt buffer from buffer tech on it. I also changed the trigger group. Result?? Super accurate rifle with ZERO recoil. In fact, I sometimes don't know if I fired it in outdoor ranges while next to someone with a big gun in the next lane.
One of the reasons I changed to a peep rear, is after the newbies shoot it for a while, I can move them up to my M1A, and they are now comfortable with the controls (which are almost alike) and with a peep rear sight.
I plan to probably have an M1Carbine eventually, so I can do a:
10/22
M1 Carbine
M1A
Progression to take newbies on bigger guns with more recoil and range, but maintaining the peep rear, front blade sighting familiarity, as well as the bolt charging handle being on the right side.
Newbie logistics.
P. Plainsman
Member
This is more interesting than some of the other perennial "Ford v. Chevy" gun comparisons, e.g., Ruger GP100 vs. S&W 686, because the guns in question actually have some significant differences.
* Marlin 60 for out-of-the-box accuracy. Like others here, I am really impressed with how tight-shooting the budget Marlin .22 is.
* Marlin if you don't want to fuss with/keep track of detachable magazines. All you need is the rifle itself and ammo.
* Ruger 10/22 if you like to tinker, and/or want to spend $$$ upgrading your plinker into the Ultimate .22. Lots of folks find that a fun project.
* Ruger if you prefer detachable magazines to the Marlin's integral tube mag. While the Ruger does oblige you to keep track of the mags, it also gives you the option of, say, buying ten mags (for more $$$), loading 'em all up beforehand, and then enjoying a long stretch of fun at the range without stopping to reload.
The 10/22 has a generally good rep for reliability. Some report problems with the Marlin. Personally, I have not had even a hint of a problem with my Marlin 60 in its first 1000-odd rounds. But 1000 rounds is still early days -- which tells you something about how much fun it is to shoot these guns.
* Marlin 60 for out-of-the-box accuracy. Like others here, I am really impressed with how tight-shooting the budget Marlin .22 is.
* Marlin if you don't want to fuss with/keep track of detachable magazines. All you need is the rifle itself and ammo.
* Ruger 10/22 if you like to tinker, and/or want to spend $$$ upgrading your plinker into the Ultimate .22. Lots of folks find that a fun project.
* Ruger if you prefer detachable magazines to the Marlin's integral tube mag. While the Ruger does oblige you to keep track of the mags, it also gives you the option of, say, buying ten mags (for more $$$), loading 'em all up beforehand, and then enjoying a long stretch of fun at the range without stopping to reload.
The 10/22 has a generally good rep for reliability. Some report problems with the Marlin. Personally, I have not had even a hint of a problem with my Marlin 60 in its first 1000-odd rounds. But 1000 rounds is still early days -- which tells you something about how much fun it is to shoot these guns.
Having used a few of both, the Marlin is better accuracy out of the box. I like it far better than the 10/22. Sure you can spend a few hundred to upgrade the 10/22. But you could spend that same amount on a second hand Anschutz for something better still.
The 10/22's not modified run 5 shot groups of 1.25 to 1.5 inches at 50 yards in my experience. Marlins go a quarter inch less in general.
1 1/2 inches at 100 yards, hmm, hard to believe with a stock 10/22. Not regularly anyway.
The 10/22's not modified run 5 shot groups of 1.25 to 1.5 inches at 50 yards in my experience. Marlins go a quarter inch less in general.
1 1/2 inches at 100 yards, hmm, hard to believe with a stock 10/22. Not regularly anyway.
Lupinus
Member
plain and simple
If you are on any sort of budget and even more so if you want a gun you can take out of the box put a scope on and go shooting accuratly GET THE MARLIN.
If you want to play mad scientist gunsmith in your basement putting ten million aftermaret parts and spending hundreds to make it as accurate as the already cheaper from the get go marlin get a 10/22.
Not trying to bash it but simply put out of the box the marlin is hands down a better rifle. To make the 10/22 as good a rifle you need to put money into an already more expensive rifle.
If you are on any sort of budget and even more so if you want a gun you can take out of the box put a scope on and go shooting accuratly GET THE MARLIN.
If you want to play mad scientist gunsmith in your basement putting ten million aftermaret parts and spending hundreds to make it as accurate as the already cheaper from the get go marlin get a 10/22.
Not trying to bash it but simply put out of the box the marlin is hands down a better rifle. To make the 10/22 as good a rifle you need to put money into an already more expensive rifle.
It sounds to me like 10/22 owners have the 1911 syndrome. They're not happy with it out of the box, instead they think they need to spend hundreds of dollars customizing it to make it worth owning. I've had a 10/22 ever since I was 14, and the thing has shot literally hundreds of thousands of rounds. Over the years I broke the front sight and had to replace it, and the original stock got so badly dinged up I had to refinish (then later replace) it. However I never had any malfunctions except when using the cheap "banana clips", or after the one time I took one of the rotary magazines apart. That's the sort of reliability that can make the 10/22 a good home defense gun. An old friend of mine bought a Marlin 60 back when we were still teenagers, and I must admit it was a tough little bugger. His was extremely reliable as well, even though he rarely ever cleaned it. However it was always so slow to load, and when out in the woods he'd often drop loose rounds into the grass and lose them. Between the two my strong preference was always for my Ruger.
However there was another .22 that I found to prefer over even the 10/22. It was the Marlin 70, now discontinued. They still make a similar rifle called the 795, but to me it's not the same. My M70 has a nice-looking birchwood stock, and came with handy 7-round magazines. It's smaller and lighter than the 10/22, and much faster to point with. I've found accuracy to be excellent with it, although I never tried to compare it to my Ruger (I've never found much use for a scope on a .22). I replaced the front sight with a bead-type unit off another .22 rifle, and it has become my favorite nowadays for the few times I decide to take a .22 out shooting. Like a lot of people I forgot about the .22 after I came of age and could afford to shoot "real guns", but I still love to go plinking every once in awhile.
However there was another .22 that I found to prefer over even the 10/22. It was the Marlin 70, now discontinued. They still make a similar rifle called the 795, but to me it's not the same. My M70 has a nice-looking birchwood stock, and came with handy 7-round magazines. It's smaller and lighter than the 10/22, and much faster to point with. I've found accuracy to be excellent with it, although I never tried to compare it to my Ruger (I've never found much use for a scope on a .22). I replaced the front sight with a bead-type unit off another .22 rifle, and it has become my favorite nowadays for the few times I decide to take a .22 out shooting. Like a lot of people I forgot about the .22 after I came of age and could afford to shoot "real guns", but I still love to go plinking every once in awhile.
eastwood44mag
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Never shot the 10/22, but I really hate the Marlin 60--I can't hit anything with it. They make bolt action guns that are deadly accurate, so I may have just had the POS of the century.
LiquidTension
Member
I've got 2 Marlin 60s, and neither one of them can shoot more than 20 rounds without jamming, even when freshly cleaned. Ammo makes no difference. I'll be buying a 10/22 after I pick up a few handguns.
30-06 lover
Member
10/22 hands down!
IDriveB5
Member
i dont have any experience with the marlin.
i love my 10/22. very reliable, very accurate, tons of fun. i bought it with the intention of modifying it, kind of like i would do with a car. i enjoy shooting and modifying my 10/22.
all together i spent probably $5-600 in modifications including the price of the scope(nikon buckmaster). my groups average in the 3/8" range, +/- depending on if im doing my part.
like everyone else said, its up to you.
if i was going to get a rifle and not modify it, i would probably get a CZ 452. everything i hear about them is good words.
i love my 10/22. very reliable, very accurate, tons of fun. i bought it with the intention of modifying it, kind of like i would do with a car. i enjoy shooting and modifying my 10/22.
all together i spent probably $5-600 in modifications including the price of the scope(nikon buckmaster). my groups average in the 3/8" range, +/- depending on if im doing my part.
like everyone else said, its up to you.
if i was going to get a rifle and not modify it, i would probably get a CZ 452. everything i hear about them is good words.
Right now, I've got the older Marlin bolt action, can't remember the model off the top of my head -- maybe 70. Great gun. Accurate and reliable. But I decided it was a time for a change. My g/f has a standard 10/22 and like the marlin, very accurate and reliable.
But, I decided to go all out. But I won't be buying a Ruger and turn it into a frankenRuger 10/22. I'll be getting the Volquartsen 10/22.
Either one you decided to go with, you will be happy.
But, I decided to go all out. But I won't be buying a Ruger and turn it into a frankenRuger 10/22. I'll be getting the Volquartsen 10/22.
Either one you decided to go with, you will be happy.
californiasushi
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- Jun 30, 2004
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i have a marlin 60 with williams peeps and love it. i believe it's a better gun that also costs less as well. the gun itself is at least 50$ cheaper. then there is the price of magazines. a tube speedloader costs 20 bucks, 25/30 round 10/22 magazines with those shaking speed loader thing (loading 25/30 rounds normally into a 10/22 magazine sucks). those magazines and speedloader will add up financially, opposed to just the 20 dollar speedloader for the marlin 60. also, the 10/22 doesn't have a last shot bolt hold open, which sorta sucks... just my opinion
mainmech48
Member
At present I have two of each. They both make for an excellent utility rimfire longarm. How particular features of each model figure as pluses or minuses has to be a matter of personal opinion. The best way to figure it out for yourself is to see if you can't wrangle an opportunity to try one of each and see what suits you better. If you can't arrange to strike up an acquaintance with someone who owns them, you should be able to pick up a used example of a basic model of each in good shape for around $200 or less, total, easily.
IME, most of the feeding problems attributed to M-60s that I've seen were basically due to overlubrication. Blow-back operated rimfires are prone to depositing unburned particles of powder back into the action. If there's too much oil, grease or any other "wet" lubricant on the moving parts to catch and hold it, it turns to a sludge that'll start to inhibit proper functioning in short order. Switching to a dry-film lube, or at least cutting 'waay back on the oil, will cure this in almost every case.
FWIW, the vast majority of the instances where I've run into folks experiencing chronic feeding/function problems in any brand of .22 semi-auto with no underlying mechanical issue could be traced to the same thing: Too much lube. Usually, they'll try to "fix" things by dumping more in it when things start to get sluggish, which just compounds the problem. I've been able to pick up some nice little rifles real cheap from folks who wouldn't believe me when I told them that
In terms of practical accuracy, when fed the brand of ammo the individual weapon seems to favor it's pretty much a toss-up, IMO. Either is generally capable of putting things into a smaller hole than most of us mere mortals can hold for when standing on our own hind legs, and even a bench and bags will tell you more about how well you can shoot than what the "inherent" accuracy might be in most cases.
IME, most of the feeding problems attributed to M-60s that I've seen were basically due to overlubrication. Blow-back operated rimfires are prone to depositing unburned particles of powder back into the action. If there's too much oil, grease or any other "wet" lubricant on the moving parts to catch and hold it, it turns to a sludge that'll start to inhibit proper functioning in short order. Switching to a dry-film lube, or at least cutting 'waay back on the oil, will cure this in almost every case.
FWIW, the vast majority of the instances where I've run into folks experiencing chronic feeding/function problems in any brand of .22 semi-auto with no underlying mechanical issue could be traced to the same thing: Too much lube. Usually, they'll try to "fix" things by dumping more in it when things start to get sluggish, which just compounds the problem. I've been able to pick up some nice little rifles real cheap from folks who wouldn't believe me when I told them that
In terms of practical accuracy, when fed the brand of ammo the individual weapon seems to favor it's pretty much a toss-up, IMO. Either is generally capable of putting things into a smaller hole than most of us mere mortals can hold for when standing on our own hind legs, and even a bench and bags will tell you more about how well you can shoot than what the "inherent" accuracy might be in most cases.
Carl N. Brown
Member
.22 semi-auto rifle lubrication:
Any part of the bolt or receiver that will be exposed to blowback
from the firing chamber should be DRY. Oil plus powder fouling = jams.
Clean thoroughly every 500 to 1000 rounds. Find a reliable brand
of ammo for your gun and stick with it.
Both 10/22 and M60 are good choices: I got my first Marlin 60 when
I was fifteen. I gave one to my son as a teenager: he still has it and
we shoot together every month or so, Great guns. great fun.
Any part of the bolt or receiver that will be exposed to blowback
from the firing chamber should be DRY. Oil plus powder fouling = jams.
Clean thoroughly every 500 to 1000 rounds. Find a reliable brand
of ammo for your gun and stick with it.
Both 10/22 and M60 are good choices: I got my first Marlin 60 when
I was fifteen. I gave one to my son as a teenager: he still has it and
we shoot together every month or so, Great guns. great fun.
Dave Markowitz
Member
I've had both and much prefer the 10/22. In my experience it's a more reliable gun and will go much longer between cleanings. I also prefer a detachable box magazine.
My 10/22 is not all pimped out, nor do I have any intentions of doing so. I do have a Nikon 4x32mm Prostaff scope and did install a Power Custom hammer to improve the trigger pull, but other than extra magazines and maybe a sling at some point, that's it.
My 10/22 is not all pimped out, nor do I have any intentions of doing so. I do have a Nikon 4x32mm Prostaff scope and did install a Power Custom hammer to improve the trigger pull, but other than extra magazines and maybe a sling at some point, that's it.
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