The Marlin Papoose is one of the most distinctive looking firearms that a hunter or shooter will ever see. The stock of the rifle cuts off dramatically just in front of the action. Of course, there is a good reason for this; the Marlin Papoose is a take-down rifle meaning that the barrel screws off of the action turning the rifle into two pieces that can be stored in a compact space. While the Papoose may not be the ideal rifle for a lot of uses due to the unique design of the stock, it is a neat rifle which is more than enough to fire the interests of most shooters. In fact, the main reason I own one is that I always thought they were an interesting rifle.
The Marlin Papoose is a semi-automatic rifle chambered for the .22LR. The rifle is based on Marlin’s Model 60, both rifles have been manufactured for decades attesting to the reliability of the rifles. The Model 60 action is smooth cycling straight from the factory but will only improve with age, giving hunters and shooters plenty of reason to shoot the rifle as much as possible. The Papoose, with the synthetic stock, weighs in at just over 3 pounds and is just under a yard long with its 16 ½ inch barrel. The Papoose is sold by Marlin with a padded case to store the broken down rifle, the case even floats with the gun inside.
The Papoose shoots well, but is awkward to hold due to abbreviated stock. This is especially true for larger shooters, as the small gun fits them like a toy. The small size of the Papoose makes it fit younger shooters well. Like any gun, the owner will shoot it better with practice, but it will always be awkward to hold. The included sights are basic, but useable. The gun is also grooved to accept a scope. Our friends from Exile Machine have some informative reviews on scopes that will fit this rifle, so check them out if you’re looking for one.
For hunting and plinking, the rifle is a joy to carry as it is so light and short. Though awkward to shoot from the bench, the quick shots that small game hunting presents doesn’t give a hunter the time needed to complain. He or she must simple raise the gun, aim and shoot.
Though the short barrel and half stock design will never make the Papoose a target rifle, it is accurate enough for playing around and small game hunting. For a rifle that will ride along behind the seat of the truck, tucked under the seat of a canoe, in a tractor or ATV’s storage box or even strapped onto a Mountain Bike, the Papoose will fill the void. The synthetic stock and stainless steel will take some neglect, but the gun will, of course, perform best if the owner takes care of it.
Overall, the Marlin Papoose is a good choice for beginner and average hunters, as it comes with the basic features that can work efficiently for small game hunts.
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