Marlin XL7, CDL 700, Weatherby Backcountry - Which Will Be Most Accurate - w/Results

So tomorrow I'm heading to the range to test the accuracy of three 30-06 rifles. I've loaded 48 rounds total in 4 groups, so each rifle will get shot 4 times with the same load. I've got one set at 168 grain bullets, two sets with 180 Nosler Accubond but two different powders and one set of 180 gn Hornady SPBT's. I'm using three different powders different OAL's.

What's your opinion on which is going to be most accurate, and with which bullet. I'll post the results sometimes tomorrow on my return along with what each set was loaded with and number of grains. I've only previously got close to a good round, not a great round for the Weatherby. The other two rifles are new to me so once I get them sighted in, I'll start the test.

What'd you guys think?
 
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I think the Marlin will surprise you. Heads or tails on the other two.

I've owned 4 of those Marlins. Shot 2 and was very impressed. The other two was a 270 & 223. Never did shoot the 270 but the fellow I sold it to reported 1" groups with the first factory ammo he tried. The 223 still sits new unfired in the safe. I'm sure it will shoot as well.
 
Marlin, Rem, Wby. I've never seen or heard of a bad shooting X7 rifle. But, I've never shot anything heavier in my 30-06 X7 than a 165gr, so I'm interested to hear the results.
 
If there is such thing as a sleeper rifle it is those Marlins. There is a 7-08 in the safe that ain't going anywhere fast. I never even say how accurate it is because people scoff.
 
Gave my son a custom commercial Mauser that cost a lot of money. At the same time I gave him an XL7 in 30.06. The Marlin shot lights out and still does, the custom is a 2 MOA shooter at best. He never uses the Mauser. We both were surprised. I have a Rem 7MM Mag which shoots very well too, but the marlin is better. Of all the ""Entry level" rifles out there the Marlin is best IMHO.
 
Expectation based on brand name is unrealistic imo. You won't know til you try them. Saw a cooper putting out groups that looked more like shotgun patterning with 2 different loads of factory ammo.I was 2 stations away at the time, printing clover leafs with a $400 ruger american .243 with federal blue box. If i was to guess though,i would say that marlin and weatherby will be pretty close.
 
Gave my son a custom commercial Mauser that cost a lot of money. At the same time I gave him an XL7 in 30.06. The Marlin shot lights out and still does, the custom is a 2 MOA shooter at best. He never uses the Mauser. We both were surprised. I have a Rem 7MM Mag which shoots very well too, but the marlin is better. Of all the ""Entry level" rifles out there the Marlin is best IMHO.

Custom does not always mean accurate. I had military mausers capable of doing 1 inch groups with it being in the military trim. I also have zastavas which are mauser 98s and they are capable of doing better than 1 inch.
 
I wanted as many conditions equal as I think I could control when testing the 3 rifles. So earlier in the week, I cleaned the barrels twice with Wipeout, letting the rifles sit for 24 hours and ensuring the patch came out clean. A light bit of Inox Lubricant on the patch to lube the barrels and they sat in the rack for 3 days prior to range time.

The cases were tumbled, primer pockets reamed and cleaned after full resize. They were all trimmed to spec. The only thing I didn't control was the process of getting one of the scopes properly set up and while sliding off the bases split a finger nail right in half. Some bleeding with everyone saying go see a doctor but I wrapped it up, tapped it up and continued with the test. I don't know how much this may have affected the results, but it would have been equal when shooting all 3 rifles.

I had to bore sight the Marlin and CDL 700 so I brought a box of Winchester factory loads 180 grain. It took 5 rounds for the Marlin, 8 for the Remington and the Weatherby was already sighted in so fired 5 rounds through this rifle to level the playing field. The conditions were 30 degrees, hot & sunny with no wind, elevation 2750 ft. I fired two rounds, then placed the rifles in the rack for 6 minutes to cool the barrel and then shot the remaining 2 rounds. The reason I've posted 3 & 4 shot groups is allowing for either a flyer or barrel still to hot for last round.

The results:
First 4 Rounds:
OAL: 3.330
56.5 gns - H4350
180 Grain Nosler Accubond Spitzer (#54825)

Marlin XL7 - 4 shots - 2.587" 3 shot group 1.27"
Rem CDL 700 - 4 shots - 2.259" 3 shot group 1.804"
Weatherby Backcountry - 4 shots 2.302" 3 shot group 1.74"
Winner: Marlin 3 shot group

Second 4 Rounds:
OAL: 3.320
61.0 gns - H4831
168 Grain - Nosler Ballistic Tip Spitzer (#30168)

Marlin XL7 - 4 shots - 1.166" 3 shot group .549"
Rem CDL 700 - 4 shots - 2.621" 3 shot group 1.00"
Weatherby Backcountry - 4 shots - 1.415" 3 shot group 1.144"
Winner: Marlin 3 shot group

Third 4 Rounds:
OAL: 3.330
56.0 gns - IMR4350
180 Grain Nosler Accubond Spitzer (#54825)

Marlin XL7 - 4 shots - 4.165" 3 shot group - 2.733"
Rem CDL 700 - 4 shots - 1.678" 3 shot group - 1.00"
Weatherby Backcountry - 4 shots - 1.560" 3 shot group - 1.20"
Winner: Rem CDL 700

Fourth 4 Rounds:
3.276 OAL
56.5 gns - H4350
180 Grain - Hornady Interlock BTSP (#3072)

Marlin XL7 - 4 shots - 5.564" 3 shot group - 2.763
Rem CDL 700 - 4 shots - 3.687" 3 shot group - 1.308"
Weatherby Backcountry - 4 shots - .986" 3 shot group - .545"
Winner: Weatherby Backcountry

Don't know how each of you would interpret the results. The Marlin was more accurate with 168 gn bullets but didn't like the heavier 180 gn bullets. The Remington and Weatherby liked some of the 180 gn bullets but not all of them. Obviously more testing required by taking the winner in each category and playing around with powder and OAL's. I didn't have opportunity or time to test bullet seating and then lands setback to see if better results could be achieved. For me the overall winner of 4 shot groups was the Weatherby.

For me a fun day, other than the split fingernail and two hrs. waiting to get into the doc's office to fix me up.
 
If you guys are wondering why your XL7 Marlins are so accurate, take the stock off and look at the nice saddle they made for the barrel to ride in.
When the action screws are tightened up, there is considerable pressure under the barrel at that point.
Bruce
 
If you guys are wondering why your XL7 Marlins are so accurate, take the stock off and look at the nice saddle they made for the barrel to ride in.
When the action screws are tightened up, there is considerable pressure under the barrel at that point.
Bruce

Both my marlins have been free floated and still shoot fantastic, I found the forward bedding point would cause vertical stringing as the barrel got hot on the -06 so hogged out both of them and they shoot better than ever
 
I am curious as to what you are calling a 3 shot group here. Are you measuring the closest 3 shots out of 4 or are you ceasing after 3 shots and measuring 3 shot groups and then shooting a fourth? If you are measuring the best 3 out of 4 this measurement has no relevant meaning to the rifles individual accuracy, any more than 3 shots clustered into 1/2" from a 10", 10 shot string................it imparts zero usable information.
 
WOW, that 4th shot is sure blowing out some of the groups............I almost always shoot 4 shot groups when testing loads, just kinda a standard I have settled on..........I haven't experienced the 4th shot blow out as bad as you are seeing with some of these loads. The first 3 usually give a good representation of potential group or lack thereof and in my experience the 4th USUALLY falls within the 3 shot spread, not always of course and some can always be attributed to me, but a good 50% of the groups with 4 shots are no larger than the first 3. Not once did this happen with these loads, not once did the 4th shot fall within the original 3 shot group.............interesting !!!!
 
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