Savage vs. Marlin, looking for feedback please.

Butcherbill

Butcherbill

BANNED
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
GunNutz
Rating - 100%
39   0   0
Location
Blaster land, Okanagan BC
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.
 
I figured that might be the case, looking at the specs online they both seem the same. I noticed the marlin is chambered for .22short, long and magnum. Is the savage the same, I haven't shot a rimfire in about 30yrs so excuse the stupid question lol. I guess it's going to come down to handling one, must resist the cz haha. Last time looked at the Savage the guy helping me put a Cz in my hands and I was drooling.

It's safe to say a reg barrel will be nicer to carry around all day compared to a heavy barrel like the mk2 FV or FV-SR?
 
I like the Savages because they are made in Canada but for a sub $300 .22 rifle, I feel the XT with the laminate maple stock just edges out the mk2f which I believe come only in the synthetic. I own both rifles and feel that the Marlin has a better quality magazine (it does come tube feed also), a thicker barrel, and micro grove rifling. The actions are about the same. I am a big fan for micro grove rifling for rimfire rifles. Both are good rifles and you can not go wrong with either.

Side note. I have not bought anything from Marlin since their main factory closed as the result of being taken over by Remington last year. Remington retooled one of their factories to make the XT so the quality of the rifles might be different from last year's stock. I bought a model 60 in stainless last year just because I knew they would be selling off the tooling from that production facility. Remington is still selling the XT under the Marlin name but look on the side of the barrel to see where they are manufactured, I am sure there is still inventory left from the old plant. Then again, Remington may have improved on QC but unlikely? Good luck
 
The MKII BTVS by Savage comes with a stainless bull barrel, bottom metal made of metal, and a sweet thumbhole laminate stock (likely made by Boyd's). There's two on the shelf at Fishing World as we speak. There are also synthetic versions with plastic bottom "metal" for less. Both are accurate, but I would opt for the wood stocked version.
 
5173269598_f854026d80_b.jpg
 
I bought the xt22 because I already had a couple of marlin 795 semi autos for the kids. I researched all the bolt guns available at the time, and they all seemed fairly equal on paper as you've probably seen. being able to use the same magazines was the deciding factor. Seeing as I had already picked Marlin for my semi autos, the decision was easier. Might be something to consider down the road. I love the XT though. Mine is blued with wood stock.
 
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.
 
I own a Savage Axis 270 and a Marlin 22L semi and I am happy with both fire arms. Marlin did get takin over by Remington though and heard that there quality has gone down now that is what I heard I have not had any problems with my rim fire semi. I have not shot it alot though. The mark of a JM stamped on a Marlin riffle was produced before the take over I believe
 
I own both and they are great guns for the money. Savage mk2 HB and marlin xt22m. I find the savage shoots a little better but the marlin to be a little smoother action. Triggers on both seem equal.
 
Butcherbill said:
Do you hunt with one, how do you find carrying it around all day? If it was just a target rifle I'd get a heavy barrel but I'm going to be holding this one for long periods and shooting at critters so that's a big consideration for me.
Click to expand...

The weight difference between the F (5.5#) and the FV(heavy barrel 6#) is half a pound. Accuracy should be much better too. I personally have the F and it weighs nothing. I wish I had bought heavy barrel.
 
Butcherbill said:
Do you hunt with one, how do you find carrying it around all day? If it was just a target rifle I'd get a heavy barrel but I'm going to be holding this one for long periods and shooting at critters so that's a big consideration for me.
Click to expand...

Funny you should mention this. I find mine to be actually quite light, especially after toting my centrefires around.
 
cody182005 said:
I own both and they are great guns for the money. Savage mk2 HB and marlin xt22m. I find the savage shoots a little better but the marlin to be a little smoother action. Triggers on both seem equal.
Click to expand...

X2 I own both and sold the XT22m as the savage beat it out in the accuracy dept.Marlin feels a tad cheaper as well
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom