Marlin XS7

J

jman841

New member
Hey guys, i was wondering what your opinions are on the Marlin XS7 in .308. It is a very fairly priced rifle and seems to have an excellent amount of top quality features. Does anyone have any experience with this?

I have been in the market for a first bolt action rifle but have not been staisfied with my search yet. So far the Rem M700 has been on my mind along with the Howa and savage.

I Have also heard great things about Marlin as a company, Anyone else have opinions on Marlin?

Thank You,

Jason
 
When I was growing up, I always thought of Marlins as the el cheapo thing that people bought if they couldn't afford a Winchester. Same thing with Savage and Mossberg.

Things change though. Now folks recognize that Savage builds one of the best rifles around. And I have grudgingly come around to admit that my Marlin 1895 is better built than a Winchester 94. Not as pretty maybe, but very well built.

I too have heard some good things said about the XS7. The price is right for sure. I am just waiting for someone I know to actually buy one. Unless I go ahead and buy one myself. I don't think I would be too worried about it though. Marlin surely does make some solid rifles.
 
My hunting partner's ordered a factory-scoped XS7 package in .243 through a local discount FFL for $325 OTD - so I'll try to report ASAP he gets it in.

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Yea for the money i'm thinking it will be a great entry level rifle. It has a bedded stock which is more than savage and remington can say for there entry level guns, and looks pretty nice.

But dont know anyone with experience with it. I read a great review of the XL7 however.
 
I have an XL7 in .270 (same rifle, except long action). I love it! A well-built rifle for a good price. She'll shoot sub-MOA 150gr Hornady's.
 
It has a bedded stock which is more than savage and remington can say for there entry level guns
Click to expand...

The reason you bed a stock is to make a somewhat inaccurate gun more accurate. The reason Savage does not have bedded stocks is they don't need them. They already have better accuracy than any othere gun in it's price range and even some that cost 2x as much.
 
If I buy Marlin again it'll be another lever action. I don't like the fit and finish of their bolt actions. They look a little crude and rough to me. If I want another bolt action for a low price I'll buy a Howa. I've shot several including one that was brand new that day for $399 with scope. It was a .270. All three were sub MOA and that .270 was punching holes in holes at 100 yards.
 
Do a Google. There's plenty of info on these rifles. The one thing people like is the accuracy. MOA or better is common. The trigger is good the way it comes at a crisp 3.5lbs. I set the trigger at the minimum 2.5lbs and it's truly excellent. Just so you guys know all of my guns typically get the trigger job right after I get them. I'm very picky.

The quality appears to be as good as the mainstream guns costing 2 or more times as much. After doing research I was still somewhat reluctant. First time at the range and that cured that problem. 1.25" at 100 yds with a load I developed for a different rifle. This group was repeatable. I just use bulk Remington 180 Core Lokt bullets in this 30-06 load.
 
Not bad... Its just such a perdiciment. The XS7 is a great value but i kind of want to get a M700 so i can build off it as my expendable cash goes up lol. But then again the Howa 1500's are beautiful rifles that are fairly priced and as i have read can consistanly shoot around .6 MOA. With the M700 around .75 MOA. I'm not a big fan of the Savage how it forms to me but we'll see, i'm going to get to the gun stores and feel them out.

Just a tough choice.
 
I purchased a savage edge in a 308 last fall for deer season. After mounting a 3x9 tasco on this gun it didn't take but about 3 shots to realize that I needed about 5 inches of eye relief on my scope to keep from splitting my face open. I didn't think that the recoil on this rifle would be so bad so I sold it and broke out my old marlin 30-30 and finished out the season without anymore facial scarring. In closing if you are going to purchase the savage keep this in mind.
 
My friend has had an XL7 in .270 for about 4 years, I really enjoyed his rifle. I ordered an XS7 in .308 about two years ago, but after 6 months of backorder status and no new rifles even on the slow-boats to the states, I traded up to the Remi m700 SPS varmint for 500. Much better gun, but that's not the point.

The XS7 is a wonderful rifle, never had any bad experience with it, and love that faux accu-trigger. Hopefully the supply issues have been worked out.
 
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