Pls. help me make a decision on which rimfire rifle to get

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mick53

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Hey,

I've been bitten by the rimfire bug. Again.

Been looking at the Model 795 and the (not a Marlin) Mossberg 702 Plinkster. And I'm fairly well educated on them.

But now an older Marlin has entered into the mix. Screenshot_2018-10-07-18-33-26.png Screenshot_2018-10-07-18-33-15.png Screenshot_2018-10-07-18-33-15.png

I've come across a Marlin 75C. It was made in 1984. It has a barrel tube and looks to be in good shape.

I know nothing about the 75C. To be honest, I never heard of this model before today.

I have not put my hands on it. The seller has sent pics.

What should I be looking out for?

Were these rifles good shooters accuracy wise?
 
it's a shorter barreled model 60 right?
the thing with the 60's (and the other model numbers that are basically 60's_is that some of the older ones have to have the feed throat replaced or they don't feed right. I had to fix one for an uncle. the issue is described here http://practicaleschatology.blogspot.com/2014/06/replacing-feed-throat-on-marlin.html I think it was like 30-50 bucks in parts to fix. Also, for me, they don't have enough drop in the comb to get me head down on them well.
 
I've had a few model 60s, which it seems the 75c is a short version of.
At this point I won't buy another. Mine were decent serviceable rifles, but I like other designs better.
Personally from the 3 I'd probably chose the 702, which IS basically a 795 copy.
Im actually looking for a cheap used one here, they are only about 100 new, but it's common to see them advertised in the 120 range used lol.

We're I willing to spend more, I'd probably buy another 597, or build a full nonruger custom 10/22
 
I was very impressed with the 702 when I got mine a few years back for a $99 "rollback" price at Wal-Mart. It's an excellent, swift-handling, lightweight little carbine that seems up to any of several types of tasks.

Now, though, I don't think they're a whole lot less expensive than the Marlin 60-series. If the 75C is close in price to the others, I'd snap it up. I like wood furniture, and sub-20-inch barrels. I have three of them already, a Glenfield 75 and two Marlin 99M1 carbines. One of the 99M1 guns and the Glenfield pre-date serial numbers.

The two you were looking at first both use detachable-box magazines, which makes clearing the gun easier. That may or may not be a deciding factor for you.
 
Consider getting a nice bolt-action. This is one: CZ 455 and it now sports a fluted bull-barrel, but it can be had .22LR, .22 Mag, or .17 HMR. I bought mine used, which started out as a .22 Mag, but now sports the fluted .17 HMR. It costs more than the inexpensive semi-autos, but should last a lifetime and its easy to purchase/switch barrels chambered for the other cartridges. upload_2018-10-9_10-21-48.png
 
Had a Marlin 795. Got it for 99 bucks after 25 dollar rebate. It was a great little .22. very accurate, very light, short and handy. Got the grandson a model 60 around the same time. Good gun, reliable only if we downloaded by 2. We both liked the 795 much better. Between those, 795 from my experience. CZ bolt actions are hard to beat but comes with a price increase. The 795 is just so handy to pack around.
 
Accuracy wise they're about the same. With the older Marlin you might need to replace the feed throat either now or in the future. For many people this is going to require a trip to the gunsmith.... If you're handy and really understand how your rifle works you can do this yourself with an available parts kit. Be forewarned though, I've seen many Marlin 22's come to the shop in a ziplock bag after the owner disassembled the lower action. You can tell whether the rifle you are looking at is the old style or the new by looking at the feed throat. The old style is a two piece feed throat with a seam down the middle and the new is a one piece design. Based on the pictures and the 1984 date I'm guessing that this is the old style. If I remember correctly if it's a really old Marlin that doesn't have the spring wire ejector you will need to change the bolt as well...

Personally I prefer the Marlins over the Mossberg 702 and would probably recommend going with the new 795..... If you want a really accurate 22 I'd get a CZ bolt action. They start around $350.
 
cheygriz said:
Anschutz 1716D
Click to expand...
Because i can build a decent 10/22 for 1/4-1/2 (depending on the model) of what an Ani goes for, and Ive got a bolt .22 I really like (that just happens to be a mossberg 802).
Im not in the market for another bolt .22, but I wouldnt mind having a .22 semi to play with.

At some point Ill buy a nice .22 bolt action sporter, but its a ways down the list at this point. The Anis, and a few others are topping that list.
 
Good luck.

My nephew has a custom 10-22 build. Dead-nutz accurate, heavy as an army tank, and ended up costing him a little over $1200 by the time he was done.

He loves it, though, so "Mo powah to 'im.":evil:
 
cheygriz said:
Good luck.

My nephew has a custom 10-22 build. Dead-nutz accurate, heavy as an army tank, and ended up costing him a little over $1200 by the time he was done.

He loves it, though, so "Mo powah to 'im.":evil:
Click to expand...
My list of parts comes up to about 600 (yes I assemble gun parts lists in my head pretty often LOL), Nothing spectacular, but it will have all the tweaks I prefer on a 10/22, other than a threaded barrel/receiver.

And I totally agree, for the money there are few .22s id buy over an Ani.
 
I have a super-accurate 10-22 Deluxe that the only non-factory part is a Shilen Barrel. I did a lot of tuning to it, including bedding, trigger and extractor mods, but kept the original Deluxe stock. If I had to do it over, I'd buy the bull-barreled target model and do the mods to make it really great.

Having recently repaired an older Marlin semi-auto for a neighbor, there were several weak spots, especially the ejector (spring) and the tubular magazine follower. Never having taken the action of one completely apart, it took me a long time to get things back together and working properly. However, if a person can find one cheap that's in working condition, it's a nice-handling rifle and fairly accurate.

One good thing about old semi-autos is that they haven't shot a lot of .22 Shorts through them. Shorts ruined the chamber of a bolt-action Rem 513 that my brother owned. I shot a lot of them through it because I could buy them from Sears...3 boxes for a dollar!!!
 
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well If you want an auto, I suggest a Browning SA-22! I have a rack of 22s and when I starting hunting with the SA-22 I liked it so much I bought another one!! It is about $600 retail but a used one would be a little less. Mine shoots very accurately at 35 yds with Blazer and CCI mini mag HP. I shoot several thousand rounds a year hunting Nutria and the SA-22 is my go to rifle!!

Bull
 
And now for something completely different....

Well, not that different, since it's based on a 795 action. Have you considered a Marlin Papoose, their take down model in stainless? Sometimes it's handy to have a small, non rifle looking, package and for the FL environment, stainless seems like it would be handy.

Mine is accurate, still fits in it's case with a small scope on it, and has been extremely reliable. Very light and comes with sling studs, which are nice for hunting, and 25 round mags are available, too.
 
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