Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Continue To Be Impressed With My XS7 7mm-08

I bought one of the stainless XS7s in 7mm-08 when Whittaker's had them on closeout a couple of years ago for about $275. I threw on a Nikon Monarch UCC 3-9x40 in Talleys (both bought here on the Campfire), then painted, bedded, and floated the stock. I've got about $500 in the entire setup.



My first handloads were with the 140gr Sierra ProHunter and 49gr IMR4350 at 2815fps. The combo worked well.




Being a looney, and hearing fantastic things about the 120gr Nosler BT, I had to give them a try. I ended up with this group using 45gr RL15 at 2998fps avg with an ES of 20.



I was thrilled with that group, but I had three more rounds loaded at 45.5gr and I wasn't seeing any significant pressure signs so I decided to go ahead and shoot them. I got this group at 3030fps avg with an ES of 7.



The POI of all these groups, including the 140s, is within 1/2 inch so I don't even have to adjust my scope to swap loads. These are just amazing rifles at any price, but certainly in the budget category, and I can't believe they got discontinued. Maybe this fall I'll have some photos of deer that have fallen to this new load. Everyone around here seems to like these bullets, so we'll see.

Mine was in 243 (blued) and was the most accurate cf rifle I have owned. I am looking for another as my dad now has my 243.

And I love the 120 gr bt in my 7-08 (700).. I run it up to about 3k fps, and go with the 120 ttsx if I run it over 3k. I am currently at 3175fps with the ttsx and Big Game powder (under max nosler load and 0.5 MOA). The 120 gr bt with a nosler starting load of Big Game gave me results like your best group at 3k.

Don't you love it when your rifle is one that many of the washed would look upon with disdain but it outshoots rifles costing many times more?

The Savage 110E in .22-250 that Dad gave me (along with over 1500 pieces of used brass) would print 100-yard, 5-shot groups in a hole you could cover with a dime. Daughter #2 was being kind when she called it "homely".

Last year I purchased a used Savage FXP3 in .243 Win at a gun show for $295 out the door. My intent was to rebarrel to 6.5 Creedmoor or .260 Rem. First time I shot it I was rewarded with holes touching at 100, so now I'm looking for another.

Nice rifle Tatelaw. Can't beat the total cost for a rifle that shoots like that.

Wow. lol, that is great performance. I have been thinking of picking up a discontinued Model Seven Predator in 243 if I can find a good price on one... but now you have me thinking hard about the XS7... great post.

Good shooting rifle I like the stock color

CDNN still has XS7s in 243 on sale for $249.99 and I still have two NIB XS7s in 7mm-08 on sale for $300 shipped

op... very impressive groups. you have a good looking rifle as well. no flies on that rig.

The 120 TTSX runs 3650 fps at 1/2 MOA in my 7 Wby

I have been using one of the Marlin 7's in 25/06 for my go-to deer rifle for the last 5 or 6 years. Have a Vortex Viper 2-7 on it and it shoots and handles very well. Bought it new at the LGS for $300. Earlier this year, I picked one up in a 7/08 at a gun show for $210. Haven't shot it yet, but am trying to decide if I want to make a poor man's custom out of it and put either a 284 Win or 250 Sav barrel in a Boyd's stock.

VABOWHNTR-if my buddy would ship (but he won't), he has had one in a 243 with a cheaper scope for $250 at his pawn shop for 2 or 3 months.

My fascination with these Marlins began with a pawn shop find, a 243 with a Swift scope for $250. I purchased it for a friend who had asked me to locate her a deer rifle. After working up a handload for it, I decided I would definitely buy the next one I found for myself. I now have the 7mm-08 and a 22-250. I'm tempted by the 243s at CDNN.

Wow that shoots good and I like the looks of that stock and stainless together. I will have to put that on the look for list for my son's first hunting rifle.
My dad has a Marlin in 25-06 that I shot in for him last year. Using factory Corelokt ammo ammo I was about to shoot a .7 group with it, first 2 holes were touching, no breaks between shots either. This year he shot a couple deer with it, neck shots at 300yds. I'd say that it is a keeper.

260Remguy - are either for your 7mm-08's in stainless?

Are yours stainless or blue?

I am wondering the same - i would buy a stainless one from you 260Remguy. Might consider blued as well. PM me with what you have.

Shame that remington dropped the 7mm08 when they made these into the 783. I have yet to see anyone talk bad about the Marlins and they were a heck of a deal at under $300.

My NIB XS7s in 7mm-08 are blued CM, not SS

7mm WBY

I saw an XL7 in 30/06 today in really nice condition with a Weaver 3-9x40 (didn't look to see which model) and they had it marked down to $200. I had just bought a silver Leupold VXIII 4.5-14X50 at another pawn shop so didn't get it, but tried to talk another guy into getting it. Guy didn't seem to know much about rifles and just told him I had used one for several years and liked it enough to buy another one. Left before I saw if he got it or not. It sure was hard to walk away from that deal though.

The Rem 783's have tolerances that are incredibly good, better than a LOT of the custom actions on the market at this time, do not boo hoo them at all!