Which Marlin Magazine Fits a Bolt Action .22?

A Marlin bolt-action .22 takes one of two magazine families depending on its model number: the classic 71903 pattern (780, 80, 20, 25 and their store-brand twins) or the later 71900/71901 pattern (795, 995, 880, 925, and the current XT-22). If your rifle is a magnum chambering — .22 WMR or .17 HMR — it uses an entirely different, caliber-specific magazine that will not interchange with a .22LR gun. The fastest way to know which one you need: read the model number stamped on the left side of the barrel and match it against a product listing that names your exact model.

Running ARM's order desk, this is one of the most common calls we get: someone bought a used rifle, a magazine got lost between owners, and now they're trying to match a part to a gun they can't fully identify. The good news is that Marlin's detachable-magazine bolt-action .22 rifles fall into a small number of well-documented families, and figuring out which one you own takes about five minutes.

Detachable box vs. tube-fed: know which one you own before you shop

Not every Marlin .22 takes a magazine you can buy. Marlin built plenty of rimfire rifles — bolt actions included — around a tubular magazine that runs under the barrel and loads through a port at the muzzle end or a loading gate. The Marlin Model 60 family is the best-known example: it's tube-fed, it has no detachable magazine, and there is nothing to order for it. If your rifle loads that way, no listing that claims otherwise is telling you the truth.

What you're looking for instead is a magazine well cut into the stock just forward of the trigger guard, usually with a floorplate or lever that releases a removable box. If you can pull a magazine straight down and out of the bottom of the action, you own a detachable-magazine bolt gun, and one of the families below covers it.

Find the model number before you shop for a magazine

Marlin stamps the model number on the left side of the barrel, usually just ahead of the receiver. Look there first — not the stock, not the box, not a worn bluing pattern that might make one digit look like another. Write that number down before you go shopping; every listing on our site organizes fitment by model number in the product description, not a general description like "bolt action .22."

The Marlin XT-22 series: today's bolt-action .22 magazine platform

If your rifle is newer, it's likely part of Marlin's current XT-22 line: the XT-22 in .22 LR, XT-22WMR in .22 WMR, and XT-17HMR in .17 HMR. All three use a single-stack, detachable box magazine that seats forward of the trigger guard — but the caliber-specific body matters more than the shared family name. An XT-22WMR magazine is built around the .22 WMR case and will not run in an XT-22 chambered for .22 LR, even though the two magazines look similar at a glance. Match the exact caliber stamped on your barrel to the caliber listed on the magazine's product page before you order.

The classic 880-series bolt guns still turning up at gun shows

A lot of the bolt-action Marlins circulating on the used market come from the older 880-series lineup: the Model 880 in .22 LR, the 882 and 982 in .22 WMR, the 917V/917VS in .17 HMR, and the economy-grade 925 in .22 LR. These use single-stack detachable box magazines matched to their caliber, generally holding around seven rounds. Because these guns have been out of production for a while and model stamps can be worn, check the barrel stamp yourself rather than assuming from memory or from what a seller told you.

Why caliber decides fit, not just the model name

Two Marlin bolt actions can share a model family and still take completely different magazines, because .22 LR, .22 WMR, and .17 HMR are different cartridges with different case dimensions. A .22 WMR or .17 HMR magnum magazine is built around a longer, thicker case than .22 LR, and it will not feed .22 LR ammunition well even if you can force it into the well of a .22 LR rifle — and the reverse is just as true. Our breakdown of .22 WMR vs. .17 HMR magazine differences goes deeper into how these two magnum cartridges compare to each other and to standard .22 LR.

Capacity choices: 7-round vs. 10-round

Most factory bolt-action Marlin box magazines, across both the XT-22 series and the older 880-series guns, are built as compact single-stack designs holding around seven rounds. Extended-capacity options exist for select models and calibers — our guide to 4-, 7-, and 10-round .22 WMR magazine options covers which rifles they apply to.

Magazine capacity rules vary by state. We don’t give legal advice — check your state before you order anything above standard factory capacity on our magazine capacity laws by state page.

Mistakes that get buyers the wrong bolt-action magazine

• Ordering from a listing that says "fits most Marlin bolt action .22 rifles" without checking your specific model number
• Assuming a magnum .22 WMR or .17 HMR magazine will work in a .22 LR rifle because it looks similar
• Confusing a tube-fed rimfire like the Model 60 with a detachable-magazine bolt gun
• Buying based on a photo instead of the model number stamped on the barrel
• Skipping the state capacity check before ordering an extended magazine

Which magazine do you need?

• Marlin 780, 80, 20, 25 (classic bolt-action, .22LR): 7-Round #71903 Magazine
• Marlin 795, 995, 880, 925, XT-22 (.22LR): 7-Round 71900 Magazine or the 10-Round .22LR Magazine
• Marlin 882, 982, 782, 25M/25MN, 925M, 980, XT-22WMR, XT-17HMR (.22 WMR / .17 HMR): 7-Round .22WMR/.17HMR Magazine, also offered in 4-round and 10-round
• Not sure yet? Browse the Marlin .22 Cal. Magazines collection or read the Marlin Magazine Guide.

If a magazine you're confident is correctly fitted still isn't feeding well, don't assume it's defective before you troubleshoot — see our rimfire magazine reliability troubleshooting guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my Marlin bolt-action .22 takes a detachable magazine or is tube-fed?

Look for a magazine well and release lever forward of the trigger guard. If a box drops free when you press the release, it's a detachable-magazine rifle. If it loads through a tube under the barrel with no removable box, it's tube-fed, like the Model 60, and has no detachable magazine to buy.

Where is the model number on a Marlin bolt-action .22?

Stamped on the left side of the barrel, usually just ahead of the receiver. Match that number to the model listed in the magazine's product description before you order.

Will a .22 WMR magazine fit a Marlin chambered in .22 LR?

No. A .22 WMR or .17 HMR magnum magazine is built around a longer, thicker case than .22 LR and will not feed reliably, even if it appears to fit the well. Always match caliber, not just model family.

What magazine does the Marlin XT-22 use?

The XT-22 (.22 LR), XT-22WMR (.22 WMR), and XT-17HMR (.17 HMR) each use a single-stack detachable box magazine specific to their caliber. Confirm the exact variant stamped on your barrel before ordering.

Can I buy a higher-capacity magazine for my bolt-action Marlin .22?

Extended-capacity options exist for select models and calibers, but they aren't universal. Check the specific product listing for your model, and verify current magazine capacity law in your state before ordering anything above standard capacity.

Does the Marlin Model 60 use the same magazine as the bolt-action .22 rifles?

No. The Model 60 is tube-fed and has no detachable magazine at all. If you own a Model 60, there is no box magazine to shop for.

Go check the left side of your barrel, note the model number and caliber, and match both against the product page before you buy — every magazine we build is made in the USA to factory dimensions.

Buying for a shop, a range, or more than one rifle? See our wholesale purchasing terms for volume pricing.