Back in the 1970's, I bought a new Marlin 120 Magnum 3" 12 gauge with a 40" full choke barrel. It was 5' & 0.5" from butt to muzzle. I had to remove the barrel to hang it in the rifle rack in the pickup. I mostly used it with 3" No. 4 Buck for dogs, coyotes in the calving pasture. I was happy with it and wish I'd never let it get away from me but when I came back from Wyoming, it stayed in Goshen County.

 

Used a Marlin 120 and it's counterpart Glenfield (don't remember the number), too, for a lot of bird hunting, back in the 80s. Very well built guns with steel receivers and very slick action. The 120 had trouble with sticky extraction of Federal ammo, but other brands were fine. Other than that, the only complaint I had was the weight. Great waterfowl or turkey shotguns, but darn heavy gun to carry for upland work. Eventually sold off the Marlins for that reason, but wish I had kept the 120. Been looking for a nice one to add to the collection for old time's sake, but don't see many around, anymore.

 

I had a Marlin 120 40", I think they called it XRMB. It shot well but was a cannon to carry. I sold it to a local Turkey hunter who still
has it. He loves it and has a Red Dot on it. I have seen him make some impressive kills on starlings when they flock up in the fall.
It cuts quite a hold in the flock when he catches them in range.

 

I just bought my third 120 Marlin. The first one, 30 inch Full choke, I bought in 1969 and killed many ducks jump shooting them in Colorado. I would go out before college classes to a state hunting area that had a creek with a little waterfall where there was always some open water, even in freezing weather. Was a mallard magnet. I sneaked up on them, dumped a couple when they flushed at 35 or 40 yards with 3 inch #4 shells. Sold this one when I moved to Mississippi and was too heavy for upland gun. Second one, mint at a gunshow for $125. Sold that one later for a nice profit. Today, bought the third one, $175, another 30 inch Full (think most 120s made were this choke) with a little rust here and there and worn finish on wood. Cleaned up fine, bore shines like a new dime. These are such high-quality guns, all milled steel, slick action , real walnut stocks - I would hate to think what they would cost to make today. Gonna try to hang onto this one.

 

Marlin made them to mimick the Winchester model 12.......Note the receiver scollop cuts are very similar to the mdl. 12.........Note the model #120...Similar?.....It was a quality abeit heavy gun in its day.....Receiver design & function was way more like the mossberg than the Win. action.

 

Bought one of these new in 1973 12 ga. 30" full choke. Shot a lot of trap with it for a number of years. Excellent quality, and I did fairly well with it on the clays and in the field. Wish I still had it. Mr. Ralph T. Walker of Alabama was a highly regarded shotgun designer and shotgun "smith" back in the day. Mr. Walker had "high praise" for the Marlin 120 as a well designed American Pump Gun.

Smoke Ratchet

 

Friend had one. A good shotgun. His kid traded it for whiskey and women......

 

He might of been better off with the Model 120.
jmtc