My Dad has a Marlin Model 60 he has had for 40 years they are great guns and very accurate. I personally prefer the Ruger 10/22. It has a reputation of being tough as nail and mine is very accurate. The marlin is tube feed and makes unloading annoying. The Ruger though has a magazine and just pops out. I have heard to many negative reviews on the Remington 597 to endorse it.