Picked up a XL7 yestarday in 3006 with the camo stock. Mounted a Nikon ProStaff 3-9x with BDC reticle. The rifle feels very solid yet light. I plan to shoot it tomorrow. So far my only complaint is that the bolt isn't very smooth. The trigger is AMAZING for a $300 rifle. Only the smallest bit of creep.
Sweet let us know how well it shoots. I am especially interested in how you like the scope I've been trying to decide if I should get one to put on my m77
10/22fan, I will join you in the ranks of XL7 owners in the morning! I'm getting mine in .270 Win. I'm paying $360 out the door for it with what appears to be a Simmons 3X9X40 scope on it. But, the scope's only markings are the "3X9X40." I'll probably be buying a new scope on it and putting this one on my 10/22
Picked up a XL7 yestarday in 3006 with the camo stock. Mounted a Nikon ProStaff 3-9x with BDC reticle. The rifle feels very solid yet light. I plan to shoot it tomorrow. So far my only complaint is that the bolt isn't very smooth. The trigger is AMAZING for a $300 rifle. Only the smallest bit of creep.
Clean the HECK outta it tonight, or before you go to the range.
Once you get all the packing grease out of it, LIGHTLY oil it.
Work the bolt about 50-100 times. It'll smooth up. I have yet to run across a new bolt-action that wasn't a little stiff before being worked a bit
Looking forward to the range report & pics of your new Deer rifle
__________________ Marlin & Calico Specialist
I'm not just Trigger Happy, I'm Trigger Ecstatic!!
This rifle has had some excellent press. Most likely some shooting will smooth out the bolt situation. Some actions just need to be worked a little bit.
Thanks, Shrek. I did clean it before shooting. The bolt has already smoothed out a lot.
Well I went to the range yestarday but got rained out before I could finish sighting in. I did get on the paper at 25 yards. At that range I got a 1/2" group. I'm sure the rifle can do better. My rest wasn't as steady as I would have liked and I'm not an expert shot. I'll try to get back out to the range sometime in the next two weeks and find a better rest.
My XL7 was one of the very first production runs in 30-06 and the action was very smooth. From what I've heard and from what I've seen with mine, the XL series of rifles need about 100 rounds down the pipe before the groups REALLY start to tighten up. I cant wait to get a set of dies for mine and see what this baby can do.
I went down to the gun show today and met a guy thats been selling these marlin xl7's and he said they've been selling the heck out of em. I've been wanting one for months now and I might just go buy one tommorow. I hate having to decide between 270 and 30-06 though lol. By the way 10/22 fan i've been wanting to get a nikon prostaff on mine too. Hows that working. Still can't decide if I should get the camo scope too. Let me know how that works out. Good luck at the range next time.
ok, got the Marlin XL7 30-06 yesterday. Love the camo stock, very light weight, and the pro fire trigger is pretty cool. Gotta get a scope for it and hopefully will be sending some shells through it soon. It was $325 at the pawn shop and with tax it came out to be $366. Not to bad. By the way Big Shrek my uncle holds the 3rd largest black bear for South Kakalaky. Looks awesome stuffed in the living room standing on its hind legs.
Last edited by huntdeer91; 09-22-2009 at 10:03 PM.
I've been shooting a XL-7 '06 since Febuary and it's the most accurate deer rifle I own. It will shoot 165 grain SST Hornadys under .75" all day long, and has put more than one group of 180 grain Noslers into the same hole [.197", and .274"]. I was impressed so much with it, that I had the local shop order me a XS-7 in 308.
I've been shooting a XL-7 '06 since Febuary and it's the most accurate deer rifle I own. It will shoot 165 grain SST Hornadys under .75" all day long, and has put more than one group of 180 grain Noslers into the same hole [.197", and .274"]. I was impressed so much with it, that I had the local shop order me a XS-7 in 308.
