[TMan]

I have only seen one of these on a rack in a busy shop, and have not had a chance to handle one in person. They look quite nice from about 10ft away, but I wanted to check a couple observations.

Is the barrel installed with a locking ring ala Savage style? If so it should be as easy to swap barrels as a Savage, and I'm looking for that feature on a new rifle.

Does anyone make barrels for the Marlin at this time?

I'd grab the Savage, and may at some point, but the safety is just in the wrong place.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

The new XL and XS rifles are an excellent purchase at their price point. The actions are smooth and the trigger was exceptional. The barrel is attached via a barrel nut like the Savage. The two I've shot were very accurate. Both were 7mm-08.

I've handled the Rem 710 and 770 and the Savage Edge. I feel the Marlin was better in every way than the Remingtons. Fit, action, looks, and trigger. The Savage Edge seemed comparable to the Marlin except the trigger isn't the Accu-Trigger and was very heavy with some creep.

 

[Harry Snippe]

I will second CatskillCrawlers post . These guns are shooters .
The barrels change with aftermarket Savage .
Guys are buying Boyds Stocks for them.

One fawl is the trigger guard, but it can quickly and cheaply be changed up from a Marlin .22
Learn more on Marlin owners forum.

 

[TMan]

Thanks for the input guys.

The Savage has a lot going for it, but the safety is just in the wrong place for my hands.

Plus, my experience as a Marlin owner is all upside, and I am sure they wouldn't fall down on quality. I'm needing a .280, and a switch barrel comes to mind as the easy way to get one.

 

[Oneeye66]

I will be buying a Marlin X gun in .308 just to see how it is. I am a member of the marlin forum mentioned above, and all reports are very positive. They seem to be shooters.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Keep in mind that Marlin was just absorbed by Cerebus who owns Remington. They kept Marlin's CEO as President to oversee daily operations but based upon what I've seen come out of the Remington stable recently, I'm a bit apprehensive.

 

[TMan]

Keep in mind that Marlin was just absorbed by Cerebus who owns Remington. They kept Marlin's CEO as President to oversee daily operations but based upon what I've seen come out of the Remington stable recently, I'm a bit apprehensive.

Well, in the last couple of years I've picked up a 7-08 Mtn Rifle, a 7mm Mag, and two 870's. They've all been very good to me so far. Like most rifles, they needed a new trigger, or a trigger kit, and the 700's got the actions bedded and the barrels floated. Pretty much the same as they've been for the 40 years I've been buying them.

The price on the Marlin I was eyeing was $359, and I was thinking, , I'll buy a pair.

I just got a response from McGowen, and they confirmed that the barrels have the same thread and size as a Savage, and use a similar barrel locking ring for a switch barrel setup.

 

[Harry Snippe]

Well The only negative I have on the Marlins is the blind Mag , I rather the hindge floor plate or a removeable Magazine .
But there is a gun out of the box that doesn.t need trigger work, or to be bedded , just like rifles were as I rememember as a Kid ( Many Many years back ).The browning a bolt just bought, for a lot more than two of these guns - Still needs some trigger work !!. Then the Tikka T3 was a shooter just out of the box and a scope installed .

If you like to tinker you can install a savage barrel for any calipier with out too much $$ and time provided it is based on the 308 / 3006 parent case , otherwise the bolt head needs to be reworked .
Then I doubt if there would be a problem selling that take off barrel
If you buy the cheaper unit with the Syn. Stock , then boydt makes after market stocks .
After all this you not into a months wage's

 

[Oneeye66]

Keep in mind that Marlin was just absorbed by Cerebus who owns Remington. They kept Marlin's CEO as President to oversee daily operations but based upon what I've seen come out of the Remington stable recently, I'm a bit apprehensive.

Yes, I have the same concern. BUT, there are still original X-guns in the pipeline, especially in smaller gun shops.

Dan

 

[Bird Dog II]

Keep in mind that Marlin was just absorbed by Cerebus who owns Remington. They kept Marlin's CEO as President to oversee daily operations but based upon what I've seen come out of the Remington stable recently, I'm a bit apprehensive.

God let's pray Marlin's quality and consistency doesn't degrade the way Remington's has over the last decade or two. That'd be a shame. You have always known what you were getting with Marlin, whether you bought the gun at a gun shop or Wal Mart. With Remington over the last 15 years or so, you could get anything from a classy MOA shooter to a poorly fitted inaccurate "Wal Mart special". I'd hate to see Marlin go that route.

 

[TMan]

Well The only negative I have on the Marlins is the blind Mag.

If you like to tinker you can install a savage barrel for any caliber with out too much $$ and time provided it is based on the 308 / 3006 parent case , otherwise the bolt head needs to be reworked .

Harry, I can live with the blind mag for the price, and for the most part, working on the basic model is part of the fun of getting one.

The real opportunity for me, is gettin' a few different rifles to play with, and only buying two

 

[Harry Snippe]

I am waiting for a heavy barrel varmint type from Marlin chambered in some thing like the 22/250 since I already have more 30 cals than time to shoot .

 

[Rugerfan0374]

With Marlin being absorbed by the Parent company of Remington I am also concerned that the quality will suffer and / or the price will sky rocket.

My Dad has two XL7's. One in 270 and one in 30-06. They are both tack drivers. He says that the 270 will shoot any ammo brand into a 3/4" hole.

One of the best ways to kill your competition is to buy them out.

 

[dmsbandit]

If you like to tinker you can install a savage barrel for any calipier with out too much $$ and time provided it is based on the 308 / 3006 parent case , otherwise the bolt head needs to be reworked .
Then I doubt if there would be a problem selling that take off barrel
If you buy the cheaper unit with the Syn. Stock , then boydt makes after market stocks .
After all this you not into a months wage's

not quite true. The bolt lugs on the Marlin are larger than the Savage so you would need to rework the Savage barrel to use it on a Marlin.

 

[dmsbandit]

I am waiting for a heavy barrel varmint type from Marlin chambered in some thing like the 22/250 since I already have more 30 cals than time to shoot .

marlin is bringing out a Heavy 26" barreled varmit gun in '11 chambered in 308 and 22-250.

 

[dmsbandit]

Thanks for the input guys.

The Savage has a lot going for it, but the safety is just in the wrong place for my hands.

Plus, my experience as a Marlin owner is all upside, and I am sure they wouldn't fall down on quality. I'm needing a .280, and a switch barrel comes to mind as the easy way to get one.

I have 2 "X" guns and they are the most consistantly accurate deer rifles I've ever owned or shot.

The 30-06 will shoot 180gr bullets into one hole, and 165s under .75" all day every day.

The 308 I made into a carbine and it will shoot 130gr Speer HP into one hole and 150gr Hornady SP under .75". It even shoots 165gr Sierras and 170gr FPs into 1".