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Marlin model 57 Levermatic

23K views 11 replies 9 participants last post by  fatboy 
#1 ·
I handled a "hammerless" Marlin 22 rifle yesterday at a Gun Show in Leesport, PA yesterday. Seemed well made but I've not found a single article describing its accurasy or functionality. Went out of production in 1969. Anyone have any experiance with this model?
Thank you.
TR
 
#2 ·
TR...

Haven't seen one in a while but I always thought they where pretty nice looking rifles. As a kid I had hoped that they might use it to launch a line of leveraction centerfire rifles to compete with the Model 88's and 99's.

The image is from the page of a '65 Marlin catalog that features the rifles.

Michael
 

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#3 ·
Ranch Dog said:
TR...

Haven't seen one in a while but I always thought they where pretty nice looking rifles. As a kid I had hoped that they might use it to launch a line of leveraction centerfire rifles to compete with the Model 88's and 99's.

The image is from the page of a '65 Marlin catalog that features the rifles.

Michael
They kind of did with the mod. 62 at the top...although the print seems to indicate (little tough to read with old eyes) they hadn't introduced the .30carbine version at that date. Had some problems with my .256 version (long stroy...but the way they set it up, case life is a short thing in .256) but really liked the .30carbine version. Would have been a natureal for the .218Bee, .32-20, 25-20...doubt it would have been easy to adapt to anything fatter than a .357based case.

Liked the very short lever throw..could keep your thumb over the stock's wrist and just flip your fingers out and back to run the lever (at lest if the empty case was cooperative).

Going to "crab" on the quaility issue...the parts hidden by the stock are solid enough, but don't impress with massive strength (flat metal plates and a bucn of pins and c-clips). They were made better than most of today's guns...but not as good as some of the other rifles made in 1965. Better like the trigger as issued as working on one is no fun at all...not impossible, but the parts are designed to be \pretty difficult to get to or to change to much good effect..
 
#4 · (Edited)
You are correct about the centerfire offerings but was thinking more of a high power, big game rifle... the 62 on that page is the .256 Mag. The following year, '66, they discontinued the 256 and introduced the 30 US Carbine. In '69, they reintroduced the 256 Mag along with the 30 USC and in '70 they were no more.

TR... what did the price tag ask on that rifle?

Ribbonstone... What year is your rifle? I would be happy to scan the catalog page for your rifle and send it to you.

Michael
 
#5 ·
The .256's problem was an over long chamber and a springy lock up. Wasn't headspace; that's set by the rim and it checked out fine...was a long chamber (kind of the same thing people complain about with some .303 brits.). HAD to size the shoulder back a bit to get that springy lock up to work...is a point were it will "almost lock" and still fire...raps the devil out of your hand when that lever opens under pressure and does the lever no good at all.

With the blwoing of the shoulder forward an sizing it back enough to get the case to chamber, case life is pretty short.

Knew two guys with pistols in .256...one a Hawkeye the ohter Sportmsan (Merril). Between the three of use we made dies to bump up 50gr. .25acp FMJ's to .258" semi-spitzers...fed in base first, were soft points (or nose first for FMJ's). Shot pretty well. One of those guys pased away, and I've no clue where those dies got off to....would like to give them a try with the impossibly light 35gr. .25acp JHP's.

Carbine was easier to deal with. Still a springly lock up, but with a straight case that's a lot less trouble. Has to rate as the most accurate .30carbine rifle I've ever shot.

Both of them were Marlin's peak in mircro groove. the .256 had 16 little lands and grooves...the .30carbine had 20. Didn't hurt accuracy as far as I could tell.
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IF that 57's price is right, consider picking it up. It's an odd rifle with some good features...more an adaptation of a Savage action than anything else, but in genral those rifles shoot pretty well.
 
#6 ·
Two were available. One in 22LR and the other in 22 MAG. Priced at $250. each.

I think I'll look around some more. Perhaps a lever action Browning or Winchester 22LR or maybe a Remington pump. Pennsylvania does not allow small game hunting with a semi-auto 22. Odd but true.
TR
 
#8 ·
I have a Model 56, which is the 57 with a detachable mag, in lieu of the tube. I love mine. It's very accurate and feeds everything quite well.

The only thing I've done is replace a firing pin (a little too much dry-firing as a kid). As mentioned, the short lever throw is great.

RSY
 
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#11 ·
I have one I bought off Gun Broker for $275.00 plus shipping costs and California Transfer fees.
It is a Steel receiver type and I bought soem spare bolt bodies and a .30 Carbine Marlin Barrel from Numerich to allow future conversion to that caliber.
Best Regards,
Chev. William
 
#12 ·
my model 60 in 30carbine is one of my more accurate rifles and pure joy to shoot. Hand loads of 110gr soft points over H110 or W296 clock over 2000fps 10 feet from the muzzle and if I can hold the rifle well enuff, 3 or more of those will land in an inch paster at 100yds. Yes, I do use an old 4x Redfield on the gun.
bob
 
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