My first rifle purchase!

[neilp]

While I've used a few rifles, with the RAF in the past and more recently range rentals I've never owned one until now. After missing out on a Marlin 22 in the classifieds here I decided to go "trawling" for pawn shop bargains. After all it was my birthday on Monday so what better excuse could I need?

My son and I set out expecting an interesting but fruitless day as pawn shop trawls usually are. I have had much luck finding deals in the past, especially guitars, but it usually takes weeks to find a deal if I'm looking for something specific. You know how proud of their stuff pawn shops can be. I like a good haggle so it's always a fun way to spend some time for me.

So imagine my surprise when at our second stop I find a Marlin Model 60 in stainless and get them to agree to $100 including tax! It is in almost perfect condition and when I stripped it it looked like it has hardly been used at all - no wear marks at all in the action. I'd guess a few 100 rounds at most have been through it.

You may have seen my thread about the paperwork hassles of being a UK citizen still so I won't repeat that saga here.

I tried to take some pics but I didn;t realize how tough it is get good pics of a rifle. Here's the best I could do:



I added a 3-9x40 scope with some look through mounts and after a trip to the range got, what I think are some decent results. Especially as I haven't done much rifle shooting for 20 years ...

25 yards, 10 rounds of CCI Minimag:



50 yards, 9 rounds ('coz I dropped one!) CCIs again, apologies for the blurry photo, but you get the idea.



Both my 13 yo son and I had a blast!

[neilp]

Guess the pics aren't showing for some reason. I'll try and figure that out.....

[neilp]

Well the pics are there now with a diferent host but they are truncating for some reason ...

Oh well ...

[A-R]

$100 for that rifle?!?!? Was the scope included too? That's a great deal!

I'll give you $125 for it

Seriously, congrats. I've heard those Marlin 60s are great-shootin guns for the money. And yours is apparently even greater because it was less money.

[cougartex]

Congratulations.

[joe817]

Super congrats on your good deal purchase! It's a fun gun indeed. And a scope to boot!

[mr surveyor]

gotta love the Model 60. It's now my personal off the shelf favorite of all the current offeriings.

Your 25 yard groups will eventually look exactly the same at 50 yards. The M60 can do it.

congrats on the steal.... I mean deal.

surv

[neilp]

Was the scope included too?

No the scope was on sale at Academy for $35. It seems to do the job though, but I know nothing about scopes so any pitfalls are yet to be found.

[A-R]

Was the scope included too?

No the scope was on sale at Academy for $35. It seems to do the job though, but I know nothing about scopes so any pitfalls are yet to be found.

I think that's exactly the same scope I have mounted on my Ruger 10/22. Good little scope for the money, holds zero and is relatively bright. My only complaint has been the need to have a coin or screwdriver to adjust the turrets. Wish they were finger adjustable like the $50 Simmons scopes at Academy. If I'd thought about it I would've picked up one of those instead. Friend of mine has a Simmons on a Ruger M77 .223 and it a tac driver with that little scope.

[driver8]

I have one of those my in-laws gave me for Christmas in 1974. The old ones had a longer tube magazine , mine holds 18 plus 1 I think. It's still the only .22 rifle I have. I remember them costing about $59.00 back then.

[TDDude]

You're grandkids will be fighting over that one.

So, NeilP, Tell us something and be honest. How does it feel to be able to freely own something, enjoy it, and carry it around with you where, had you that same item in the UK, you would immediately be arrested, convicted, and thrown in jail?

That must be weird…

You know, the answer to getting past the hassles of purchasing firearms as a foreigner is to go ahead and get your CHL.

[neilp]

So, NeilP, Tell us something and be honest. How does it feel to be able to freely own something, enjoy it, and carry it around with you where, had you that same item in the UK, you would immediately be arrested, convicted, and thrown in jail?

That must be weird…

You know, the answer to getting past the hassles of purchasing firearms as a foreigner is to go ahead and get your CHL.

I have my CHL! It doesn't remove the need for a non US citizen to prove residency. I was unaware of this and had removed the proof I used to carry in the car just in case of an unexpected bargain. They also wanted to run a NICS check but after some persuasion agreed that it wasn't necessary.

The UK has had gun control for centuries at ever increasing levels. Given that it has become the accepted norm there it probably makes sense to maintain it in some way. The level of gun deaths is far lower than in the US. However I do not advocate gun control in the US as gun availability has always been easier here. You can't change history. Once undesirable elements have guns you can't reasonably expect the average citizen to be unarmed. I expect this might be a controversial opinion here...

As someone who enjoys shooting I always found the rules in the UK too much hassle. It's got far worse now than when I lived there. They have ended up punishing the innocent as these measures tend to. The fact that you can't even defend yourself in the UK when attacked is pretty ridiculous. I don't think I could live there now.

So yes, it does feel good to be able to legally own, and if I choose carry a gun. Life is good in Texas :- )

[UpTheIrons]

Nice gun! My Marlin 60 (blued) does the same thing with CCI Mini-Mags. It really likes Winchester Xpert High Velocity. Give them a try and your groups may tighten up. Here's what my targets looked like on the first outing with the scope as I dialed it in:
http://www.texaschlforum.com/viewtopic. ... 60#p381320" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[neilp]

UTI: Is that Winchester ammo marked SuperX HV and comes in red plastic boxes like the CCI Mini-Mags? I have some of that in my ammo stash and was going to try it next time I'm at the range.