Savage Mk II or Marlin Xt-22

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MattE93

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I am looking to buy a .22lr as one of my first rifles so that I can shoot lots without breaking the bank. I’ve narrowed it down to either a Savage Mk II or Marlin xt-22. I am leaning toward the marlin just because I like the look a little more. However I want opinions from people that own either or both on which is a nicer rifle. I have heard the sights on the marlin aren’t the best, but those posts were quite old.

As a side note I am also considering the Chippa m1-22 carbine replica.
 
I like my XT-22, I carry it on the front rack of a quad all the time and despite being completely covered in dirt it still functioned without a problem. I don't like the sights though, Im going to put a 4x scope on it eventually.
 
I have at one point owned all 3. Skip the Chiappa, it is not worth the money IMO. Maybe it is just me, after all I sold my Chiappa Rhino because even though the concept is spot on the excecution is cheap. Same with the M1. There is a lot of plastic parts and pot metal for $400 but if you really have to have a m1 in .22... The other thing is that it a big gun for a .22. I would suggest the 9mm verson but it is even worse than the .22 according to the online reviews. The only thing that I now own of Chiappa's is the Deluxe Badger. With taxes and delivery in, it was $204 so I said whatever and pressed the check out button. I was expecting pot metal and plastic but was presently surprized. Nice walnut, no pot metal but still plastic sights and thread protector. Chiappa is primarily an air gun manufacturer anyways and based on my past experiences, I wasn't expecting much.

OK, lets answer you main question. Both the MKII and XT are excellent guns. Every so often, both companies will produce a lemon or two in their batch of guns which is why you will hear some grumbling on the internet about both models. Most the the guns are solid shooters which will out shoot the average person's skill level. If you do get a lemon, Savage is quick and easy to deal with because all of their rim fire rifles are made in Cobourg Ontario. Been to their plant, people are friendly and easy to speak even though you have to go through their corporate office in the US for warrenty work but if a gun needs to be replaced. It is nice to know that the replacement will be coming from that factory. And finding magazines are easier, just go down to you local Canadian tire.

Marlin magazines are a little harder to find but not imposible. I had an older XT-22 with the laminate stock which cost the same as the MKII with a plastic stock. It came with a 7 round magazine. Why they just didn't include the 10 round is beyond me so I bought a couple of 10 stainless magazines online. The XT I owner was a pre Remington taking over Marlin model. Out of the box, I put a Bushnell 3x9x40 scope with low rings on it and it performed much better than the Savage with the same setup.

Assuming the qaulity control is still good at Marlin, my pick would be the XT for the following reasons. The magazines are built better as compared to the old MKII mags (jury is still out on the new helux mags). You get a laminate stock for roughly the same price. The barrel is a heavier barrel and IMHO, you can't beat a micro grove barrel if you are talking about a .22.

Foot note, I have not bought a Savage since they changed their logo so that they can be politically correct.
 
It's really getting down the the nuts and bolts, both will shoot well, both have good reputations, neither are "perfect".

If it were me i would see which one goes on sale and get the one that has the biggest discount.
 
I have owned the the marlin XT-22 for over a year and put a lot of rounds through it. Its one of my favourite rifles to shoot lately, very accurate, smooth bolt and the 10 round metal mags are quality. I don't think you'll be disappointed with either rifle, two quality choices there.
 
I’m leaning towards the Marlin. I do like it’s look a little better, and the option for a wood stock. Are the sights really as bad as people say online or are they workable? I want to shoot irons since that’s what I’ll be using on my bigger rifle (Kar98k)
 
Another vote for the MK II, however, the Marlin seems like an excellent choice as well. I haven't owned one yet so I will stick to what I know. But, I will give one a try one of these. Iron sights are a personal preference, I would like to see a better option for the Marlin but they aren't bad IMO.
 
Have you considered the Savage B22? I have one with a heavy barrel and love it! Around $50 more than the Mark II and Marlin, but you get a flush mounted 10 round mag and what I think is a better looking/feeling stock. Oh and like the Mark II, it's Made in Canada.
 
awesomealvin said:
Have you considered the Savage B22? I have one with a heavy barrel and love it! Around $50 more than the Mark II and Marlin, but you get a flush mounted 10 round mag and what I think is a better looking/feeling stock. Oh and like the Mark II, it's Made in Canada.
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^this. The Savage B22 would be my choice, the XT my second choice. I've owned a couple of Savages with the plastic Mark II stocks=never again. Savage should have dumped that long ago.

Almost no rimfire-thread-reply from me would be complete without a CZ/BRNO suggestion... :) If you're after a gun with good iron sights, you might want to find another $150-ish and look at something like a BRNO 2E. (predecessor to the CZ 452 LUX) For close to $500, you could pick-up one of these and have a better-quality gun with superb iron sights. I have scopes on every rifle I own EXCEPT my 2E. The irons are too nice. :)

Here is that rifle with a scope it wore for exactly 1 outing. :) I dig the scope, just moved it to another gun.

72bEAaX.jpg


j9kvsVX.jpg
 
MattE93 said:
I’m leaning towards the Marlin. I do like it’s look a little better, and the option for a wood stock. Are the sights really as bad as people say online or are they workable? I want to shoot irons since that’s what I’ll be using on my bigger rifle (Kar98k)
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The marlin sights are not that bad, a little short but I don’t have trouble picking up the front sight. You can always buy a rear peep sight made “tech sights”. They’re a little expensive but seem to be worth researching.
 
awesomealvin said:
Have you considered the Savage B22? I have one with a heavy barrel and love it! Around $50 more than the Mark II and Marlin, but you get a flush mounted 10 round mag and what I think is a better looking/feeling stock. Oh and like the Mark II, it's Made in Canada.
Click to expand...

Where can you find a B-22? Cabela's and a bunch of other stores are sold out
 
.22LRGUY said:
^this. The Savage B22 would be my choice, the XT my second choice. I've owned a couple of Savages with the plastic Mark II stocks=never again. Savage should have dumped that long ago.

Almost no rimfire-thread-reply from me would be complete without a CZ/BRNO suggestion... :) If you're after a gun with good iron sights, you might want to find another $150-ish and look at something like a BRNO 2E. (predecessor to the CZ 452 LUX) For close to $500, you could pick-up one of these and have a better-quality gun with superb iron sights. I have scopes on every rifle I own EXCEPT my 2E. The irons are too nice. :)

Here is that rifle with a scope it wore for exactly 1 outing. :) I dig the scope, just moved it to another gun.

72bEAaX.jpg


j9kvsVX.jpg
Click to expand...

This just looks PROPER.

I have been trying to find a rifle to put a nice leupold optic on for tree rats.
 
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