Marlin Model 60…

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I own a Marlin model 60 & a Glenfield model 75C (19" barreled version of the model 60) & have shot a 3rd model 60. The ones I own are early 80's& mid 90's production & the other one I shot was made in '72. I have not encountered a 9 pound trigger on any of them.
The biggest problem I have seen with the model 60's is most people don't clean them. My sister-in-law was having coyote problems so I gifted her an inexpensive scope with a light up reticle. I went over to mount & zero it for her & the magazine tube got stuck. I brought it home, took the action out of the stock, got the magazine spring rod (proper terminology?) out & gave everything a thorough cleaning & put it back together. Someone had oiled the magazine spring rod & burnt gunpowder & crud had built up on it. It ran like a top when I took it back.

I've never owned a 10/22. I'd like to get one to play with & see if I like it. It just seems like there is always something else I want more & I already have that niche covered.
 
While I consider myself a “10/22 guy,” this thread sure has me looking forward to cleaning up the 60 that I got a few months back.
 
I had a Glenfield model 60 that was a Christmas present from my parents in high school. Unfortunately it was stolen and never recovered during a daytime burglary. I would love to have that rifle back.
 
Speaking of personal progression . . .

I started shooting firearms with my dad’s Marlin 60 in the 1970s, then bought a new Ruger 10/22 plain carbine in the early 1990s (used it for trade in fodder within 12 months), then bought a new Marlin 39AS shortly after the 10/22. Then in 2021, bought a second hand Marlin 25N.

For the life of me, I can’t recall the trigger feel or accuracy of the 60 or 10/22 I used to fire. But I can recall my shootin’ buddy’s 2000s era 10/22 carbine trigger. That thing needs a BX upgrade badly, my stock 25N trigger feels like a Timney in comparison.
 
If I’m being fair, both guns are all over the place in the little experience I’ve had with them. I have two Glenfield 60s from the late 70s and early 80s, but before the bolt hold open was added to the 22” barrel models. I have one 10/22 and have shot another 10/22.

One 60 has a noticeably lighter trigger and shoots about twice as good as the other. The heavier trigger also has trouble running standard velocity ammo. Both will jam often enough that a range session without a malfunction is memorable. I’m very tempted to put an MCARBO spring kit in and see if things improve. This one was used a lot by my step brother and when I got it I could have planted potatoes in the crud I cleaned out of it. However it was functional and he killed about anything one can with a 22 on the farm. Beware the man with one gun indeed.

My experience with two samples of 10/22 is about the same. Mine is accurate with one type of ammo (standard velocity) but shoots worse than the worse 60 with any other type. I’ve run a couple hundred rounds through it and it has yet to jam. The other jammed at about the same frequency as the better 60 and accuracy was probably on par with the worse of the two 60s. To be fair, its hard to judge since the times I’ve shot it we only used the bulk Federal 525 pack or Federal Automatch. The only time I’ve shot the Federal bulk, it gave pistol like accuracy from a rifle at 50 yards and lots of vertical stringing.
 
I have no inside track but the fact and it is a fact that the website has a Model 60 retainer as it did for the rifles thus far reintroduced makes me think the Model 60 will return, maybe as limited editions. And without MG rifling. I have a Model 60 and do not particularly care for it. I much prefer the 1022 and the ability to customize it into something unique, or not. But, yeah, I bet the M60 returns.
 
Mike J said:
If your model 60 is jamming a lot this is probably what it needs.
Taking apart and cleaning the Marlin model 60 - YouTube
Click to expand...

I'll have to argue this point, much as I love the Model 60. Yes, cleaning it helps it run better. That's true of any autoloader. But all my life, I've had to clean mine about every 50-100 rounds. By comparison, I've had well past 500 rounds in my CMMG conversion with not a single malfunction. (JINX!)

So, I'd say that the Model 60 needs more cleaning and more often that other rimfires. But to be clear, my dirty Model 60 run better than my clean and well lubricated 10/22.
 
3Crows said:
...the Model 60 will return, maybe as limited editions. And without MG rifling.
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The micro-groove rifling is what made the Model 60 so great. If they take that away, I don't know how popular the gun will be, but, as we earlier surmised, Ruger will probably do something to sabotage the new Model 60 to make their 10/22 more competitive with it.

3Crows said:
I much prefer the 1022 and the ability to customize it into something unique...
Click to expand...

I've heard this a lot, and yes, there is, by far, much more aftermarket for the 10/22, but to say "look at my unique, one-of-a-kind 10/22" is, to me, like saying, "I got a tattoo to be unique and individual, just like all of the millions of other people who got similar tattoos." (I apply that same philosophy to every AR15 that isn't a 20" barrel A2 with a fixed stock-ooh look at me, I'm different just like everyone else.)
 
Regarding Microgroove rifling and my experience with it in rimfires made by Marlin versus rimfire rifles made by other companies, I never saw the benefit of having micro grooves.

Does it reduce leading? I sure haven’t noticed it to improve accuracy against similar gun types.

Which is to say if Marlin dropped the micro grooves, it wouldn’t make me walk away from owning a non microgroove rimfire Marlin.
 
D.B. Cooper said:
The micro-groove rifling is what made the Model 60 so great. If they take that away, I don't know how popular the gun will be, but, as we earlier surmised, Ruger will probably do something to sabotage the new Model 60 to make their 10/22 more competitive with it.


I've heard this a lot, and yes, there is, by far, much more aftermarket for the 10/22, but to say "look at my unique, one-of-a-kind 10/22" is, to me, like saying, "I got a tattoo to be unique and individual, just like all of the millions of other people who got similar tattoos." (I apply that same philosophy to every AR15 that isn't a 20" barrel A2 with a fixed stock-ooh look at me, I'm different just like everyone else.)
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The Model 60 if produced by Ruger will not have MG rifling. I very, very seriously doubt it.

I am not into conspiracy theories such as that Ruger would go to the effort to set up a production line and then sabotage their own product. That is a bit much do not you think?

I have not any tattoos, I am as God made me.
 
D.B. Cooper said:
But to be clear, my dirty Model 60 run better than my clean and well lubricated 10/22.
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There's part of your problem. The 10/22 is supposed to run dry.


D.B. Cooper said:
I've heard this a lot, and yes, there is, by far, much more aftermarket for the 10/22, but to say "look at my unique, one-of-a-kind 10/22" is, to me, like saying, "I got a tattoo to be unique and individual, just like all of the millions of other people who got similar tattoos." (I apply that same philosophy to every AR15 that isn't a 20" barrel A2 with a fixed stock-ooh look at me, I'm different just like everyone else.)
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We all know by now that you're not a 10/22 fan but the rhetoric is getting ridiculous. NO other rifle allows the user to make it anything they want it to be, with such a huge range of styles and purposes. At some point folks have to realize that their singular issue is statistically insignificant.

Did you EVER send it back to Ruger, as was suggested dozens of times?
 
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Humm thats interesting. Supposed to run dry.
During years of Appleseed course instruction, we learned by default thst when a students ruger failed, aa shot of Rem oil spray got then going again. This was with thousands of rugers seen, hundreds having a similar issues.
Regarding making it anything a person wants,, I tend to believe that the original platform wasn't particularly suitable in the first place. Perhaps over the years ruger has addressed some of the features found lacking. I know mine wasn't and required some aftermarket additions.
With no experience with a new M60 marlin to speak of, mine all of an older vintage, I can't comment as to the manufacturing or quality. But would certainly purchase a new M 60 if the rifles were made well, hopefully ruger can accomplish that.
 
Risky buisness said:
Humm thats interesting. Supposed to run dry.
During years of Appleseed course instruction, we learned by default thst when a students ruger failed, aa shot of Rem oil spray got then going again. This was with thousands of rugers seen, hundreds having a similar issues.
Regarding making it anything a person wants,, I tend to believe that the original platform wasn't particularly suitable in the first place. Perhaps over the years ruger has addressed some of the features found lacking. I know mine wasn't and required some aftermarket additions.
With no experience with a new M60 marlin to speak of, mine all of an older vintage, I can't comment as to the manufacturing or quality. But would certainly purchase a new M 60 if the rifles were made well, hopefully ruger can accomplish that.
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Maybe temporarily but all it does is make it a mudhole. 20yrs of rhetoric on RFC and 30yrs of use would seem to indicate otherwise.

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/threads/do-10-22s-prefer-to-be-run-wet-or-dry.819233/

Wasn't particularly suitable for what?
 
I just took down my Stainless 60. I never took it down before. It wasn't as bad inside as i thought it would be. I didn't take apart the action. I sprayed it with gun scrubber. Left it dry. Then lubed with some remoil. The action screws were loose too. Next ill check my newer blued one.
 
The 60’s Achilles heel is the junk sheet metal trigger group.

Largely nothing can be done to improve it, minus changing to lighter springs which does next to nothing to lessen the grit and creep in every 60 trigger I’ve shot.

Ruger would do well to re-engineering the trigger group. Maybe even make it take 10/22 components. I personally love a tube-fed .22 and find them more convenient for loading in the field vs keeping track of magazines and needing to remove them for reloading, and rubbing one’s thumb raw in the process (unless one uses a trick reloading gadget, more bulk an an extra item to pack around).

With a tube-fed, slide out the tube and just drop rounds in from a pouch or pocket. Simple. When needing “firepower” a .22 is not what I grab, so magazines are generally a moot point.

Other than the trigger group, the 60 is a fine little rifle. I hope to see it back and hope further to see some needed improvements to the design (but don’t reinvent the wheel, the rest of the rifle is of a good design).
 
D.B. Cooper said:
The micro-groove rifling is what made the Model 60 so great. If they take that away, I don't know how popular the gun will be, but, as we earlier surmised, Ruger will probably do something to sabotage the new Model 60 to make their 10/22 more competitive with it.
Click to expand...

I read years ago that Ruger said the Micro-Groove rifling is gone and will never be seen again. So what? There have been plenty of 22 rifles built with regular land and groove rifling that shoot with pin point accuracy. Try any of the older Remington 22 rifles. Or about any of the rifles built by Savage.

I have 3 model 60s and three 10/22 rifles. All are stock. They all work without failing. I think overall the Marlins are a tad more accurate but the Rugers do all I want accuracy wise. I have never missed an animal or target that I could blame on the accuracy of the rifle. Evey miss has been my fault. They shoot well enough to take full advantage of the performance of the round.

I don't know if Ruger will ever bring back the model 60. If they do I doubt I will rush out and buy one. And you can bet it won't be sold for the very reasonable price that Marlin sold them for. If I wanted another model 60 would just hunt down a used one. The used ones I have bought all needed to be cleaned and a couple needed new buffers. E-Gunparts (Numerich) sells a rubber buffer that should last a lifetime for around $15.

As for lube I do lube my semi-autos when I clean them. Then I do my best to wipe it all off. Thats seems to be all the lube they need. I clean when I get close to 400 rounds. Or even sooner.
 
D.B. Cooper said:
.… as we earlier surmised, Ruger will probably do something to sabotage the new Model 60 to make their 10/22 more competitive with it…
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I’ve been thinking about this, and gotta say: Ruger sabotaging its own line does not make a lot of sense, IMHO. Ruger owns the Model 60 now. It it does not want the 60 to compete with the 10/22, the simple answer would be: don’t build any to compete.
 
CraigC said:
Maybe temporarily but all it does is make it a mudhole. 20yrs of rhetoric on RFC and 30yrs of use would seem to indicate otherwise.

https://www.rimfirecentral.com/threads/do-10-22s-prefer-to-be-run-wet-or-dry.819233/

Wasn't particularly suitable for what?
Click to expand...

Making a mud hole? Thats quite the statement. Considering the rifle would not operate when it had to. If some pundits prefer to run the 1022 dry that's fine, then they're also going to have to deal with the results I've seen too. When it's shoot, borrow a rifle or go home you do what you require, regardless of some internet postings or fan boi rhetoric.
In so far as not particularly suitable, and as I aluded to earlier, ruger mave have corrected these issues on newer models. The ridiculous bolt release is first on my list. Wanting to fire the rifle rather than poke wiggle and cajole that ill made portion i found ....unsuitable. secondly the sights, but as most people have little appreciation for open sights and use optics it may make little difference. For my purposes with the 1022, also unsuitable. 3rd, the gritty heavy trigger. My sample, purpose built for a loaner had the usual crappy one. I thought after several thousand rounds this may work itself out. No, it didn't, again unsuitable for its purpose. Did the rifle go bang, yes properly lubricated, and after the several thousand rounds ceased to lock up requiring less. Did I alter the bolt release, yep, who wants engineered frustration, as well with the sights. Did I kit the trigger, yep. Now after altering some of the deficiencies, it's more likable, but never was as accurate as my older marlin 60s
 
I would imagine that the Marlin 60 would be priced similar if not below the 1022. It is a bread and butter profit product. And most younger buyers are on Facebook or some other platform, not this enthusiasts forum, and do not care and probably have never heard of Microgroove rifling or why they might want it or not.
 
Spats McGee said:
I’ve been thinking about this, and gotta say: Ruger sabotaging its own line does not make a lot of sense, IMHO.
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I agree, but it sure does make for good fodder.

Spats McGee said:
Ruger owns the Model 60 now. It it does not want the 60 to compete with the 10/22, the simple answer would be: don’t build any to compete.
Click to expand...

That's where I'm at on this. I don't think we'll ever see Mode 60 production again. =(
 
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