Marlin XL-7 - A Savage Wannabe

[Mystic Precision]

Was very interested in looking at a review of the new Marlin XL-7. Many features from the Savage including the barrel nut, trigger with a safety lever and user adjustable, floating bolt head with similar extrator/ejector/anti binding layout, button rifled barrel. Even the barrel diameters are very similar.

With a list price just over $300US, this is going to help keep hunting rifle pricing very afforadable. Could the target market be Stevens? undercutting the blind mag Savages?

The design looks promising but their weakness will still be in the stock. Same old injection molded stock BUT with pressure bedding - bad idea. I am sure many will just sand it out to free float.

Also, there isn't any material in front of the recoil lug to support the nut/barrel. Not really needed in a light hunting rifle but a good idea in a varmint weight (if they get that far) while using a flexy stock.

To the positive, they are putting a decent recoil pad and scope bases in with the rifle. That IS a savings.

One way that 'Rem' is going after Savage I guess. Only long action for now but I am sure the short actions and varminters will follow. Wonder when the aftermarket will start making kit for this platform?

Jerry

 

[manbearpig]

how accurate is it?
the main reasons id get a Stevens is because 99% of the Savage parts fit and they are pretty much guaranteed to be accurate.

i would hesitate to buy a Mossberg because, as youve just confirmed, it brings nothing new to the table but carries with it the risk that it will be inaccurate, no aftermarket parts, etc. unless i see some significant improvement over the Stevens, ill stick with the Stevens - better the devil you know.

kindof ghey of Remington to copy Savage's design, but theyve been doing that a lot lately.

 

[Mystic Precision]

The review article indicated it was MOA or better with factory ammo. Given the design and manf, if made reasonably well, it should shoot.

I am in no hurry to buy one but it is very interesting to see a company prettty much clone the Savage. Shows you the impact this design is finally having on the rifle shooting community.

In time, that 'fugly' barrel nut might just be a necessary part for consumers to feel your rifle accurate.

Wouldn't that be ironic??

Jerry

 

[manbearpig]

the barrel nut is fugly, but is it a detriment to the rifle?

the average hunter will probably never take advantage of this, but it makes rebarreling the rifle possible by an enthusiast and not only via a gunsmith. i consider it a definite 'plus', not a minus.
now if only savage barrels were widely available in canada