....it does not shoot like I thought it would. I tried 10+ types of ammo, 3 scopes just to make sure that wasn't it, shot it dirty, shot it clean (wow that was ugly). After maybe shooting one 5 shot group under 2", I sent it to Marlin. They put on a new barrel on it, and did something to the breech (didn't specify). It is now a 1 1/4" gun at best (CCI Green Tag). I understand that it isn't a bench rifle, but is this about par for a 39A? Are there any cost friendly mods?

Thanks

1 1/4" at 100 yards sounds pretty typical.

I'll give you $250 for it!! LOL

Lever about 2000 rounds through it, do a trigger job on it then try it for groups again. Mines only got around 12,000 through it and it will equal that group. Seriously they seem to come into a polished state after a couple thousand rounds. The trigger job does always help. I shoot federals in bulk I buy from Wal Mart, Rems do a little better but cost more.

Mine is fairly new and shoots good groups(about .75" at 50 yards, which may be as good as I can see at this point with open sights). Still, I am hoping to try Paco Kelly's accurizer out to see if it improves groups even more.

Out of curiosity, what are you expecting out of it? For what purpose was it purchased?

I had a Marlin 39A with an 'E' serial number (I think someone here said that is a late 40s serial number, but I thought I saw somewhere else that it was an early 50s) and it was a wonderful little .22 that was fun and accurate to shoot. That being said, I never shot it with anything other than iron sights, nor did I ever really shoot at anything over maybe 75 feet, and probably within that distance most of the time, so while I thought that it was a nice accurate rifle, it's quite possible that all I could have gotten out of it was 2" groups. When I was shooting that rifle, I was really only a plinker, and if I needed something that was going to be more accurate at distance, I used something a little better suited to the task such as a scoped bolt action .223.

So, what do you really expect out of this rifle? If you want finer accuracy, shouldn't you have gone with a rifle set up better for that kind of shooting?

If that 1.25-2.00" group is at 100 yards, that's danged good. Few .22s are capable of such accuracy, and the even ones that are cannot be counted on to do it every time. The light and comparatively slow .22 lr bullet is quite susceptible to wind and even a sub-MOA rifle may not deliver on any day with a bit of a breeze.

E in the number indicates 1948.

E in the number indicates 1948.
E doesn't jibe with when my Dad bought it (early to mid 50s) and I'm pretty sure he bought it new.

E doesn't jibe with when my Dad bought it (early to mid 50s) and I'm pretty sure he bought it new.
E is 48 but made and bought are not always the same year. Dad has a Winchester 88 he bought new in 1961 that the serial # says made in 59. Last year for my B-day the wife bought me a Bearcat new from Cliff's over in Boise that was made in 93.

Edit; maybe it was the year before last for the Bearcat, I can't remember for sure, but still some time elapsed between made and bought new.

BTW I have had Single-Six's since the 60's and really like this little Bearcat. Shoots surprisingly accurate and is a perfect size to carry fishing or whatnot. Ruger seems to have solved the indexing at least with this model too.

....it does not shoot like I thought it would. I tried 10+ types of ammo, 3 scopes just to make sure that wasn't it, shot it dirty, shot it clean (wow that was ugly). After maybe shooting one 5 shot group under 2", I sent it to Marlin. They put on a new barrel on it, and did something to the breech (didn't specify). It is now a 1 1/4" gun at best (CCI Green Tag). I understand that it isn't a bench rifle, but is this about par for a 39A? Are there any cost friendly mods?

Thanks

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