Sling Swivels On Marlin 60

[Leadslinger66]

Santa brought me a Marlin model 60 for Christmas 😁.

I'm planning on adding these swivels:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1015390073/uncle-mikes-quick-detachable-wood-screw-type-sling-swivel-set-black

How far forward on the buttstock and behind the end of the forestock should I mount them?

[colonial shooter]

Good choice!  However, be careful not to damage the feed tube when installing.

[Mrs. Smith]

I'd say about 3/4 to an inch from each end. And Sam's right; you may have to do a bit of filing on the forehand screw inside the channel to keep it from damaging the feed tube. I'd install with the stock off the rifle to be safe.   Enjoy your 60!  I shoot the heck out of mine. My current best score on an AQT was with a 60, rapid fire. 232 in 3:36. 

Build yourself some speed loaders!

[Guntuckian]

I put sling studs on my old Marlin 60.  I simply removed the stock to do the drilling and installation.  No problems.  I finally sold it, though, to make room in the safe for a different toy a couple of years ago.

BTW, McDonald's straws are the right diameter to make speed loaders for use with Marlin 60 rifles. They are cheap, too!

We have a local IIT that has shot Rifleman scores with his Marlin 60 many times!

There are different rules for tube-fed rifles, though, on the line, regarding loading tube-fed magazines, specifically regarding inserting cartridges during preparation periods.  The spring loaded plunger then is only closed and latched when the LOAD command is given.  No dry firing with rounds in the tube, though.  Your Shoot Boss at your event will explain all the specific details related to tube-fed rifles.

The groups are great with most Marlin 60 rifles for many ammunition brands.  Their Micro-groove barrel works well.  But, some old Marlin 60 rifles do have a problem with the first round hitting in a different spot for every first round in a string of fire than the rest of string of fire.  This is often a result of a "ring of lead" from firing 22 Shorts instead of 22 Long Rifle cartridges.  Marlin 60 Rifles work with 22 Shorts, 22 Longs, and 22 Long Rifles.  The old ones held 18 rounds.  The NJ Compliant ones hold fewer rounds.

The big deal is to learn to run speed loaders smoothly.  Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.  Practice until you can do it smoothly, and it can work OK for Appleseed. 

Loading one extra round, and ejecting one round, can simulate a magazine change.

[Mrs. Smith]

BTW, McDonald's straws are the right diameter to make speed loaders for use with Marlin 60 rifles. They are cheap, too!

We have a local IIT that has shot Rifleman scores with his Marlin 60 many times!

The groups are great with most Marlin 60 rifles for many ammunition brands.  Their Micro-groove barrel works well.  But, some old Marlin 60 rifles do have a problem with the first round hitting in a different spot for every first round in a string of fire than the rest of string of fire.  This is often a result of a "ring of lead" from firing 22 Shorts instead of 22 Long Rifle cartridges.  Marlin 60 Rifles work with 22 Shorts, 22 Longs, and 22 Long Rifles.  The old ones held 18 rounds.  The NJ Compliant ones hold fewer rounds.

The big deal is to learn to run speed loaders smoothly.  Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.  Practice until you can do it smoothly, and it can work OK for Appleseed. 

Couple of addendums:  yes, McDonald's straws work, as do Whataburger straws, if you're fortunate enough to have one nearby    I made mine from cheap arrow shafts and automotive vacuum caps.  Lop off the fletched end to your desired length, file the cut end smooth, and stick a cap on it.  They work fantastic! And ast for years.

Regarding the first wild shot, I had that as well.  Then it clicked that it was firing the subsequent shots from the reset that got rid of it.   My solution?  I ordered A VERY inexpensive trigger kit from www.mcarbo.com that took my pull down to about 3lbs. Buh-bye wild shots!

[Leadslinger66]

BTW, McDonald's straws are the right diameter to make speed loaders for use with Marlin 60 rifles. They are cheap, too!

We have a local IIT that has shot Rifleman scores with his Marlin 60 many times!

The groups are great with most Marlin 60 rifles for many ammunition brands.  Their Micro-groove barrel works well.  But, some old Marlin 60 rifles do have a problem with the first round hitting in a different spot for every first round in a string of fire than the rest of string of fire.  This is often a result of a "ring of lead" from firing 22 Shorts instead of 22 Long Rifle cartridges.  Marlin 60 Rifles work with 22 Shorts, 22 Longs, and 22 Long Rifles.  The old ones held 18 rounds.  The NJ Compliant ones hold fewer rounds.

The big deal is to learn to run speed loaders smoothly.  Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.  Practice until you can do it smoothly, and it can work OK for Appleseed. 

Couple of addendums:  yes, McDonald's straws work, as do Whataburger straws, if you're fortunate enough to have one nearby    I made mine from cheap arrow shafts and automotive vacuum caps.  Lop off the fletched end to your desired length, file the cut end smooth, and stick a cap on it.  They work fantastic! And ast for years.

Regarding the first wild shot, I had that as well.  Then it clicked that it was firing the subsequent shots from the reset that got rid of it.   My solution?  I ordered A VERY inexpensive trigger kit from www.mcarbo.com that took my pull down to about 3lbs. Buh-bye wild shots!

I'm definitely planning the trigger upgrade as well as speed loaders. Thanks for the information!

[Mark Davis]

This is your chance to fit your rifle to your stature.

Put the sling swivel right where your hand reaches it in prone.

If your hand has that place to stop from sliding forward, you will get good support with out gripping the fore end.

[Leadslinger66]

This is your chance to fit your rifle to your stature.

Put the sling swivel right where your hand reaches it in prone.

If your hand has that place to stop from sliding forward, you will get good support with out gripping the fore end.

Thank you for the tip Mark. I'll get into prone and see where my hand ends up at.

[Tennessee Beast]

That particular sling swivel set isn't the best choice for the Marlin model 60. The font stud needs to be a machine thread with nut. 
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1398181431/uncle-mikes-quick-detachable-machine-screw-type-sling-swivel-set-plated

The length of the front stud can be cut-to-length.


I eyeballed the front swivel location on a synthetic  Marlin 795 with factory swivels this past weekend.   It is approximately 1.5 - 2 inches from the tip. It would appear that the factory wood stocks on the Marlin 60SS  is more than that (3 inches?). https://www.marlinfirearms.com/rimfire/model-60 .  I didn't notice the rear swivel location,  but it according to the pictures of the Marlin 60SS and the synthetic 60, it apears to be closer to 3 inches on both.  I  think the reason the front swivel stud is so far back on the Marlin 60SS is due to the thinness of the wood near the tip of the foreend.   Also note that Marlin uses a tee nut on their wood stock 60s.  https://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/G3203520-00 You can probably find one at the hardware store that would work if modified (I believe it is 8-32).

[Leadslinger66]

Thanks TB. I'll look at that swivel set.

The factory locations on the 60 SS are closer to what I need. When I got into prone with the rifle, my hand was at least 3" back, or more.