about 4 months and 2,000 miles ago i bought an old Marlin (LC?) in .219 Zipper with @150 rounds loaded plus forming and reloading dies. Shot pretty well, although the factory loads were distinctly hotter.

Anybody else ever shoot one?

Only once 30 years ago. From what I remember it shot quite well but I did not bench rest it. My regret is I didn't buy it when I had the chance.

My Dad had one when I was a kid back in the 60's. It was a blast to shoot and if I remember correctly I had an uncle that loaded for it. Where it's at today, I ain't got a clue, but I sure wish I had it.

unfortunately, i know where my .219 is --on the wrong side of the damned country.

I remember reading about that cartridge. Was it considered a good varmint round? What size bullet(s) were used, and what kind of velocities were achieved with it(guess I don't remember much of what I read!)? Also, why was production discontinued? Was it upstaged by the .222 perhaps?

it's kind of like a 30/30 necked down to .22cal, so bullet size is .224". At one point is was considered pretty good but that was quiet a long time ago. pretty much the .222 took the stage away from it, b/c for the most part the .219 is a lever action deal, and they got greater accuracy from the .222. I think the particular rifle i have dates to the 1950's but it was discontinued sometime ago.

[ 12-03-2003, 07:58: Message edited by: Curtis_Lemay ]

It was a pretty good round. It shot a 50 gr. bullet to 3600 fps and a 55 gr. bullet to 3500 fps, so it was no pansy. Since it had very little recoil, IIRC it was loaded with spitzer bullets also and all the loading data I have on it indicates no problem with spitzers in the tubular magazined Marlin. However, the Winchester 64 was not particularly accurate with the Zipper and the round never caught on, not even in the probably much better shooting 336 and Marlin DCed it in 1961. Bummer.

I see a Marlin in this caliber every now and
then at the gunshows here in San Antonio, price
is around 600 they dont seem to attract much
attention.

can't fault them for not buying it, for that price they could get a brand new .243. I got mine with loaded ammo, dies, and an old style ruger .44 carbine for $700.

[ 12-05-2003, 00:49: Message edited by: Curtis_Lemay ]

I have a Marlin 336 in .219 Zipper. It is an old gun. The barrel is only 20" long and has a heavy contour for a lever action. It is fun to shoot. I like the lack of recoil. I have shot up all the ammo my cousin loaded for me. He used Winchester .25-35 brass with the flat nose bullet used for the .218 Bee. This was a nice plinking round. I have never hunted any animals with it, but shot many milk jugs, coffee cans, cinder blocks, etc. It appears to be pretty accurate as I only use the open sights that came on the gun. For a lever gun it is a bit front heavy. All in all it is a nice rifle, but not to practical.

I owned a couple of them in my mispent cowboy youth, killed some deer with the 219, it was a great little saddle gun, but every time I got one someone would trade me out of it, and I would go off thinking I's just cut a fat hog, then it would dawn on me I didn't really need this new GEW milsurp mauser!

I have always had a "thang" in me that I'd rather trade guns than own them, I've been known to trade when I knew I was getting the short end of the stick, but I needed the rush!