Marlin Model 81
Marlin Firearms · Rifle · Discontinued · 1937
Also known as: Marlin 81, Marlin 81-DL, Marlin 81-C
Overview
The Marlin Model 81 is an American bolt-action .22 rimfire rifle produced by Marlin Firearms from the late 1930s through the mid-1960s. Chambered to interchangeably fire .22 Short, .22 Long, and .22 Long Rifle cartridges, it feeds from a tubular under-barrel magazine holding up to 25 rounds and uses a self-cocking bolt with automatic ejection. A companion to the tube-fed design's box-magazine sibling (the Model 80), the 81 was a popular, affordable plinking and small-game rifle, sold in numerous configurations including the higher-grade 81-DL target model with sling swivels and receiver peep sights.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2812 g (99.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1092 mm (42.99") |
| Barrel Length | 610 mm (24.02") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 17 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tubular |
| Muzzle Velocity | 330 m/s (1083 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 141 J (104 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1500 m (1640 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Ballard-Type, 6 Grooves |
| Rifling Twist | 406 mm (15.98") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .22 Long Rifle · primary — also known as .22 LR, 22 LR, 5.6x15mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine (17 X .22 LR, 20 X .22 Long, 25 X .22 Short)
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Tubular Under-Barrel Magazine, Self-Cocking Bolt Action, Automatic Ejection, Pistol-Grip Walnut Stock, Ballard-Type Rifling
Production
Production years: 1937-1965
Original Model 81 introduced 1937; later variants such as the 81-DL produced into the 1960s.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Marlin Firearms
Discontinued: 1965
Notes
Produced in several sub-variants (Model 81, 81-C, 81-DL, 81-TS) and rebranded for department-store chains under names such as the J.C. Higgins Model 103. Barrel lengths and exact production totals vary by year and variant.
Background
A quintessential Depression-era American boy's-first-rifle, the tube-fed Model 81 armed generations of plinkers, farmers, and 4-H shooters, and remains a common, well-regarded used-market .22 prized for its accuracy and generous magazine capacity.