Marlin Model 60

Marlin Model 60
Type Semi-automatic rifle
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1960–present
Production history
Designer N/A
Designed 1960
Number built Over 11 million
Variants 60, 60C, 60DL, 60S-CF, 60SB, 60SS, 60SSK, 60SSBL, 600
Specifications
Weight 5.5 lb (2.5 kg)
Length 37.5 in (953 mm) since mid-1980s, 40.5 in (1029 mm) before mid-1980s
Barrel length 19 in (483 mm) since mid-1980s, 22 in (559 mm) before mid-1980s, both with Micro-Groove rifling
Cartridge .22 LR
Action Direct blowback
Rate of fire less than 2 seconds per shot, typical
Muzzle velocity 1,280 ft/s (390 m/s)[1]
Effective firing range 100 yards
Feed system 15 or 18 rounds; tubular magazine capacity is either 17 rounds (before the late 1980s) or 14 rounds (since the late 1980s)
Sights adjustable open rear, ramp front sight; receiver is grooved for a scope mount

The Marlin Model 60, also known as the Marlin Glenfield Model 60, is a semi-automatic rifle that fires the .22 LR rimfire cartridge. Produced by Remington Arms in Mayfield, Kentucky formerly by Marlin Firearms Company of North Haven, Connecticut, it has been in continuous production since 1960 and the company says it is the most popular rifle of its kind in the world.[2] Major features include a micro-groove barrel, a cross-bolt safety, hardwood stock with Monte Carlo comb, and brass inner magazine tube. The Marlin Model 795 is a very similar rifle and based on the Marlin Model 60, changed only to accept a detachable box magazine.

History

The Marlin Model 99 was developed in 1959 by Ewald Nichol. Internally, it was essentially what would become the Model 60 in 1960. However, major differences were visible from the exterior. The Model 99 featured a walnut stock, and the receiver, instead of being grooved for tip-off scope mounts like the Model 60 would be, was factory-tapped to accept screw-on scope mounts. The Model 99 was offered from 1959 through 1961, and a lower priced version, Model 99G, was offered under Marlin's Glenfield line.

The Marlin Model 60 was developed in 1960 from the Model 99 design. The primary difference was that the stock was made of birch instead of walnut to reduce the recurring production costs for the more expensive wood. Marlin also moved away from their practice of using steel inner tubes with their tubular magazine. They moved back to brass inner tubes as other companies had done. This, instead of the steel tubes often seen on earlier Marlin .22 rifles, completely eliminated the rust problems that the all-steel tubular magazines had experienced which helped make the inexpensive Marlin rifle as durable as more expensive .22 caliber rifles. The Model 60 additionally featured a 16-groove rifled barrel, utilizing Marlin's trademarked Micro-Groove rifling technology, which had been developed in 1953. This rifling, with its precision-crowned muzzle, gave the Model 60 an inherent, enhanced accuracy over competing rifles, which used traditional deep grooved rifling, because the bullet was not as severely deformed while traveling down the barrel, and downrange.

The Model 60 has a manual "fully open" bolt hold position, activated by pushing the charging handle inwards towards the gun when it is in the fully retracted, open breech position. To close the bolt with the manual bolt hold-open engaged, the charging handle must be pulled out, away from the gun, before the bolt will go forward. Since 1985, the Model 60 has also included a patented automatic "last-shot" bolt hold-open. This latter feature is a safety feature that locks the bolt half-way open after the last cartridge is fired, thereby allowing the safe inspection of the now-open action. This also notifies the user when the gun is empty.

Marlin Model 60 with after-market stock.

During the late-1980s, the capacity of the rifle was reduced to a 15-round maximum limit, to meet New Jersey's firearms law for semi-automatic assault weapons. For a few years in the mid-1980s the Model 60 rifles had both the "last shot hold open" feature and also held 18 rounds in the tube magazine. Those rifles with those two features are among the most sought after Model 60s. The redesigned magazine tube was visibly shorter than the barrel, which is how rifles from this period can be easily identified. Then, in the early 2000s the length of the barrel was reduced from 22 to 19 inches (559 to 483 mm), to match the length of the reduced length magazine. This had the effect of reducing the length of the rifle from 40.5 to 37.5 inches (1029 to 953 mm). (The photo above is of the 40.5 inch (1029 mm) version, the rifle having been manufactured in 1982.) Non-removable tubular magazine-fed rifles were never subject to the 10 round limit of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. Marlin also manufactured models for export, which had various capacities to comply with foreign firearms regulations.

Despite slight design changes since 1960, there is general backwards compatibility of nearly all internal parts. Some notable parts that are year-specific are the feed throat mechanisms, magazine tubes, firing pins, and hammers.

Features

Two Marlin Model 60s. Top: older 18-round model. Bottom: 15-round model with aftermarket scope (and magazine tube that is visibly shorter than the barrel). Note: the bolt stays open on the 15-round model after the last round is fired, but does not on the 18-round model. The 15 round model has a third screw slightly behind the trigger guard to reinforce the stock, which the old model lacks. There are a few 1985 models that were a mixture of both, 22" barrel, 18 round capacity, last round bolt hold open feature and the third reinforcing screw. Different wood is used for the stock itself.

The action design is a self-loading, straight blowback operation, with right-side ejection. The receiver top has a serrated, non-glare finish. The receiver is held in the stock by front and rear machine screws through forearm and the trigger guard respectively (later models add a wood screw behind the trigger guard to reinforce the wrist of the stock). The receiver is grooved for a scope mount. For use without a scope, the barrel features an adjustable open rear sight and a ramp front sight. The charging handle is used to load the first round from the magazine and can be retracted and pushed in as a manual bolt hold-open feature. Current model has an automatic "last-shot" bolt hold-open device with an external lever in the front of the trigger guard to release the bolt. Earliest Model 60s did not have a bolt hold-open; first the manual, then in the mid-1980s the automatic "last shot" hold-open were added. The rifle has an easily accessible cross-bolt safety located above the trigger. When disassembled, the trigger guard with trigger and safety remains in the stock.

Marlin uses their proprietary Micro-Groove rifling in the Model 60. The twist rate is 1:16 inches, right-hand. Micro-Groove rifling uses 16 small lands and grooves rather than 4, 6 or 8 deeper grooves used in most rifles. This increases the accuracy of the rifle by lessening deformation of fired bullets traveling down the barrel. Although the Model 60 is one of the least expensive .22 semi-automatic rifles sold, it has the reputation of being one of the most accurate rifles out of the box, with no modifications necessary.

Unlike some competing .22 semi-automatic rifles, such as the Ruger 10/22, there are relatively few aftermarket accessories sold for the utilitarian Model 60.

The Model 99 has been sold in over thirty-five variants, and is one of the fastest-selling sporting rifles ever, as of 1983.[3]

While earlier .22 semi-automatic rifles were often designed to function with .22 Short, .22 Long and .22 Long Rifle interchangeably, the Model 60 is optimized for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge only.

Uses

The Model 60 is well-suited for small-game hunting and vermin control, as well as for serious but low-cost target practice while preparing for hunting with larger rifles. The relatively large ammunition capacity is adequate for casual recreational target shooting ("plinking"), plus the low price and ease of handling makes it well-suited as a first rifle by young hunters just learning to use a semi-automatic rifle.

Versions and year of manufacture

The Model 60 is currently available in 9 distinct versions:

Historically, there were also other versions that were sold:

Other private-label versions were manufactured for Montgomery Ward, Coast to Coast Stores, and Cotter & Company.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Using Remington "Golden Bullet" High Velocity with 36 grain (2.3 g) plated HP bullet
  2. ↑ Marlin Model 60 Sales Page
  3. ↑ Wallack, LR. "Sixty Million Guns". 1983. In Gun Digest Treasury, Harold A. Murtz, editor, DBI Books. 1994 p.195 ISBN 0873491564
  4. ↑ Marlin 60DLX factory website
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