Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Marlin XL-7

Just handling them, the Marlin XL-7 looks as nicely built as the Remington 700 SPS Buckmaster, which is $250.00 more. It's lighter. If it shoots as well as owners say, I think it's worth a try. If it shoots the loads I want it to shoot, then I say Teflon or Cerakote the barrel and make it a sheep and goat rifle. May have to add some iron sights, but the one-piece rail base would support a variety of red-dot sights.

I'm a satisified customer.
Picked up one in 30-06, Loaded IMR4831 and 150 grain Sierra Pro Hunter Spitzers hit the range. After lapping, got 3/8 inch group at 100 yards (3/4" - 5 shot group). Hard to beat. Good bang for the buck.

Took the 25-06 XL7 out today for the first time. Shot up about 20 or so rounds of unknown origin. Looked like 3 diff case brands with 3 diff bullet tips. Got no idea what they were. Kinda dangerous I suppose.
Didn't clean it either, whatever factory gunk was in there stayed in there.
Shot one set of four rounds into 7/8".
7 rounds of another type went 1-9/16".
Others were for getting near zero.
Currently has an old Bushnell 4X. The gun is gonna shoot. Guess I don't care what speeds I'll get with the 22" bbl. Probably would be around what speeds a 257R would do? Maybe faster? Fun for cheap.

I agree with you; for the money they are the best option out there. I also never said they were ugly. I reserve ugly for the bolt on Savages.(No shroud to speak of)

How can a rifle that is a visual knock off of a Remington 700 Classic be called ugly?

Bolt handle looks like it is attached to the very back of the bolt. (Savage) That is Ugly to me.

The bolt handle is ahead of about a 1.2 inch shroud, sort of like a Sako. Looks a lot better than a Savage 110, to my eye.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/longgun_reviews/ST_Marlinxl7_200804/

Anybody know what that big screw head on the rear of a Savage bolt is for?

yeah you can swap out bolt handles or disassemble the bolt.

I am talking about the Savage.

i know. thats what the screw is for.

Is that screw for tightening groups?

No, that's the barrel nut. The screw is a velocity modulator.

Agree here. The Marlin's (regardless of price) are nice looking. The Savage's are just plain ugly and heavy-looking in the action area.

I have the XL-7 in .270. For now, I shoot Remington's managed recoil rounds. With that recoil pad and that ammo, it is like shooting a .243. It groups lights out at 100 yards, not so good past 200. Thats the ammo (designed that way) not the rifle.
So....has anybody gotten good groups with their XL-7 .270 past 200 yards?
I am thinking about using the fed prem 110gr ttsx for long range hunting, 3400fps should aim real nice out to 300 yards for deer.

+ 1 on bang for the buck-my out of the box stock XL7C 270 will run with 800.00 rifles and beat most of them-279.95!

is the marlin XL-7 not really a long range rifle then? i dont expect match grade accuracy at 300 yards, but hopefully good enough to shoot a deer.
i have only shot the rifle 22 times and have killed a doe at 85 yards with about the 14th shot.
i will shoot it at 220 yards and find out, just wondered if anyone has already done that, so i could have an idea of what to expect.

I think the XL-7 is perfectly capable of being a 'long range' rifle, in terms of grouping well enough to make a 300 yard kill.

Just purchased an XL-7 in 308 that I plan on preparing for a Fall 2010 antelope hunt. Fully expect the gun to be capable of making a kill out to 400 if needed.

Purchased one on sale at Bi Mart for $257.00.. took one in 270 Win.. so far all testing at the range has been stellar! Shoot as good out of the box at my Savages, which out shoot most of my other rifles out of the box.

While it is an economical rifle, and I don't like the plastic follower, besides that I have no complaints. I got it for the switch barrel capabilities. I am planning on putting an A & B barrel in 257 Roberts on it from Midway for $130.00. It is a Shaw barrel, and Shaw barrels have shot well on my Savage test mule rifle..

I am going to complete the intial package with a new Redfield Scope in 4 x 12 with the ballistic reticle with the circle X reticle.

in its future will also be a barrel in 6mm Rem ( fast twist), and a 7 x 57 Mauser chambering, and a 220 Swift.

in the long run for under a grand, I'll have a nice switch barrel rifle chambered in those calibers, plus including the 4 x 12 Redfield scope.

Add me to the group of Marlin XL7 loonies. I just purchased a 30-06 in the Marlin XL7. Plan to make it a pack rifle.