ANYONE TEST OUT OR OWN THE MARLINS XL7 BOLT ACTION RIFLES?

[HairTrigger]

It all gets replaced from whom ever receives them

[deerslyr]

BIGINNER YOU HAVE COMPETITION NOW AHAHAHA

[Biggerhammer]

I had several friends purchase them in 25-06 when they first came out. They use them as truck rifles on the cattle ranch. They shoot very well and were priced at 279.00 when they purchased them. They have gone up in price cosiderably in the past 2 years.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

I bought one for my son 2 years ago at cabelas. They were a mangers special. It came with a 3x9 leupold rifleman for 399. I couldn't pass it up. I would let my 12 year old shoot a deer at 300 yards with it. Very nice shooting rifle. And you can't beat the cost.

[True Sportsman]

BIGINNER YOU HAVE COMPETITION NOW AHAHAHA

I was thinking the exact same thing...

[cwuwildcat]

Here's what I did with my 30.06 xl7, 180gr core lokt's and nikon prostaff 3-9x40.  Would have been a cloverleaf but I coughed as I squeezed the trigger on the fourth one.  I was sighted in for 200 yards, but the target was at 100 yards, explaining why they were 2 inches above dead center.  Took the fourth shot, looked at it through the spotting scope and figured it was good enough!

[Larry S.]

Recently, I had the opportunity to acquire a Marlin XL7 (.270 WCF) through a trade with a friend. The rifle had had only 10 rounds fired through it and was still in its original box with all accompanying paperwork. I basically traded an old (31 years) S&W (Howa Model 1500 in .270 WCF) for it in order to have a camp backup for my primary deer rifle.

Yes, the Marlin is inexpensive. Yes, the stock is some plastic polymer. Yes, the trigger guard is plastic and the rear guard screw needs to be carefully tightened so as not to crack the rear of the trigger guard (Stay under 20-inch-pounds). And, no, it's not a legacy rifle to be passed down the generations. But, Lord, can it shoot.

I mounted a Leupold VXII that I'd purchased from another friend who does a bit of gunsmithing and I took an hour or so to float the barrel and then I took it to the range where it shot 5 rounds of Federal 150g, soft point, round nose into a .830" group. I let it cool and then in shot 5 rounds of Remington Core Lokt, 130g, pointed soft points into a .770" group.

I sat back, took a deep breath, broke a small smile, cased it, and brought it home. Then, I went out and bought a box of bedding compound, bedded the action, waited a few days, took a box of handloads (.270, 130g, Nosler AccuBonds) that I have for my primary hunting rifle and went back to the range and the thing   shot a 0.900" group. Basically, this "cheap" rifle shoots better than me...way better.

My dilemma, such as it is, is now whether or not to make this my primary rifle. Probably won't, but I have to say that, this time, the gods truly smiled down.

I've wandered the Internet and the comments that come back regarding the accuracy of this rifle pretty much mirror what I've experienced. Too, I've found that they can be had for around $300 when you can find them. I'll add to that that there's likely a secret society being formed amongst those who own and have shot them that will not let them go without a fight.

Again, these are not legacy rifles. What they are are damn fine tools. Tools that you could buy without breaking the bank. Tools that you would not worry about scratching, scarring, dropping, getting wet, or getting banged up. They are an entry level rifle that, apparently, will shoot better than most of us are able to shoot and that will draw comments at the range - as in the guy next to me with a $1000+ rifle who was shooting 2-3" groups and wondered what kind of custom rifle I had.

Can't make you buy one. Won't argue about the plastic trigger guard (have already found a replacement Remington guard that will work with a little time on my bench). Can't argue that the stock is perfect.

But again...Lord, will this rifle shoot. And, all things considered, that's what really counts, isn't it?

Hope this helps.

Larry Simoneaux

[Pathfinder101]

Bought one in .308 for PathfinderJR for his 11th Birthday.  We love it.  Very accurate.  He brought it with him this summer when we went up to my buddies' place to do some long range shooting.  He shot it from 50 out to 525 yards and most points in between.  Was whacking a man sized metal sillouette at 525.  I think he only missed 1 out of 6 shots.  Great little gun (we actually got the youth model - the XS7Y).  Love the bolt, love the trigger.  Great buy

[HairTrigger]

Bought one in .308 for PathfinderJR for his 11th Birthday.  We love it.  Very accurate.  He brought it with him this summer when we went up to my buddies' place to do some long range shooting.  He shot it from 50 out to 525 yards and most points in between.  Was whacking a man sized metal sillouette at 525.  I think he only missed 1 out of 6 shots.  Great little gun (we actually got the youth model - the XS7Y).  Love the bolt, love the trigger.  Great buy

THANKS DIDNT SEE THAT YOUTH MODEL WELL DEFF LOOK INTO THAT ONE AN SORRY GUYS CANT STAND THE 270'S LOL JUST FROM SOME PEOPLE PRIORS ID RATHER THROW A 270 OUT THA WINDOW BUT I HAVE A 7MM AN LOVE IT BUT I KNOW THEY SHOOT THE SAME BULLETS LOL BUT I HEAR ALOTTA BAD THINGS THAT WHY I WAS LOOKIN AT 25-06 OR 7MM-08 OR EVEN  A 243 WILL DO

[HairTrigger]

 
THANKS FOR EVERYONES INFO I THINK ILL GO ORDER THE ONE WITH THE CAMO STOCK
 

[JackOfAllTrades]

XL7S in 243win... Pull the barrel off with a Savage barrel wrench. Ream the chamber to 243AI. Put it back together. Go shoot stuff!

-Steve

[Biggerhammer]

XL7S in 243win... Pull the barrel off with a Savage barrel wrench. Ream the chamber to 243AI. Put it back together. Go shoot stuff!

-Steve

Never thought of that , have you done it or seen it done? I've never looked at the Marlin in depth, can you set the headspace with the barrel nut like you can with the Savage's? We have a 25-06 AI reamer, I bet I could talk a buddy  into using his as a ginny pig.

[JackOfAllTrades]

I've never done it either, but I heard that the nut is the same as on a Savage. I would think that setting headspace should be the same concept/procedure.

-Steve

[Pathfinder101]

Bought one in .308 for PathfinderJR for his 11th Birthday.  We love it.  Very accurate.  He brought it with him this summer when we went up to my buddies' place to do some long range shooting.  He shot it from 50 out to 525 yards and most points in between.  Was whacking a man sized metal sillouette at 525.  I think he only missed 1 out of 6 shots.  Great little gun (we actually got the youth model - the XS7Y).  Love the bolt, love the trigger.  Great buy

SORRY GUYS CANT STAND THE 270'S LOL JUST FROM SOME PEOPLE PRIORS ID RATHER THROW A 270 OUT THA WINDOW BUT I HAVE A 7MM AN LOVE IT BUT I KNOW THEY SHOOT THE SAME BULLETS LOL BUT I HEAR ALOTTA BAD THINGS THAT WHY I WAS LOOKIN AT 25-06 OR 7MM-08 OR EVEN  A 243 WILL DO

Oh God.  After that statement, you are going to get your house egged by about half the members on this forum... 

(..by the way...what's your address...? )

[HairTrigger]

Lol just hear alotta bad thing an good ones too but can't stand tha thought of losing an animal even from a good shot just my thoughts lol egg away I live right next door to you all lol