Marlin XL7 - opinions?

Johnn Peterson

Johnn Peterson

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A friend has just asked me what I thought of the Marlin XL7. The only Marlins I've anything to do with are a selection of their lever guns. I've never even seen a Marlin bolt gun so I'm looking for some experiences and opinions of them.
 
Ive got a couple, both are very good shooters with some features you don't usually find at that price point. Stocks are slim and stiff with textured grip surfaces and good recoil pad, trigger is adjustable ,good sized extractor on the bolt, uses floating bolt head and barrel nut (ala savage) safety allows the bolt to be cycled while engaged. Bolt handle has knurled upper and lower surface and the bolt body is one piece and grooved , the barrel crown is recessed and protected , comes with weaver type bases .
Overall a good light rifle at least as good as the savage 110 series and until you hit the vanguards in my opinion the best of the budget shooters.

cons are blind magazine (doesnt bother me but might some) and plastic trigger guard.
 
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Awesome rifles, only drawbacks IMO are Blind Mag and safety doesn't lock the bolt. Other than that, very accurate, great trigger, excellent ergonomics.
 
BwanaDave said:
Ive got a couple, both are very good shooters with some features you don't usually find at that price point. Stocks are slim and stiff with textured grip surfaces and good recoil pad, trigger is adjustable ,good sized extractor on the bolt, uses floating bolt head and barrel nut (ala savage) safety allows the bolt to be cycled while engaged. Bolt handle has knurled upper and lower surface and the bolt body is one piece and grooved , the barrel crown is recessed and protected , comes with weaver type bases .
Overall a good light rifle at least as good as the savage 110 series and until you hit the vanguards in my opinion the best of the budget shooters.

cons are blind magazine (doesnt bother me but might some) and plastic trigger guard.
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Almost exactly this, also as a con for me was sighting in my friends in .270 made me question, if I really wanted to try and find a 7x57 Mauser that was to my liking. Maybe I'll just look for a marlin x7 7mm-08.
 
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I have an unfired X7 223 sporter down in the safe. I like them ....

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I owned a .270 and the biggest issues I had with the rifle was a very opposite of smooth action & Plastic Magazine follower. The plastic trigger guard can be replaced with a aluminum one from Brownells.

I found that cycling a round was extremely rough. If you look at the entrance to the chamber you can see the machining lines on the steel. Its not smooth and since this is a push feed the bullet does not ride up smooth into the chamber. You could probably smoothen it with emery cloth but it would be a real pain. Other members were right about the features though and it does shoot good. If it were me I'd get a savage or a Ruger American if your looking for a cheap hunting rifle. You get a Magazine with them. The Axis 2 has the adjustable trigger as well.
 
I have two (.243 / 30-06) and use them on dirty days when I don't want to take an expensive rifle out. They are simply the best most accurate rifle in their price range, offering the most features to be found on an entry level gun. They are two of the most accurate rifles I own. I'm tempted to put them in Boyds stocks, but I cannot justify changing a single thing on them. I owned an Axis (for a while) and I suggest one avoid them like the plague.
 
eeemaster said:
I owned a .270 and the biggest issues I had with the rifle was a very opposite of smooth action & Plastic Magazine follower.
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Every X7 rifle I've owned has been silky smooth, but I'm sure there will be duds that slip by QC. The Plastic follower can be changed to a M700 factory metal one if desired.
 
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