Marlin Model 60

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Marlin Model 60

Type	Hunting rifle
Place of origin	United States of America
Service history
In service	1960-present
Production history
Designer	N/A
Designed	1960
Number built	over 11 million, 1960 - present
Variants	60, 60C, 60DL, 60SB, 60SS, 60SSK
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, or 22 in (559 mm) before mid-1980s, both with Micro-Groove rifling

Cartridge	.22 LR
Action	Semi-automatic self-loading
Rate of fire	less than 2 seconds per shot, typical
Muzzle velocity	1,280 ft/s (390 m/s) with Remington "Golden Bullet" High Velocity with 36 grain (2.3 g) plated HP bullet[1]
Effective range	100 yards [2]
Feed system	15 or 18 rounds; tubular magazine capacity is either 17 rounds (before mid-1980s) or 14 rounds (since mid 1980s)
Sights	adjustable open rear, ramp front sight; receiver is grooved for a scope mount

The Marlin Model 60, also known as the Glenfield Marlin Model 60, is a semi-automatic rifle and the most popular .22 LR rifle in the world, based on the number sold. Produced since 1960, it is still in production by the Marlin Firearms Company of North Haven, Connecticut. Major features include a micro-groove barrel, a cross-bolt safety, hardwood stock, and brass inner magazine tube. It remains one of America's best selling rifles today.

1 History
2 Features
3 Uses
4 Versions and year of manufacture
5 References
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] 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, too. The Model 99 featured a walnut stock, and the receiver, instead of being grooved like the Model 60 would be, was factory-tapped to accept a scope. The Model 99 was offered from 1959 through 1961.

The Marlin Model 60 was developed in 1960 from the Model 99 design. The primary difference was that the stock was of birch instead of walnut, to reduce the recurring production cost. Its tube magazine was a significant innovation at the time for a semi-automatic 22 rifle, as it featured a brass inner magazine tube. This, instead of the steel tubes often seen on earlier 22 rifles, completely eliminated the rust problems that all-steel magazines had experienced. The Model 60 additionally featured a 16-groove rifled barrel, in Marlin's trademarked Micro-Groove rifling. This rifling, with its precision-crowned muzzle, gave the Model 60 an enhanced accuracy over competing rifles using traditional deep grooved rifling, as the bullet was not as severely deformed while traveling down the barrel as with competing 22 LR rifles.

The Model 60 has a manual bolt hold-open, activated by pushing the charging handle inward 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 to 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 22 LR cartridge is fired, thereby allowing the safe inspection of the now-open action.

Marlin Model 60 with after-market stock.

During the mid-1980s, the capacity of the rifle was reduced to a 15 round maximum limit, to meet New Jersey's firearms law for semi-automatic firearms. Simultaneous to this change, 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.) Tube magazine fed 22 LR rifles were never subject to the 10 round limit of the federal assault weapons ban.

Despite slight design changes since 1960, there is general backwards compatibility of nearly all internal parts.

[edit] Features

The action design is a self-loading, straight blowback operation, with right-side ejection. The receiver is grooved for a scope mount, but the design also features an adjustable open rear sight, and a ramp front sight, for use without a scope. The steel charging handle is used to load the first round from the magazine. The action has both manual and automatic "last-shot" bolt hold-opens (since the mid-1980s; earlier Model 60's did not have the "last shot" patented feature.)

The receiver top has a serrated, non-glare finish. The rifle has an easily accessible cross-bolt safety located above the trigger. On rifles with the "hold-open" "last shot" feature, there is an additional lever, next to the trigger, to release the bolt; older rifles do not have this control.

Two Marlin Model 60s. Top: older 18 round model, no "last shot" feature. Bottom: 15-round model with aftermarket scope. Note: the bolt stays open on the 15-round model after the last round is fired, but does not on the 18-round model. Also note, the 15 round model has another screw slightly behind the trigger-group to mount the receiver to the stock, which the old model lacks, as well as a different wood used for the stock itself.

Marlin uses their proprietary Micro-Groove rifling in the Model 60. The twist rate is 1:16 inches, right-hand. Micro-Groove rifling uses many small lands and grooves rather than 2, 4, or 6 deeper grooves used in the majority of rifles. This arguably adds to the accuracy of the rifle through lessening the deforming of fired bullets traveling down the barrel and indeed the Model 60's reputation for accuracy would seem to bear this out. Although the Model 60 is one of the least expensive 22 semi-automatic rifles sold, it is one of the most accurate examples of a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle ever produced, due to the 16 groove Micro-Groove rifling.

Unlike competing 22 semi-automatic rifles in production, such as the Ruger 10/22, there are relatively few aftermarket accessories sold for the utilitarian Model 60. Despite this, it has been sold in over thirty-five variants, and is one of the fastest-selling rifles ever.^[1]

[edit] Uses

The Model 60 is well-suited for small-game hunting. Its accuracy additionally makes it well-suited for rodent control, as well as for serious but low-cost target practice while preparing for hunting with larger rifles. Its 18 shot, 15 shot, or more traditionally, 14 shot capacity is adequate for casual plinking. Its low cost and ease of handling additionally makes it well-suited for use as a first rifle by young hunters just starting to use a semi-automatic rifle.

Using the factory standard sights, it is generally very easy to maintain better than 3-inch to 5-inch diameter shot groupings at 50 yards over 18 shots using cheap, hollow-point, high-velocity ammo. This may be improved considerably by attaching an aftermarket scope to the grooved receiver.

[edit] Versions and year of manufacture

The Model 60 is currently available in 6 distinct versions:

Model 60, the basic rifle (shown in picture)
Model 60C, the basic rifle in a camouflage version
Model 60DL, the basic rifle in a Monte Carlo walnut stock
Model 60SB, the rifle in a weather-proof stainless steel version
Model 60SS, the rifle in a nickel-plated, stainless steel version
Model 60SSK, the rifle in a nickel-plated, stainless steel version, with black fiberglass stock

Historically, there were also other versions that were sold:

Marlin Model 99 and 99DL - this was the first version of the Model 60, offered in a walnut stock, 1959 to 1961
Glenfield Model 60G - this was the name used on Marlin-made Model 60 guns intended for sale to mass-merchandisers, 1960 to 1965, with a birch stock instead of walnut
Glenfield Model 60 - one of the Model 60 versions manufactured from 1966 to 1982
Glenfield Model 65 - manufactured in 1968; it was essentially identical to the Model 60 with the exception of a brass exterior magazine tube; it was made for Oklahoma Tire & Supply Co.

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

The Revelation model 120 was manufactured for Western Auto Supply and is nearly identical to the first variant of the model 60, but also looks like a model 99. Many Revelation 120s were manufactured and sold without serial numbers until the use of serial numbers on firearms was made mandatory in 1968. The Revelation 120 has a different front sight (a brass dot as opposed to the model 60's hooded front sight) and the barrel is stamped WESTERN AUTO SUPPLY CO.

On Marlin-branded Model 60 rifles, the first two digits of the serial number indicate the year of manufacture. For example, on the rifle shown in the photo above, the serial number starts with 18... The 18 is significant, for subtracting it from 2000 gives the date of manufacture for the rifle, 1982. Likewise, a serial number starting with 17 would be a rifle manufactured in 1983.

This method has not been uniformly followed. It is valid only from 1971 through 1999. Prior to 1971, the first two digits indicated the year of manufacture. For example, a rifle with a serial number starting with 70... would have been made in 1970. Starting in 2000, this same old method has returned; the first two digits once more indicate the year of manufacture directly, with no subtraction required. [3]

Recently it seems Marlin has changed their methods once again as one example purchased new in 2006 has a serial number starting with 94, the exact way to find the date seems unclearthough it is possible they are using a "subtract from 2100" method.