Marlin XL7

[poncaguy]

770 is ugly.............not like my old 788 which has decent lines............XL7 is a very nice rifle..............especially for $300

[RicMic]

I bought a new XL7 in 270 few days ago and mounted a Leupold VX-1 2-7x33.  I figured hey, an American scope on an American gun.  $299 for the gun, $199 for the scope, $25 for the rings, the mounts came in the gun box.  With the governors cut just over $550.  Cool so far.  Took it to the range with a box of Hornady 130 grain SST's, sighted in and fired a couple of groups at 100 yards.  Most were about an inch wide but 3 inches tall.  I checked the stock screws, no change, so I decided to free float the barrel.  Next day groups were much better, 3/4" to 1" in size however, I had to wait until the barrel was completely cooled or the group would begin walking up and to the right 1"-2".  No big deal for the type of gun that it is, I had brought other guns for comic relief while waiting.  Yeah, that broke my heart.  What do I think?  Good gun, I wish the barrel could take a bit more warmth before shifting the point of impact (probably a quirk of my gun, YMMV) Come November 15th, here in Michigan, I'll be looking to bleed it.

[Coyote Hunter]

The 770 is an excellent rifle.  Why drop it?

Remington couldn't sell the 710 so they made a few changes and called it the 770.  I still wouldn't buy one, for a number of reasons including the press-fit barrel.  The Marlin XL7 is a much better rifle.  As are the Stevens.

[Swampman]

It's funny that the Icon looks almost exactly like a 710/770.  A press fit barrel is just as good as a barrel held on by a big nut.

[Coyote Hunter]

... A press fit barrel is just as good as a barrel held on by a big nut.

Not for me - I wouldn't own a rifle with a press fit barrel. By contrast, while some people object to the cosmetics of a barrel nut, the nut design has distinct advantages that cannot be matched by press-fit or even by standard threaded, nutless designs.  Foremost amont these is ease of headspacing and barrel interchange.  Many folks take advantage of these features and swap barrels on a fairly regular basis.  The nut design also reduces manufacturing cost without sacrificing accuracy or strength.

Other than both rifles are available in camo, they don't look much alike at all.

[Swampman]

It's just funny that T/C copied the 710/770s looks if they 710/770 are ugly.

[Coyote Hunter]

It's just funny that T/C copied the 710/770s looks if they 710/770 are ugly.

As far as I know, you are the only person that thinks they look alike.  And the only ugly one is the Remington.

[j104wd]

just ordered a 25-06 should arrive in 2 weeks. All they had in stock were 30-06. even if the 770 was a hundred dollars less I still wouldnt have bought it. and as far as it looking like a icon other than the barrels being blued thats about it.

[Swampman]

just ordered a 25-06 should arrive in 2 weeks. All they had in stock were 30-06. even if the 770 was a hundred dollars less I still wouldnt have bought it. and as far as it looking like a icon other than the barrels being blued thats about it.

The Icon is a dead ringer for the 770/710.

[mjbgalt]

would someone please post a pic of those two guns together, i am sick of the delusions.

-Matt

[Coyote Hunter]

would someone please post a pic of those two guns together, i am sick of the delusions.

-Matt

Well, other than they both come in Realtree camo:

Here's the Thompson Icon:



Here's the 770 - synthetic bolt guide, synthetic bolt shroud, synthetic trigger guard, synthetic sling attachment points, press-fit barrel, poor metal finish, small and rounded ejection slot, no built-in scope mounts.  Having seen them with my own eyes, the pictures don't begin to show the differences.

[Swampman]

That's because there are none.  T/C copied the 710.

The Marlin is a great little rifle.

[Tunaman]

I dont get it. Where is the joke?

[rickt300]

The joke is in the Universal Swampman!

[Coyote Hunter]

That's because there are none.  T/C copied the 710.

The Marlin is a great little rifle.

The two are not even close to the same in terms of construction or quality - the Icon wins hands down.

[Swampman]

Even the Marlin is better than the Icon.  T/C laid off 80 more people on Sept. 29th.  Bye Bye Icon!

[Tunaman]

Don't think that Rem will hesitate to Lay off in these troubled times. The outdoors industry as a whole is seeing some tough times. If what you said in your last post in the H&R forum about the barrel accesery program is true, I would think that Remington will have to lay off the personel associated with that program. It is unlikley that they will assimilate them into the Remington line.

[nomosendero]

would someone please post a pic of those two guns together, i am sick of the delusions.

-Matt

Well, other than they both come in Realtree camo:

Here's the Thompson Icon:



Here's the 770 - synthetic bolt guide, synthetic bolt shroud, synthetic trigger guard, synthetic sling attachment points, press-fit barrel, poor metal finish, small and rounded ejection slot, no built-in scope mounts.  Having seen them with my own eyes, the pictures don't begin to show the differences.

They look alike the same way that Madelyn Albright looks like Sara Palin. 

I would have to be paid to carry a press fit rifle into my house.

[Coyote Hunter]

Even the Marlin is better than the Icon.  T/C laid off 80 more people on Sept. 29th.  Bye Bye Icon!

Whether the Icon survives or not is yet to be seen, but if it fails it will not be for lack of quality, which is generally considered to be quite good.  The Remington M710 failed for a number of reasons but primarily because the public regarded its quality as fairly low.  The M770 is a small improvement over the M710 but it still fails to impress anyone I know.

[Swampman]

The Remington M710 failed for a number of reasons but primarily because the public regarded its quality as fairly low.

I have never understood that misperception.

[Swampman]

Don't think that Rem will hesitate to Lay off in these troubled times. The outdoors industry as a whole is seeing some tough times. If what you said in your last post in the H&R forum about the barrel accesery program is true, I would think that Remington will have to lay off the personel associated with that program. It is unlikley that they will assimilate them into the Remington line.

If Remington continues to loses sales due to complaints, I'm guessing they might drop the entire NEF line.  They can't be making any money with it.

[Tunaman]

The Remington M710 failed for a number of reasons but primarily because the public regarded its quality as fairly low.

I have never understood that misperception.

Misperception? I have never owned one but I have shot two, a 243 and a 30/06. Both had horribly gritty actions that felt like someone had poured sand in them. We cleaned the 243 and it still felt just as gritty. The stock was clumsey feeling. The barrels were press ft. Just about everything was plastic and they were just plain ugly. If there was not a problem, Remington would not have changed them. It cost money to make improvments and Remington had no choice but to improve them if they wanted to continue to sell them.

Don't think that Rem will hesitate to Lay off in these troubled times. The outdoors industry as a whole is seeing some tough times. If what you said in your last post in the H&R forum about the barrel accesery program is true, I would think that Remington will have to lay off the personel associated with that program. It is unlikley that they will assimilate them into the Remington line.

If Remington continues to loses sales due to complaints, I'm guessing they might drop the entire NEF line.  They can't be making any money with it.

I don't necessarily agree as a whole but I do think that we will see some changes in the H&R line. I do think that they will get rid of the acessory program, it is just too much trouble. I personaly do not see the need for it. In the end, You can buy a whole Rifle for what you have in the Barrel. With that said. Don't you see Lay offs coming for your beloved Remmington?

[Coyote Hunter]

The Remington M710 failed for a number of reasons but primarily because the public regarded its quality as fairly low.

I have never understood that misperception.

No misperception, but no surprise that you fail to understand it, either.  There are none so blind as those that will not see.

[nomosendero]

The Remington M710 failed for a number of reasons but primarily because the public regarded its quality as fairly low.

I have never understood that misperception.

No misperception, but no surprise that you fail to understand it, either.  There are none so blind as those that will not see.

I don't know ANY way a person would think they are a quality weapon.

Not only should the Marlin be THE lower priced rifle for Rem. to sell & kill 2 birds with one stone by dropping
the 710, but this should be Rems answer to the Savage. Once barrels are made for it (if the threads differ from Sav), then this is a good alternative to a Stevens. It is nicer than a Stevens with a superior stock. Should prove interesting.

[Coyote Hunter]

Looked at an XL7 again today - $275 at Outdoor World in Denver in .30-06.  A very nice rifle for the money.

Also looked at the Icon again.  The difference between the Icon and the M770 is night and day.  As usual, Swampman has been breathing too many noxious fumes if he thinks they are alike.

[Cowpox]

After following this thread for a few days, I went to Cabelas in Rogers Mn, and looked at them.  All they had were a few .270s and 06s. 
   You guys are right !  They appear to be a lot more rifle than one would expect for under $300. About the only thing I didn't like was the blind magazine, but other than that, I was so impressed, that I had them mount a 1.5 - 4.5 Banner on a 06, and took it home with me.
   Didn't really need a rifle, but being the only composit stocked rifle in my gunsafe, it should find some work in the woods on wet drizzly days ? 

[Slufoot]

After following this thread for a few days, I went to Cabelas in Rogers Mn, and looked at them.  All they had were a few .270s and 06s. 
   You guys are right !  They appear to be a lot more rifle than one would expect for under $300. About the only thing I didn't like was the blind magazine, but other than that, I was so impressed, that I had them mount a 1.5 - 4.5 Banner on a 06, and took it home with me.
   Didn't really need a rifle, but being the only composit stocked rifle in my gunsafe, it should find some work in the woods on wet drizzly days ? 

Hey Cowpox be sure to let us know how it shoots!

[pa hog]

think real good buy for the doe

[Cowpox]

Took it out today Slufoot.  After getting it sighted, I shot two groups with Federal 150 grain Power Shok factory loads, and both were just a freckle under two inches.
    The 150 grain Hornady hand loads my 700 Rem likes shrunk that to 1 1/4, and 1 1/2.  I suspect a little experimenting will find a load that will get under an inch.

[Slufoot]

Thanks Cowpox, If you start developing loads for your xl-7 30-06 I'd be really interested in your results because I've been thinking REAL hard lately about getting myself one.
Thanks for the info!

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot