Marlin 795 owners. How does it compare?

JimboJones

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I want to buy a semi-auto 22lr. mag fed rifle for mainly plinking and the occasional rabbit hunt. I also want to keep the cost south of $300.00

I have ruled out the Marlin 60 already due to the tube mag. (this rifle will spend most of it's shooting life on the range and box mags are just easier IMO)

I have also scratched off the 702 plinkster. (due to many neg reviews and the only positive ones being the "bang for the buck" type)

I really want to know how it compares to similarily priced Remington 597s and Ruger 10/22s.

The one I have in mind has an 18" barrel, synthetic stock, blued finish and open sights. My local shop has it for $240.00

Please do not turn this into a 597 vs. 10/22 thread. I am considering both of them as well but I don't plan on tricking this rifle out like a teenager's Civic. I just want decent out of the box accuracy and reliabillity.
 
I haven't had my hands on a 795...

I'm usually the first one to go spewing "I adore my '64!" but, honestly, would trade 'em both for a Marlin! I've played with 60's, 70's and a couple of 7000's...

Seriously fantastic rifles, right out of the box AND 25 years old. Marlin semis outsold Rugers for years (I think2:1) for a very good reason!

Also, I used to prefer clips over tubes. With a bit 'o' practice, tubes can be filled/loaded even quicker. Esp. in cold!
 
My 795 is excellent,accurate and costs HALF of A 10/22 -and I've just picked up a Boyds thumbhole laminate stock for mine...$69[unfinished]
 
Thanks guys. I was supprised to find almost nothing about them on this forum but figured somebody had to have one.

@ratherbefishin. Where did you find that stock? I noticed it was a limited run on Boyds website and they are out of stock.
 
I have seen a Cabela canada ad for the 795 for under $160 plus a rebate.

I have a 1980s vintage marlin model 70 that is almost the same as the 795, but with a wooden stock which I prefer.
 
Boyds-actually it was for the model 60 ,but the stock is inletted for both 60 and 795.Looks absolutely gorgeous too

Yeah, that's the one I saw. They are temporarilly out of stock. I'm going to keep my eye on that for sure.

I have seen a Cabela canada ad for the 795 for under $160 plus a rebate.

I have a 1980s vintage marlin model 70 that is almost the same as the 795, but with a wooden stock which I prefer.

Thank's for the heads up. That rebate is valid anywhere. I really get good service from my local shop and mostly don't think twice about paying a bit extra to be able to handle the merchandise and get answers to my questions right away...

...but an $80 difference on a sub $250.00 is just huge:eek: Going to have a hard time with this decision now.
 
I used to own a 795. It was good but I prefer my 10/22. The 795 just didn't seem to be as rugged to me as a 10/22 is. It has lots of small moving parts that can be easily lost when disassembling and my buddies 795 routinely needs to be taken apart to pop the trigger reset spring back into place. Maybe he just got a lemon because that never happened with mine.

As the others say though, out of the box, it hands down beats the 10/22 in accuracy and reliability. (mind you, a new trigger assembly and VQ extractor brought my 10/22 up to where my 795 was so it's not that expensive to get a 10/22 up to par)

But really, you just can't beat the price. If you want an inexpensive, out-of-the-box-accurate and reliable plinker that you don't have to worry about being damaged from tossing in the back of the truck, I'd say the 795 is for you.
 
I bought the stainless/synthetic 795 for $239 about 2 months ago and have had zero problems with it. Couple of jams when brand new but now it runs flawlessly. I used to own a 597 and like this little rifle much better. The last shot hold open works every time and is more solid than that of the 597, leaf sight can be adjusted without a screwdriver, easy to take apart, and my particular rifle has a spectacular trigger out of the box. You will not likely be disappointed with it if you get one.
 
the synthetic stock on the 795 is a bit hollow sounding[I wondered about filling it with hard foam]but spending $69 for a thumbhole laminate stock should make it a really nice little .22 for about half of what I would spend on another one
 
I always say this about Marlins: all business at an affordable price. Accurate and reliable. The only negative is the lack of aftermarket parts and as such, doesn't generate the amount of buzz like the 10/22 or 597. Less buzz, less praises. But it's not a rifle for that kind of scene. The 795 is light to carry (synthetic one at <5lbs) and the micro groove is not hard to clean, but the sights are really simple and are a hate them or love them thing. I believe the magazines are interchangeable between the bolt actions and semi autos.

Not a 10/22 hater, it's a nice shooter and fun to upgrade, but it's overrated. HAVING to buy parts to make up for it's deficiency is not an excuse for a rifle's mediocrity especially when cheaper rifles outperform it in every way except kool aid factor.
 
got the exact one you mention with a cheap tasco 6-10 scope,reliable, 4000+ rounds so far, light, accurate only thing i've done is a trigger mod.
 
I own both a 795 and a 10/22. The 795 beats it hands down for accuracy and it cycles everything from stingers to subsonics without a problem. Pick one up you won't regret it.
 
Thanks for all of the info. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to get myself into trouble if I get this rifle.

I noticed there are not a lot of aftermarket parts as well (and not a lot of hype either) but if there is not much to "improve" why bother.

I think I'll pick it up tomorrow.:)
 
unless you want to trick up your .22,I think the marlin will serve you just as well-and with a Boyds thumbhole laminate stock for $69 , you will have a very nice accurate .22 for about the same money as a stock 10/22,maybe less.I'm not into long range shooting and find the regular .22 scopes work fine for what I want them for-plinking and shooting grouse
 
I like my tube fed marlin 60 , 14 shots between loading. and $180 at Ba$$ 9ro. With a decent wood stock. Very accurate, cycles flawlessly. THe 795 is the same except mag fed.
 
The 795 is probably a bit more useful than the tube fed #60 as a ''truck gun'' for opportunistic chicken potting,keep the mag in the glove box and you're good to go.
 
Ok. Main problems I have heard about the 795-

1. Trigger- If you have girl hands, the trigger might be a bit stiff, but I can't feel anything wrong with mine.

2. Reliability/ Small Parts- I have never had any jams that weren't the ammo's fault (oh, how I dislike Remington) and I completely bent the guide rod spring, and it still fires like day one.
 
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