Author Topic: marlin XL7 (Read 3604 times)

ejpaul1 · « **on:** November 25, 2010, 04:41:48 PM »

I am in the market for another bolt rifle. Chambered in 270. I have a few nice guns, but have found that I get heartburn over scratching the heck out of wood stocked rifles. SO, I have a battery of plastic stock guns that are used for hunting only. for under 400 I have it narrowed down to a few rifles and the top consideration to this point is the marlin XL7. Anyone have any experience with this rifle?

digs68 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2010, 05:06:54 PM »

I haen't any personal experience with them but the reviews are really good. I was considering purchasing one myself. Perhaps in 25-06 if I can find it.

ejpaul1 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2010, 05:32:27 PM »

I got to handle one of these in 30-06 that a friend of mine bought but hasnt shot yet. The trigger seems great for the money and upon examination of the action, I cant see there being any issues with the design. The only bolt design I have handled and didnt like was an old 710 remington. I never got to shoot one, so I'll keep from badmouthing it. Around 1 MOA would be nice, but the conditions I hunt under it wouldnt matter if it was 2 MOA. I have a winchester that is about 3 MOA and I have killed scores of deer with it so any of these bargain rifles should be plenty accurate.

wareagleguy · « **Reply #3 on:** November 26, 2010, 04:52:29 AM »

I have a XS7 and it will 1 MOA with no trouble. I have mine shooting about 1/4 MOA with my reloads!!

Huffmanite · « **Reply #4 on:** November 26, 2010, 02:30:54 PM »

I've owned a Marlin XL7 in 25-06 for well over 1 1/2 years now. Excellent shooting rifle out of the box. Nice adjustable trigger. I'm not big on plastic stocks, but better one than stock on a Stevens 200 or a Savage Edge and I own each of them. Recommend the Marlin.

poncaguy · « **Reply #5 on:** November 26, 2010, 04:01:55 PM »

I have one, a MOA rifle ,easy. Love it and the Savage Edge too............

woodyed · « **Reply #6 on:** November 27, 2010, 03:51:30 AM »

I have various XL7's and XS7's and they are a superb rifle and don't cost a fortune either. Smooth action, accurate, and a real nice trigger, all in an affordable rifle. You won't go wrong getting one. If you want some enjoyable reading concerning this rifle go to <www.marlinowners.com>, then click on the XL7 forum.

One Eye · « **Reply #7 on:** November 27, 2010, 04:04:21 AM »

Many people have a hard time admitting that a lower priced product is as good or even better than something they paid significantly more money for. Like all products, there are really good "values" in some of the newer, so-called economical rifles. There is also some real junk out there in high priced models.

Marlin has been a really good company for many years and they make guns that just plain work. Hopefully, this continues in spite of their new "parternship".
Dan

whsk · « **Reply #8 on:** November 27, 2010, 04:18:17 PM »

i have two XL7C (270 & 30-06) and both are good shooters-i have less money invested in two rifles than what 1 Rem 700 costs nowdays-both shot real well out of the box-no tuning not even the triggers-best bang for the buck i have seen-whsk

grout-scout · « **Reply #9 on:** November 27, 2010, 04:40:30 PM »

Quote from: whsk on November 27, 2010, 04:18:17 PM

i have two XL7C (270 & 30-06) and both are good shooters-i have less money invested in two rifles than what 1 Rem 700 costs nowdays-both shot real well out of the box-no tuning not even the triggers-best bang for the buck i have seen-whsk

Yeah what he said, only I have a .270 & 7-08! Not many after market parts though.

ejpaul1 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 28, 2010, 03:02:38 AM »

Yeah, the more I hunt, the more I realize that durability and functionality trup looks every time. I hunt in the rockies of northern colorado and after scratching the heck out of a wood stock, I switched over to a remington 700 adl in 30-06 with a synthetic stock and havent looked back. It kicks like a mule wit the plastic stock and hard-as-a-rock recoil pad, but it takes a beating. And the matt coating on the barrel wears well too. I'd get and SPS but they are abut 100 more than the marlin, and I dont really think they are a drastically better gun. EJ

One Eye · « **Reply #11 on:** November 28, 2010, 07:30:55 AM »

Quote from: ejpaul1 on November 28, 2010, 03:02:38 AM

I'd get and SPS but they are abut 100 more than the marlin, and I dont really think they are a drastically better gun. EJ

I have handled and shot both. Get the Marlin if those are your choices.
Dan

ejpaul1 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 28, 2010, 09:04:23 AM »

one eye, I think your right. The remington trigger (the old one I ma used to) doesnt hold a candle to the marlin accu-trigger style of trigger. The only thing holding me back is that a good friend of mine has a custom 7mm rem mag rifle that he doesnt like because he had a pierced primer through it. I have a 7mm WSM and like it is the reaosn I am looking to the 270. By the way, I just want a 270 for those online ballasticians that have been waiting for me to say something about speed or power. I love the 270 and the ease in which ammo can be found at even some gas stations.

HogFan · « **Reply #13 on:** December 02, 2010, 04:54:52 PM »

I have a XS7 in .308 and really like it. I have only shot two different factory rounds out of it, but the Rem Cor-lockts are the best so far. I use 150 gr. and get almost 1" groups at 100 yards. It's not my most accurate rifle, but by far the cheapest. I paid $255 for it new in Jan. and a Burris FFII Scope I have $110 in it. So for under $400 I have a good deer rifle. I think if I tried a few more loads, I could get it under 1/2" or at least 3/4" at 100 yards.

tjrod · « **Reply #14 on:** December 02, 2010, 10:42:47 PM »

I have the XL7 in 25-06. I would buy another one in a heartbeat and sadly I can't say that about other rifles I have that I paid way more for.

ejpaul1 · « **Reply #15 on:** December 03, 2010, 03:39:13 AM »

Well, I think I am convinced. When I get back home I will probably go and get one in 270. I pre-emptively told my wife to go on a 350 dollar shopping spree while I am traveling this week so I shouldnt have any problems procuring one. EJ

ejpaul1 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 11, 2010, 02:37:39 PM »

I picked one up today in 270. Looks and feels real good. I have a stevens 200, a remington 700 and a winchester model 70 along with a few H&R's and rossi's and I must say that this one really stacks up. I like the bolt better than the winchester, the remington style safety and the trigger is amazing. I just cant believe this rifle costs as little as it does. It as well came with a scope mounting rail so all I need to do is get some rings and a scope. It'll be a while till I get a scope and shoot it. I am leaning towards one of those redfields. I'll give a range report when I finally get it set up. EJ

pastorp · « **Reply #17 on:** December 21, 2010, 03:59:48 AM »

Marlin has always produced a good product for the money. During the change over there were a few problems with quality control but they seam to have those worked out. WOW. A hunting rifle for less than $300 is a bargain. I always regretted not buying one of the older marlin bolt guns to try. Maybe I'll get one of these in 25-06.

Regards,

ejpaul1 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 21, 2010, 04:53:20 AM »

I must have gotten scammed! I paid 329 for mine. Naw, I am completly cool with the price. I used to be one of those guys that just bought the best I could no matter hwere it was made. It now officially matters to me to buy something made here. So, if I have to pay a bit extra to keep china and japan out of our pocketbooks, then thats what I'll do. For 329, I dont feel like I paid anything extra to buy something that was made here! EJ

whsk · « **Reply #19 on:** December 21, 2010, 01:56:01 PM »

you didn't get scammed-current prices are up from where they were when they first came out-whsk

tomtomz · « **Reply #20 on:** January 09, 2013, 09:04:38 PM »

Thanks, gentlemen, for these reviews.

Price aside, they sound like a high quality
American made rifle.

I'm a buyer at this value point.

ejpaul1 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 15, 2013, 08:11:09 AM »

Old post but worth mentioning. This rifle has since been driven intot he pavement by my wife (accident) to the point where it has metal ground off near the crown. I have shot 4 deer with it this year and its been dropped, full of oklahoma red dirt, soaked in rain and in general abused. I dont make it a habit to treat a rifle the way this one has been treated, but its the regretful truth.
It shoots perfectly no matter what you feed it. The scope was off a bit after all of this (its a redfield, one of the new American made ones) and I am impressed with it but the rifle is the value of the century. The trigger continues to be impressive as well. If you bought one, you did the right thing.

mantihunter · « **Reply #22 on:** January 15, 2013, 11:53:18 AM »

I also have one in 270 Win, scoped with a Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9x. It has shot "lights out" since the day I got it about 2+ years ago. W-W brass, IMR 4350 powder, Win. LR primers and Nosler 150 gr. Partitions. My #1 "go to" rifle for deer, elk and antelope.

cudatruck · « **Reply #23 on:** January 15, 2013, 12:07:50 PM »

ejpaul1, i have the marlin XS7 in 7mm-08. the only bolt action centerfire rifle i still own. i bought it for the same reasons you have purchased yours. i did not like the echo in the stock and the balance point was way to forward. i purchased a boyd's laminate stock and installed an aftermarket recoil pad. changed the trigger guard to a metal one. changed the scope mount to leopold two piece and mounted a zeiss scope in leopold rings. added a chin safari speed sling. total investment about 1000.00. everytime i take this rifle to the range it gets complemented( especially after shooting!) i have understood the savage barrels will fit the marlin action. (some need a small mod) this opens it up to many available quality barrels in a variety of chamberings when i get tire of this one. Glad to hear you are enjoying yours! This is probably the last bolt gun i will buy.

tomtomz · « **Reply #24 on:** January 15, 2013, 05:20:06 PM »

No, I haven't found one to lay hands on yet.

Tonight I went shopping with ten C-notes in my wallet, and couldn't find one at Cabelas, Bass Pro Shop, or any of the local gun dealers. So I felt up a lot of Remingtons instead, and none of them "gave me wood." I've read about people loving their 700s here and I'm still looking for a "new rifle woodie" when I pick one up. So far, nothing has even tempted me.

I keep seeing Ruger #1 rifles almost everywhere I go, so I might need one of those in a 6.5 Swedish Mauser or .264 WIN MAG. Right now I'm strangely interested in buying belted cartridge magnums, and the .264 WIN MAG has picqued my interest. I have a 25 Cal (257 WBY), a 27 Cal (270 WSM and 270 WIN), .308 calibers (30-06 SPR, 30/378 WBY, and a 300 WIN MAG). Wish I had one in an old Winchester Model 70, but those are getting rare, especially in that caliber.

I am lucky to have some extra cash and I buy a rifle, lets say, every couple of months. If I like them, I keep them. If not, there are plenty of buyers and nephews that need a good rifle with a little bit of "new gun" wore off.

So I bought an 8 lb. jug of H4350 powder and a few thousand primers, and I'll keep looking.
Darn bullets are twice as expensive as they were 4 months ago! I'd like to load almost 1,000
cases before February, when the annual coyote hunt begins (two weeks in the cold, dead of Winter.)

Not that I'm short on ammo, but I'd like to have extra if I'm going to shoot 10-20 times a day, potentially.

ejpaul1 · « **Reply #25 on:** January 17, 2013, 11:39:11 AM »

the 264 win mag has always been a favorite of mine. THeres an old book called "great true hunts" wierd name but really cool. Set in the 60's it documents hunts with some very prominent people at the time and they give nearly all of them a nifty 264 win mag for being a good sport. Lots of people up in wyoming used them, you'll see a few from time to time up there in the hands of mature hunters. If you handload, I'd pick one up. Very versatile, very powerful.

tomtomz · « **Reply #26 on:** January 21, 2013, 06:39:13 PM »

Quote from: tomtomz

I'm a buyer at this value point.

I ordered the Varmint in 22-250 today.

Huffmanite · « **Reply #27 on:** January 23, 2013, 06:18:03 PM »

Your 22-250 varmit should be quite a shooter, my 308 Marlin varmit heavy barrel is.

DKA · « **Reply #28 on:** January 24, 2013, 01:13:59 PM »

Have a .308 & .243!! both are very accurate and affordable for most anyone!! Very much Rifle for the money!!

NateS · « **Reply #29 on:** February 25, 2013, 12:03:24 PM »

tomtom you'll have to tell us how it shoots when you get it...I'm interested in that very one you ordered.