I recently purchased a Marlin 60, and after test firing it at the range a few times, purchased a Muzzelite stock for the hell of it.
Synopsis of the Muzzelite configuration compared to the bare Marlin 60:
Fun to shoot, trigger has a harder pull and has to reset after each shot; fairly instantaneous but not 100%, definitely harder than when it was in it's original stock. Sights needed adjusting which is to be expected; both front and rear sights are adjustable though the front sight is very loose and very sensitive so I fear it may (with continuous use) move up or down on it's own and thus need readjusting in the future. Changed the grouping of the Marlin 60 from inch circles to about 3-4 inch circles but that's to be expected when you throw the action of a firearm into a cheap flimsy two-half plastic shell for looks. Forgot to mention two different size flat-head screwdriver threads on front and rear sights so you'll need two different screw drivers to sight it in. Overall the Muzzelite is a fairly overpriced but fun way to make a Marlin 60 look neat and be more fun to shoot.
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The main downfalls for the Muzzelite stock:
1- Instructions included are incorrect and one must figure out how to install their weapon's action into the Muzzelite stock shell themselves and this will take at least 90 minutes as once it's done the first time you may, as in my experience, find that certain screws have to be tweaked just right... too tight and the trigger malfunctions and certain areas bulge; too loose and the trigger malfunctions and you risk the whole thing falling apart. Just has to be somewhere in the middle.
2- Low quality cheap plastic construction. You will find deformations, the shell will not fit flush together, or if it does, you'll find screw and bolt holes are not perfect circles and appear as deformed blob-like holes thus making installation all the more difficult and frustrating.
3- Low quality sights. The sights are adjustable for windage and elevation, however like the rest of the build, they're cheap and flimsy as well as very loose. The rear sight is a pistol-style notch and it's gap is not very wide thus if you suffer from less than perfect vision and or don't have much light, they will be hard to see through. The front sight also has a parting on top (where one inserts a screwdriver for adjustment) which if turned to face the shooter during adjustment can make aiming more frustrating and confusing.
4- Sharp edges of the ejection port make for an obnoxious time charging the bolt handle of your firearm before you get used to the configuration. The bolt handle BARELY protrudes from the ejection port and thus one must stick their finger into the small ejection area exposing themselves to said sharp edges.
5- Price. It's overpriced. Really, it is. I bought mine the cheapest I could fine ($125 + a ridiculous $14 shipping charge.) and most other websites list it for ~$130 sometimes more. Considering it's only purpose is to look cool and it does the opposite of add function, it's overpriced.
6- Not for the left-handed. As most anyone who is left handed can tell you, shooting a bullpup rifle is not very fun; hot brass, gas, and burnt carbon crud in your face (and eyes specifically,) is not safe or enjoyable. But I, like many people, are right handed and thus do not face this problem; (though I have had SOME carbon crud from the ejection port get in my mouth during shooting, but I have salivary glands for a reason.)
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The good aspects of the Muzzelite stock:
1- Aesthetics. To me, it looks neat. I've seen Mini-14s and AC-556s in Muzzelite configurations in movies and TV shows for years and always liked the look. It may not be the most practical or useful configuration, but sometimes that doesn't matter. I used to own a Ruger 10/22, the tactical version with a flash suppressor and was not able to put it into a Muzzelite configuration as it would be too short without federal paperwork. I no longer own the 10/22 but found out the Muzzelite stock existed in a Marlin 60 version and with my recently purchased Marlin 60 had to give it a try; and despite it's downfalls I like it.
2- It's fun. Ok, this probably still falls under aesthetics, but if you love "military style" civilian firearms, shooting and collecting them, you'll probably love this. It turns a light weight dependable VERY "civilian-looking" plinking .22 into a bad ass looking bullpup sports carbine that frankly look's 80's-style-futuristic (and that's probably the reason Hollywood used weapons in these stocks so much in the past.) Which leads me to...
3- It's a freaking bullpup. It converts a firearm that isn't a bullpup configuration into a bullpup configuration. Some people just love bullpup designs in general, let alone shooting and collecting them. I can't say that the Muzzelite really incorporates what a GOOD bullpup design has to offer (lower felt recoil thus theoretically improved accuracy plus the fact it's more compact due to the barrel being mostly internal,) but still, it is technically a bullpup weapon.
4- It comes with a built-in carrying handle that doubles as a platform for an included scope mount. (Much like an AR-15.) Though this like the system overall is questionably practical due to the fact it's not a very accurate configuration to begin with. But if you like optics, it's there.
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Synopsis of the Muzzelite configuration compared to the bare Marlin 60:
Fun to shoot, trigger has a harder pull and has to reset after each shot; fairly instantaneous but not 100%, definitely harder than when it was in it's original stock. Sights needed adjusting which is to be expected; both front and rear sights are adjustable though the front sight is very loose and very sensitive so I fear it may (with continuous use) move up or down on it's own and thus need readjusting in the future. Changed the grouping of the Marlin 60 from inch circles to about 3-4 inch circles but that's to be expected when you throw the action of a firearm into a cheap flimsy two-half plastic shell for looks. Forgot to mention two different size flat-head screwdriver threads on front and rear sights so you'll need two different screw drivers to sight it in. Overall the Muzzelite is a fairly overpriced but fun way to make a Marlin 60 look neat and be more fun to shoot.
------------------------------------------
The main downfalls for the Muzzelite stock:
1- Instructions included are incorrect and one must figure out how to install their weapon's action into the Muzzelite stock shell themselves and this will take at least 90 minutes as once it's done the first time you may, as in my experience, find that certain screws have to be tweaked just right... too tight and the trigger malfunctions and certain areas bulge; too loose and the trigger malfunctions and you risk the whole thing falling apart. Just has to be somewhere in the middle.
2- Low quality cheap plastic construction. You will find deformations, the shell will not fit flush together, or if it does, you'll find screw and bolt holes are not perfect circles and appear as deformed blob-like holes thus making installation all the more difficult and frustrating.
3- Low quality sights. The sights are adjustable for windage and elevation, however like the rest of the build, they're cheap and flimsy as well as very loose. The rear sight is a pistol-style notch and it's gap is not very wide thus if you suffer from less than perfect vision and or don't have much light, they will be hard to see through. The front sight also has a parting on top (where one inserts a screwdriver for adjustment) which if turned to face the shooter during adjustment can make aiming more frustrating and confusing.
4- Sharp edges of the ejection port make for an obnoxious time charging the bolt handle of your firearm before you get used to the configuration. The bolt handle BARELY protrudes from the ejection port and thus one must stick their finger into the small ejection area exposing themselves to said sharp edges.
5- Price. It's overpriced. Really, it is. I bought mine the cheapest I could fine ($125 + a ridiculous $14 shipping charge.) and most other websites list it for ~$130 sometimes more. Considering it's only purpose is to look cool and it does the opposite of add function, it's overpriced.
6- Not for the left-handed. As most anyone who is left handed can tell you, shooting a bullpup rifle is not very fun; hot brass, gas, and burnt carbon crud in your face (and eyes specifically,) is not safe or enjoyable. But I, like many people, are right handed and thus do not face this problem; (though I have had SOME carbon crud from the ejection port get in my mouth during shooting, but I have salivary glands for a reason.)
-------------------------------------------
The good aspects of the Muzzelite stock:
1- Aesthetics. To me, it looks neat. I've seen Mini-14s and AC-556s in Muzzelite configurations in movies and TV shows for years and always liked the look. It may not be the most practical or useful configuration, but sometimes that doesn't matter. I used to own a Ruger 10/22, the tactical version with a flash suppressor and was not able to put it into a Muzzelite configuration as it would be too short without federal paperwork. I no longer own the 10/22 but found out the Muzzelite stock existed in a Marlin 60 version and with my recently purchased Marlin 60 had to give it a try; and despite it's downfalls I like it.
2- It's fun. Ok, this probably still falls under aesthetics, but if you love "military style" civilian firearms, shooting and collecting them, you'll probably love this. It turns a light weight dependable VERY "civilian-looking" plinking .22 into a bad ass looking bullpup sports carbine that frankly look's 80's-style-futuristic (and that's probably the reason Hollywood used weapons in these stocks so much in the past.) Which leads me to...
3- It's a freaking bullpup. It converts a firearm that isn't a bullpup configuration into a bullpup configuration. Some people just love bullpup designs in general, let alone shooting and collecting them. I can't say that the Muzzelite really incorporates what a GOOD bullpup design has to offer (lower felt recoil thus theoretically improved accuracy plus the fact it's more compact due to the barrel being mostly internal,) but still, it is technically a bullpup weapon.
4- It comes with a built-in carrying handle that doubles as a platform for an included scope mount. (Much like an AR-15.) Though this like the system overall is questionably practical due to the fact it's not a very accurate configuration to begin with. But if you like optics, it's there.
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