Cosmoline
Member
Man, the old short term is going. So's the long term. I used to own both a 30A and a 336. Here I am mixing them up. Jesh.
Opinions on Marlin 39A Please.
- Thread starter cslinger
- Start date
- Status
Man, the old short term is going. So's the long term. I used to own both a 30A and a 336. Here I am mixing them up. Jesh.Tom C.
Member.
I have two, a 39A I got in 1963, and a Mountie I got just this March ('69 vintage). The 39A has had thousands of rounds through it. It is nice and smooth and has redfield aperture sights. I have mounted a Williams aperture sight on it. I like both, but I am more used to a straight grip currently from cowboy shooting, so I am currently favoring the Mountie.
30Cal
Member
I've got a Golden 39A Mountie (mid 60's). It's well built (like in the hand fitted and finished sense). It's very accurate. The action works smoothly and perfectly regardless of what you feed it. It fits and balances flawlessly in your hand when you carry it. It's got just a little weight to it, so it holds well, but is pleasant to carry the entire day without a sling.
There were tears in my dad's eyes when he gave it to me Christmas morning one year. At the time, I thought that was because he was happy. I'm pretty sure now it was more for loss and worry of what damage and neglect it might see in the hands of a 13 year old.
I took pretty good care of it. It's wearing a Williams peep sight.
Ty
There were tears in my dad's eyes when he gave it to me Christmas morning one year. At the time, I thought that was because he was happy. I'm pretty sure now it was more for loss and worry of what damage and neglect it might see in the hands of a 13 year old.
I took pretty good care of it. It's wearing a Williams peep sight.
Ty
I believe that the Marlin 39 is the oldest firearm in America to be continuously produced in the same design, predating even the Win. 94.I sure like the one I have and you won't find many 39 owners who don't.
It is a little heavy for some applications and the trigger could stand to be a lot lighter and smoother.
It is a little heavy for some applications and the trigger could stand to be a lot lighter and smoother.
fallingblock
Member
Mine's a 39A from 1978....
The 39A is a classic design, well-balanced, accurate, and rugged beyond what a .22 rimfire would be expected to be.
They just seem to operate more smoothly as the years go by.
There are other lever action rimfires available, but none with the history of over one hundred years of production (and satisfied users) behind them.
The 39A is a classic design, well-balanced, accurate, and rugged beyond what a .22 rimfire would be expected to be.
They just seem to operate more smoothly as the years go by.
There are other lever action rimfires available, but none with the history of over one hundred years of production (and satisfied users) behind them.
Flatfender
Member
I have 1 - Golden 39A, 2 - 9422s and a Henry.
I like the 9422s and the Henry over the 39A because they are lighter.
I pinch my fingers when operating the lever on the Marlin and I don't with the others. It might be due to the semi pistol grip on the marlin. I dunno.
The Henry is a nice rifle but the Marlin is a much better built gun. I can see wearing out the Henry in my lifetime but not the Marlin or Winchesters.
I like the 9422s and the Henry over the 39A because they are lighter.
I pinch my fingers when operating the lever on the Marlin and I don't with the others. It might be due to the semi pistol grip on the marlin. I dunno.
The Henry is a nice rifle but the Marlin is a much better built gun. I can see wearing out the Henry in my lifetime but not the Marlin or Winchesters.
JohnBT
Member
You wouldn't have those problems with a Mountie.
CajunBass
Member
I think every shooter should have a 39A.
porterdog
Member
Another vote in favor....
Mine was a wedding gift from my grandmother to my grandfather, circa 1940. Beautiful, solid, accurate, it's got to have 30k rounds through it and works flawlessly.
The ability to use virtually any .22 non-mag ammo shouldn't be downplayed.
I dig it, and so do my friends. "Did you bring the cowboy gun?!" they'll ask.
Robert
Mine was a wedding gift from my grandmother to my grandfather, circa 1940. Beautiful, solid, accurate, it's got to have 30k rounds through it and works flawlessly.
The ability to use virtually any .22 non-mag ammo shouldn't be downplayed.
I dig it, and so do my friends. "Did you bring the cowboy gun?!" they'll ask.
Robert
Ivy Mike
Member
dafarriswheel is not joking about the longevity of the design.
I recently inherrited the Marlin 39 (not 39A) that my Grandfather had when he was younger. My father (who is nearly 60 himself) and his older brother (my 65 y/o uncle) learned to shoot using that rifle.
The wood on it has gotten very dark, but is still in fantastic shape.
The bluing on the metal has mostly worn away and there are a few small pits here and there.
The guts are in great shape and the sheer volume of fire this thing has seen has led to a very smooth action and trigger pull.
If I take my time with it, I can out shoot my far more modern Ruger 10/22.
The damn thing is like that 1988 Toyota Corrola that just refuses to die even though you haven't changed the crisco you've been using for oil in the past 3 years.
I recently inherrited the Marlin 39 (not 39A) that my Grandfather had when he was younger. My father (who is nearly 60 himself) and his older brother (my 65 y/o uncle) learned to shoot using that rifle.
The wood on it has gotten very dark, but is still in fantastic shape.
The bluing on the metal has mostly worn away and there are a few small pits here and there.
The guts are in great shape and the sheer volume of fire this thing has seen has led to a very smooth action and trigger pull.
If I take my time with it, I can out shoot my far more modern Ruger 10/22.
The damn thing is like that 1988 Toyota Corrola that just refuses to die even though you haven't changed the crisco you've been using for oil in the past 3 years.
- Status
