I picked up this really nice marlin 60 dlx a couple weeks back, and since getting it i've decided to make this one a project. It doesn't really need work, but i enjoy the journey and it's a good affordable starting platform.
Out of the box it has no cosmetic flaws and the stock is nicely inletted with a free floating barrel (not sure it should be as ive never seen a 60 that was before this), and it shoots really darn good. The irritant is how the action fastens to the stock and the wood bedding, It can shift about when you dis/re-assemble it to clean which is a pain in the butt. My plan is to pillar and bed the action using homemade stainless steel pillars and marine-tex epoxy. At first i'll be keeping the barrel floated and test it for groups. Unless i get a significant increase in accuracy, from there i plan to put in a 5 pound pressure barrel shim at the front of the forestock to see if the barrel shoots better supported, and if it makes it shoot worse ill take it out. I will also use an o-ring, or possibly a small bead of silicone with release agent where the mag tube enters the action and likely also play with pressure shims on the mag tube as well to dampen it's influence on the barrel... im gonna tune the ting like an instrument...
Surprisingly after the initial break in and clean the trigger is great! Breaks around the 3# mark so i'm not going to bother doing anything else there. Surprising for a marlin.
When that's done the stock needs work, from the factory the finish is crude and dry feeling and the actual pores in the grain are open and visible even in pictures, that's going to collect a lot of dirt and grime. I figure i'll wet sand it with tung oil and give it a proper hand rubbed finish of 5 or 6 coats. As for the sights, it's either getting a nice scope or aperture sights fore and aft... possibly both.
And some people say there's nothing to modify on marlins... pfffft. Only thing going into this mind you is basic shop supplies and some work with the intent of making it a more solid and longer lasting rifle, and with any luck i'll get an improved accuracy bonus.
Here's the starting pic. I'll try to update my progress with pics after i get b@lls deep into it for anyone interested. I've never tried to pillar a 60 before though i have a good idea where to start, so it should be interesting to see what if any difference it makes to the accuracy of this little budget semi.
Out of the box it has no cosmetic flaws and the stock is nicely inletted with a free floating barrel (not sure it should be as ive never seen a 60 that was before this), and it shoots really darn good. The irritant is how the action fastens to the stock and the wood bedding, It can shift about when you dis/re-assemble it to clean which is a pain in the butt. My plan is to pillar and bed the action using homemade stainless steel pillars and marine-tex epoxy. At first i'll be keeping the barrel floated and test it for groups. Unless i get a significant increase in accuracy, from there i plan to put in a 5 pound pressure barrel shim at the front of the forestock to see if the barrel shoots better supported, and if it makes it shoot worse ill take it out. I will also use an o-ring, or possibly a small bead of silicone with release agent where the mag tube enters the action and likely also play with pressure shims on the mag tube as well to dampen it's influence on the barrel... im gonna tune the ting like an instrument...
Surprisingly after the initial break in and clean the trigger is great! Breaks around the 3# mark so i'm not going to bother doing anything else there. Surprising for a marlin.
When that's done the stock needs work, from the factory the finish is crude and dry feeling and the actual pores in the grain are open and visible even in pictures, that's going to collect a lot of dirt and grime. I figure i'll wet sand it with tung oil and give it a proper hand rubbed finish of 5 or 6 coats. As for the sights, it's either getting a nice scope or aperture sights fore and aft... possibly both.
And some people say there's nothing to modify on marlins... pfffft. Only thing going into this mind you is basic shop supplies and some work with the intent of making it a more solid and longer lasting rifle, and with any luck i'll get an improved accuracy bonus.
Here's the starting pic. I'll try to update my progress with pics after i get b@lls deep into it for anyone interested. I've never tried to pillar a 60 before though i have a good idea where to start, so it should be interesting to see what if any difference it makes to the accuracy of this little budget semi.
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