marlin xl7 first time out

zachkuby87 · October 20, 2011, 01:07 AM

Ok so I picked up a marlin xl7 .270 about a month ago and the other day I went and grabbed a redfield revolution 3-9x40. Well I finally made it to the range it took a few shots to get it on paper at 100 yds but I got her dialed in decent with about 15 minutes left to shoot so I hit the 200 range and got about 6 rounds down range it still needs a little work but I'm more than satisfied with my budget setup...
100 yards

And 200

I was using hornadys superformance 130 gr I'm gonna try to get back out and get her a little better and ill post those results also

ndking1126 · October 20, 2011, 02:13 AM

If I was in the market for a budget hunting rifle, the XL7 would definitely be near the top of my list. They are intriguing little guns. Thanks for the range report. I would recommend you keep trying some different ammo. I bet you can get those groups even smaller.

zachkuby87 · October 20, 2011, 02:50 AM

Yeah there is no doubt in my mind that I can do way better than what I did I haven't shot a rifle at the range looking for accuracy in probably 4 years and especially with these results on a brand new gun and scope there is plenty of room for improvement. I'm going to get more ammo and get back out for some more practice I may even go to a different range that offers shooting out to 400 yards and try my luck there. Also those last three shots in the second pic were one after another probably 4-5 seconds between shots. If I would have just taken a few extra seconds I'm sure that gap would decrease significantly. But ill tell you right now this set up is amazing for 500 dollars. I've only usedmy 30-30 before this and the xl7 is a major improvement. Its gonna make one hell of a deer slayer. Also I dnt think I mentioned this but the trigger on this rifle is amazing

Capt Rick Hiott · October 20, 2011, 04:16 AM

I also just bought a XL7 in a 30-06
Here is my results with Remington Core-Lokt 165Gr @100yds
The six shots above the bulls eye are the 165's and the four below are some 185Gr I wanted to try.

The trigger on this rifle was set at 3lbs from the factory,,,Its VERY nice!

zachkuby87 · October 20, 2011, 07:09 AM

Nice well seeing your results shows me I can deffinately do better...

Capt Rick Hiott · October 20, 2011, 07:38 AM

I forgot to say that I used a "Lead Sled" when I set the scope.

R9R · October 20, 2011, 07:45 AM

My 30-06 sends the heavier grain rounds (165gr) a few inches lower than the lighter rounds (150gr) at 100yds too. I thought maybe they were dropping faster, but it's consistent out to 200yds.

Do you guys adjust the scope each time you use a new round, or just keep in mind where that particular bullet will hit and compensate for it?

zachkuby87 · October 20, 2011, 07:53 AM

I make the adjustments until I find the round I'm going to hunt with and once I'm dialed in with them I stick the caps back on and leave it alone

Capt Rick Hiott · October 20, 2011, 08:41 AM

,,, keep in mind where that particular bullet will hit and compensate for it.

ndking1126 · October 20, 2011, 10:47 AM

Once I pick a bullet I want to use for that rifle, I dial it in for that bullet and leave it alone. If I shoot another bullet, I'm really only shooting to see how accurate it is, so if the point of Impact is 2" left and 1" low (just for an example) I don't care because I'm only concerned with group size. If I decide I like that new bullet and want to switch to it, I'll dial the scope to it. At short distances, adjusting your point of aim isn't a big deal, but the farther out your target, the more of a problem it will become.

Once I find a bullet I like, I typically don't shoot anything else in that rifle.

FrankenMauser · October 20, 2011, 02:40 PM

Don't be too critical of the accuracy, right now.

My XL7 (also .30-06 and topped with a Redfield Revolution 3-9x40

) took about 30 rounds to "calm down", and was at about 50-60 rounds, when it finally got "into the groove".

Now, if it shoots 1 MoA, I'm upset. It has proven itself to be capable of sub-0.5 MoA accuracy on a regular basis. Anything greater than that is a disappointment (or my fault).

And, as long as you limit yourself to factory ammo... you never know what kind of accuracy you will get. Definitely give the Remington 165 gr Core-Lokt a try, if you don't reload.

Capt Rick Hiott · October 20, 2011, 03:30 PM

F.M.,,,Did you go through the "barrel break in procedure" with your new gun?

FrankenMauser · October 20, 2011, 11:29 PM

Quote:

F.M.,,,Did you go through the "barrel break in procedure" with your new gun?

Nope.

I have broken barrels in according to manufacturer recommendations, in the past. ...But I never found it to make a difference.

Over time, I've become a believer in the Gale McMillan philosophy:
Shoot the thing.
Shoot it some more.

However, I did stick with a single handloaded bullet for the first 120 rounds: 165 gr Remington Core-Lokts. I've found them to cause less copper fouling than some other bullets.

codyb1991 · October 21, 2011, 02:12 AM

I was very close to choosing the xl7 over my rem 700 adl. The xl7 felt great in my hands, I thought the 700 felt better to me. But the xl7 is a BEAUTIFUL rifle, as you know, Remington took over Marlin rifles so they added some Remington style into Marlin guns to make them Marlingtons. But overall, the xl7 is an outstanding rifle for the price a d you made a good choice after seeing those groups.

Big Shrek · October 22, 2011, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Over time, I've become a believer in the Gale McMillan philosophy:
Shoot the thing.
Shoot it some more.

Yeah That!!

Action break-in, now THAT has validity.
If it uses a magazine, toss in some snap caps and go to work.
If its a single-shot...Watch TV/listen to the radio-cd's-music keg and work the action repeatedly.

Some folks use a variety of things to smooth out the action. Use whatever you want to within logical reason.
I just use slightly more oil/grease so it'll stay slicked...after a few hundred cycles and a good cleaning, they tend to smooth out

If the Oil/Grease didn't solve it, I break out the Arkansas Stones/fine sandpaper and go over all mating parts, then repeat with oil/grease cycling.
I have yet to run across anything that didn't respond to those two methods

Big Shrek · October 22, 2011, 04:52 PM

Oh, by the way, Nice Shootin!!

Boyd's also has nifty laminate stocks if you want a thumbhole or Evolution or Sniper-style stock...

Marlin did good on the X-7 lines...even when everything else they were making was having issues (2005-2010).

October 20, 2011, 01:07 AM	#1
zachkuby87 Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2010 Location: st paul mn Posts: 190	marlin xl7 first time out Ok so I picked up a marlin xl7 .270 about a month ago and the other day I went and grabbed a redfield revolution 3-9x40. Well I finally made it to the range it took a few shots to get it on paper at 100 yds but I got her dialed in decent with about 15 minutes left to shoot so I hit the 200 range and got about 6 rounds down range it still needs a little work but I'm more than satisfied with my budget setup... 100 yards And 200 I was using hornadys superformance 130 gr I'm gonna try to get back out and get her a little better and ill post those results also

October 20, 2011, 04:16 AM	#4
Capt Rick Hiott Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 376	I also just bought a XL7 in a 30-06 Here is my results with Remington Core-Lokt 165Gr @100yds The six shots above the bulls eye are the 165's and the four below are some 185Gr I wanted to try. The trigger on this rifle was set at 3lbs from the factory,,,Its VERY nice! __________________ Capt Rick Hiott Charleston,SC

October 20, 2011, 07:38 AM	#6
Capt Rick Hiott Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 376	I forgot to say that I used a "Lead Sled" when I set the scope. __________________ Capt Rick Hiott Charleston,SC

October 20, 2011, 08:41 AM	#9
Capt Rick Hiott Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 376	,,, keep in mind where that particular bullet will hit and compensate for it. __________________ Capt Rick Hiott Charleston,SC

October 20, 2011, 02:40 PM	#11
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Don't be too critical of the accuracy, right now. My XL7 (also .30-06 and topped with a Redfield Revolution 3-9x40 ) took about 30 rounds to "calm down", and was at about 50-60 rounds, when it finally got "into the groove". Now, if it shoots 1 MoA, I'm upset. It has proven itself to be capable of sub-0.5 MoA accuracy on a regular basis. Anything greater than that is a disappointment (or my fault). And, as long as you limit yourself to factory ammo... you never know what kind of accuracy you will get. Definitely give the Remington 165 gr Core-Lokt a try, if you don't reload. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

October 20, 2011, 02:13 AM	#2
ndking1126 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2008 Location: Madison, AL Posts: 1,932	If I was in the market for a budget hunting rifle, the XL7 would definitely be near the top of my list. They are intriguing little guns. Thanks for the range report. I would recommend you keep trying some different ammo. I bet you can get those groups even smaller.

October 20, 2011, 02:50 AM	#3
zachkuby87 Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2010 Location: st paul mn Posts: 190	Yeah there is no doubt in my mind that I can do way better than what I did I haven't shot a rifle at the range looking for accuracy in probably 4 years and especially with these results on a brand new gun and scope there is plenty of room for improvement. I'm going to get more ammo and get back out for some more practice I may even go to a different range that offers shooting out to 400 yards and try my luck there. Also those last three shots in the second pic were one after another probably 4-5 seconds between shots. If I would have just taken a few extra seconds I'm sure that gap would decrease significantly. But ill tell you right now this set up is amazing for 500 dollars. I've only usedmy 30-30 before this and the xl7 is a major improvement. Its gonna make one hell of a deer slayer. Also I dnt think I mentioned this but the trigger on this rifle is amazing

October 20, 2011, 07:09 AM	#5
zachkuby87 Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2010 Location: st paul mn Posts: 190	Nice well seeing your results shows me I can deffinately do better...

October 20, 2011, 07:45 AM	#7
R9R Junior Member Join Date: October 20, 2011 Location: New England Posts: 5	My 30-06 sends the heavier grain rounds (165gr) a few inches lower than the lighter rounds (150gr) at 100yds too. I thought maybe they were dropping faster, but it's consistent out to 200yds. Do you guys adjust the scope each time you use a new round, or just keep in mind where that particular bullet will hit and compensate for it?

October 20, 2011, 07:53 AM	#8
zachkuby87 Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2010 Location: st paul mn Posts: 190	I make the adjustments until I find the round I'm going to hunt with and once I'm dialed in with them I stick the caps back on and leave it alone

October 20, 2011, 10:47 AM	#10
ndking1126 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2008 Location: Madison, AL Posts: 1,932	Once I pick a bullet I want to use for that rifle, I dial it in for that bullet and leave it alone. If I shoot another bullet, I'm really only shooting to see how accurate it is, so if the point of Impact is 2" left and 1" low (just for an example) I don't care because I'm only concerned with group size. If I decide I like that new bullet and want to switch to it, I'll dial the scope to it. At short distances, adjusting your point of aim isn't a big deal, but the farther out your target, the more of a problem it will become. Once I find a bullet I like, I typically don't shoot anything else in that rifle.

October 20, 2011, 03:30 PM	#12
Capt Rick Hiott Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2010 Posts: 376	F.M.,,,Did you go through the "barrel break in procedure" with your new gun? __________________ Capt Rick Hiott Charleston,SC

October 21, 2011, 02:12 AM	#14
codyb1991 Member Join Date: September 24, 2011 Location: Hoquiam, WA Posts: 88	I was very close to choosing the xl7 over my rem 700 adl. The xl7 felt great in my hands, I thought the 700 felt better to me. But the xl7 is a BEAUTIFUL rifle, as you know, Remington took over Marlin rifles so they added some Remington style into Marlin guns to make them Marlingtons. But overall, the xl7 is an outstanding rifle for the price a d you made a good choice after seeing those groups.

October 22, 2011, 04:52 PM	#16
Big Shrek Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: NorthWest Florida Posts: 1,358	Oh, by the way, Nice Shootin!! Boyd's also has nifty laminate stocks if you want a thumbhole or Evolution or Sniper-style stock... Marlin did good on the X-7 lines...even when everything else they were making was having issues (2005-2010). __________________ Marlin Specialist Calico Specialist A gun should be a tool in the hands of a deadly weapon, not a deadly weapon in the hands of a tool.