I was lucky enough to happen across a pristine Marlin Varmint King Model 422 a few weeks ago that I was able to buy worth the money. Like the prior Model 322, these were made on Sako L46 actions. There were only 354 of these made (according to the William S. Brophy book), while some 5,859 of the much more common Model 322 were made. The 422 was an "upgraded" answer to complaints that the 322's Microgrove barrels were subject to premature wear. Marlin used a stainless steel (but blued) barrel on the 422 to address this problem. They also reduced the contour to a lighter sporter weight from the heavier semi-target contour of the 322, and also used a slimmer Monte Carlo stock on the 422.
I was finally able to take the 422 to the range yesterday, although the wind was a bit whippy. The scope is a Leupold 3-9X Compact mounted in low original Sako rings. The handload used AA2200 powder under a 50 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip.
The target on the left is the 100 yard target. The lower 3-shot group was the first fired after adjusting the scope onto the paper and is just under 1/2 inch. The 3-shot group above the square bull is after adjusting the scope for approximately a 200 yard zero and it also measures just under a half-inch. The target on the right hand was shot at 200 yards where the wind made a bit more difference. But it is still only 1.6", which is just .8 MOA at 200 yards. This is the third model 422 I've had a chance to shoot and all have exhibited excellent accuracy. Too bad that Marlin gave up on them just when they had them perfected!
I was finally able to take the 422 to the range yesterday, although the wind was a bit whippy. The scope is a Leupold 3-9X Compact mounted in low original Sako rings. The handload used AA2200 powder under a 50 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip.
The target on the left is the 100 yard target. The lower 3-shot group was the first fired after adjusting the scope onto the paper and is just under 1/2 inch. The 3-shot group above the square bull is after adjusting the scope for approximately a 200 yard zero and it also measures just under a half-inch. The target on the right hand was shot at 200 yards where the wind made a bit more difference. But it is still only 1.6", which is just .8 MOA at 200 yards. This is the third model 422 I've had a chance to shoot and all have exhibited excellent accuracy. Too bad that Marlin gave up on them just when they had them perfected!
