A Tale Of “Sixties”

Fiend Reader JC_In_PA sends me this article, which compares two old rimfire warhorses (the Marlin Model 60 and the Ruger 10/22) and then invites me to wade into the argument — which he correctly compares to the various X vs. Y arguments in the gun world (.45 ACP vs. 9mm, etc.).

And I respectfully decline the invitation.

You see, I’ve owned both at various times in my life, fired at least a jillion rounds through each — more than a few times at the same range session together — and for the life of me I can’t / won’t declare a favorite.

I love the heavier barrel of the Mod 60 — I shoot it more accurately than I do the 10/22 — and likewise prefer the reloading ease of the 10/22’s magazine over the Marlin’s tube.

At the moment, I don’t have a 10/22 — if anybody has a spare one that isn’t worn out, I’ll take it under advisement — but I’m not under any pressure to get one because I do have a Mod 60 standing in Ye Olde Gunne Sayfe #2 (alongside its bolt-action brother, the scoped Mod 880 SQ).

With these two Marlin brothers, therefore, I can indulge my plinking needs, whether in volume at tin cans (60) or when the occasion calls for single-hole accuracy at varmints or swinging plates (880).  I am blissfully happy with either activity.  While both rifles “prefer” CCI Min-Mag ammo, the Mod 60 will shoot just about anything, whereas the 880’s pinhole accuracy tends to drift towards more of a quarter-sized hole.

So yeah, I could do with some kind of 10/22 (because reasons) — such as this one:

…because with my crappy old-fart-eyesight, I need a scope to see the stupid target and one is somewhat limited in scope choice with the Mod 60 because of the scope mount shortcomings;  but I can’t honestly say that the lack thereof is burning a hole in my psyche, either.

What I really want is a Ruger 10/22M (.22 Win Mag) in its “International” full-stock variation:


…but they make hen’s teeth look like a household commodity, and when one does become available, it’s generally at a price which makes my nuts ache and causes my trigger finger to go numb.

Anyway… I seem to have wandered off the reservation here, but there ya go.

Marlin Model 60 or Ruger 10/22?  Take yer pick;  either is a good choice.

By the way:  everyone does own a .22 rifle, right?  Because if not:

It’s un-American.

(Furrin Readers — including those in New Jersey — get a pass on this one, because as we all know, semi-auto .22 rifles are the cause of a million human deaths every second — I read it on Teh Intarwebz, so it must be true  — and that’s why they’re banned in your benighted countries.)

Oh, and the title of this post?

The Marlin was released in 1960, while the Ruger 10/22 was released in 1964, making last year its sixtieth anniversary.

13 comments

  1. I’ll vote for the 10-22, but you also need a pump action and a lever action to round out the selection. If the house is burning down and I can only carry X number of guns to safety, I’m taking the pump action and I’ll buy another 10-22 down the road.

    1. If I can only take one rifle I’m taking my 10 22. I can carry 1,000 rounds of 22 LR ammo and that’s around 10 pounds and the rifle is about 6 or 7 pounds. Then a back pack with extra mags might be 5 pounds. Around 20 to 25 pounds I have a rifle and a shitload of ammo I can easily carry and 22 is powerful enough for most anything but a bear.

  2. you’re right, The Marlin Model 60 vs the Ruger 10/22 is a coin flip. The 10/22 how comes in a breakdown variation. the magazines are reliable and faster to reload than putting cartridges down the tube on the Model 60. You can’t go wrong with either.

    1. Both are excellent, I prefer the 10 22 just for the ease of taking it apart and cleaning it and also the easy loading and availability of parts should I want to need.

      If I do ever have any extra cash in the future, I do want to pick up a Marlin 60 at some point… maybe after I pick up a take down 10 22 to go with my regular model 10 22.

      Damn I have to try to hit the lottery. So many things to buy… so little money… so MUCH inflation!

  3. I have both and like em both but….

    My 60 is black plastic and stainless with a silver Simmons 4x scope.
    I like the “shoot all day” aspect of the tube feed but I don’t like reloading it. I have a couple spee d loaders but still.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SG4P8H2?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    The 60 is very light and can be carried all day comfortably.
    ===========
    I also have a 10-22 that I built almost from scratch with custom everything and I like the 25 rd magazines though I don’t like how far they stick down from the receiver.

    If I had to choose between the 2 it would be the 10-22 because of the loadability factor. I can carry a whole bunch of mags and switch them out as necessary if I want, but reloading that 60 is going to take more time no matter what.

    1. I wish I lived in a freedom respecting state. The BX 25 mags are awesome. I see Ruger also makes a BX 25 that is 2 of those BX 25 that are molded together, “jungle taped” style, so you can load both, and just release, flip it over and insert the other side. 50 rounds, 2 mags in one.

      Ruger Mfg Part #: 90398

      Cool shit.

  4. Thank you for the post Kim! This is a GREAT post!

    My favorite rifle ever is the Ruger 10 / 22. I have a regular model (NOT a takedown), with 2 stocks, one is the all weather plastic stock which I leave on it most of the time, and I also have a wood stock for it as well. Mine is a stainless steel model, with a bead front site, though sometimes I think about getting a fiber optic front sight as the front site is dovetailed in and should go in and out pretty easy with a pin punch. (I like fiber sights better than night sights myself but that is preference of each individual).

    I have shot Marlin 60’s and I think they too are GREAT rifles. You can’t go wrong with either. If you have the cash get both.

    As cheesy as it sounds and as much as others might say they like other rifles, my favorite rifle is and probably will always be the 10 22. Ammo is cheap, it is easy to load and shoot, there is no recoil to speak of, save for really cheap ammo not working once in a great while, it is very reliable, and it has been accurate for me. I used to have a scope on top, but now I just use the irons, but if I ever want to remount the scope mine came with scope rings.

    Another benefit to the 10 22 is the vast aftermarket. If a part breaks Ruger has tons of parts in stock (though my 10 22 has never had a parts breakage yet), and if you can’t get the Ruger part of if you want something different there are many other options. I installed a volquartsen bolt release so that you can just pull back on the bolt and it releases instead of having to hold the bolt lock lever on the bottom each time. (As a side note – Volquartsen makes many parts for many guns, and they are all very high quality parts. The owner Scott Volquartsen is a SUPER NICE guy who cares about his customers. Check his company out. He is a great guy who makes high quality parts).

    One other advantage to the 10 22 that is often overlooked or just not thought of, many people think 22 and think oh its a plinker only. While that is true in many cases, don’t overlook the fact that as people age, they may get arthritis, carpal tunnel or many other issues that can hamper shooting guns like the lever action 357, or the AK 47, or the 12 or 20 guage shotgun. The 10 22 can be operated and shot by almost anyone, young or old, big or small, even those with strength and health issues. As far as lethality, while the 22 LR might not have the “stopping power” of a larger 357 or 556, I am willing to bet that if some asshole is hell bent on kicking in your front door at 1 am and wants to come and beat you then rape your asshole, while 22 LR is not the most ideal round, I think that 10 rounds of 22 LR out of a Ruger 10 22 into the face, chester or genitals of a would be attacker and/or rapist might act like the opposite of the little blue pull and likely captain winky won’t be riding your hershey highway.

    Sadly in many states, including Massachusetts, the 10 22 is now viewed as a semiautomatic that accepts detachable magazines, so I am not sure if you can purchase new ones, and used ones “pre ban” will likely cost a small fortune. If you have one, NEVER sell it and make sure to follow the mantra, if you love it, lube it. Clean, oil and take care of the guns you have.

  5. I have a 10/22 but it is a safe queen. My goto 22LR is my grandfather’s Ted Williams magazine fed bolt action. I had it re-sleeved back in the 90’s and it is more accurate than I am.

  6. Wow! I’ve never seen that “International” version, it’s gorgeous. I have a bit of a chubby over that photo.

    I got my first one with the plastic stock when my son was 5 or 6 years old, and IMMEDIATELY regretted it and replaced it with the wood stock. Foolish. But that International is a real stunner!

  7. I prefer the Marlin ’cause that’s what I own !! I bought mine many years ago for $69 off the used rack at a local Merchant of Death. The little Marlin runs like the dickens on CCI Minimag or Aguila 40gr HV copper plated fodder. The Aguila stuff seems to use a “dirtier” propellant and is a bit less consistent in the accuracy department, but when on sale at ~6¢ a round I’ll continue to buy it.
    For faster reloads of the Marlin’s tube, I bought one of these …
    https://www.brownells.com/gear/range-gear/speedloaders-accessories/spee-d-loader/?sku=100018243
    Which quickly gives 120 rounds on tap.
    – Brad

    And accuracy? I equipped my Marlin with peeps from Tech Sights … when I’m really on my game, and using good ammo like the CCI .. well, dime-sized holes at 25 yards are well within the rifle’s capability.

  8. A different take on the “Ruger vs. Marlin” will have to include the Marlin Model 39A lever-action.

    While I’ve got several 10/22’s and love all of them, my wife’s favorite .22 is the 39A I bought for her to replace the antique Model 39 we donated to a gun museum. The 1926 version couldn’t handle modern high-velocity ammo without risking the bolt and we didn’t want to make the pretty easy mistake of feeding it the wrong thing, so we gave it away to a good home. You can see it on display in the “gun library” of the BBCoW in Cody, WY.

    The 39A is longer and heavier, but in my wife’s hands is an absolute tack-driver at 25 yards. I think it’s possible that the “Micro-Groove” (IIRC) rifling in the older Marlin barrels gives them an edge in accuracy. It’s also a much, much prettier firearm with nice wood and well-blued metal parts. It splits in half at the receiver and when put together is so finely machined that you have to look hard at it to see the split line.

    On t’other hand the 10/22’s are the rimfire equivalent of the AR-15; you can basically build one from scratch with available aftermarket parts, from receiver, through barrel, to stocks and sights. I’ve got a couple with the old-fashioned (and no longer available) Butler Creek metal folding stocks, which are great.

  9. I prefer bolt action 22s (my father’s biases continue). Forces you to take your time a bit and consider every shot.

  10. I guess I’ll be the heretic here. CZ 452 American, which is great except for the weird safety. It was a deal when I got it, and I don’t shoot it much.

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