Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Marlin XL-7 opinions?

A buddy is looking at a 30-06. What is accuracy like? What about the whole rifle overall? thanx!

I looked at several today, a couple with laminate stocks, a camo synthetic, some black ones, and a nice walnut stock, too. For the money, they looked and felt like one helluva rifle. I haven't shot one, but Yukoner here has several and he seems to like them a lot.

I sighted in a 30-06 for a guy last year and it was very accurate for a brand new rifle and cheap factory ammo.

I bought myself one in .270 and topped it off with a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 and Warne Rings. With 130 gr.Sierra GameKings loaded at about 2800 fps, it is as accurate as any rifle I have except my .224's. It shoots those loads .5 MOA. Tried 2 other loads, one hotter and mostly got 1.25 MOA. So load development is done. Have not shot it enough to consider it broken in.

I like the trigger, fit, feeding, and appearance for a very cheap rifle. $269.00 But I would like a walnut stock. Brimfish

Where did you find it for $269?



stumpy

great price!

Brimfish, www.whittakerguns.com has one with a walnut stock, I saw it yesterday, in .270, at that. I didn't look at the price, but I think it was somewhat more than $269.

i think MSRP on the walnut ones is around $449...

I bought the rifle off Gunbroker. It was the only one for that price. Most were listed at around $300 and up. I think shipping was $25 which is what tax would be at that price and then $20 to my ffl dealer. That was back in Feb. or so.

I cleaned the barrel before I shot it. The bore was really smooth. For button cut rifling, I thought it would have a rough feel like Savages.

It looks like Marlin borrowed some ideas from other gun makers for this gun. The bolt release is set up like a CZ. The tail end of the receiver looks Weatherbyish and the rest of the gun looks like a stevens 200 with a little nicer metal finish on the barrel and receiver. The fluted bolt is kind of cheapy looking but functions very smooth.

I think it is the only rifle that I have loaded for that grouped boat tailed bullets really well. I have always had trouble with them from the accuracy standpoint. I don't count Nosler ballistic tip as a real boat tail as they don't have as much slant on them as the others.

I think once I shoot the Marlin a bit, it will do better with the flat bases too. It definitely needs to be shot some.

Brimfish

If you go to Marlinowners forum you'll find a wealth of info. Most have had excellent luck and excellent accuracy on both the long and short action versions.

Keep in mind that that site is primarily used by marlin loving gun owners. Also keep in mind that most of marlin's high power rifles and history is with lever action rifles. And it is almost blasphemy for a lever gun owner to even admit they own a bolt action. But it has made a believer out of a lot of lever gunners.

I personally can't get past plastic guns. I can't even get myself to buy a plastic 22LR. I'm not sure I'll ever be caught dead with a plastic rifle. And it seems ridiculous $200 up charge for a wood stock but even at $450 that is a good price all in all. I also want a three position safety. But that is just me.

FWIW,
I bought one, sight unseen. I've never done this with any other rifle. A bud showed up at the range with one in '06. After it was zeroed, I proceeded to punch a sub-1" 5-shot group with Federal blue-box 150s. I called the gunshop and spoke for the only other one they had. Right now, mine is sighted in with Winchester Supreme 150 BST. 1 1/2" at 200 is a regular event.
About a year later, there are about 10 or so out local which I see regularly. ALL of them will print sub MOA with preferred FACTORY loads. Those suckers shoot! I now have three, and my bud has six or seven.
I don't think you will be disapointed!