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Author Topic: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200  (Read 2366 times)

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Offline coyotejoe

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Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« on: December 15, 2009, 03:58:19 AM »
A friend is looking for an entry level hunting rifle for a young hunter just starting out. He has settled on .308 as the caliber and is debating between these two comparable price rifles. I'm hearing good things about the Marlin, not so much about the Stevens. I'd like to hear from owners of these rifles as to trigger quality, accuracy and quality over all. Thanks in advance.
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Offline kwells2006

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Re: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2009, 05:20:29 AM »
I've owned both and IMHO, go with a Stevens. there is more aftermarket parts avaliable for later on and they're nice dependable rifles.

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Offline MZ5

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Re: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2009, 05:56:32 AM »
Does my experience with my brother's Marlin count?  If not, just pass on down the thread and accept my apology.  If so:

The Marlin is equivalent to (or better than) the Savage-labeled guns in every respect, but is priced about in line with the Stevens.  The Marlin's Accutrigger-type trigger is better than Savage's in terms of feel (especially take-up/creep and consistency) and quality of metal/parts.  I love the older so-called 3-screw Savage & Stevens triggers, but the 2-screw units they put in the Stevens now are seriously spotty at best, and the metal quality is not good.  The Marlin stock is stiffer than the Stevens, so if you're going to keep it that's a plus.  You can re-barrel either of them with the exact same barrels and tools, so that's a tie.  The Stevens bolt is easy to switch bolt heads on, and they're cheap and available, so that can be a plus depending upon whether or to what extent you want to change cartridges.  I don't know for sure how the Marlin bolt comes apart.  You can get stocks for Savage & Stevens easily, whereas the Marlins don't have direct aftermarket support yet.  They will, but they don't now.  However, a Winchester Model 70 stock is an almost-drop-in for the Marlin, so long as you fill/build support for the recoil lug and do a touch of relieving in the trigger/action area.  Screw spacing is the same, action shape is the same underneath, etc.

So, to me, I'd buy a Marlin in a minute over a current Stevens.
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Offline pl270

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Re: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2009, 07:56:10 AM »
I bought my wife a marlin in 7-08 to start deer hunting with this year. At first I couldn't get it to shoot better than 4 to 5 inch groups until I figured out the rear scope mount wasn't tight.(yea stupid me). After that it puts three shots in an inch at hundred yards. I have no complaints about the rifle at all. Especially for the price.
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Offline shot1

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Re: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2009, 12:35:23 PM »
The Marlins will shoot. I have sighted in 4 or 5 for a friends gun shop and they all have shot under 1" at 100 yards with factory ammo. I know that I could work up some handloads that would shoot bug hole groups. For the money if you don't intend to do any add-on parts the Marlin is a better choice than the Stevens 200. The Stevens 200 triggers are atrocious. Very heavy and gritty on everyone I have shot.
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Offline coyotejoe

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Re: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2009, 01:26:26 PM »
Many thanks for the replies. It sounds like Marlin is the way to go. I can't see aftermarket supplies as a consideration in choosing a new rifle.
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Offline cbourbeau32

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Re: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2009, 05:02:48 PM »
I can't speak to the Stevens or to the Marlin in the 308 caliber but my XL7 Marlin 30'06 is a real shooter.
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Offline DKA

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Re: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2009, 12:33:58 AM »
The XL & XS lines are a hit for Marlin. Great rifle at a great price. Quality of the Marlin is far better than the Savage/Stevens line. Both have good accuracy and the Stevens does have more after market parts, but you can bet, there will be a Marlin line shortly.
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Offline 2ndtimer

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Re: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« Reply #8 on: December 20, 2009, 10:38:43 AM »
I have owned a Stevens in .243 for a couple of years and am quite pleased with it.  But I took the liberty of installing a Rifle Basix trigger (the stock trigger was heavy, gritty and far from crisp) as well as a Hogue recoil pad.  My son sanded the stock to get rid of the overly sharp mold lines and then painted it with a nice camo pattern (much nicer than the new factory camo stocks).  So my Stevens 200 has had a bit of work to become the very accurate, lightweight pleasant to shoot rifle that I enjoy.  That being said, if I were to buy one today, I would probably buy the Marlin.  I haven't shot one, but the ones I handled have all had much better triggers than the Stevens, a superior recoil pad, and more nicely finished metal and stock.  I have thought about picking one up in .270 Win for my oldest son.  I wish they would offer a left hand version for my youngest son.  Will probably have to bite the bullet for a Savage or a Tikka T3 for him, since he is the only family member so afflicted.
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Offline poncaguy

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Re: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2009, 03:54:16 PM »
I've had Steven 200's, Mossberg ATR's and now have 3 Marlins. Marlin's most accurate right out of the box, Stevens are close, ATR's last. But all are very good rifles, for the money. I only have one Stevens left and no ATR's now........Marlins have the best trigger by far.......
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Offline One Eye

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Re: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« Reply #10 on: December 25, 2009, 09:08:56 AM »
Of those two, I would go with the Marlin.  Looking at an  xs7 myself in .243 or .308.
Dan
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Offline whsk

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Re: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« Reply #11 on: January 09, 2010, 09:10:08 AM »
go to the store and look and handle both the stevens and marlin-i would bet the marlin will follow you home!
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Offline tjrod

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Re: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« Reply #12 on: January 09, 2010, 10:34:33 AM »
Thumbs up on the XL7 trigger. 
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Offline DannoBoone

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Re: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« Reply #13 on: January 20, 2010, 09:57:24 AM »
Marlin XS-7, if there are absolutely no plans for upgrading, or after-market toys.


Quote from: 2ndtimer on December 20, 2009, 10:38:43 AM
  I wish they would offer a left hand version for my youngest son.  Will probably have to bite the bullet for a Savage or a Tikka T3 for him, since he is the only family member so afflicted.

GRRRRRRRRR!! So we lefties are "so afflicted"?? I've been shooting bolt actions ever since the mid-'60's and just a couple
years ago, actually got a left-handed rifle. It took some "getting used to", especially loading the magazine. I'll not give
up my right-handed rifles, for a "lefty" not only can shoot left-handed with a right-handed bolt action, but can learn to
cycle the bolt with the right hand almost as fast as you "righties" can.  ;)
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Offline helotaxi

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Re: Marlin XS-7 vs Stevens 200
« Reply #14 on: January 31, 2010, 02:10:33 AM »
Love my Savages, but for the money I'd get the Marlin on the basis of trigger alone.
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