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I posted this on a couple of sites but I wanted to post here to. After hearing so much good about the Marlin XL/XS7 I bought a XL7C 25-06 in early January ($319.00). I put a 5 X 15 Bushnell Elite on it. The first trip to the range I had 4 miss fires ,3 with factory ammo 1 with a hand load. Despite my best hand loading efforts groups were running about 3" and the gun showed no signs of wanting to shoot. I called Marlin and ask about getting a stronger firing pin spring at the same time I asked about the accuracy. The guy I talked to was great he said they wanted to look at and shoot the gun and assured me if there was a issue it would be resolved. I sent the gun in on 1-18-10 with a letter explaining the issues and a sample target. I asked them to replace the firing pin spring and test shoot it and requested there test target on return. It was returned on 2-4-10 with a document indicating they had found accuracy issues and that it " miss fires at times ". They replaced the barrel and striker and did a function check and test fire. They sent a photo of a group shot at 40 yards and included the flap off the box of Remington ammo they used to test it. The group was one ragged hole. There was a handwritten note stating the 100 yard range was down for repairs . I took the gun to the range tonight, after a few shots to get on at 100 yards I shot a group that measured 1.29" this despite 15-20 mph winds and using a folding table as a bench. I Can't imagine how they could have handled this any better. Quick turn around , complete resolution of the issues and my complete satisfaction. Based on all I have read about the Marlin rifle its obvious I just got a bad one. Its good to know that Marlin will stand behind there product. I see this as just one more positive reason to buy a Marlin rifle. I'm planning on picking up a XS7C in 308. Thought you guys might like to know. Good hunting KH | ||
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Not if I can help it. I don't need another entree level rifle. | |||
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two things 1. Marlin is a first class gun company.....their customer service is a cut above!!!!  2. Their bolt rifle sucks!!! Local kid bought one in .30-06 and it didn't survive the first deer hunt.....extractor jammed and froze the action closed..... He was lucky to have someone nearby that could fix it for him but I loaned him my M-70 for a few days until I could get to it! /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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That is great to hear. I have several levers and a few 22 rim fire rifles. Maybe I'll get a 25 -06 from them... NRA Life DRSS Searcy 470 NE The poster formerly known as Uglystick | |||
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before I bought the gun I had heard a lot of nice things about the accuracy.I have lots of hunting rifles I didn't buy it as a primary hunting rifle . I wanted a 308 so I could cut the barrel back to 20" and hunt out of tree stands here in MI. I just couldn't find one that day. So I bought this gun just to beat up the local crow population and the occasional deer hunt close by. I'm just happy that on a price point gun Marlin stood behind it and thought anyone thinking of buying one would like to know. I have had a couple of rifle's that had to go back. I had a 700 Rem mountain rifle , hardly an entry level gun, in 25-06 best groups I could get was with any ammo was 2 1/2" and it kept popping the heads off cases after a couple reloads. Remington told me 2 1/2" was acceptable accuracy and I shouldn't reload . They told me to send it and my credit card number and they would look at it. No thanks got rid of that one . The other was a friends Savage I was trying to help him get to shoot. I suspect it had a under size bore on it that rile went back and the barrel was replaced but it was gone for months. | |||
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Nice report which does speak well for Marlin. A good many years ago I contacted Marlin about getting some extra magazines for a 22LR M880SS. The nice lady told me it would be(somewhere about) $9 plus Shipping. But, if you want three it will be $22 and that includes Shipping.  The next time I contacted Marlin was when I'd traded for an 18" barrel Guide Gun. Called to see what a 24" barrel would run and was told $143 plus whatever it cost for me to get it to them. I was about ready to send it when I asked if they were going to make one in Stainless. There was a short pause, and the voice said I might want to wait just a bit longer before making a decision. Then the XLRs were released. I've not had one of their Bolt Actions though. | |||
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I bought an XL 7 in 270 that is a tack driver.. and the entire rifle was $257.00... so far only about 100 rounds thru it at the range.. also did a test on doing a Savage switch barrel on it and that went fine also.. as far as Marlin's customer service; I have a 22 Win Mag Marlin that was just a lemon out of the box..so I sent it back to them, but removed the stock just to save shipping costs, and to fit in the one box I had around.. I also sent them some of the targets to show them an example of it poor accuracy. I ended up horsetrading for another 22 Mag, so while they had it, I called them up and asked them for a quote to put a 17 HMR barrel on it instead. I told them that our family knew of a gal who was disabled that was wanting one of the new 17 HMRs real bad, but did not have the budget for it... So, I wanted to give her the rifle when it came back, and pay the extra for the installation of the 17 HMR barrel.. When I received the rifle back, not only did it have a 17 HMR barrel on it, it had a test target with it, plus they have put a new laminated stock on it and also adjusted the trigger to where it was perfect.... However there was no bill in the box... and all I had asked for was a quote... So I called them, and got the tech I had spoken with before.. When I asked the guy about the cost, and where to send a check, he asked me, wasn't I the guy who was going to give the rifle to a handicapped person on a limited budget who had wanted one so bad... When I said, yeah that was me...his response was " tell the lady who is getting it, we hope she enjoys it with our compliments..there is no charge!" I couldn't believe it, and wanted to send in something... there response was they were happy to have customers like me who do things for other less fortunate fellow shooters.. Naw, I became a confirmed Marlin customer that day... Marlin STILL represents what this country ONCE was all about.... | |||
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Seafire - Maybe it's just a bad day, or old age.... When I read your post immediately above, it literally brought tears to my eyes. Yes indeed, that IS what this country was once all about. God I miss those days and ways!! Now I think I know why I have been a devoted Marlin owner so many years. I have a big bunch of their lever guns, and think I am about to go out and buy another from from them. Any gun company which acts like that is worth supporting. Do they still make the Model 39 in any shape or configuration? | |||
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Not sure AC... I profess to have a Model 94/22... | |||
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Couldn't have said it better. Marlin is a damn good company BUT their bolt action leaves a lot to be desired. | |||
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and who keeps saying the freedom group, aka, remington, ruins all the companies they buy? opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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My father-in-law bought one in .270 two years ago, and had nothing but trouble with it, before and after a trip back to the factory. Wouldn't do anything consistently. I'm hearing enough stories to think the rifles have inherent problems. | |||
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about any brand of rifle, has problems.. the key is how well the manufacturer backs them up or not.. Marlin does a good job.. the rifles we have available that have solid reputations have also had 40 or 50 years to straighten out those problems.. Comparing a Marlin XL 7 and Savage 200 to say a Remington 710.. take a look at the costs... The 710 is a POS... but that doesn't make Remington bad..of course their 700 and Model 7 have been available for how many years? If my new XL 7 goes bad and Marlin doesn't fix it, then I am out $257.00 until I sell it.. its more about one's perspective on the situation than anything else.. | |||
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I have 2 Marlin XS-7s, a 243 and a 308 that I rebarreled with an A&B Savage barrel from MidwayUSA. Other than having the stock painted, the 243 is bone stock and shoots the 80 grain Federal factory loads in MOA groups if the wind isn't blowing. The other rifle was rebarreled with a 24" A&B 257 Roberts barrel from MidwayUSA. Because of the 0.015" - 0.020" difference in bolt face recess between the Savage and Marlin, the A&B barrel didn't headspace correctly on the Marlin action without being set back 1/20" and having the chamber recut. If I hadn't set the barrel back, there would have been a small amount of excess/long headspace, which would have caused case stretching. Besides the 2 Marlin XS-7s that I bought for myself, I have shot several XL-7s in 270 and 30-06. All of the Marlin XL/XS-7s that I've handled and shot, have been excellent entry-level rifles. All of them would shoot with the Stevens 200s and Savage 11s/110s, but with better stock ergos. I don't think that you can buy a better new CF rifle in 02/2010 for less than $300. I'm hoping that Marlin will soon offer the XS-7 in 223 and 22-250 with 1-9" ROT barrels. It would also be nice if they would chamber the XS-7 for 257 Roberts, 260, and 338 Federal, but I doubt that there would be enough market volume to spend the $$ and time to make those barrels.s Jeff | |||
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That is the kind of story I love to hear. Thanks for posting it. At least there are some manufactures that stand behind their products. However, they went above and beyond. I am planning to go to the NRA convention (Lord willing) in May. I believe they will be there. I will make a point to see them and tell them I heard this story and tell them I appreciate a company that stands behind their products. | |||
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In my experience, which is limited, Marlin has customer service to match Leupold's. | |||
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I asked a Marlin rep at the SHOT show about an XS-7 in .223 or .22-250 and was told no. | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles anyone considering a Marlin XL/XS7 should read this
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