Ruger 10/22 vs Marlin
- Thread starter thinktwice
- Start date
Blackshirts
New member
Just for fun I have shot tacks, both the metal as well as plastic head ones, and it didn't drive them at all. It mangled the metal one and demolished the plastic one.
Either way he goes he will have a good rifle. They wouldn't be the two most sold if they weren't.
Either way he goes he will have a good rifle. They wouldn't be the two most sold if they weren't.
603Country
New member
I've been following this very interesting discussion. I don't have a working semi-auto 22, and was thinking about getting one. But, all this mention of the guns having plastic parts and low quality feed ramps has dampened my enthusiasm for a new semi-auto. Maybe I just should take my old Stevens 87D to the gunsmith for a rework. It always was a great shooter, but jams up these days.
bullethole1
Moderator
Marlins are the best .22 makers when it comes to rimfires. I used them my whole life and found out from experience with other rimfires that nothing comes as close to Marlin's Quality,accuracy,reputation,and reliability. I however did use a Ruger 10/22 ,I shot 3 of them and all three jammed. I took them back one after the other and finally took the last one back and that was it for me with rugers. I consider the Rugers junk. 
Bamashooter
New member
I have 2 10/22's. One I bought over 20yrs ago and one that I bought a little over a year ago. Both are great rifles that have never caused me any trouble. The older one would jam sometimes but it was because of the junk hi-cap mags from back in the day. The newer BC and even the new ruger mags are excellent magazines. I bought a marlin model 60 just to have a cheap .22 and it was a hunk of crap. It was inaccurate, it jammed alot, and it was just cheap overall. I ended up giving it to my brother just to get rid of it. I guess you get what you pay for. Sometimes I feel like I owe my brother an apology. 
bullethole1
Moderator
riiiiiiight
Dr. Strangelove
New member
I've owned the Marlin Model 60 and the Ruger 10/22. The 60 disappeared many years ago under mysterious circumstances, but I enjoyed shooting it.
The two rifles have a different feel when shot, the Ruger just goes bang and that's about it, I seemed to be able to feel the bolt coming back in the 60, kind of a "sliding feel".
With my two rifles, the 10/22 stock was thicker and fit my hand and shoulder better, and more of a "real rifle" feel. The 60 had a slimmer stock and always kind of felt like a toy.
I dislike the tubular magazine on the 60, for small game hunting it can be a pain. In GA you have to unload within 50yds of a road open for travel on public land, so I was forever taking the tube out, pouring the cartridges out, then reloading them, etc. With the 10/22, you simply pop the detachable mag out and pop it back in when you are ready. Additionally, I like being able to load multiple mags for the range and plinking.
I also think that the detachable magazine is a bit safer for new shooters, as the rounds aren't hidden in the tube. Pop the magazine out, clear the chamber, rifle is clear.
Accuracy wise, I didn't see any difference in the two stock rifles.
You won't go wrong with either, it's largely a matter of personal preference, but I like the 10/22.
The two rifles have a different feel when shot, the Ruger just goes bang and that's about it, I seemed to be able to feel the bolt coming back in the 60, kind of a "sliding feel".
With my two rifles, the 10/22 stock was thicker and fit my hand and shoulder better, and more of a "real rifle" feel. The 60 had a slimmer stock and always kind of felt like a toy.
I dislike the tubular magazine on the 60, for small game hunting it can be a pain. In GA you have to unload within 50yds of a road open for travel on public land, so I was forever taking the tube out, pouring the cartridges out, then reloading them, etc. With the 10/22, you simply pop the detachable mag out and pop it back in when you are ready. Additionally, I like being able to load multiple mags for the range and plinking.
I also think that the detachable magazine is a bit safer for new shooters, as the rounds aren't hidden in the tube. Pop the magazine out, clear the chamber, rifle is clear.
Accuracy wise, I didn't see any difference in the two stock rifles.
You won't go wrong with either, it's largely a matter of personal preference, but I like the 10/22.
Bamashooter
New member
I had a mossberg plinkster and it was the cheapest gun I have ever bought. I dont mean price wise even though it was only 90 bucks new, but quality wise it was total garbage. That thing was full of plastic parts but it was very accurate and didnt jam. Even it as sorry as it was, was far and away a better gun than the marlin. At least the mossberg was accurate and reliable. Cant say the same about the marlin. Other than it was cheap quality wise.
You can read replies to this question until the cows come home, and it will end up about 50/50. They're both good guns.
Personally, I think the Marlin 60 is as ugly as a mud fence. They might shoot great, but I don't care. I don't want one. Actually the same could be said about the standard Ruger 10/22 also. They look cheap, because they are. (The Ruger still wins though)
Spend a few bucks more though, and you can get the Ruger 10/22 DSP (Delux Sporter). Now that is a rifle.
Get one of these, and you'll throw rocks at a Marlin 60.
Personally, I think the Marlin 60 is as ugly as a mud fence. They might shoot great, but I don't care. I don't want one. Actually the same could be said about the standard Ruger 10/22 also. They look cheap, because they are. (The Ruger still wins though)
Spend a few bucks more though, and you can get the Ruger 10/22 DSP (Delux Sporter). Now that is a rifle.
Get one of these, and you'll throw rocks at a Marlin 60.
Actually this is not a 50-50 situation. The Marlin 60's outsell the Ruger 10/22's more than 2-1. I've never seen a Marlin with a tube problem. I've never seen one with a ramp problem. I've never seen one with any feed problem that wasn't caused by total neglect or by someone monkeying with the action springs or just plain ole worn out springs. For example the person talking about a 18 round Marlin should know that the gun he's talking about is about 25 years old. There's a real good chance the springs are worn out. They are easily and cheaply replaced. Have a gunsmith do it though because there is one spring in the Marlin action that is tough to get just right.
Again I have a 60 that I've shot at least 150,000 times. I don't know how people come to the conclusion that a Ruger will last longer than that. I've shot countless 60's and owned quite a few. I learned to shoot on one back in 1967. It was reliable and accurate just like the ones they make now.
Ruger people like to think those guns are more popular but the numbers tell the real story. 11 million sold vs. 5 million sold is a pretty clear and convincing argument about their relative popularity IMO. And don't forget that Ruger has sold several different rifles and called them 10/22's. Marlin has only sold one model that is called the 60. And the new ones are nearly identical to the first ones sold back in the early 1960's. There is no plastic that hasn't always been there except for the front sight blade.
The bottom line is that either rifle will be an ok rifle but a Marlin has always been a better rifle. If you want to tinker with guns and add new parts get a Ruger though. But if you want a rifle that will work very well out of the box and last for decades get a 60. The proof for their durability can be found in any gun store or pawn shop. You'll find more Marlin 60's than probably any other firearm. It's an incredibly popular rifle for a reason. They're cheaper, more accurate, more durable and more reliable. I've compared lots of Marlins head to head with Rugers. I've never seen a Ruger win one of those comparisons.
The stuff about tube mag problems is a myth. I've never seen a 60 with a tube problem. Finding replacement rods for the 60 is as easy as looking on Numrich's web site. They have replacement parts for every slight variation going. But again I've never seen one need to be replaced. I'm sure they get sat on and stuff like that or dropped in a river or whatever. Finding a replacement is pretty easy.
Again this is not a 50-50 situation. People vote with their money in the real world. And Marlin comes out way ahead in that race.
Again I have a 60 that I've shot at least 150,000 times. I don't know how people come to the conclusion that a Ruger will last longer than that. I've shot countless 60's and owned quite a few. I learned to shoot on one back in 1967. It was reliable and accurate just like the ones they make now.
Ruger people like to think those guns are more popular but the numbers tell the real story. 11 million sold vs. 5 million sold is a pretty clear and convincing argument about their relative popularity IMO. And don't forget that Ruger has sold several different rifles and called them 10/22's. Marlin has only sold one model that is called the 60. And the new ones are nearly identical to the first ones sold back in the early 1960's. There is no plastic that hasn't always been there except for the front sight blade.
The bottom line is that either rifle will be an ok rifle but a Marlin has always been a better rifle. If you want to tinker with guns and add new parts get a Ruger though. But if you want a rifle that will work very well out of the box and last for decades get a 60. The proof for their durability can be found in any gun store or pawn shop. You'll find more Marlin 60's than probably any other firearm. It's an incredibly popular rifle for a reason. They're cheaper, more accurate, more durable and more reliable. I've compared lots of Marlins head to head with Rugers. I've never seen a Ruger win one of those comparisons.
The stuff about tube mag problems is a myth. I've never seen a 60 with a tube problem. Finding replacement rods for the 60 is as easy as looking on Numrich's web site. They have replacement parts for every slight variation going. But again I've never seen one need to be replaced. I'm sure they get sat on and stuff like that or dropped in a river or whatever. Finding a replacement is pretty easy.
Again this is not a 50-50 situation. People vote with their money in the real world. And Marlin comes out way ahead in that race.
Bamashooter
New member
Marlin 60's outsell 10/22's 2-1(which I dont believe) because they are cheap made guns. You get what you pay for. Guns built back in the day are better guns than the ones made today. Ruger is still a better quality gun. Period. I have a 10/22 thats over 20yrs old and its still plinking along. Probably more accurate than a new marlin all day long and twice as reliable.
Bottom line if you want a cheap plinker that might last 10yrs get you a marlin. If you want quality and dependability get the good stuff. Ruger.
Bottom line if you want a cheap plinker that might last 10yrs get you a marlin. If you want quality and dependability get the good stuff. Ruger.
dalegribble
New member
i have 2 ruger 10/22's. my first is so old it came with a walnut stock and cost me just $39 brand new (about 40 years ago) the second is only a few years newer and cost me $59 new in box with scope. neither have ever failed me afte many, many thousands of rounds.
i bought my dad a new marlin model 60 about 20 years ago. very nice gun at least as accurate as the rugers, slower to reload. the marlin is very nice but i like my rugers much better.
i still have my very first rifle, a marlin/glenfield model 25 bolt action with clip feed. it is very accurate and works as well today as when i bought it new 41 years ago for $29 w/scope. i also have a marlin 25 m in 22 magnum that is a great gun and very accurate.
i will take my ruger 10/22's over the marlin 60 comparing apples to apples. i do love my marlin bolt action 22 and 22mag rifles but that is comparing apples to oranges.
i bought my dad a new marlin model 60 about 20 years ago. very nice gun at least as accurate as the rugers, slower to reload. the marlin is very nice but i like my rugers much better.
i still have my very first rifle, a marlin/glenfield model 25 bolt action with clip feed. it is very accurate and works as well today as when i bought it new 41 years ago for $29 w/scope. i also have a marlin 25 m in 22 magnum that is a great gun and very accurate.
i will take my ruger 10/22's over the marlin 60 comparing apples to apples. i do love my marlin bolt action 22 and 22mag rifles but that is comparing apples to oranges.
11 million sold!
Including the Glenfield, the Marlin 60 has out sold and out shot the Ruger 10/22 from day 1 right out of the box the model 60 will out shoot any ruger.Now if you all are talking about dropping any where from $400 on up into a rifle to get it to shot then Ruger is the way to go
I have a Glenfield that was made in 1972 and has more than 100,000 rounds down the pipe and I can count on 1 hand the number of times it has had any issues and the 1s it did have were minor
Marlins are real choosey on the ammo they like but once you find it they are minute of squirrel from then on out
ElmoUSMC
Including the Glenfield, the Marlin 60 has out sold and out shot the Ruger 10/22 from day 1 right out of the box the model 60 will out shoot any ruger.Now if you all are talking about dropping any where from $400 on up into a rifle to get it to shot then Ruger is the way to go
I have a Glenfield that was made in 1972 and has more than 100,000 rounds down the pipe and I can count on 1 hand the number of times it has had any issues and the 1s it did have were minor
Marlins are real choosey on the ammo they like but once you find it they are minute of squirrel from then on out
ElmoUSMC