Stinger rounds in Marlin 39A?

Cast&Blast · Post by **Cast&Blast** » Wed May 14, 2008 9:32 am

I have a new Marlin 39A .22 levergun. A friend of mine, on hearing this, gave me a big ol' freezer bag full of .22 Stinger ammo.

Any reason I can not or should not use it in my Marlin?

Thank you.

Post by **Hobie** » Wed May 14, 2008 9:50 am

Try a round... Won't blow up the gun...

Cast&Blast · Post by **Cast&Blast** » Wed May 14, 2008 9:55 am

So if it shoots and cycles, there's no way I'm hurting the gun by using it, right?

Post by **Hobie** » Wed May 14, 2008 9:57 am

Why are you concerned? The slightly longer case won't work well in some guns, but the pressure isn't a concern in a new 39A.

Cast&Blast · Post by **Cast&Blast** » Wed May 14, 2008 10:06 am

I guess I just was concerned because it was a new gun and I wanted to do things by the book. But I was unfamiliar with stinger ammo and wasn't sure what about it was different.

But I'll give it a try. If it works, I won't need to buy ammo (for that gun anyway) for a long, long time!!

Thanks.

Post by **Hobie** » Wed May 14, 2008 10:14 am

You got that much huh? Pretty nice all around!

nemhed · Post by **nemhed** » Wed May 14, 2008 10:19 am

I've used the Stingers in my 39a with no problems, the aren't very accurate in my rifle, but they will sure put a hurtin' on a racoon.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Wed May 14, 2008 10:29 am

My M39 shots em just fine. I don't get match grade accuracy out of them but around the home place that's not what I need any way.

My M39 sits in the corner where it's easy to pick up in a hurry. I keep it loaded so the first two rounds will be short solids. They are totally silent when they exit the bore. The next three are stingers, and the rest of the magazine is regular LR HP's.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Wed May 14, 2008 10:32 am

When I had a Marlin Mountie I used Stingers without any problems.
The only thing it did not work with, was Eley crimped shot shells. But they were rubbish anyway!

Post by **AmBraCol** » Wed May 14, 2008 11:36 am

Cast&Blast wrote:I guess I just was concerned because it was a new gun and I wanted to do things by the book. But I was unfamiliar with stinger ammo and wasn't sure what about it was different.

But I'll give it a try. If it works, I won't need to buy ammo (for that gun anyway) for a long, long time!!

Thanks.

The Stingers have a slightly longer case and lighter bullet than most 22 LR ammo does. It should not harm your rifle at all as long as you start with a clean chamber. We used to use it in an old Winchester 67A that my cousin had. The old winny was a WAY weaker design than the Marlin 39 is. And we never had any problems with it. In fact, it shot plenty accurate for some fairly long range hits. The main problem was that too often there was nothing edible left after a body hit. So go ahead and put it on paper, see if your rifle will shoot it well - or not. I'd LOVE to have a freezer bag full of Stingers.

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Wed May 14, 2008 11:46 am

Some of my 22's over the years have not liked them but a Rem 597 I had loved them and boy can they reach out.
I allways likend them to sort of half way between a Mag and a 22.
Nath.

meanc · Post by **meanc** » Wed May 14, 2008 1:18 pm

I know you're concerned with the safety of use, but that has already been answered. I'd like to give you a little history of my first experience with them.

My first go ever with the Stingers, were out of my 1957 39a Mountie with a Bushnell 1.5-4.5x32.

It was already sighted in at 50yds using CCI Mini Mags.

The Stingers printed a little over 2.75" higher and an inch to the left of where the MiniMags impacted.

And you could cover that group with a dime

Well I got it dead on at 50yds and set up five of those plastic water bottles with the white caps.

I took aim at just the caps, and after five shots all them had nice little holes. To me, it's the most accurate/potent 22lr made.

I've taken many squirrels and mourning doves out to 50yds and a little beyond and they were all one shot kills.

GANJIRO · Post by **GANJIRO** » Wed May 14, 2008 1:23 pm

Stingers are deadly on varmints, turns them inside out. They're also fun to plink with especially liquid filled targets like soda cans and milk jugs, makes them explode violently.

Cast&Blast · Post by **Cast&Blast** » Wed May 14, 2008 1:24 pm

GANJIRO wrote:Stingers are deadly on varmints, turns them inside out. They're also fun to plink with especially liquid filled targets like soda cans and milk jugs, makes them explode violently.

Sweet!!

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Wed May 14, 2008 2:33 pm

I have run hundreds of Stingers through my Model 90 pump, so a Marlin 39A should also digest them with ease.

tman · Post by **tman** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:04 pm

have an old 39 made in the30's. good, but not the best accurracy. stingers make a nice wound cavity on game. prefer a solid at a lower velocity if you want to eat what you shoot.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:32 pm

Tman - I hope you're aware that you're risking a cracked bolt in that pre-A Model 39, by using anything other than Standard Velocity ammo - unless you've already upgraded the bolt to 39a specs, i.e.

preventec47 · Post by **preventec47** » Fri May 16, 2008 6:13 pm

Gentlemen, I do not believe the stingers get their performance from higher
pressures... I read a bit from the mfg once stating that they use a slower
burning gunpowder and a lighter bullet to get the velocity.
SAAMI has max specs for all their ammo including 22 LR and the ammo
makers cannot exceed these specs.
Thusly I do not think shooting stingers puts guns at risk.