Savage vs. Marlin, looking for feedback please.

TargetGuy said:
I've also owned a lot of savages abe even the mark 2 F (the cheapest there is) does not have a "plastic bottom metal". Yeah its thin but it is metal. Maybe your thinking about the molded in trigger guard. Which is plastic. Same as the stock.
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You're right. But it's such a flimsy POS, I refuse to call it metal. lol
It's the only part I felt the need to replace. I bought this stainless plate from a nutter here that makes them...

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I'll have to consider a heavy barrel, although they don't seem to have iron sights but I can get past that I think. Thanks everyone, I have some food for thought but I'm still no closer to a decision. We'll see what Reliable has in stock, hope to swing by this week.
 
I have owned both brands personally and don't find one better than the other but I don't often shoot those guns anymore. With respect to current demand and popularity we sell 10 to 1 Savages to Marlins and of course our ordering reflects that. In most gun stores (in our area) there are far more Savages available than Marlins and you may have to look around for less popular Marlins. Phil.
 
I have a Savage MKIIF. Topped with a Bushnell Sportview 3-9 x 32 AO, with Winchester Dynapoints (bulk) standard velocity ammo, calm conditions and a well-rested me on the trigger, it can shoot 1 inch 5-shot groups at 100 meters. The same as my CZ452's.

Had two Marlin 981's pre-XT trigger series. They had decent triggers, somewhat like the CZ triggers in feel, but they could only do 1.5 inch groups, not even close to the MKIIF/CZ. Sold these two as well as my Marlin 60's.

Have not shot the XT Marlins so cannot comment on them.

Lately I am enjoying a lightweight Savage MKIGY (accutrigger, single shot, youth length stock, 18 or 19 inch tapered barrel). Haven't tried it at 100 meters as my new club is indoor and only has 17 meters maximum. If you can find a new or used MKII with the 16" barrel which was available 3-4 yrs ago, that would be my Savage of choice.
 
easyrider604 said:
I have a Savage MKIIF. Topped with a Bushnell Sportview 3-9 x 32 AO, with Winchester Dynapoints (bulk) standard velocity ammo, calm conditions and a well-rested me on the trigger, it can shoot 1 inch 5-shot groups at 100 meters. The same as my CZ452's.

Had two Marlin 981's pre-XT trigger series. They had decent triggers, somewhat like the CZ triggers in feel, but they could only do 1.5 inch groups, not even close to the MKIIF/CZ. Sold these two as well as my Marlin 60's.

Have not shot the XT Marlins so cannot comment on them.

Lately I am enjoying a lightweight Savage MKIGY (accutrigger, single shot, youth length stock, 18 or 19 inch tapered barrel). Haven't tried it at 100 meters as my new club is indoor and only has 17 meters maximum. If you can find a new or used MKII with the 16" barrel which was available 3-4 yrs ago, that would be my Savage of choice.
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+1 I put 4 shots into a 1.26" group at 100M yesterday with my Mark II FV (heavy barrel) and Winchester Dynapoints. I had one flier in the 5 shots that opened up the group but this has always been the case for me when shooting Dynapoints. Very pleased with this result and I'm sure it can be improved.

I wish the rifle had iron sights for hunting and/or plinking purposes. While the rifle isn't "heavy," the balance is off on the heavy barrel model with synthetic stock. It's a bit barrel heavy when you're carrying it around.
 
thenerdboy said:
+1 I put 4 shots into a 1.26" group at 100M yesterday with my Mark II FV (heavy barrel) and Winchester Dynapoints. I had one flier in the 5 shots that opened up the group but this has always been the case for me when shooting Dynapoints.
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Now why can't more people just use inexpensive bulk ammo and get groups like 1.26" at 100 meters? Those results are really good. It would certainly lower the cost of shooting if you could shoot bulk with a $250-$300 rifle like that. Of course there's the mulligan here, so maybe it's not that simple. ;)
 
So I'll be grabbing a marlin xt22vr tomorrow, went to Reliable earlier in the week and handled a couple Marlins and a savage semi auto as they didn't have much in a savage bolt action. The vr is synthetic stock, heavy barrel. It doesn't have iron sights but it has got bases installed already. Irons would've been nice but the heavy barrel won me over, felt nice holding it up to my shoulder and cycling the bolt. Nice little gun, it's pretty much just like the mk2 FV. I'll post some pics when I get it home and will do a range report once I pick up a 3x9 optic of some sort.

Any recommendations on a decent scope that won't break the bank, Bushnell maybe?
 
In fairness, this doesn't happen all the time. In fact, it was my first time really shooting for groups with the FV at 100. I've tested Dynapoints pretty extensively at 50 though and 1" 5 shot groups are common. Sometimes you can put 3 or 4 in one hole but you'll invariably get a flier or two. Dynapoints have performed better in my rifle than retail-packaged ammo costing much more. Spend a bit more for quality ammo though and the results will improve. I shot a 0.41" group yesterday at 50M with CCI Standard. Again, not all my groups were that small but the Mark II is definitely a shooter. In the interest of full disclosure, I have installed a trigger kit and it improved my groups immediately.

grauhanen said:
Now why can't more people just use inexpensive bulk ammo and get groups like 1.26" at 100 meters? Those results are really good. It would certainly lower the cost of shooting if you could shoot bulk with a $250-$300 rifle like that. Of course there's the mulligan here, so maybe it's not that simple. ;)
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If you're looking for great value in a scope, check out Nikon's Prostaff line. The optics on my 3-9x40 BDC were better than the Bushnells I have now.
 
They`re tough to beat at the price point, I think. I`ve been using Nikon cameras for a few years and jumped on the 3-9X40 BDC when I found out they made riflescopes too. I was not disappointed and have since sold the scope to a friend of mine who loves it too. Not that I don`t like my Bushnells but I think you`re bound to get better glass from one of the top 2 camera manufacturers. That was my thinking when I got it, anyway. The glass is super bright + clear and had better dusk performance than my current Bushnells.
 
I'll buy a CZ at a later date lol, right now this will keep me ocupied I'm sure.

Sure do have a great wife for getting me a nice birthday present ;) Can't wait to take it out and sight it in, haven't shot a .22 since I was a little kid. Picked up a Nikon Prostaff 3x9x40 with an adj AO, really clear glass on this. Just need to dig out a sling and grab a few different brands of ammo and hit the range.




 
That's a really sharp looking .22, congratulations! Be sure to post some groups from the range once you sight it in. Also, you'll love the AO on that scope for .22

Also, just wanted to comment that the CZs and synthetic stock Savages, Marlins etc. are in totally different price points. I don't think it's really fair to say "just buy a CZ" when someone is looking to spend ~$300 not ~$600. I can appreciate that they're nice rifles but honestly, there aren't any affordably priced used copies available and new ones are twice the price of Savage, Marlin synthetics.
 
thenerdboy said:
That's a really sharp looking .22, congratulations! Be sure to post some groups from the range once you sight it in. Also, you'll love the AO on that scope for .22

Also, just wanted to comment that the CZs and synthetic stock Savages, Marlins etc. are in totally different price points. I don't think it's really fair to say "just buy a CZ" when someone is looking to spend ~$300 not ~$600. I can appreciate that they're nice rifles but honestly, there aren't any affordably priced used copies available and new ones are twice the price of Savage, Marlin synthetics.
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I do think it is fair to say buy a CZ. I bought two savages, and sold them both to get CZs instead. I wish someone had pointed me in the direction of CZs when I was just starting out, would have cost me more in the short run but would have saved me more coin in the long run. But if you research, research, research, and know exactly what you want, then by all means get a savage. But the fact that the OP is asking for a forum to choose suggests that they don't know exactly what they want.
 
adancingmonkey said:
I do think it is fair to say buy a CZ. I bought two savages, and sold them both to get CZs instead. I wish someone had pointed me in the direction of CZs when I was just starting out, would have cost me more in the short run but would have saved me more coin in the long run. But if you research, research, research, and know exactly what you want, then by all means get a savage. But the fact that the OP is asking for a forum to choose suggests that they don't know exactly what they want.
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I have found the "buy once, cry once" analogy fitting in some circumstances but if you enjoy something you'll always find an excuse to spend more money. Does one need a $600+ CZ (OP looking to spend $300 before tax) for "...plinking/target practice as well as small game hunting..." ? Having owned my Savage for a while, I would posit that it is more than adequate for the listed uses. At the end of the day, it depends what you want to get out of the rifle; most of the guys I see advocating for CZ are either shooting benchrest or competitive silhouette.

What didn't you like about the Savage? Just curious.
 
Butcherbill said:
So the wife asked me what I want for my birthday that's around the corner, I said a .22 bolt gun. Now that I see lots of ammo on the shelves I'd like to pick one up, always loved them as a kid. Use will be plinking/target practice as well as small game hunting this year, grouse and hare/rabbits is my goal. Would like to keep it around $300 before taxes, so the two I've narrowed it down to are a Savage mk2 F or the Marlin xt22.

I would like open sights as well as d&t for bases so I can mount an optic at some point, probably a synthetic stock as I'll likely be bushwacking with this rifle, anyone have any feedback on these? Would one be better than the other or do they stack up in quality to each other? Once I have a free moment I'll be heading down to Reliable gun to handle both. Anywhing I should be aware of with either?

I'd like a cz in all reality but I'm on a budget with this one and it will see some wear and tear, I'll get a cz at a later date I'm sure lol.
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PM me if you're interested.
I'm thinking about parting with my 10/22 stainless takedown. Stickers still on.
 
adancingmonkey said:
I do think it is fair to say buy a CZ. I bought two savages, and sold them both to get CZs instead. I wish someone had pointed me in the direction of CZs when I was just starting out, would have cost me more in the short run but would have saved me more coin in the long run. But if you research, research, research, and know exactly what you want, then by all means get a savage. But the fact that the OP is asking for a forum to choose suggests that they don't know exactly what they want.
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I knew exactly what I was looking for, an opinion on savage vs marlin. I know CZ is better but it's not in the price range I was working within, ergo I was not looking to buy a CZ at this time. I was comparing two similar guns in the same price range, with the same features, pretty straight up question.

Not to mention the last thing I said in my first post, people need to stay on topic lol.

"I'd like a cz in all reality but I'm on a budget with this one and it will see some wear and tear, I'll get a cz at a later date I'm sure lol."
 
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