Swiming holes and slingshots.

Ron53 said:
Again, thanks Jackknife for a GREAT story! Reading those while sitting here in Iraq makes me feel a little closer to home and my childhood again.

I wholeheartedly agree with selecting a Marlin 39A! I have one I bought used at Cabela's a while back, 20" barrel, straight stock...just a "normal" everyday Marlin lever gun...but it shoots like a sniper rifle! I like it because it makes me look like the marksman I was 25 years ago! And with a couple of boxes of CCI .22 Long CB's, it's a hoot to shoot, and doesn't bother the neighbors.

Ron
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Hey Ron, with the shorter barrel and strait stock, it sounds like you got the 39M Marlin. M as in Mountie. Its a rarer model and a very nice gun. Alot of the Marlin collectors deem the Mountie a very desireable model to have. You are right about them making one feel like they are the marksmen they used to be. Our Mountie shoots just as well as our regular 39, but then even our little 39TDS with the 16 inch barrel shoots the same. Marlins are accurite shooting guns for sure. We put Williams reciever sights on ours and it really made a difference at 100 yards.

In either case, bring your butt back from over ther in one piece so you can enjoy it again.
 
Dadnabbit! All this talk of Marlin 39s. I finally got out of work today just early enough for me and buddy from work to hit our version of Cheers, where they know our names. We haven't been able to do that together for about a month or so. As my buddy put it, "Your van, like my old one, comes here on autopilot, while my new car hasn't learned the way fully."

Anyway, I was going in to take a last look at a nice, user Savage Fox B SxS in 12 Ga., they were holding back for me. Another fellow was wanting it, but it was priced right and I had first dibs. (Got this check coming up with some more overtime on it ya know.) As we usually do, before we get to any business, we look around and see what's hit the used shelf. I'd just started looking and there, before my eyes is a Marlin 39A. Granted, it is the new style with the crossbolt safety (blah) and has the fancy checkering. I was hoping for a pre-safety, but not too old. However, since it has been a long time since I've seen any used Marlin 39 on the rack there I naturally picked it up and couldn't let go of it. I suppose I shouldn't complain since it has beautiful grain in it and setting it beside the new one that had also just come in, you can't tell which one is used.

I'm fortunate that I can say, "Can ya hold this for me for a week till I can get back in with something to put down on it?" and they tell me no problem. Obviously, the Fox B isn't on the list for adoption anymore. I'm lucky I have one or two items I'm still willing to trade off.

Now I don't know if this is Jung's Synchronicity coming into play, the power of all these warped minds here focusing on the old M39, or just darn good luck. I didn't need to know which to quickly wrap my fingers round that stock and refuse to let go.

I'm thinking a Case stag peanut just might be called for to go along with such a fancy and fine rifle. Or may even a fancy mini-.... No, wait, I KNOW! An excellent companion to the rifle would be <drum roll> a 2007 BLADEFORUMS CANITTLER! :D

I'll save the stag peanut for when I find a nice little, used, Ruger Bearcat. ;)

And, Ron! Like Jackknife said, Get back here in once piece so you can burn up plenty of bricks of ammo.
 
Amos Iron Wolf said:
Amos, go over to rimfire central, and in the Marlin forum they have the steps to take to convert the gun back to the old style non-rebounding hammer san's saftey. It improves the trigger and helps accuracy a bit.
although my old 39TDS is a safty with the rebounding hammer, but its very accurite for the little 16 inch barrel.
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jackknife said:
Amos, go over to rimfire central, and in the Marlin forum they have the steps to take to convert the gun back to the old style non-rebounding hammer san's saftey. It improves the trigger and helps accuracy a bit.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Jackknife. I haven't been over that way in some time. I'd plumb forgot about that forum.
 
Super story from your youth as usual Jackknife. My Uncle Lew made me a fine slingshot much as you described out of live Oak and old rubber bicycle tire inner-tube as I recall way back when. Man that thing shot true blue!

Also, I have been shooting .22's for as long as I can remember. I currently own half-a-dozen .22 rifles and two .22 pistols, Winchester, Ruger's, Remington's Savage/Stevens, ext.. However, The rifle I love the most is an old Remington bolt action rifle that has no model number marked at all anywhere on it.. It reads on the barrel "Remington .22 Long Rifle, .22 Long, .22 short" and is 24 inches from the tip of the barrel to the tip of the breach.

I hope you all don't think I am bragging here, but I truly cannot miss any targets that I engage with this old Rifle between 50-100 yards with open sights.. My Tween-agers and I and there friends typically set up 10-20 water balloons at 75-100 yards on my several acre property against hay bails and take turns whacking away on busting them up.

Jackknife if you or Amos Iron Wolf or anyone else here has any information on this old rifle I would be much obliged to listen to hear how old it is or any other information on it. I did not see it mention here and thought with you all's great knowledge and experience you may be able to assist in this regard..

I could snap off a picture or two if needed at your request.

Thanks,

Anthony
 
Anthony, I don't have any of my reference stuff anymore, so can't be of much help. I don't doubt how it shoots though. Many of those old .22s shot pretty darn good. That old Stevens Buckhorn Special I mentioned. The Marlin 39s I've had too. Interesting about the Remington though. My mom, just got my dad an early Christmas present. He's been wanting a bolt action that would handle .22 shorts, longs, and long rifles for the past year or so. They're up in Michigan right now where the are Area Managers at a National Park. They live full time in their RV. She got him an older Remington 582 with a 3x9 1 inch scope on it from a friend there who dabbles in guns. I know it's his pride and joy.

I'm glad he got it recently, because a few days ago he had a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack), a mini-stroke. Mom noticed quickly something was going on and their friends there jumped into gear. He was lucky. He has some facial and left side weakness now, but that is improving already. Talking to him on the phone you can hear it, but it isn't too bad. Talking to him on the phone was a bit unnerving. Since I only see them for a few weeks in the fall and spring, ya go on what you remember from the last time. Sudden changes are a little hard to adjust to. This came after three weeks of Carole's mother going into the hospital every Friday then coming home the first of the week, only to go back again. Fortunately, she was recovering and they were getting back into the swing of things before this happened to Dad.

Sorry, didn't mean to rattle on. The cool part is Dad got a nice little rifle that can be his sweetheart. I told him that if he didn't stay on his medication and take care of himself Mom was going to give me his Tipi and rifle and he would just have to watch me sitting in the former and holding the later. ;)

Btw, Anthony, on that can't miss thing. I used to get bored after a while of repeatedly punching dime sized groups at 50 yards with that thing. One of those I could kick myself for letting it get away rifles. Plinking is so much more fun than paper.
 
Amos,

Thanks very kindly for the response. I have owned dozens of .22 rifles over the years. Be it semi-autos or single shots. Marlin 39's, Ruger 10/22's, Remington's, Winchesters, Savage/Stevens..ect. However, This particular Remington bolt action rifle, which btw, I have just discovered is a Remington model # 514, is the finest little shooter I have ever owned. Like you said about you Dad's model 582 bolt action, It is my little pride and joy as well. I am still trying to get the details on this old rifles production history and such.

Speaking of your Dad, it saddened me to hear about his mini-stroke, I sure hope he is recovering well in rapid fashion. My Uncle Lew had a full blow stroke about 7-8 years back and initially lost the ability to speak altogether for a while, ultimately he did make a full recovery. In fact, after following his Doctors advise to the letter and making completely new lifestyle changes, he is in better shape now than prior to the stroke. My point is that I hope your Dad will have a speedy recovery just like my favorite Uncle did!.

I agree wholeheartedly about your plinking statement. I use paper targets for sighting in firearms only nowadays. But after my gun is zeroed in then I say, "let the plinking begin!" I won't be parting with this little gem, ever.
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Thanks Again to jackknife for yet another wonderful story, very much enjoyed it as usual. Its funny how your stories and the superlative way you write them brings back so many fond memories of my own. Please keep them coming:thumbup:
 
Thanks, Anthony. I talked to Dad Sunday and he was sounding pretty good. He no longer sounded like he'd just been to the dentist who missed and hit his tongue with the Novacain. He just sounded a bit worn out this time.

Well, things worked out that I didn't layaway the M39. I ended up shifted around a little and am quite happy with the results. Besides, that M39 was too new and fancy for me. I want one with 15 or 30 years on it. :D Something to look forward to.
 
Back in the day when we scoured the woods for just the right crotch we always tried to get the old red rubber innertubes, seemed they were livelier. Great thread (I still shoot slingshots quite a bit- and yes still a kid.)
Ken.
 
Jackknife, again, thank you. After reading the original post I felt compelled to visit the local sporting goods store and found myself a slingshot. When I walked in the door with a brand new slingshot the look on my wife's face was priceless. "You're 41 years old and you have a new slingshot. Who are you Huckleberry Finn or something?" Pocketknives and slingshots...Maybe I AM Huckleberry Finn. I'll tell you the sheer fun of knocking cans off the 7 foot snowbank across the street is worth more than I can say.
 
After seeing the video of the slingshot guy, I'm actually tempted to go get on again.

But none of us in our most grandious dreams were ever as good as that old boy. Yean, only in my dreams. Guess I'll start collecting rocks.

Yobbos, what did ya get?
 
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