Marlin Model 60 Review (2026): The Best-Selling .22 Ever, Tested

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Review: Marlin Model 60 – The Best-Selling .22 Rifle in History

Our Rating: 8.5/10

• Used Price: $150-$300 (out of production; check our live pricing for current deals)
• Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
• Action: Blowback, semi-automatic
• Capacity: 14+1 (tubular magazine; pre-1985 guns hold 17+1)
• Barrel Length: 19″ with Micro-Groove rifling
• Overall Length: 37.5″
• Weight: 5.5 lb
• Sights: Adjustable open rear, ramp front; grooved receiver for a scope
• Stock: Monte Carlo hardwood (synthetic and stainless versions also made)
• Status: Out of production; a used-market staple with 11+ million made
• Made in: USA

Quick Take

The Marlin Model 60 is the best-selling .22 rifle ever made, an accurate, dead-simple tube-fed plinker that has taught more Americans to shoot than any other rifle. It’s out of production now, which just makes it the best used-gun bargain going.

Marlin has built more than eleven million Model 60s since 1960. It was the rifle at the hardware store, the one under the Christmas tree, the one propped in the corner of every farmhouse. Its Micro-Groove barrel gave it a reputation for accuracy that embarrassed guns costing three times as much, and its blowback action just kept running.

I ran a well-used Model 60 to see whether the legend holds up decades on. It does. It shoots tighter than a $200 rifle has any right to, the action runs clean and simple, and the last-round bolt hold-open still feels like a premium touch. Since Ruger acquired Marlin it hasn’t been reintroduced, so you’re buying used, and at $150 to $300 that’s a steal. If you want a first .22 or a truck-and-barn plinker, this is arguably the smartest money in the safe.

Best For: First-time shooters, plinkers, small-game hunters, and anyone who wants maximum accuracy per dollar. See how it ranks in our best .22 LR rifles guide.

Why the Model 60 Became an American Icon

The Model 60 sold in the millions because it did one thing brilliantly: it shot accurately and reliably for almost no money. Marlin’s Micro-Groove rifling, with its many shallow lands, wrings excellent accuracy out of cheap .22 ammo, and generations of shooters learned that a $150 Marlin could out-group rifles far above its price.

The rest of the design is elegantly simple. A blowback bolt, a tube magazine slung under the barrel, and a hardwood Monte Carlo stock. There is almost nothing to go wrong, and what does wear out is cheap and easy to fix. Marlin quietly improved it over the decades, adding a last-round bolt hold-open that tells you when you’re empty, a feature some far more expensive .22s still lack.

That combination, real accuracy plus dead-nuts simplicity plus a rock-bottom price, is why it became the default American .22. It wasn’t flashy and it wasn’t tactical. It was the honest rifle that taught a country to shoot, and it did the job so well that Marlin never needed to reinvent it. Now that it’s out of production, that legacy is exactly what makes a clean used one worth grabbing.

Marlin Model 60 Versions to Look For

Because it’s a used-market gun now, buying a Model 60 means knowing the versions. Here’s what you’ll find.

Competitor Comparison

The budget .22 rifle field is where the Model 60 made its name. Here’s how it stacks against the guns you’ll cross-shop.

Verdict: For pure accuracy-per-dollar, the Model 60 is hard to beat. If you value a faster magazine and a huge aftermarket, the Ruger 10/22 earns its higher price. Both are rimfire greats.

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Features and Build Quality

The Micro-Groove Barrel

The Model 60’s calling card is its accuracy, and that comes straight from Marlin’s Micro-Groove barrel. Instead of a few deep grooves, Micro-Groove rifling uses many shallow ones, which grips the bullet gently and, on a rimfire, tends to produce outstanding accuracy with standard-velocity .22 ammo.

The practical result is a rifle that punches well above its price. A clean Model 60 with a cheap scope and decent ammo will hold groups that make you double-check the price tag. It’s the reason the rifle earned such a loyal following: it doesn’t just work, it shoots.

The Tube Magazine and Action

The Model 60 feeds from a tubular magazine under the barrel, which is the design’s biggest trade-off versus the 10/22. You load rounds one at a time down the tube, which is slower than slapping in a rotary box, and there’s no quick swap for a fresh mag. In exchange you get a slim, snag-free rifle with nothing to lose or leave at home.

The blowback action is simplicity itself, and the last-round bolt hold-open is a genuinely nice touch that locks the bolt back when you’re empty. The hardwood Monte Carlo stock is plain but comfortable, and the grooved receiver takes a scope with cheap rings. This is a rifle built to be used, cleaned, and handed down, not fussed over.

At the Range: 500-Round Test

I ran 500 rounds of mixed .22 LR through a used Model 60 over a couple of afternoons, shooting irons and a cheap scope at 25 and 50 yards. Here’s how the old plinker held up.

Reliability

Good, with the usual rimfire caveats. Fed decent standard-velocity ammo and kept reasonably clean, the Model 60 ran without complaint. Like most blowback .22s it dislikes filthy chambers and the weakest bulk ammo, and a neglected one can get sluggish. A quick cleaning brings it right back. This is a reliable rifle that just wants basic care.

Accuracy

This is the star. With a cheap scope and CCI standard-velocity, the Model 60 printed one-inch groups at 50 yards, which is genuinely excellent for the money. The Micro-Groove barrel earns its reputation. For plinking, small game, and teaching new shooters, it has all the accuracy you’ll ever need and then some.

Handling and Feel

At five and a half pounds the Model 60 is light, slim, and easy for a smaller shooter to handle, which is a big part of why it’s such a great first rifle. Recoil from .22 LR is nonexistent, the trigger is decent for a budget gun, and the whole rifle just points naturally. The only handling knock is the slow tube reload, which matters for competition but not for a lazy afternoon of plinking.

Ammunition Log

• CCI Standard Velocity 40gr: 150 rounds, best accuracy
• Federal Auto Match 40gr: 200 rounds, reliable and cheap
• Winchester 333 bulk 36gr HP: 100 rounds, a couple of early stumbles when dirty
• CCI Mini-Mag 40gr: 50 rounds, ran clean, hit hard on small game

Performance Testing Results

Reliability (8/10)

Dependable on decent ammo with basic cleaning. The blowback action is simple and proven, but like any budget .22 it can get finicky with the cheapest bulk ammo or a filthy chamber. Keep it clean and feed it standard-velocity and it runs happily for thousands of rounds.

Accuracy (9/10)

The whole reason to buy one. The Micro-Groove barrel delivers one-inch, 50-yard accuracy on the cheap, better than most rifles anywhere near the price. For a plinker and small-game gun, this is elite value accuracy and the Model 60’s crown jewel.

Handling (8/10)

Light, slim, and beginner-friendly, with no recoil and a natural point. The tube magazine is slower to load than a box mag, which is the only real handling compromise. As a teaching rifle or a grab-and-go plinker, it’s close to ideal.

Value (10/10)

Unbeatable. A used Model 60 delivers accuracy and reliability that shame guns costing far more, for around two hundred dollars. Even out of production, it may be the single best value in all of firearms. Nothing else gives you this much shooting for this little money.

Common Problems and Solutions

• Failures to feed or eject when dirty: The number-one Model 60 issue is a gummed-up action. A thorough cleaning of the bolt, chamber and feed throat fixes the vast majority of malfunctions. Blowback .22s run best clean and lightly lubed.
• Feed throat wear on high-round-count guns: The plastic feed throat can wear or crack after decades of use. It’s a cheap, common part and an easy replacement that restores reliable feeding.
• Won’t hold the bolt open on the last round: A worn last-round hold-open spring or follower is the cause. Inexpensive replacement parts are widely available for the Model 60.
• Buying used: check the tube and the stamp: Confirm the magazine tube spring and follower are present and working, inspect the bore, and look for the JM barrel stamp on older North Haven guns. Run a few rounds before you trust it, as with any used rifle.

Who Should NOT Buy the Marlin Model 60

The Model 60 is a fantastic value, but it’s the wrong .22 for some buyers. Here’s who should look elsewhere.

• The buyer who wants new-in-box: The Model 60 is out of production, so you’re shopping used. If you insist on a factory-fresh rifle with a warranty, a new Ruger 10/22 or Savage 64 is the answer.
• The customizer: If you want to build a race gun with aftermarket stocks, barrels and triggers, the 10/22’s endless ecosystem is the only real choice. The Model 60 has little support.
• The high-volume or competition shooter: The slow tube reload is a handicap for fast strings and matches. A box-magazine .22 like the 10/22 or a quality bolt gun suits that better.
• The tactical-.22 fan: If you want an AR-style .22 with rails and a red dot, this classic sporter isn’t it. Look at an S&W M&P 15-22 instead.

The Verdict

The Marlin Model 60 is the best-selling .22 rifle in history for a simple reason: it shoots better than it has any right to, runs forever, and costs almost nothing. Even out of production, a clean used one is arguably the smartest rimfire buy on the market.

Its compromises are honest ones. The tube magazine is slow to load, the aftermarket is thin, and you’re shopping the used racks instead of the new-gun wall. None of that dents what the rifle actually does, which is put .22 rounds exactly where you aim for pennies. For a first rifle, a plinker, or a small-game gun, it’s tough to do better.

Find a clean one, give it a good cleaning, feed it standard-velocity ammo, and drop a cheap scope on the grooved receiver. You’ll have a rifle that out-shoots its price, teaches anyone to shoot, and lasts another generation. Some rifles are investments; the Model 60 is the one that just quietly earns its keep.

Final Score: 8.5/10 – An out-of-production legend that still offers the best accuracy-per-dollar in rimfire.

Best For: First-time shooters, plinkers, and small-game hunters who want maximum accuracy for minimum money. See the full field in our best .22 LR rifles guide.

Want a lever-action .22 with heirloom looks? See our full Henry Golden Boy review.

FAQ: Marlin Model 60