Stevens 200 or the Marlin XL7

[mwsc18]

Got around 300 to spend, would like to buy a 7mm-08 Rem.  I have a 200 in .243 the only thing I don't like is the magazine.  Looked at the Marlin, bolt is silk, I then pushed down on the magazine it kinda stuck just like my Stevens 200 does.  The Stevens 200 that I have is about 4-5 years old, I heard they have put a better magazine in them...does anyone know?  And look forward to reading your information...Thanks..

[FW Conch]

  I vote for the Stevens 200.  Yes, I do feel the current generation magazine works better.  I like the Stevens because it has been around long enough to have just about any aftermarket parts you could want, including a conversion to a high capicity clip magizine.  Because of the ease of changing barrels, a Stevens 200 can become almost any rifle you want.

I'm sure that in the future I will own a Marlin XL7, because I have looked @ them closely & handeled them & I like what I see.  However I would attempt to shoot that rifle as is without any modifications. "I SAY ATTEMPT"  GOOD LUCK - GOOD SHOOTING ! Jim

[Harry Snippe]

Well as the Marlins are getting out into the woods some have tinkered with them already with new barrels . Then on the Marlin forum I read one guy has already fittied a Winchester model 70 Syn stock and bottom (WIN70) metal to the Marlin .
I looked at the stevens then after changing the stock,trigger  and magazine. I thought I just be as far ahead with the 11FNS with the accrustock and new trigger . 
Well buying a low priced gun , then later refitting it , makes the end result as costly as , just spending the money in the first place for a higher priced factory gun .( AS the cost involved with a custom 98 Mauser )
Then the 98 FN mauser could be bought in 'o6 , shooting under MOA with a bit of trigger work , then you could tinker with it all you want down the road and STILL Have a fine Mauser .

[FW Conch]

 :)Understand what you are saying "H S" but the total cost of a rifle is not the entire story.  I started out with a $300 rifle with an action that will shoot with anything out there, that now wares a stock that fits me perfectly, with a trigger that I love, & it is soon to wear an aftermarket 26" barrel !  There are $2000 rifles out there that would not give me as much, & I don't have near that much invested !  Plus, I have some parts left I can sell !     Jim

[yorketransport]

I'd say that they're pretty much equal. Test the function of the bolt and the trigger on both and just grab the one that feels smoother.

As far as the new magazine on the Stevens, I don't know if I'd call it better. I've never had any trouble with the old staggered feed magazines. But the new ones are at least as good as the old style.

Andrew

[btr568]

the Marlin is built better.....I have both a Stevens 200 in 7-08 and XL7 in 30-06.The Stevens I got on sale for $199 as a project rifle.The Marlin is good right out of the box,no tinkering.Sometime this year I plan on getting the XS Marlin(short action)in 308.

[dks7895]

I own both as well; Stevens 200 in .223 and Marlin XS7 in .308.  Both guns have their pros and cons.  Overall, if I had to pick one model over the other, it would be the Marlin.  Out of the box it has a better trigger, better stock and recoil pad.  The bolt is much smoother on the Marlin, but the Stevens looks nicer.  

I have lightened my Stevens trigger and I'm happy with it.  The Stevens stock is functional junk in my opinion.  I can't decide to mod it or replace it.  The Stevens has a better safety.  Both are great shooters and priced right.

The Marlin XS7 was good to go out of the box...$279

[moorepower]

I love my Stevens, and the available aftermarket parts available. Since Marlin pretty much copied the Savage design, it should be good also. Last week I called Kevin Rayhill at Stockade Gunstocks about building a 6br from a Savage Target action, and he told me he prefers to use the Stevens 200 action, after a time and true than the target action. It just kind of irks me that Marlin had to copy so much of the Savage design.