John Taffin Article

[Swampman]

In the Feb. issue of Guns Magazine, John Taffin has an article on the new Marlin XLRs and the Hornady LEVERevolution ammo.  The group sizes are pretty remarkable with the .30-30 coming in under MOA.  I don't care much for the 24" barrel, but it seems to be quite a shooter.  I'm thinking about getting the Guide Gun to serve as my primary rifle for the rest of my life.

[Ratltrap]

The LEs don't shoot well in my 30-30 but they do in my 35 Rem. I'm with you on the 24" barrel. No use to me on a lavergun.

[Swampman]

I want to try them in my Glenfield 30 when I get it off layaway.

[totallycustom]

Well Im all for having what you want on your gun.

But I am very glad to see a little more length in the barrels, maybe its my western roots here but a shorter barrel doesnt help me at all I hunt from the western thick rain forests to the open country of eastern washington and can get around just well with a long barrel as a short.  I just like the longer sight radius for peep sights, I also really like half mags, I wish they were just a little more flush with the front stock though that would clean up the lines a bit.

Lets here it for variety! And Inovation.

-TC-

[Swampman]

I find the short barrels to be just as accurate, but I normally use a scope.  For me the perfect hunting rifle must be less than 8lbs scoped, about 36" OAL, and shoot at least a .308 caliber bullet.

[Coyote Hunter]

Marlin has an option for folks that don't like 24" barrels on their leverguns - the blue/walnut version with a 22" barrel.  The difference beteeen a 20" and 22" barrel is pretty minimal.  Not that it matters to me as I have leverguns with barrels from 18" to 22" and really like the feel of the Marlin Cowboys with their 26" barrels.

I've had an opportunity now to handle a .45-70 Guide Gun and .30-30 XLR side by side on a couple of occasions now, and have to say I like the feel of the XLR every bit as well.  I also scope my Marlins, albeit in Warne Quick Detach rings so I can shoot iron sights when I choose, and like totallycustom hunt out west where I can be in thick timber one minute and looking at a lot of open country the next.  I like my .30-30, but I'm not going to take a poke at an elk at 300 with it.  The .308 Marlin changes the equation and a 300 yard poke is a reasonable even with handloads that don't quite match the velocity or trajectory of factory ammo.

OK, the 24" XLR is not a traditional configuration for a "brush gun".  People bitch about the barrel length, the laminate stocks, the stainless metal and even the cartridge.  To which I say, if you don't like it, don't get one!  I have enough walnut/blue, short barrel leverguns in the safe and welcome the both the XLR platform and the .308 Marlin cartridge.

[Swampman]

I finally got my Guide Gun tonight.  It's a stainless 1895GS .45-70. It's very slighty used, with it's original box and all the papers, lock, etc.  I love it.  I got it for less than a blued one normally sells for.

[McLernon]

I bought an XLR in 45-70. I load it at mid to top Trapdoor level and it is a pleasure to shoot. The recoil is less than my 30-30. Accuracy at 50 yards with open sights is great consiidering my eye sight. I want to put a silver colored scope and rings/base on it and then check out the accuracy at 100 yards. It is a great all weather rifle in  a very flexible cartidge. For anyone contemplating a 30-30 I would suggest you take a close look at the 45-70. It is truly a remarkably flexible cartridge to load.

Mc

[Swampman]

I added a Leupold 2X7 and a set of Weaver Quad Lock Rings.

[McLernon]

Nice

Mc

[Keith L]

Lots of folks like the laminated stocks with stainless, but to me that walnut/stainless look can't be beat.

Congrats on the nice rifle.