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bogeybill55 · December 28, 2012, 06:28 PM

Looking for opinions on purchasing a target rifle for the wife to join me at the range as a couples activity. We are both now retired and I'm looking to get back into reloading as a hobby. I have reloaded only for my hunting rifles and a .44 mag handgun, a Ruger Red Hawk. The rifles are a Remington Model 760 pump in 30-06 and the other is a Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08. Both are topped with Leupold variable scopes.
The wife is learning to shoot with a scoped Henry Lever in .22 LR and a scoped Browning bolt .22 LR. The .22 LR just doesn't cut it with accuracy at 100 yards so I would like to get a bolt action rifle in .223 caliber. Should be easy on the shoulder and I can play with it at the loading bench. And if I ever get the opportunity I can use it a varmint field gun.
So, after lot's of research I thought a Marlin XS7 in .223 with a 3X9 or 4X12 scope might fit the bill. The rifle is probably in the $330 range and I would like to keep the optics around the $250 range including mounts.
I'm also open to a used rifle in .223 as again this is for the wife to range shoot not to go to Wyoming or Alaska for a big game hunt.
You personal experiences with various low cost (not junk) scope brands and rifles is appreciated. Not looking to be cheap, just thrifty. Thanks in advance.

December 28, 2012, 06:28 PM	#1
bogeybill55 Junior Member Join Date: December 25, 2011 Posts: 1	Opinions on New Rifle Looking for opinions on purchasing a target rifle for the wife to join me at the range as a couples activity. We are both now retired and I'm looking to get back into reloading as a hobby. I have reloaded only for my hunting rifles and a .44 mag handgun, a Ruger Red Hawk. The rifles are a Remington Model 760 pump in 30-06 and the other is a Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08. Both are topped with Leupold variable scopes. The wife is learning to shoot with a scoped Henry Lever in .22 LR and a scoped Browning bolt .22 LR. The .22 LR just doesn't cut it with accuracy at 100 yards so I would like to get a bolt action rifle in .223 caliber. Should be easy on the shoulder and I can play with it at the loading bench. And if I ever get the opportunity I can use it a varmint field gun. So, after lot's of research I thought a Marlin XS7 in .223 with a 3X9 or 4X12 scope might fit the bill. The rifle is probably in the $330 range and I would like to keep the optics around the $250 range including mounts. I'm also open to a used rifle in .223 as again this is for the wife to range shoot not to go to Wyoming or Alaska for a big game hunt. You personal experiences with various low cost (not junk) scope brands and rifles is appreciated. Not looking to be cheap, just thrifty. Thanks in advance.