Thoughts on Marlin XL7
- Thread starter Coyote WT
- Start date
Bamashooter
New member
I saw them in my caliber of choice and even with shipping and transfer it would still be under $500. Just barely though. If your only gonna spend under $400 I guess the marlin might be your best choice. I have never just wanted to spend under $400 for a bolt action when I could save a little longer and get quality. Thats just me though. I dont settle.
I have a marlin XL7 in 30-06. This is the most accurate hunting rifle I have ever owned. This out shoots my Remington's and weatherby's. It will put 3 shots inside an inch at 100 yds and this is with remington core locts not the expensive ammo. The gun is light and inexpensive, Just the right combination for hunting. The trigger is pretty good for an inexpensive rifle and you can usually get these from $300 to $350 new. I got mine used, a guy won it in a raffle and didn't want it, I paid $250 and it was unfired. I would not hesitate to buy another one in fact I may get a 243 for coyote hunting. They do make these with a camo stock now mine is the basic black but I use this for hunting so what the heck if I get dings and scratches in it I only paid $250. I can save the remington and weatherby's to look at since they never get in the woods anymore.
Nightshadow
Inactive
Nice Rifle for the money
I have not fired a rifle since I was in the Army just over 20 years ago. I recently switched jobs and started working with 2 avid shooters one of which is prior Army also. Listening to them talk reminded me how I use to enjoy shooting long range targets 300+ meters and the shooting bug was starting to bit again. Last night I broke down a Marlin XL7 in a .243 and a Bushnell 3X9 scope with some 2 boxes quality rounds and 2 boxes of cheap 85g rounds to use for siting in the at 60 then 100 yards. With the cheap rounds at 60 yards, firing uphill, with a 9MPH right to left crosswind my first 3 rounds were 6 clicks low and 5 clicks right, but I was shocked that all three rounds were within ¾ inch grouping. I made the adjustment to the scope and shot another 3 rounds. All three rounds were on target in under ¾ inch grouping again and two of the three holes were over lapping. At 100 yards using the same cheap 85g rounds I put 3 more rounds on target in a ¾ inch grouping without needing to adjust the scope. At 150 yards the rounds hit 1 inch low and 1.5 inches left the grouping was 7/8 of an inch. At 200 yards the shots hit nearly 3 inches low and nearly 5 inches to the left in a 1.25 inch grouping. I bumped up to some better rounds that are 100g and hit the target at 200 yards in a ¾ inch grouping. I then went out to 300 yards and I hit ½ low and ¾ inch left in 1 inch grouping. I am amazed at how tight the groupings were and how little the round dropped at range with store bought rounds and a rifle scope combo that ran about $350.00
I have not fired a rifle since I was in the Army just over 20 years ago. I recently switched jobs and started working with 2 avid shooters one of which is prior Army also. Listening to them talk reminded me how I use to enjoy shooting long range targets 300+ meters and the shooting bug was starting to bit again. Last night I broke down a Marlin XL7 in a .243 and a Bushnell 3X9 scope with some 2 boxes quality rounds and 2 boxes of cheap 85g rounds to use for siting in the at 60 then 100 yards. With the cheap rounds at 60 yards, firing uphill, with a 9MPH right to left crosswind my first 3 rounds were 6 clicks low and 5 clicks right, but I was shocked that all three rounds were within ¾ inch grouping. I made the adjustment to the scope and shot another 3 rounds. All three rounds were on target in under ¾ inch grouping again and two of the three holes were over lapping. At 100 yards using the same cheap 85g rounds I put 3 more rounds on target in a ¾ inch grouping without needing to adjust the scope. At 150 yards the rounds hit 1 inch low and 1.5 inches left the grouping was 7/8 of an inch. At 200 yards the shots hit nearly 3 inches low and nearly 5 inches to the left in a 1.25 inch grouping. I bumped up to some better rounds that are 100g and hit the target at 200 yards in a ¾ inch grouping. I then went out to 300 yards and I hit ½ low and ¾ inch left in 1 inch grouping. I am amazed at how tight the groupings were and how little the round dropped at range with store bought rounds and a rifle scope combo that ran about $350.00
Frankenmauser and Nightshadow,
I have read numerous reviews on the Marlin XL7 and I took the plunge. I got mine off Gunbroker for $307. I bought a 30.06 because I have over 8k rounds of it and I can reload it to pretty much any weight I want. I plan on getting the Nikon Monarch 4x16x42 scope mounted on it. I hope she can deliver the mail at anywhere from 100-500yrds. Hopefully, we shall see.
Mike
I have read numerous reviews on the Marlin XL7 and I took the plunge. I got mine off Gunbroker for $307. I bought a 30.06 because I have over 8k rounds of it and I can reload it to pretty much any weight I want. I plan on getting the Nikon Monarch 4x16x42 scope mounted on it. I hope she can deliver the mail at anywhere from 100-500yrds. Hopefully, we shall see.
Mike
I have an XL7 in 270. With the plastic stock it did okay, but not sub-MOA. Then I put a Boyds laminated stock on it, floated the barrel, and bedded it. Now it's 0.75 MOA! Great rifle for the price. It likes a Nosler 150-grain partition with some H4831SC behind it. Also does well with Sierra 130 grain boat tails, same powder.
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FiveInADime
New member
Nice job, Axelwik. How does that Prairie Hunter feel compared to the plastic stock as far as cheek weld and shoulder fit?
It's better - the rifle comes up to my shoulder more naturally, the "Monte Carlo" cheek area does a better job at putting my eye inline with the scope, the pistol grip fills the hand, and the forend is wider at the base and narrows with a nice finger groove along the top. Overall it's more ergonomic and adds a little weight, reducing recoil.
FrankenMauser
New member
ltcboy - I hope you enjoy it. I haven't shot mine very much this year (if at all? 
), but I know I can count on it any time I need it.
Axelwik, I'm glad that stock worked out for you.
My rifle just didn't want to be free-floated. It was a tack driver in the factory stock, but printed shotgun patterns in the Boyd's stock. With some card stock wedged between the Boyd's stock and the barrel, for a fore-end pressure point, some of the accuracy came back. Since I needed a bit of a light weight "mountain rifle" anyway, and didn't feel like pillar-bedding and building pressure points in the Boyd's stock, I just went back to what I knew worked.
However, the gentleman I sold the Boyd's stock to said that with no modifications, it took his .30-06 XL7 from a 1.5"-2" 100 yard rifle, to a 0.5 MoA tack-driver.
Luck of the draw, I guess. But... it worked out for both of us.
), but I know I can count on it any time I need it.Axelwik, I'm glad that stock worked out for you.
My rifle just didn't want to be free-floated. It was a tack driver in the factory stock, but printed shotgun patterns in the Boyd's stock. With some card stock wedged between the Boyd's stock and the barrel, for a fore-end pressure point, some of the accuracy came back. Since I needed a bit of a light weight "mountain rifle" anyway, and didn't feel like pillar-bedding and building pressure points in the Boyd's stock, I just went back to what I knew worked.
However, the gentleman I sold the Boyd's stock to said that with no modifications, it took his .30-06 XL7 from a 1.5"-2" 100 yard rifle, to a 0.5 MoA tack-driver.
Luck of the draw, I guess. But... it worked out for both of us.
I am a new XL7 owner (30-06). I bought my rifle to not only enjoy, but to also shove into this pompous idiot's face at a range I shoot at. I am mostly a Garand guy, I also shoot Springfields and I comepte in NRA High Power with the M1 Garand and a match AR. A friend of mine bought the Remington 700 Sps tactical in .308 and he seems to enjoy it. I was always contemplating getting a commercial bolt gun for deer hunting anyway, but what motivated me really to buy the XL7 was , A) the reviews online as far as accuracy goes, B) I have over 10k rounds of surplus 30-06 and it all reloadable & C) there is this a$$ at our range who is the type of guy that if your car does 100 mph, his does 105mph. If you catch 12 fish, he catches 13 and his are bigger. He has a new Weatherby Mark V Deluxe rifle in 30-06 and he mounted a new Leupold scope on it. He paid big $$$ for his rig. Is set out to find the most economically accurate production bolt rifle in 30-06 made today and upon investigating this the Marlin XL7 was mentioned all the time. So I bought mine brand new off Gunbroker. I paid a grand sum of $305 (s&h was included), $20 for the FFL transfer, $335 for a new Nikon Monarch 3-12X42 mm scope, $35 for mount & base and then $99 for a Harris bipod. Without the bi-pod, I am out $695. He paid over $2500 for his setup. Now I am not knocking the Weatherby rifle. I am sure its a fine weapon and is nice to shoot and all that good stuff that makes one warm and fuzzy owning one. But, the rubber meets the road and the results are what counts.
I went out and bought a deck of playing cards and brought them out to the range. When my Weatherby friend showed up we had a little friendly competition. I took all the clubs out of the deck. I gave him the three of clubs and I took the two of clubs. Whoever could get the closest grouping by shooting out one club using four shots would win. We were shooting at 100 yards. Keep in mind, I was using neck sized reloads with a 150 grain Hornady FMJBT 3037 bullet over 45 grains of IMR 4320. COAL was 3.31. He was using his reloads too. Long story short, my $300 Marlin out shot his $2000 Weatherby. Again, is it the gun or the shooter? I'm sure it's both. But I love the fact that he had it thrown in his face that a cheap Marlin rifle outdid his Gucci gun.
MIke
I went out and bought a deck of playing cards and brought them out to the range. When my Weatherby friend showed up we had a little friendly competition. I took all the clubs out of the deck. I gave him the three of clubs and I took the two of clubs. Whoever could get the closest grouping by shooting out one club using four shots would win. We were shooting at 100 yards. Keep in mind, I was using neck sized reloads with a 150 grain Hornady FMJBT 3037 bullet over 45 grains of IMR 4320. COAL was 3.31. He was using his reloads too. Long story short, my $300 Marlin out shot his $2000 Weatherby. Again, is it the gun or the shooter? I'm sure it's both. But I love the fact that he had it thrown in his face that a cheap Marlin rifle outdid his Gucci gun.
MIke
Huffmanite
New member
itcboy, enjoyed your post!
I own a few Marlin X rifles myself and think they do shoot well or I wouldn't have three of them.
I own a few Marlin X rifles myself and think they do shoot well or I wouldn't have three of them.
wnycollector
New member
I picked up a Marlin X7VH in 223 about 6 months ago. It shot 1.5" groups with black hills 52gr mhp's. I put a Boyd's thumbhole stock on it and my groups shrunk by 1/2. The Marlin now shoots as well as my .223 savage 10fp but costs ~$200 less.
G-town Hunter
New member
Acelwik..
That is a fine lookin setup
That is a fine lookin setup
Huffmanite
New member
As you surmised, XL is long action, XS is short. My 25-06 is an XL and both my 7mm-08 and 308 are XS