Marlin XS7 waste of money or not?

[Hornseeker]

A local store has these in 243, 308, 270, and 06 for $239... I have a daughter and a girl friend that need rifles... we are all on a budget...

I called (haven't seen the gun yet) and the counter guy told me its an XS7... I see on the Marlin web page, they dont have an "XS7" just X7. "S" is for short action right? SO the 270 and 06 would be XL's?

Anyhow, Im gonna run down and look these guns over. Just wanted to see what ya'll had to say.

Thank you,

HS

[bobcat]

I don't have one but all the reviews I've read have been very good. For that price I don't think you could go wrong.

[Hornseeker]

thats what im thinking...

[bod]

what and where is this store been looking for a good price on one of these

[Kittman]

Here's a very informative article on these rifles:

http://www.shootingtimes.com/long-guns/longgun_reviews_marlin_corners_the_market_102910/

[Larry S.]

The following is something I posted several months ago. Trust me, nothing about my opinion has changed since then and I doubt that there's much difference between the XS7 & the XL7:


"I don't post often but, every now and then, something happens that I believe should be passed along as information for other members.

Many times, I've read posts from members asking for advice on the purchase of a hunting rifle. That subject is fraught with so many overlapping variables as to make a specific answer nearly impossible. Among the variables: "What caliber?" "What manufacturer?" "What are you hunting?" "Open spaces or tight quarters?" And on, and on, etc....

All that said, here's something I came across quite by accident.

About three years ago, a friend had a rifle he'd bought but didn't like. It was a Marlin XL-7 in .270 Win, right handed, no scope. I'd been looking for a backup, camp rifle to have in case my now 33-year-old Howa Model 1500 (see: Smith and Wesson/Weatherby Vanguard) gave up the ghost after an episode of me falling on it, me falling on it after falling off of a horse, me dropping it while hiking, me dropping it after falling down a rock slope, etc....

Anyway, it was light, he wanted less than $300 for it, there was almost no wear, no rust, and it was in the same caliber as my Howa. So I bought it and...Blessed Redeemer...could that thing shoot. The first time I took it to the range (2011) it shot lights out with factory ammo (Remington Core Lokt, 130gr, PSP). Fine by me. It went to hunting camp that year.

The next summer, I decided to work up a hunting load for it. I also floated the barrel and bedded the action just to have something to do and "Bingo." Three round cloverleaf. I did a minor adjustment for windage and elevation and it drilled the center out of the target. Note: The overall length shown in the picture is WITH a Lyman Comparator. The actual OAL measured from base to tip was at the SAAMI spec (3.340") which gave me a little more than .060" distance from the lands on this rifle (ALWAYS check that for every rifle and load work up). Needless to say, it went to camp that year too. As it did in 2013.

On a whim, I purchased and installed a new scope (my wife loves me and I promised she could fly down to Florida to visit our granddaughter this summer) which was a Leupold VX-3, 4.5 x 14 x 40, with a Boone & Crockett reticle (more than 2x's the price of the rifle), took it to the range, sighted it in, and fired 9 rounds. The results are as you see.

I've done a lot of  reading about this rifle and it is almost all entirely good - especially in the arena that matters most. It is just flat out a shooter. There's no doubt in my ever more cloudy mind that this rifle will now and forever shoot better than I can - and proves it every time I take it out. The three rounds around the edge of the "Eight Round Group" picture were mostly caused by the .300 Win Mag at the next table. Those things could make a boulder flinch. The "Ninth Round" was fired at another target to make sure of what I was seeing from this inexpensive rifle.

Bottom line here is that if I'm ever asked for an opinion on what would be a great gun at an inexpensive price point, guess what my answer will be. Further, you can bet that it will never be sold..."

[hooker]

If you do happen to look at the Marlins and your not real fond of them, check out the Ruger Americans.  I've shot a couple and own a .22lr and all were very accurate.  Been hearing alot of good stuff.

Good luck with your purchase.

[Hornseeker]

I have looked for a couple of years at the American and the Savage Axis. IMHO... this Marlins fit and finish and "feel" is better than either, although I do like the American's feel.

I bought the 308 yesterday for my girlfriend. Ive got an older Burris I'll pop on top... I'll give a bit of a report soon. I am really really tempted to go buy another one. They have a 243... They didn't have the 7-08, or I would have bought that for sure.

Thanks for your opinions,

HS

[YellowDog]

Do you know if they have anther 308?

[grundy53]

What store?

sent from my typewriter

[lamrith]

Thats a great price.  About the only "con" I have heard about the X7 is the blind ammo box and you have to cycle every round thru the chamber to unload one.  They supposedly shoot great, nice trigger, and even come with the one piece scope mount.  All in an economy package.

[Hornseeker]

I still havne't shot this gun, but every time I handle it I am more impressed with the fit and finish and feel for a $239 rifle... (although, I only paid $100 for my first rifle... a Rem M721)....

Anyhow, I'll put a report up soon when I get this thing broke in and shooting.

[quadrafire]

I still havne't shot this gun, but every time I handle it I am more impressed with the fit and finish and feel for a $239 rifle... (although, I only paid $100 for my first rifle... a Rem M721)....

Anyhow, I'll put a report up soon when I get this thing broke in and shooting.

Ernie, my first (other than a 10/22) was the Rem 721 in '06 for $100 as well. The guy let me make payments on it from my muskrat trapline.

[Hornseeker]

 lolz... hehehe

[Hornseeker]

Initial Impression:

I fired 15 rounds through it (the cheapest box of ammo I could find). From a homemade bipod rest, sitting, 125 yards (after a few shots at 25 yards to get the scope on)... Anyhow... softball sized group of bullet holes... This weekend I will put it on a nice steady rest and fire a few at 100 and see what she does.

The gun felt great in the hand, the recoil was nothing to worry about. The feed was not consistent... if I didn't work the bolt "quickly" the cartridge would jam into something instead of chambering. All I had to do was let pressure off the bolt then push again and it would drop in. If I worked the bolt quickly, it would feed smoothly into the chamber. Kind of annoying, and could be real troublesome in the wrong situation while hunting.

Anyhow, more later.