A little love for the old Model 60

jfeenin · Nov 1, 2013

Recently when I had my Marlin 60 apart I noted that the recoil buffer was getting pretty hard and discolored so I decided to replace it. Over the years the recoil spring has been bent at least a few times putting the bolt back in after cleaning. Since it's on a guide rod in a tube I've just straightened it with some little needle nose pliers and it's always worked just fine. However since I was buying a buffer anyway I figured I would throw a new recoil spring on the order too.

Also When I put the scope on it, the front sight was visible in the field of view at lower magnifications so I took it off. Over the years and a few moves later the original front sight got lost so I ordered the parts for a new one. Unfortunately the only screw that Midway lists as a front sight base screw was for a different front sight base than was on mine. Even though they sell the right base. So when I tried to put the new front sight on the screw head protruded into the dovetail channel that held the orange sight blade so that still isn't on. Luckily I found the right screw at Brownells. Unfortunately it cost me more to ship than the price of the screw but oh well.

The new buffer and front sight parts including the wrong screw.

The old and new buffers.

Now if anyone has ever replaced a buffer in a Marlin 60 they know that to do it you need to take apart the action assembly. This is the part that you otherwise want to avoid taking apart at pretty much all costs. I am not going to go into the whole rebuild process here though. in reality it's not that difficult but putting the hammer spring back in can indeed be a real pain. My solution was to use a bent paperclip to hold the spring in place for reassembly.

My spring holder solution.

The new buffer installed.

http://starbase4.com/album/albums/Priva ... G_0096.JPG

I couldn't resist cutting the old buffer in half to see if it was white at all inside. It's pretty clear it was white at one time. Just an interesting note.

Here she is all put back together.

bilall · Nov 1, 2013

These are fun rifles. My dad had a Model 60 and I had a couple of the Model 75's from the early 70's (the carbine version). I gave the 75's to my kids and they still work perfectly. My brother has the Model 60. Seems like they just keep on going and rarely need anything but a good cleaning.

Underdude · Nov 1, 2013

I still have my Marlin. How old was that one you're rebuilding?

jfeenin · Nov 1, 2013

It was made in 1999-2000ish I believe. It's not all that old but it is the first rifle I ever bought for myself as an adult. This is actually the first time it has ever had the action assembly taken apart.

Underdude · Nov 1, 2013

Hell, that's young. Mines almost twenty. It's the only 22 of mine that's ever been fired.

GreenBlood10 · Nov 3, 2013

That's a nice looking Model 60. My Model 60 has been around since '92, but it hasn't been shot enough to think about replacing parts. Great rifles though.

GB

jfeenin · Nov 3, 2013

Thanks guys. This one has indeed had thousands of rounds down the tube. Mostly in the first 3 years I owned it. We would put a brick or more through it every day we went shooting. Back then you could get a brick of 500 Remington Thunderbolts for like $8 on sale and I would buy them 4 or 5 at a time. I wish I still had a lot more of them now since right now they are about the only caliber you still can't find at a lot of places. I even bought a 100ct box of Winchester White Box 9mm's at Academy the other day for $26.99. Not great but reasonable for prices in recent years even before the run on them earlier this year. That's another caliber that you used to be able to get 50ct boxes for for under $10 all day long even off sale 10 years ago. But I digress.

jmt2566 · Dec 9, 2013

I love my Marlin 60 too! I still put more rounds through it than any other gun on an average range trip. Mine was built in 1987 and is still going strong.