Author Topic: Marlin XL/XS-7 Series Marlin Bolt guns. (Read 12050 times)

JesterGrin · « **on:** January 23, 2011, 02:27:45 PM »

Just a heads up I posted in the Request New Forum area for the Marlin XL/XS-7 series bolt guns or other Bolt guns by Marlin.

If you would like one please post your reply in the thread. Thank You.

GEWDOIT · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2011, 02:10:01 PM »

Yeah would be great since I just got one.

woodyed · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2011, 04:07:05 PM »

Definitely would like to see this forum occur. I have many X7 series rifles.

wganz · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2011, 04:27:44 PM »

I just snagged a NIB camo'd one for $250.

It is going to be my 'hunting gun' so a forum would be nice.

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2011, 07:01:19 PM »

Not gonna happen at least not until I see a big increase in the talk about them. I have however changed the subject line of this forum to include them so you can discuss them here or on the bolt action rifle forum either or both.

With over 200 forums now and most all the newer ones added last year already about as dead as can be I'm gonna hafta see postings to back up the promises folks will use a new forum. History has proven to me most who say that don't actually follow thru once the new forum is set up.

So you'll come nearer getting it by showing me lots of posts than by asking for it at this point on that rifle or the other Marlin bolt guns. I just don't think there is enough users here to justify a new forum at this point.

woodyed · « **Reply #5 on:** February 04, 2011, 03:21:49 PM »

Graybeard---- There are many Marlin X7 series rifle owners and fans out there so be patient. It's going to take a while probably for people to notice that this new forum is even listed or exists on your website. I'm sure you will see a gradual pick-up of traffic in this forum in the near future.

nomosendero · « **Reply #6 on:** February 04, 2011, 05:14:31 PM »

Be patient? I didn't think he was the one wanting it!

JesterGrin · « **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2011, 10:00:07 PM »

I really like the Marlin XL/XS line of rifles for the most part but I do have to agree talk about them is slow to be honest. Even on the Marlin Owners site there is very little interesting talk about them.

I feel the main thing of this is that most people purchased these pretty much when they came out for a very cheap price of around $259.OO for a decent hunting rifle but later after they purchased the rifle they realized it was much more gun than what they paid. But even so I notice that many do not wish to put more money into them for customization or to personalize there rifle. Of which I feel is a mistake as the XL/XS line of rifles are like the Savage they can be made into what you wish to have at a decent price. If you think about it another way you can purchase a complete Marlin XL/XS rifle for less than what you may spend on just an action from someone else. And the Marlin has a great action and I feel a better trigger than the Savage.

Here is some more info if you are wondering. The Marlin XL/XS has the same thread as the Savage even the barrel nut will swap from Marlin to Savage and visa versa. This also means a whole world of barrels are available for the Marlin since the savage barrel will fit from the savage. The only thing needed is to remove some metal from the rear face of the barrel to enable you to set the End Space. Also since both barrel nuts are the same the same wrench for the barrel nut fits both Savage and marlin how good is that lol.

Also I know that BOYD's Gun Stocks has some darn nice stocks both traditional wood as well as Laminates from a traditional design to a Thumb Hole and you can even get a left handed stock as well. I will include a picture of at the end on my Marlin right hand Thumb Hole stock in Pepper XL-7.

So to be even further honest the Marlin XL/XS line is a fantastic base to build your custom rifle from without breaking the bank doing so.

Do not get me wrong the Marlin XL/XS line is a fine rifle as they come from the factory they are light and very accurate even at double the price they would be worth it. I still have a box stock Marlin XL-7 in 30-06 that will shoot 1/2 groups at 100 yards or less. But as mentioned the options are out there if you wish to change them to what you wish to have. As I am sure thinking about changing the 30-06 into a 358 Norma Mag lol. Yep I like the 35 lol.

Here is a picture of my Marlin XL-7 that came in .270 Win that I had changed into a 35 Whelen with a Shaw barrel 24 inches long with a 1-14 Twist in a Mag contour sitting in a BOYD's Thumb Hole stock that has had pillars installed and bedded with Bedrock. Some other work has been done but you get the point lol.

I am also going to build a Marlin XS-7 into a .358 Winchester with a Shaw Mag Contour 1-14 twist that is starting at 24 inches and will be cut down to 20 inches and also set into a BOYD's Thumb Hole stock in Forest Camo.

Here is the Link to Boyd's http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/ROSS-FT-MARLIN-XS7-p/606-124.htm

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2011, 05:51:28 PM »

Yep, they are a great gun! I have 2 XS-7's, and an XL-7. One of the XS is wearin a 22-250 savage barrel, and may send the 25-06 off to get a 280 Rem barrel fitted and use it as a switch barrel setup. The 7mm08 may get setup with a 338 Fed or 358 Win barrel to use the same way, switch barrel. Much better rifles than most would think at their price-point. DP

TonyS · « **Reply #9 on:** February 08, 2011, 07:21:52 AM »

I have an XL-7 .270 and just amazed at this gun. I live in condor country so I have to use unleaded. After sighting it in at 200yds with Rem. 130 gr Core-Lokt I tried a variety of unleaded ammo. Finally settled on Win E-tip as it seemed to follow closely the core-lokt.

I now have begun to reload ($50 a box killed me) and using Barnes 130 triple shock and Hogdon 4350 at 52 gr I am getting decent accuracy.

Anyone else find your XL-7 liked E-tips?

grout-scout · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2011, 11:24:19 AM »

Hey guys I just saw the new Marlin centerfire forum change. Here's another Marlin fan, but unfortunately all three of mine are still stock calibers. I wish Boyds would expand their line of colors on these rascals, and maybe Mr. Graybeard can get a little sponsership money from them if we can get enough interest going over here.
Mr. Graybeard, these lever guys may not like sharing their forum with us bolt rifle guys.

Keith L · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2011, 03:15:52 PM »

We'll put up with you as long as you behave.

The Hermit · « **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2011, 04:29:41 PM »

This lever guy is more than happy to share the Marlin forum with bolt guys. I may not be able to comment on your particular bolt action Marlin, but do enjoy reading the comments, and who knows, it might lead to another gun purchase. Can't have to many guns.

The Hermit

grout-scout · « **Reply #13 on:** February 10, 2011, 07:08:45 AM »

Quote from: The Hermit on February 09, 2011, 04:29:41 PM

This lever guy is more than happy to share the Marlin forum with bolt guys. I may not be able to comment on your particular bolt action Marlin, but do enjoy reading the comments, and who knows, it might lead to another gun purchase. Can't have to many guns.

The Hermit

It's funny that I bought the first XL .270 for my ranch, to leave it in my cabin. We are only 25 miles from Mexico and have a few illegals but mostly drug runners come through our area. So I bought this cheap rifle and figured that if it got stolen it was no great loss. Well after shooting it and having sub moa groups I thought "Holy Moly", this cheap thing shoots great. I wasn't sure about the trigger but again after using it I'm convinced it's the greatest thing going for the rifle. So then I was at a outdoors store and there was a 7/08 XS, well heck I already have 4 other deer rifles, but not a 7/08 so I bought it too. Then the final blow to me was when I found another n-i-b XL. 270 at a store for $224.00. Good gracious I now have 3 .270's! I thought about doing what Jestergrin did with his rifle but it's going to have to wait until my work picks back up a little. Now back to the funny part, I like this rifle soooo much that I don't leave at the ranch in fear that it might get stolen! If your ever thinking you want a bolt rifle, you'll do well with a Marlin X rifle.

JesterGrin · « **Reply #14 on:** February 11, 2011, 12:33:18 PM »

Grout I think most people that own a Marlin XL/XS-7 were thinking the same thing at first lol. And yes I know you picked up that marlin at Dicks sporting goods.

Here is the story of why I purchased my first Marlin XL-7 in 30-06 lol. I hunt down near Asherton TX. And as you know down South everything sticks you lol. Not to mention it is hard on your equipment. And did not like to take my 62 Rem BDL down there. So I was looking into a cheap rifle I could scratch up and I could loan out and not worry about. So I did a bunch of reading and looked at a bunch of good reports on the Marlin XL/XS-7 line and low and behold I had a gift card for $50.oo for Academy sports and outdoors so I went in when to take a look and really liked how it felt and the trigger. And they were on sale for $259.95 at the time so I jumped on it. Took it home and tore it down and found the trigger housing screws were finger tite and the bore needed a good cleaning. And as I said it would be a beater and a loaner so I went to Wal-Mart and picked up a 40.oo Tasco 3 X 9 and had a box of Remington 18OGr bullets and took it to the range just to get that out of the way lol. Well I was lucky that day as I did my part and it shot a hair over a 1/2 group at 100 yards. I almost fell off the bench lol. As the people that scoffed at the cheap rifle when I brought it in were no longer scoffing but saying hmmmmm what was that again lol. And you said how much are they lol.

After that the Marlin XL-7 in 30-06 was no longer my loaner lol. But Academy did a bad thing and still had them on sale lol. So I just had to go back in for a loaner lol. And picked up a Marlin XL-7 in .270 Winchester as that is all they had left. I should have kept my mouth shut as the sales person told me that a couple of them heard about the rifle at a shooting range lol. My Bad lol.

But due to Dangerous Dan I decided to build the 35 Whelen from the .270 Winchester of which you have seen and I have posted here. I have yet to shoot it myself as Dangerous Dan is going to play with it some lol.

And now I really fell off of my rocker lol. As Dangerous Dan is building a Marlin XS-7 into a 358 Winchester with the Shaw Heavy mag contour 1-14 twist and cut down from 24 inches to 20 inches in a Boyds Thumb Hole in Forest Camo. He now has the barrel and the stock. But now I am waiting on funds for the base gun for the action.

So I think if I do not go nuts again lol. I will have the XL-7 as factory in 30-06 an XL-7 in a Boyds Thumb Hole stock in Pepper 35 Whelen and a XS-7 in a Boyds Thumb Hole stock in Forest Camo 358 Winchester. Oh my gosh the HUMANITY of it all lol.

grout-scout · « **Reply #15 on:** February 11, 2011, 03:32:35 PM »

Nice story Jester! My funds are lacking too so any projects for my spare XL are too on hold. I had no idea you were a Texas boy also, but glad to hear it. What's your home city? I'm in a little town called Boerne just north of San Antonio. This forum is definitely slower on post than I'd like to see.

JesterGrin · « **Reply #16 on:** February 11, 2011, 05:40:14 PM »

Boerne is no longer a little town lol. It has turned into an Antique shop lol. I miss the way Boerne was. I am in San Antonio and have a place just outside of Boerne. So I know the town well lol. Been going up there all of my life.

Mt_Sourdough · « **Reply #17 on:** February 11, 2011, 07:01:23 PM »

I bought my XL7 as a backup hunting rifle to compliment my 444. The 30-06 also offers a bit more range when I think I'll need it. I got one witht the plain back stock because I am tough on rifles and I wont shed a tear if I ding a piece of black plastic, but I have been seduced by those Boyds stocks. I ended up ordering a Boyds classic in Nutmeg laminate and I am now waiting to get my glass bedding kit to bed it. I am shortening the LOP and adding a Limbsaver.
After I am done with my XL7, I'll start searching for an XS7 to build a varmint rifle. These rifles are so easy to hot rod and will become more popular as a starter for people like me who want to build their own custom rifles for a price cheaper than the shelf price of other rifles. These are smart rifles.

grout-scout · « **Reply #18 on:** February 12, 2011, 05:18:13 AM »

I actually bought my first XL through a FFL guy (had him order it) I was doing work for at the time because I was too embarrassed to buy a cheap rifle at the store.

Lesson learned, just because it was cheap doesn't mean it is junk.

ardeekay · « **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2011, 02:44:46 PM »

I have a xl7- in 270, its black syn, blue, and cheap..... I have had it since they came out, and have tried and tried to come up with a 'magic handload' to no avail.. mine shoots federal factory Fusions into a 1" group constantly... at 200 yds.. what more can I ask?? (at 100 yds they are a little ragged hole..) why should I try to improve this, its as good as I can be !! I shoot a lot, many different rifles.. and every once in a while I get a 'fluke' group that is better than my marlin... but long term results are that at 200 yds.. ( note.. I hunt only 'out-west' for mulies and prairie goats) nothing that I have will outshoot my xl7. I just bought a xs7 in 308 that is looking real good to upset the 270 tho.. so far the 308 likes varget and 150 sierra gk's... Bob

Huntz · « **Reply #20 on:** March 08, 2011, 06:57:52 AM »

Quote from: JesterGrin on February 04, 2011, 10:00:07 PM

I really like the Marlin XL/XS line of rifles for the most part but I do have to agree talk about them is slow to be honest. Even on the Marlin Owners site there is very little interesting talk about them.

I feel the main thing of this is that most people purchased these pretty much when they came out for a very cheap price of around $259.OO for a decent hunting rifle but later after they purchased the rifle they realized it was much more gun than what they paid. But even so I notice that many do not wish to put more money into them for customization or to personalize there rifle. Of which I feel is a mistake as the XL/XS line of rifles are like the Savage they can be made into what you wish to have at a decent price. If you think about it another way you can purchase a complete Marlin XL/XS rifle for less than what you may spend on just an action from someone else. And the Marlin has a great action and I feel a better trigger than the Savage.

Here is some more info if you are wondering. The Marlin XL/XS has the same thread as the Savage even the barrel nut will swap from Marlin to Savage and visa versa. This also means a whole world of barrels are available for the Marlin since the savage barrel will fit from the savage. The only thing needed is to remove some metal from the rear face of the barrel to enable you to set the End Space. Also since both barrel nuts are the same the same wrench for the barrel nut fits both Savage and marlin how good is that lol.

Also I know that BOYD's Gun Stocks has some darn nice stocks both traditional wood as well as Laminates from a traditional design to a Thumb Hole and you can even get a left handed stock as well. I will include a picture of at the end on my Marlin right hand Thumb Hole stock in Pepper XL-7.

So to be even further honest the Marlin XL/XS line is a fantastic base to build your custom rifle from without breaking the bank doing so.

Do not get me wrong the Marlin XL/XS line is a fine rifle as they come from the factory they are light and very accurate even at double the price they would be worth it. I still have a box stock Marlin XL-7 in 30-06 that will shoot 1/2 groups at 100 yards or less. But as mentioned the options are out there if you wish to change them to what you wish to have. As I am sure thinking about changing the 30-06 into a 358 Norma Mag lol. Yep I like the 35 lol.

Here is a picture of my Marlin XL-7 that came in .270 Win that I had changed into a 35 Whelen with a Shaw barrel 24 inches long with a 1-14 Twist in a Mag contour sitting in a BOYD's Thumb Hole stock that has had pillars installed and bedded with Bedrock. Some other work has been done but you get the point lol.

I am also going to build a Marlin XS-7 into a .358 Winchester with a Shaw Mag Contour 1-14 twist that is starting at 24 inches and will be cut down to 20 inches and also set into a BOYD's Thumb Hole stock in Forest Camo.

Here is the Link to Boyd's http://www.boydsgunstocks.com/ROSS-FT-MARLIN-XS7-p/606-124.htm

I sure like that Thumbhole stock.How does it handle?

?

grout-scout · « **Reply #21 on:** March 08, 2011, 09:40:09 AM »

Hey Huntz, I have a thumbhole too so I'll give my opinion on it, Jester will prob. give his too later. At first I wasn't too enthused about the look of the thumbhole but I really liked the color of the forest camo so I went ahead and ordered one. Well it came and when I pulled it out of the box I really liked it, looks much better in person than on the website. My thumbhole is 15oz heavier than the factory stock and much bulkier, I don't think I would get one if you like to spot & stalk. It does give a nice little extra grip for control, but the Boyds are very smooth so I can seeing them get real slick in a drizzle/rain. The Boyds recoil pad is worthless so go ahead and count on buying a new one. If you are a blind sitter or just a shooter they are probably beneficial. Now if they'd make a forest camo in the classic style I'd get one for my other XL.

pl270 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 08, 2011, 03:30:23 PM »

I bought a 7-08 for my wife. Shot a box of winchester 140 gr. powerpoints through it and could not get it to group for nothing. In all fairness it was due the rear scope mount being loose. After I figured that out I put the last four shells I had left through it and got about two inches. My hunting partner happen to have some Remington corelocts and he loaned me three. After the first shot I thought I had completely missed the target so I shot again and the same thing. I laid the gun down and went to check the target. The first two shots hit in the one inch black circle in the target. the third shot hit just outside the black. I for one couldn't be happier. Will be shooting corelocts from now on.

kctibs · « **Reply #23 on:** March 13, 2011, 04:29:41 PM »

My ten year old son won a XL7 25-06 last year at the RMEF. He loves it and shoots it well. It has also has rubbed off on me I am impressed.

JesterGrin · « **Reply #24 on:** March 14, 2011, 11:15:10 AM »

Sorry as I have not had a chance to shoot the Thumb Hole myself as of yet. But I sure hope soon.

But I do have to agree the Recoil Pad on the BOYD's are JUNK.

DannoBoone · « **Reply #25 on:** April 25, 2011, 08:27:19 AM »

What's so great about a Marlin X7 rifle, anyway? The
price is going up, the future quality is in question, the
plastic stock is so flimsy they have to make the claim
they have "accurized" it with pressure points at the
end of the forearm, and the barrel is so thin that it
becomes hot after three rounds, even in my 7mm08!!

That pretty much leaves the action with which to do
wild things:

She's now a legal for Iowa .45 smokeless muzzle loader.

A 7mm-08 Criterion varmint barrel is on the way, yay!

Now, if I could just find someone interested in pencil-thick,
factory 7mm-08 barrel!!

Yea, the actions are ok, but the rest needs a LOT of upgrading.
Sorry, X7 fans.

JesterGrin · « **Reply #26 on:** April 25, 2011, 09:09:34 AM »

For some reason I have to agree they are a great foundation to build on

.

volsgo1 · « **Reply #27 on:** April 25, 2011, 10:08:45 AM »

absolutely

Bigeasy · « **Reply #28 on:** April 25, 2011, 11:09:10 AM »

JesterGrin
Trade Count: (3)
Member

Posts: 66
Gender:

" Look Here Before you even think of getting a Marlin XS-7 (Short Action)
« on: February 18, 2011, 02:28:29 AM »QuoteSeems as though Marlin has been putting refurbished Remington Barrels on the Marlin XS-7 (Short Action ) line both in blue and stainless. It would not be that bad if they made the barrels correctly. But just one gun smith I know has run into no less than 12 barrels missing threads. The easy way to tell from what we have found is when you remove the action and barrel from the stock and look at the proof mark on the rifle barrel if it says REM then it is a darn Remington barrel. And as you know the Marlin has a floating recoil lug. And without the threads the barrel is too small to center the recoil lug on the barrel to square the action. I am not sure of the safety issues caused by this as well.

None as of yet have been found on the ( Long Action ) XL-7 line. " End quote

Has something changed?

Larry

JesterGrin · « **Reply #29 on:** April 25, 2011, 09:49:53 PM »

Has What changed?