Marlin Model 60

History

The Marlin Model 99, developed in 1959 by Ewald Nichol, was internally the same as what would become the Model 60 in 1960. Externally, the Model 99 had a walnut stock and a receiver factory-tapped for screw-on scope mounts, rather than grooved for tip-off mounts. It was offered from 1959 through 1961, and a lower-priced version, the Model 99G, was sold under Marlin's Glenfield line. The Model 60, introduced in 1960, used a birch stock instead of walnut to reduce costs.

Marlin also switched from steel inner tubes in the tubular magazine to brass inner tubes, eliminating rust problems. The Model 60 featured a 16-groove Micro-Groove rifled barrel, developed in 1953, which enhanced accuracy by reducing bullet deformation. The rifle has a manual fully open bolt hold position, activated by pushing the charging handle inward when the bolt is fully retracted. Since 1985, an automatic last-shot bolt hold-open has been included, locking the bolt half-way open after the last cartridge is fired.

Features

The Model 60 uses Marlin's proprietary Micro-Groove rifling with a twist rate of 1:16 inches, right-hand. This rifling employs 16 small lands and grooves instead of the 4, 6, or 8 deeper grooves typical of most rifles, lessening bullet deformation and improving accuracy.

Despite being one of the least expensive .22 semi-automatic rifles, it has a reputation for being accurate out of the box. Few aftermarket accessories are available compared to rifles like the Ruger 10/22. The Model 60 is optimized for .22 Long Rifle cartridges only.

Versions and year of manufacture

The Model 60 is currently available in nine distinct versions. Production moved to Huntsville, Alabama, during 2016 and 2017, and rifles are now labeled with that location. Current versions include: Model 60 (basic rifle); Model 6082 (US Cavalry Commemorative, 1982); Model 60C (camouflage); Model 60SN (black fiberglass stock); Model 60SB (weather-proof stainless steel); Model 60DL (Monte Carlo walnut stock); Model 60SS (nickel-plated stainless steel with grey/black laminate stock); Model 60SSK (nickel-plated stainless steel with black fiberglass stock); Model 60S-CF (nickel-plated stainless steel with black carbon-fiber-patterned stock); and Model 60DLX (50th anniversary edition with premium walnut stock and gold fill on roll marks). Historically, other versions include: Marlin Model 99 (walnut stock, 1959–1961); Model 99DL (deluxe with Monte Carlo walnut stock, white line spacer, gold tone trigger and trigger guard, 1961–1964); Model 99C (Micro Groove barrel, gold tone trigger, grooved receiver, 1961–1978); Model 990 (deluxe version of 99C with American walnut stock, 1979–1987); Model 99G (similar to Model 60); Model 99M1 (styled like M1 carbine with 18-inch barrel, handguard, barrel band, nine-shot magazine, receiver sight); Model 989M2 (similar to 99M1 but with box magazine); Glenfield Model 99G (precursor to Model 60G); Glenfield Model 60G (birch stock, 1960–1965); Glenfield Model 60 (1966–1982); and Glenfield Model 65 (brass exterior magazine tube, made for Oklahoma Tire & Supply Co., 1968).