marlin papoose

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
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Was wondering if anyone has any experience with the newer stainless marlin papoose take down .22. I've heard both good and bad things about it and wanted to get some opinions thanks.
 
I just sold mine about a month and a half ago. After a couple of years screwing around with it, including 2 trips back to Marlin that made it a little better, I bailed. It was never what I would call a real realiable gun that could be counted on to fire the whole magazine without a jam. And not just any jam, it would jam the fired case against the roof of the receiver with the new round from the magazine jamed in between the magazine lips and the chamber mouth. It was a real trip to unjam that mess. It locked up everything to the point that every third clip of ammo you had to take the barrel off to unjam everything.

I just lost patience with it. From now on I am using my CZ scout or Marlin TDS as my woods gun. Maybe I'm weird, but to me the ability of a gun to function in a realiable mannor is very high on the list. I'll even sacrafice a degree of accuracy to have absolute dead nut realiability. When I pull the trigger I want to know, that short of some part actually breaking, the thing is going to work in such a way that if I need a second shot its going to be there as sure as the sun rising in the east. Not having the thought as I shoot "is this going to jam?"

I would not advise the purchase of a Marlin papoose, or the model 60 it is derived from. I have seen some other club members on the rifle range with model 60 Marlins, and they seem to have issues. Over at rimfire central they have a Marlin forum, and the members talk alot about how to fix thier Marlin model 60's. If the Marlin 39 is the Linclon of the Marlin line, then the model 60 must be the Pinto.

Nothing but lever and bolt actions and revolvers for me from now on!
 
I am a 10/22 guy. Bolt actions are the most reliable and accurate but I really enjoy the fast follow ups if needed. I have 3 10/22s all but one have been modified and they are all dead reliable, but again not as reliable as a bolt. Chris
 
I had a Papoose for about a year, had an ongoing problem with the barrel nut working loose while firing even during short shooting sessions and I experienced jamming problems similiar to what jackknife did.

Neat concept, just didn't seem to work out though.
 
I almost bought a Henry Survival rifle but I heard similar stories about it jamming. Does anyone have any experience with the HSR?

I also almost bought a Sringfield M-6 scout. I now wish I had bought it since they are no longer being made.

I have a CZ 452 and it is super reliable and very accurate but not light.
A 10/22 is in the plans.
 
billym said:
I almost bought a Henry Survival rifle but I heard similar stories about it jamming. Does anyone have any experience with the HSR?

I also almost bought a Sringfield M-6 scout. I now wish I had bought it since they are no longer being made.

I have a CZ 452 and it is super reliable and very accurate but not light.
A 10/22 is in the plans.
Click to expand...

If you are referring to the AR-7 yes, I had some jamming problems at first. A good friend (and gunsmith) took it for a few hours (I'll have to call and find out what he did) and it never jammed again. I sold that rifle not long ago, and already regret that I did!
 
billym said:
I have a CZ 452 and it is super reliable and very accurate but not light.
A 10/22 is in the plans.
Click to expand...

A 452 scout is about 2 pounds lighter than the standard 452, due to the small size of the gun. The 452 scout is really just about the size of the Henry mini-bolt.
 
billym said:
I almost bought a Henry Survival rifle but I heard similar stories about it jamming. Does anyone have any experience with the HSR?
Click to expand...

I had the original AR-7 version, it worked great with the original magazine, and was suprisingly accurate. I bought 2 Ram-Line 25 or 30 round magazines for it, and they NEVER worked right.
 
I have a Henry survival rifle, My son and myself put two boxes through it last fall and didn't have one failure. From what I understand they are a little fussy
about certain brands of ammo,but all I use is Winchester Wildcats.
 
The Last Confederate said:
I had the original AR-7 version, it worked great with the original magazine, and was suprisingly accurate. I bought 2 Ram-Line 25 or 30 round magazines for it, and they NEVER worked right.
Click to expand...

That pretty much mirrors my experiance. I had the original Armilte and it was good. Like an idiot I sold it, and years later I bought the Charter arms AR7 and it was a jam-o-matic. I've heard the Henrys are only margially better.
 
RescueRiley said:
Was wondering if anyone has any experience with the newer stainless marlin papoose take down .22. I've heard both good and bad things about it and wanted to get some opinions thanks.
Click to expand...

Marlin makes great lever action centerfire rifles & as jackknife said, their Mod. 39 is as good as it gets for a .22 rifle. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the semi auto mod. 60 or the papoose. (which is the same action) It's really a crap shoot when you get one of those. You may get lucky & have a decent one, or go the other way & have frustrating problems. Marlins customer service is very good, but do you want to go through the hassle of sending it back & being without it? It really is hit or miss with these. Roll the dice if you feel lucky.
Go to rimfire central as jackknife suggested & check out the Marlin forum. You'll get alot of feedback there on the model 60, which action wise is the same gun as the papoose.
 
I have 3 Marlin 60's and they all work great and rarely jam. Of course they were all made in the early 90's so maybe Marlin is having some qc problems. My Marlins jam as rarely as my 2 Ruger 10-22's. It also helps a bunch to keep them clean.
 
ashtxsniper said:
I have 3 Marlin 60's and they all work great and rarely jam. Of course they were all made in the early 90's so maybe Marlin is having some qc problems. My Marlins jam as rarely as my 2 Ruger 10-22's. It also helps a bunch to keep them clean.
Click to expand...

Before I bought my Marlin Papoose, which I like, I looked into it on the Rimfire and Survival Forums on ARFCOM. The consensus seemed to be that the older (wood and blues) were better rifles than the newer ones. Mine is 1989 vintage, and was clearly well used and cared for when I bought it. It's a good rifle. I also know someone who has a 1990 vintage rifle (also wood and blue) and he has had good results as well and attested that the older rifles were better.

When you read your operators manual, Marlin instructs you to regularly check the barrel nut, and warns that it may need to be tightened periodically.
 
RescueRiley have you though about a browning take down in 22 auto?
If not head to your gun store and check it out. For a take down rifle
I really like mine.

Bryan
 
I have a Marlin 60, early 80s, that pretty reliable. The only significant jamming I ever got was after giving it a good thorough cleaning once. The first couple of magazines had about ten jams, then it "cleared up" and was fine. [shrug]

That'll teach me to clean my gun! ;)
 
I have had a Papoose for a couple of years now and have never had a jam except with questionable ammo. My brother has had the older papoose for nearly ten years now and has no problems even with aftermarket High capacity mags.

I really like the hooded front site but the rear is not the best.

I have had failures to fire with The cheap bulk pack remington thunderbolt ammo but I have had those same failures with my mark II and other guns.

I have never had the barell loosen even after firing several hundred rounds.

Perhaps I got lucky and got a good one. I bought mine at Dicks sporting goods for around 120$.


I am thinking about truing to make a case for it that is more packable than the "pool cue" case it comes with.
 
I've had a Marlin Papoose for several years; no problems (except the case came unsewed. A phone call to Marlin, and they sent a free replacement.) Its reasonably accurate; produces nickle to dime sized groups at 50 yards. And so far totally reliable. Scope mounting can be an issue as the clear coat on the receiver can prevent the regular .22 clamp on mounts from biting in. If you get one, order an extra barrel wrench as they are easy to loose out of the case.
Enjoy!
 
Butler Creek used to make a folding stock that allowed you to use 10-22 factory receiver and barrel and make it into a takedown. You never heard/here much about it but I always thought it was a good idea.
 
My AR-7 was total piece of junk. I was glad to get rid of it. I was hoping to one day replace it with a Marlin Papoose. I was unware that there were so many problems with it. I guess I will save up for a Keltec Sub 2000.
 
There are some great ultra compact youth rifles out there that are better than the semi-auto choices like the Papoose and Survival Rifle. Henry Mini-Bolt, Savage Cub, CZ Scout, Anschutz Woodchucker (out of production), etc. Some will run well under $200 too. Much less ammo sensitive than an auto too.
 
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