Post by: Larry S. on August 05, 2011, 01:25:47 PM
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.
Over the past week or two, 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?
Post by: yorketransport on August 06, 2011, 05:46:31 AM
You don't need to spend a whole lot of money to get a good shooting rifle now days. There are plenty of inexpensive guns that will out shoot some of the $1000 rifles.
Andrew
Post by: BOWHUNTER45 on August 06, 2011, 06:38:28 AM
Post by: Larry S. on August 06, 2011, 08:18:07 AM
Thanks for the input.
Post by: marlin on August 06, 2011, 07:15:13 PM
Post by: Larry S. on August 06, 2011, 07:32:35 PM
You're saying precisely what I've found others to be saying on the Internet when they speak of this rifle. Truth be told, I'd never heard of it up until three weeks ago when I made the trade. Again, it probably won't be my primary rifle for hunting...I have another .270 that I've worked on over the years that is near and dear to my heart... but, to paraphrase an old saying, "You'll get my XL7 when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers."
Larry S.
Post by: marlin on August 06, 2011, 08:55:10 PM
Post by: predatorpro on August 06, 2011, 09:04:33 PM
Post by: Larry S. on August 06, 2011, 09:30:53 PM
Here's the rest of the story.
That Howa hunted with me for 30+ years and it had gotten dinged, scratched, marked and what have you. Too, I'd put a lot of rounds down the barrel sighting in, hunting, just plain shooting, and while developing a load for it.
I'm a guy. I loved that rifle and its accuracy, but I wanted a new barrel and action (I'd actually worn the blueing off of the bolt), so I started looking for them when I came across a new Howa Model 1500 (again, only 2 or 3 boxes fired and the guy needed to sell it) for sale at $300. I bought it and moved my scope, trigger, synthetic stock (I fall a lot), and bipod from the "old Howa" to the new barrel & action. Then, since I had all of the parts necessary, I assembled them into the second Howa (lost you yet?) using the old barrel/action and the stock, trigger, and scope from the rifle I'd bought for $300.
Having done this, a friend who'd always liked my "old" Howa asked if I wanted to trade for the Marlin. Since I now had what I wanted (new barrel/action), I took him up on the offer of the Marlin XL7 and got pleasantly surprised.
The only thing that matters to me is how well a rifle shoots. I'm too old to worry about how it looks - as noted, I fall a lot and anything "nice-looking" is going to get ugly fast in my hands. Too, once I find something that works (Howa Model 1500's and now Marlin XL7's) I stick with them under the theory of "if it's not broke, don't fix it." I've never missed a shot because of my Howa. Any and all misses I've had (and there have been a bunch) were due to the guy on the back end of the recoil pad. Too, I'm a bit tight with my money (what little there is of it after putting 3 kids through college) and, if an inexpensive rifle shoots well at $300-$400, I have to ask why would I pay more.
FYI, the new Howa shoots as accurately - 3 round cloverleaf + 2 rounds 1/2" away - as the old one...and I am one happy camper. Again, for once, the gods smiled on me.
I'm getting long-winded here. Time to stop before I bore you to tears.
Larry S.
Post by: SkookumJeff on August 06, 2011, 09:55:34 PM
Glad you found yourself a shooter.
Skook.
Post by: Larry S. on August 06, 2011, 10:03:07 PM
Larry S.