stagpanther
New member
Well, it was only $200 at wally world and I've always wanted a small-game rifle--so this 917vrx followed me home. 
My first Marlin!
- Thread starter stagpanther
- Start date
Blindstitch
New member
Watch out you might end up with a Marlin collection.
stagpanther
New member
I've tried many times to get one--especially the 45-70 guide gun--but there's ALWAYS something wrong with every one I've looked at for Gosh Sakes! Even this one had funky blemishes on the barrel and action--but my line of reasoning was since it's a heavy barrel it will probably get the bullet down the bore well enough.
stagpanther
New member
Actually there was a marlin 35 rem on a LGS's wall for like 2 years and nobody was biting. They kept dropping the price--the last I saw it was around $450.00 but at the time I couldn't afford it. That was one I regret letting get away for sure.
stagpanther
New member
Took it out to shoot for the first time today--what a hoot!!
Conditions were actually less than ideal--in fact what I've read is the 17 is highly vulnerable to wind drift--so I purposely chose today's 20 - 25 mp gusty winds just to see how bad it could be. Also I was using (unfortunately) a budget crappy Bushnell scope (which ironically came with my savage 111 in 6.5 284, never could figure that out since it's hard to resolve anything much past 30 yds with it).
Surprisingly the first shots at 40 yds were not far off zero and grouped just around 1.5 inches with CCI varminter stuff. I was shooting 7 shot groups since that's what the mag holds.
Decided to get bold and move out to 100--but the first group was so far off I had to re-zero, even a little change in magnification throws the scope completely off. Still, managed 2 groups of 7 shots that were about 3" for the whole group--but also 4 of the 7 shots inside of 2 inches for each of the groups. This gives me lots of encouragement for when I shoot on a calm day--plus a little confidence in what I could shoot at on a windy day.
I'm a reloader--and having any kind of weapon that I can't reload for goes against my grain--but there is something to be said for pure gratuitous fun of simply firing away with rimfires--I can see the potential for it's addiction and draining 200 round boxes in one sitting would be no problem at all.
Conditions were actually less than ideal--in fact what I've read is the 17 is highly vulnerable to wind drift--so I purposely chose today's 20 - 25 mp gusty winds just to see how bad it could be. Also I was using (unfortunately) a budget crappy Bushnell scope (which ironically came with my savage 111 in 6.5 284, never could figure that out since it's hard to resolve anything much past 30 yds with it).
Surprisingly the first shots at 40 yds were not far off zero and grouped just around 1.5 inches with CCI varminter stuff. I was shooting 7 shot groups since that's what the mag holds.
Decided to get bold and move out to 100--but the first group was so far off I had to re-zero, even a little change in magnification throws the scope completely off. Still, managed 2 groups of 7 shots that were about 3" for the whole group--but also 4 of the 7 shots inside of 2 inches for each of the groups. This gives me lots of encouragement for when I shoot on a calm day--plus a little confidence in what I could shoot at on a windy day.
I'm a reloader--and having any kind of weapon that I can't reload for goes against my grain--but there is something to be said for pure gratuitous fun of simply firing away with rimfires--I can see the potential for it's addiction and draining 200 round boxes in one sitting would be no problem at all.
stagpanther
New member
Took her out for a second time yesterday after replacing the bushnell junko scope with a low-end loopy V 1. Somehow, between the first and second outings I managed to lose the 7 round mag that came with the rifle. Haven't figured out how I did that--all I know is that it's gone. Bummer.
Once I figured out where the bullets were going and managed to get the new scope zeroed--the rifle proves to be extremely accurate. Using factory ammo like CCI's HMR varmint the bitty bullets zip along at 2600 fps and I'm getting accuracy comparable to what would take me a while to figure out in a hand-load--if at all-- on another rifle. I've never been a varmint hunter, that might be about to change.
Marlin has done a pretty good job over-all bringing out this budget version of their xt rimfire. The plastic tupperware stock, like every other one I've ever purchased, flexes enough in the fore-end to contact the barrel--but is thick enough on the bottom to prevent contacting the barrel when sitting on a rest--so my solution was to dremel down the top sides of the barrel channel. When removing and re-attaching the stock to the action portion, care must be taken in positioning and torquing the 2 screws, over-tightening can knock the alignment out which in turn can lock up the bolt--which is already pretty stiff. The pillars in the stock where the screws go in do not appear to be re-inforced, so I have reservations about those wearing down over time. Still, one heck of a fun and accurate budget rifle on the cheap.
Once I figured out where the bullets were going and managed to get the new scope zeroed--the rifle proves to be extremely accurate. Using factory ammo like CCI's HMR varmint the bitty bullets zip along at 2600 fps and I'm getting accuracy comparable to what would take me a while to figure out in a hand-load--if at all-- on another rifle. I've never been a varmint hunter, that might be about to change.
Marlin has done a pretty good job over-all bringing out this budget version of their xt rimfire. The plastic tupperware stock, like every other one I've ever purchased, flexes enough in the fore-end to contact the barrel--but is thick enough on the bottom to prevent contacting the barrel when sitting on a rest--so my solution was to dremel down the top sides of the barrel channel. When removing and re-attaching the stock to the action portion, care must be taken in positioning and torquing the 2 screws, over-tightening can knock the alignment out which in turn can lock up the bolt--which is already pretty stiff. The pillars in the stock where the screws go in do not appear to be re-inforced, so I have reservations about those wearing down over time. Still, one heck of a fun and accurate budget rifle on the cheap.
stagpanther
New member
This rifle is a real diamond in the rough--perfect trigger and drills any kind of ammo I put into very accurately at 100 yds. I think I hit the jackpot this being my first Marlin--and one of their cheapest at that. Now my number 1 "fun gun."
stubbicatt
New member
Glad you found something that brings you joy.
jumpingeezer
New member
Glad you found a new friend.
I have been wanting a .17 for a while now and I will definitely be getting one when the right deal comes my way. (I can be a very patient person.)
The lesson to be learned here is to never to purchase a nice rifle and then go cheap on the optics. There are certain brands that always seem to satisfy the user. Leupold is just one of them.
I have been wanting a .17 for a while now and I will definitely be getting one when the right deal comes my way. (I can be a very patient person.)
The lesson to be learned here is to never to purchase a nice rifle and then go cheap on the optics. There are certain brands that always seem to satisfy the user. Leupold is just one of them.
stagpanther
New member
Well , at the risk of sounding like a a silly fan boy--for $200 bucks you get a perfect adjustable trigger, a stock which, although a rudimentary tuperware style stock--actually flexes less than most other plasti-stocks, and above all easily shoots MOA or less with just about any off the shelf ammo you can fire through it. Pure shooting fun doesn't get much better than this. : ) If I had kids this would be exactly the way I'd introduce them to shooting.
stagpanther
New member
Today I went out to test fire some 41 mag handloads (which did not shoot well) but my marlin 17 is rapidly becoming a regular "shooting partner" on every range trip. I'm the kind that tends to get mad, depressed etc when things are not going as well as I expect with other weapons--but what I've found is that the 17 hmr enables me to leave from every session on a good note. : )
I had to switch back to my junk scope because the loopy was needed elsewhere--and I had to push back to 120 yds because where I was shooting was filled with puddles and soft mud (we call it mud season in Maine)--adn to top it off it was raining--but the marlin delivered happiness. : )
factory hornady v-max
I had to switch back to my junk scope because the loopy was needed elsewhere--and I had to push back to 120 yds because where I was shooting was filled with puddles and soft mud (we call it mud season in Maine)--adn to top it off it was raining--but the marlin delivered happiness. : )
factory hornady v-max