Nice comparison between the two. Your FIN's gun is an old sweetheart! Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

I'm chomping at the bit for Ruger/Marlin to announce a new 39a. They finally announced the .357 1894 so... 🤞

So cool Tex Mex. I'd love to get me a 39a. I've been looking but they are hard to come by. I loved seeing the groupings and man your father-in-law's old rifle is nice even with the character it has been given over the years.

I'm from the UK and I bought a 1956 (I think) 39a about 12 years ago and just love it - It's the same as the one your father in-law has but I have to say mines in better condition, although not perfect as I shoot it rather than look at it! It has a slightly heavier trigger that yours but shoots fantastically well - very accurate. I change the sights every now and again, alternating between a small scope and skinner peep sight - at 64 it would make more sense to leave the scope on but I'm hitting the gongs at 50M without issue with the skinner and I just love the simplicity of the rifle with this setup. If I could I would keep this rifle forever but unfortunately the UK gun laws make a license and member of a club obligatory and as I get older, something will have to give I guess. Still...enjoying it whilst I can.

Nothing ever broke in either of my 39 As. My original and favorite, the firing pin simply wore down. I have fired more rounds than anyone but a factory test team. It is not a flaw. Even I am about worn out.

Open sights. You did great. I bought my 1st one in 1957

Wow, that trigger is good. I never shot with a 39A but it seems everybody that have them love them. I have a Winchester 9422 and don't know wat the original trigger pull is, but it is not to heavy, around two pounds. I replaced and shortened the hammer spring and the trigger pull is a bit softer but one must be careful not to lighten it to much else you will get light strikes and the round will not go off. I put the original spring back as I use the rifle for small game hunting and a to light trigger in the field is also not good and I prefer reliable strikes rather than a little bit lighter trigger. Good video. And I like that old scope, it has character.

I picked up a Marlin Golden 39 A take down model a couple of years ago. It's an early model, best I can tell it was made in 1976. I have several Marlins from a .22 caliber to the Marlin 444

My 39A was made in 1960 and is smooth with a nice trigger. It likes CCI stingers and wears an old weaver made in El Paso Texas fixed 4x. Quality made.

I’d love to see another video comparing the two again after you scope the newer 39A. Also try different ammo. How about subsonic HP’s?

I have a 1897 cowboy with the rebounding hammer and I got about 2-3 misfires a box and bad trigger pull, I replaced all of the trigger parts and hammer with non rebounding parts. The trigger improved greatly and no longer have misfires.

My 39A is a Golden it was manufactured in 1967. I bought it for approx $320 back in 2004, it had sat in a gun safe since 1970.

I had my firing pin rebuilt 3 times. Still shoots as ever. 1st scope was an old 3/4 inch Redfield 2 3/4 power

I do love a lever gun. They scream "America."

Good shooting and good comparison. Get a trigger job on that newer 39A.

Open sights can be a challenge for those who are bit older. I believe your groups were not that bad for a buckhorn arrangement, as those sights were not designed for precise target shooting. A receiver sight may preserve the "traditional" appearance and still provide tighter grouping and easier zeroing adjustment. I understand enthusiasm for a light trigger, but 1 lb or less would not appeal to me for field use for safety reasons.

Not sure if you've ever tried, but .22 short CCI "CB's" are utterly quiet from a lever gun, and the gun will probably hold about 20 of them. Just a friendly tip for a fellow guntuber. ;)

I have a 1968 39a in gorgeous condition. Interestingly, the trigger is extremely crisp and feels like a true glass rod, but it has a comparatively heavy pull. I don't have a gauge, but it's probably 5lbs. I wonder if there is a way to lighten the pull without ruining its perfect break? Cheers

Good video, although I must make one correction. Marlin added the awful cross-bolt safety back in '83, and mot '73 as stated. The smoother/lighter trigger in the older one is likely just from use. They tend to work themselves in with repeated use. Unlike the trigger mechanism of the center fire models where you can add reduced power hammer springs, I don't think there's much you can do other than through use on the rimfire models. I own 5 Marlin lever guns, in .22, .357 mag, .44 mag, .30-30, and .45-70. All are from what I consider their finest era from '72 through '82. They added the fold down )and what I consider preferable) rear sight in '72, and added what I consider to be the undesirable cross-bolt safety in '83. I don't know one person has gone to shoot one with the cross-bolt safety that hasn't forgotten to release it, and it went "click" instead of "bang" as expected. Other than those made by Remington between 2008 and 2019, these are wonderful guns. I much prefer them to anything Winchester has produced, but Henry does give them a run for the money. But that's just my opinion.

lol, I just did a video on my early 50's Peanut model.... It doesn't have a 3/8" rail for a scope from back then though.... Likes CCI 40 grain lead standard velocity the best.... be well.

Love lever guns

I just found a model 39 Century 1894

So, on the trigger pulls, if one is shooting the newer rifle exclusively (and a lot) 3.75 - 4.25 lb pull isn't bad and once gotten used to can still shoot some good groups. If you had a scope on that rifle you clearly would have shot better groups. I'd guess the scope made more difference than the trigger.

I don't think the new version is shooting that bad for open sights. You just need to sight it in. It is definitely shooting all ammo to the left. Just drift the front sight a tiny bit to the left and you'll be good.

Couldn't find a Marlin 39A some years ago and bought a Browning BL-22 instead because of it's positive critics. I'm totally disappointed by it's accuracy as well as the fact that it's only steel outside and all moving parts are inside an aluminium block and will wear out much quicker so.

Use a 6 o'clock hold with the iron sights so you don't cover up your target

I am not a fan of the factory sights on the 39. I have a pre-70s version, and I have switched to a Skinner sight.

Your Pa in law has great taste in rifles. I like my trigger and don't like a hair trigger. But his looks like mine.

I do a marlin 39 discussion video on my channel. Mines a 39 carbine. Nice video. Marlin 39 rifles are beautiful and make awesome squirrel rifles.

That old marlin is a shooter. Put a scope on that newer 39A.

About now you take out you AR w 30 rd mag and waste the targets….right?

try comparing apples w apples ..scope vs sites mine is pre 50s and i dont blame the gun

Pretty sad condition for such a nice rifle . 😢

My 39A will not chamber 22 long rifle