Marlin XS7

[BadgerSlayer]

I currently have a Marlin MR-7 in 30-06, and could not be happier with it. I was truly astonished when they stopped production with this rifle. In Germany, back when I had 13 rifles to choose from, it was still my #1 choice when I grabed my backpack and headed out the door to hunt.
It is not a tack driver, but I did nothing to tweak it. The only difference from when I took it out of the box, is put a scope on it. It averages 1 1/4" at 100 meters.

Now that I have a hankering for a .243, I have a friend helping me search for a budget rifle. I am positive he will find me a much better price than I can find here in Oklahoma.


But am very curious about the over all quality of the XS7 by Marlin. Is it as sound as the MR-7? I had a Savage accu-trigger and really liked it. So I am trying learn if the Marlins new trigger is as good or just a cheesy copy.

I have yet to find a single person who has used or even touched one.

:questionmark: Any knowledgeable persons, please chime in.

[Bushman]

" I have yet to find a single person who has used or even touched one."

That fact alone would be a red flag to me that if I ever bought one, I would need to give it away to a good home if I ever wanted to get rid of it. You wouldn't need to do that kind of a sales job on the hunting public if say you advertised a pre-64 M70 or a M700. Marlins have always been synonymous with lever actions and while you would get some interest in a Marlin M336 or a M39A, a bolt action Marlin, not so much. I guess that if you are looking for a bargain .243, you may have come to the right place with a previously owned Marlin. I never buy guns because they are cheap, I buy them for their quality and their potential to hold or increase their resale value.

[Altjaeger]

From what I gathered they are budget rifles that do the job much like the Savage rifles. My guess would be that the XS7 is a remake of the MS7 seven and you will have to inspect one yourself to decide if you like it.

I do most my gun purchases today from Gun Broker or Auction Arms as those I am interested in are not commonly available and not of current manufacture.

[Just a Hunter]

http://cdnninvestments.com.p2.hostingprod.com/Catalog/

page #67

Remington 798 Brown Laminate stock .243 Win $399

[LeeInSC]

I have handled a half-dozen Marlin XL7s, but not shot any.
It is not the MR-7, but a totally new rifle, with a really good job of value engineering the top features hunters want. To me, it is a better design than the Savage 110, and more handsome. Everyone I know who has one (5 people) says it shoots as well as any Remington or Winchester bolt action they ever owned. If you read the reviews in Gun Test, etc, it shot many factory loads sub MOA.

Shooting Times
http://www.shootingtimes.com/longgun_reviews/ST_Marlinxl7_200804/index.html

I am going to buy one, because the street price is under $300 in black synthetic, and $310 in camo. It is light, only 6.25 lbs for the XS7 and 6.5 lbs for the XL7. It comes with Weaver bases, so you save that cost, too.

[dave-t.]

If I was looking for a low priced short action bolt action right now, I'd go with a Stevens. I've heard a lot of positives about them, and they do have a lock nut system on the barrel, just like a Savage, which would make rebarrelling to a new cartridge fairly easy. The Stevens rifles are getting a following similar to what Savage has. They are very close to the same.

[Just a Hunter]

The Stevens is a Savage without the accutrigger.

[LeeInSC]

If you read the article I posted and look at the close up photos of the details of the Marlin XL7, you will see that it uses the lock nut system for the barrel. Savage barrels will fit it, so you can change calibers. It incorporates a lot of features from the Remington 700, Savage 110, Winchester Model 70, and other rifles, both for user appeal and reducing manufacturing costs without just cutting corners on quality. I find it to be a step up from the Stevens 200 and two steps up from the Remington budget rifle, the 770. And by all reports, it outshoots most of the rifles costing $600.

If you are unsure about it, spend $150 more and buy a Remington 700 SPS, or a used rifle.
You can buy a nice used Model 700 ADL in walnut with sights for under $400. It's a known entity.

[dave-t.]

Very interesting that they are all capable to interchange barrles. That would make getting a wildcat or unpopular chambering much easier and cheaper, with the possibility of ordering Shaw barrels through Savage.

[LeeInSC]

I did a little reading, and found a few people who have used a Savage barrel on a Marlin XL7, but they had to trim it in a lathe, because the Marlin bolt face was not the same as the Savage. I have to find some details from a machinist on this.

But since they have the same threads and fasten with the barrel nut, it is only going to be a matter of time until Adams & Bennett or Shaw make a barrel for the Marlin XL rifles. Then it would be an inexpensive way to find out if you really like a .338-06 or .35 Whelen. Also, any rifle you can remove the barrel from and replace easily makes travel a lot easier, cheaper, and less conspicuous. I love my Sauer takedown rifle, but the barrels cost more than 2 of these Marlins.

[srhart71]

I have yet to touch a XS7, but I have been shooting my XL7 in .30-06 for the last three years. I am not a big fan of their hollow synthetis stock, but hard to argue with a rifle that shoots 1/2 MOA after 30 rounds. This is with the cheap Winchester rounds. The rifles are well worth the $300 or so.

[LeeInSC]

If these Marlin XL7s shoot this well for this little money, I have to consider one for my a sheep and goat rifle. Only 6.5 lbs, just 8 ounces more than the Tikka T3. No iron sights, but then most big game bolt actions sold in America are slick barrel, intended for scopes only. But I like the full Weaver type rail on the Marlin. It makes it easy to swap out a light scope like a 6x36mm with a red dot sight as modern "irons". Durakote or Cerakote the exposed metal for some weatherproofing. Keep the stock, keep the money in your pocket for ammo.