Archived Posts » 59,789,155
Finally - I got a Marlin 39A
11/2/2011 11:16:23 PM
I've wanted one of these rifles since I was about 10 years old. I got a pretty good made in 1955 example last weekend, and after a clean up with oil and steel wool, plus three applications of wax on the stocks, I'm just real happy with the gun. It seems to shoot great, but I need to try something besides stems on a fallen branch at 30 or 40 feet to know for sure.
The barrel was drilled for a Weaver N mount, just like 5 out of 5 of similar age I found for sale at Gunbroker. I was starting to believe the rifle was sold that way from the factory. I think I'll change both screws in the forearm cap and one in the front sight, and call 'er good to go, although I'm tempted to add a receiver sight.
11/3/2011 12:04:12 AM
I have 3 Marlin 39's and I love them to death. I run Lyman receiver sights and have no problems hitting soda cans at 150yds. They are all of the 1950's to 1960's vintage and are by far the most accurate .22's I have ever shot or owned.
11/3/2011 1:38:20 AM
Of all the guns I have gotten rid of I regret my 39A. Took me a while to find one and sold it off without shooting it
All I can afford now is a henry
All I can afford now is a henry
11/3/2011 7:21:14 AM
My first gun was a 39A in 1963. I put so many rounds through it I eventually had to have it rebarreled to restore its accuracy. I now have a 39A Mountie to go with it. They make a nice pair.
11/3/2011 2:30:43 PM
If you install new fore end cap screws, do them one at a time.
Marlin used some kind of fixture to install the cap at the factory. Without that, the fore end screws take a hellish delight in cross threading.
A good many Marlin's have cap screws that are cross threaded or stripped by people disassembling the cap and having trouble getting everything to line back up.
Marlin used some kind of fixture to install the cap at the factory. Without that, the fore end screws take a hellish delight in cross threading.
A good many Marlin's have cap screws that are cross threaded or stripped by people disassembling the cap and having trouble getting everything to line back up.
11/3/2011 2:43:43 PM
I've already had the old screws out and back in with no problem. The slots are just slightly boogered - no big surprise there.
The little dovetailed fitting does not sit centered on the barrel, but the forearm doesn't bind, so I'm not going to mess with it.
The little dovetailed fitting does not sit centered on the barrel, but the forearm doesn't bind, so I'm not going to mess with it.
11/3/2011 3:18:01 PM
Originally Posted By AeroE:
I've wanted one of these rifles since I was about 10 years old. I got a pretty good made in 1955 example last weekend, and after a clean up with oil and steel wool, plus three applications of wax on the stocks, I'm just real happy with the gun. It seems to shoot great, but I need to try something besides stems on a fallen branch at 30 or 40 feet to know for sure.
The barrel was drilled for a Weaver N mount, just like 5 out of 5 of similar age I found for sale at Gunbroker. I was starting to believe the rifle was sold that way from the factory. I think I'll change both screws in the forearm cap and one in the front sight, and call 'er good to go, although I'm tempted to add a receiver sight.
I've wanted one of these rifles since I was about 10 years old. I got a pretty good made in 1955 example last weekend, and after a clean up with oil and steel wool, plus three applications of wax on the stocks, I'm just real happy with the gun. It seems to shoot great, but I need to try something besides stems on a fallen branch at 30 or 40 feet to know for sure.
The barrel was drilled for a Weaver N mount, just like 5 out of 5 of similar age I found for sale at Gunbroker. I was starting to believe the rifle was sold that way from the factory. I think I'll change both screws in the forearm cap and one in the front sight, and call 'er good to go, although I'm tempted to add a receiver sight.
Congratulations! I've got my dad's 1967 vintage 39A. I don't shoot it much as its a family heirloom now. It always shot OK, not great but OK. Good enough for dad to handle any feral dogs, cats, or other varmints that showed up. It had always worn an old 3/4 inch tube Weaver 4x scope. I had a leftover Leupold 4x rimfire scope and decided to upgrade the old 39A. I've shot a lot of .22 rifles over the years, but have yet to shoot anything that's more accurate with a variety of ammo than that old 39A.
11/3/2011 4:17:11 PM
I still have the Golden Mountie that my parents gave me for grade school graduation in 1957.
I installed a Redfield 70 receiver sight and sourdough front sight a couple weeks later (Townsend Whelen influenced); never had the urge to put a scope on it. It's now my 2nd favorite .22; it's lost its 1st place status when I finally acquired a Winchester 63 about 25 years ago.
I installed a Redfield 70 receiver sight and sourdough front sight a couple weeks later (Townsend Whelen influenced); never had the urge to put a scope on it. It's now my 2nd favorite .22; it's lost its 1st place status when I finally acquired a Winchester 63 about 25 years ago.
11/6/2011 10:54:57 PM
Shot the little gem yesterday and figured out the sight setting for 25 and 50 yards; 3rd notch from the bottom for both ranges. I mostly shot Federal Automatch, and that is how I checked the zero.
Now I'll just wonder a while longer why I waited so long to get one of these rifles. I stood at the 50 yard gongs and just murdered the 6 inch targets shooting off hand. I have to find some place to shoot a line of aluminum cans ...
11/11/2011 3:21:54 PM
I've had my Mountie since my dad gave it to me when I was 12. Love it. It's the the Williams peep on it. For a while, I had a 4x Redfield 3/4" scope on it that I won in scouts.
11/13/2011 9:50:38 PM
Originally Posted By AeroE:
I've wanted one of these rifles since I was about 10 years old. I got a pretty good made in 1955 example last weekend, and after a clean up with oil and steel wool, plus three applications of wax on the stocks, I'm just real happy with the gun. It seems to shoot great, but I need to try something besides stems on a fallen branch at 30 or 40 feet to know for sure.
The barrel was drilled for a Weaver N mount, just like 5 out of 5 of similar age I found for sale at Gunbroker. I was starting to believe the rifle was sold that way from the factory. I think I'll change both screws in the forearm cap and one in the front sight, and call 'er good to go, although I'm tempted to add a receiver sight.
I've wanted one of these rifles since I was about 10 years old. I got a pretty good made in 1955 example last weekend, and after a clean up with oil and steel wool, plus three applications of wax on the stocks, I'm just real happy with the gun. It seems to shoot great, but I need to try something besides stems on a fallen branch at 30 or 40 feet to know for sure.
The barrel was drilled for a Weaver N mount, just like 5 out of 5 of similar age I found for sale at Gunbroker. I was starting to believe the rifle was sold that way from the factory. I think I'll change both screws in the forearm cap and one in the front sight, and call 'er good to go, although I'm tempted to add a receiver sight.
Could have been...
11/13/2011 11:17:26 PM
There was a pretty nice one at the gunshow today for 460. Little steep for me, gun was pretty nice though
11/14/2011 11:40:48 AM
Originally Posted By ALASKANFIRE:
There was a pretty nice one at the gunshow today for 460. Little steep for me, gun was pretty nice though
There was a pretty nice one at the gunshow today for 460. Little steep for me, gun was pretty nice though
I paid $385. Surprising, since this was at an auction and these are pretty popular rifles. The condition might have held it back, but all the naysayers would be surprised at the change after I used a little 3 in 1, 0000 steel wool, wax, and very little elbow grease.
OlCrow, thanks for the letter.
11/14/2011 8:29:37 PM
Nice score11/15/2011 9:14:42 PM
They are great rifles, I have two, first one was my fathers which he got in 1942 I believe and the other is a golden trigger I got from my brother. Even though I am into 22lr AR's right now I still get the old timers out to shoot now and then. Glad I have mine as I hear the new Marlins have quality issues.
