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October 2008 Product Review

Marlin XL7 Rifle Review

The Marlin Firearms Company has been around for well over a century. During that time they have made many firearms, but they are best known for their lever action rifles. Several million were produced, which is comparable to Winchester and Savage, their main competition. The Marlin has a well deserved reputation for quality and durability. I have several in my collection and they all shoot well. A couple of them will give the average bolt action a run for their money in the accuracy department. The 30-30 has been in my collection for over 40 years and still shoots very well. For this review we're going to look at the Marlin XL7 bolt action centerfire hunting rifle. Read more...

Please use this area to post comments or questions about this review.

SoCoKHntr · Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:59 pm Post subject:

Good review. My dad ordered one almost a year ago in 270 and he just told me it's finally coming in and he'll get it next week. Looking forward to seeing how accurate it is.

fun4uoc · Buck Master Joined: 13 Dec 2008 Posts: 17

Wow, does not look too bad, especially with a $300 price tag.

SoCoKHntr · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 11:23 am Post subject:

Dad picked his up last night and said it's an unbelievably good looking and feeling rifle. He said if it shoots as good as it looks he'll be one happy dude. He's hoping with the popularity they should get Marlin will make them in a short action magnum. If so he'll get one.

Alpine_Archer · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:29 am Post subject: Just got one.

Excellent review. I just picked one of these up in 30-06 last week. It feels and looks great. I havnt got to shoot it yet we're in the midst of a slow archery season with no time on the range. Mine was slightly more then the $300 price tag listed but still a great deal.

saycheese · Newbie Joined: 14 Oct 2009 Posts: 1

I recently bought the XL7 in 30-06 caliber and have put 2 and one-half boxes of factory loads in it. One box was Hornaday 165 grain BTSP InterLock. I wanted to re-sight in the scope and have enough ammo to use in the field, but the local gun shop was out of Hornady, so I bought two boxes of Remington 165 grain Core-LOKT PSP R3006B.

I only used these last two boxes because it was the only ammunition available at the time of opening day deer season, and I wanted to make sure to use the same ammo in the field that I sighted in my rifle with.

POSITIVES

The latter-mentioned Remington factory loads sighted in consistently dead center at 30 yards with some bullets passing next to or inside the other holes.

At 50 yards the pattern was within one-half inch of dead center, with one bullet taking out the X.

At 100 yards the rifle put 3 shots within 1.5" of center, the last two shots being within .75" of center on either side. I think I pulled the first shot.

My conclusion is that this gun is accurate enough to hit a deer in the vitals at 100 yards each shot. At 50 yards I have full confidence in hitting it anywhere the sight is placed.

I also like the trigger very much, which is very much like the type found on GLOCK handguns.

NEGATIVES

The action is a bit sloppy, but at $350 including the scope, I can live with it. I may get a better Leupold scope and trade it out on a higher priced rifle at another time, but for now the scope that comes with the rifle is OK.

On multiple shots the barrel heats up quite fast as compared to other more expensive models, but this should not be of any consequence since the accuracy of the barrel should require only one cartridge. But I would always keep two extra shells inside the rifle in case you wanted to take a follow-up shot.

I also noticed a distinct smell of the barrel when it heated up, probably because of its (don't quote me on this) probable composite metal alloy.

The safety could also stand to be beefed up somewhat.

All-in-all I found the XL7 to be a very accurate rifle and would take considerable effort from another person to pry this jewel from my gun case.

Alpine_Archer · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:48 pm Post subject:

I gave my scope its final adjustments today at the range. I too noticed my barrel heating up after a few shots but nothing major. Like you said its the cold barrel that counts. Shooting Remington PP 165 grain factory ammo it was hitting 3" groups with my shooting sticks no vise. At 200 yards I was on the pie plate every time.

Not a bad gun at all for the price i didint notice the loose action or any weird smells.