Marlin XT-22M .22 WMR

Wildernesshunter · July 10, 2020, 07:33 PM

The first gun I graduated too from the .22LR, bolt action, child's version, was an old 22 Mag from my grandfather and with that gun I killed my first deer. At age 6, I hit her between the eyes at 25 yards.

For all these years, the 22 Mag has had a soft place in my heart, and I have never owned one.

The other reason I want a 22 Mag Long Gun.... I own two 22 Mag Revolvers.

I have been shopping for a while.... many years and just never pulled the proverbial trigger. This year my kids gave me some gift cards for Father's Day and I used them to make a purchase at Bass Pro Shops. I had a hard time making up my mind, but landed on the Marlin XT-22M.

This Marlin may be one of the best buys in any gun store. The action is a little tight, but it will smooth out and break in quickly, especially with an initial cleaning and oil.

https://i.imgur.com/Jo6Vj17.jpg

About two years ago, I purchased one of the modern Redfield scopes (that are owned and made by Leupold), a 3-9x40. I had the scope on a deer rifle, but moved to some else, so the scope has been lying around begging to be mounted and used.

The gun comes with 4 round and 7 round clips. The 4 round is nice, as it is a flush fit, which will be nice on the range. The 7 round will great for hunting.

I punched out the rear dovetail sight and unscrewed and removed the front sight. I purchased two Weaver bases and mounted them up with some lock-tight. A nice surprise was that I could use one of the base, plug screws to plug the screw hole at the front sight. It is nearly a perfectly flush fit and looks very clean.

Can't wait to take her to the range! I have purchased 5 boxes of 22WMR, different brands to see which loads the gun likes best. Once I dial her in and find her favorite pills, I will probably purchase 500 rounds of that recipe.

I really see this as my GO-TO-GUN for so many reasons moving forward.

10-96 · July 10, 2020, 09:12 PM

I had the stainless version of that rifle, and sadly got talked out of it. I'd been a CZ fanboy for quite some time and only stumbled across the rifle because I felt like I got such a good deal on it. It was gummed up with something sticky- like soda goo or something. Once I got it cleaned up and a scope on it- I was tickled silly with it. A young fella just starting out in shooting took a shine to it, so I made a deal with his dad. I wouldn't turn down another one if it wandered my way.

hagar · July 13, 2020, 11:59 AM

I still have a Marlin 922M and a Ruger boat paddle stocked one. Almost bought a Ruger Precision but opted for the 17HMR. Killed a few coyotes with the Marlin, some areas around Phoenix you were restricted to shotgun or rimfire. Not the best coyote caliber, but with the Marlin you could double tap them and that normally did the trick, Liked the Winchester 40gr SP rounds the best.

Wildernesshunter · December 11, 2020, 03:01 PM

Ridiculous.... utterly absurd..... Mainly because of COVID, but partly because of my busyness.... This gun purchased in July was finally shot three days ago.

I worked on the sights and different loads at 50 yards with about 100 shots. Once I got it zeroed and found the most accurate load, I then starting shooting at 100 yards. The 1" Circle below is how it shot CCI, 40gr FMJ rounds. They were the most accurate.

GarandTd · December 11, 2020, 05:35 PM

Was that 1" target @ 100yds? Nice group. I have a Marlin 981t. It's a bolt action tube fed 22lr. Very accurate, but the trigger is stiff. Not as nice looking as your XT either.

Wildernesshunter · December 11, 2020, 08:18 PM

Yes... that was the group at 100 yards. I really feel like if I were on a good bench rest, I could hit a squirrel in the head at 100 yards. I have a Redfield 3-9x40 on the gun and can hone in on 9x at 100 yards.

Tell ya though... the Winchester and Hornady ammo was all over the place.

The CCI 30gr hollow points and the CCi 40 grain FMJ were by far the most accurate.

.......

Blindstitch · December 11, 2020, 10:02 PM

I have a Marlin 983s Stainless 22 mag tubefeed and it's a great gun that doesn't get shot as much as it should. I should have put the weaver bases on it.

I also have a matching/not matching Glenfield 25 - 22LR.

kenny53 · December 11, 2020, 10:57 PM

I bought a bolt action 22 mag a couple weeks ago. No where near as nice as yours. It is a Rossi and I put a weaver 3x9x40 scope on it. I have only taken it to an indoor range and sighted it in at 25yards. Not sure why I bought it, I don't hunt anymore and haven't in years. I do enjoy shooting tin cans and such so maybe that's way.

Picher · December 21, 2020, 12:23 PM

I bought a used .22 Mag, CZ455 at Kittery, ME Trading Post a few years ago and it shot well, but I shot a couple of critters with it that took extra shots, so I bought a heavy fluted .17 HMR barrel for it and love both the balance and the cartridge, killing skunks, woodchucks, and a couple of coyotes, the second one at 130 yards, running directly away. I'm really loving the quick-killing power of the .17 HMR!!! Trajectory is also flatter than the .22 Mag and within an inch of the crosshairs out to about 130 yards and is about 1 1/2" low at 150. I still have the .22 WMR barrel, but haven't used it since.

Big Shrek · January 4, 2021, 11:15 PM

Fatter bullets work best in Marlins due to the Micro-groove barrel rifling.
Grab a micrometer and it'll bear it out.
Pretty much stick with 40-grain and larger.

The 15-rd mag for the 25M also fits the XT22...
as do all stocks for the 25MN, 25M, 925M, etc...
all the Top Hat bolts share everything.

And, if you get a Marlin Camp 922M, if you drill the magwell catch
into your OEM Marlin .22WMR mags, they'll fit that too!

July 10, 2020, 07:33 PM	#1
Wildernesshunter Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2016 Location: Western High Desert Posts: 168	Marlin XT-22M .22 WMR The first gun I graduated too from the .22LR, bolt action, child's version, was an old 22 Mag from my grandfather and with that gun I killed my first deer. At age 6, I hit her between the eyes at 25 yards. For all these years, the 22 Mag has had a soft place in my heart, and I have never owned one. The other reason I want a 22 Mag Long Gun.... I own two 22 Mag Revolvers. I have been shopping for a while.... many years and just never pulled the proverbial trigger. This year my kids gave me some gift cards for Father's Day and I used them to make a purchase at Bass Pro Shops. I had a hard time making up my mind, but landed on the Marlin XT-22M. This Marlin may be one of the best buys in any gun store. The action is a little tight, but it will smooth out and break in quickly, especially with an initial cleaning and oil. https://i.imgur.com/Jo6Vj17.jpg About two years ago, I purchased one of the modern Redfield scopes (that are owned and made by Leupold), a 3-9x40. I had the scope on a deer rifle, but moved to some else, so the scope has been lying around begging to be mounted and used. The gun comes with 4 round and 7 round clips. The 4 round is nice, as it is a flush fit, which will be nice on the range. The 7 round will great for hunting. I punched out the rear dovetail sight and unscrewed and removed the front sight. I purchased two Weaver bases and mounted them up with some lock-tight. A nice surprise was that I could use one of the base, plug screws to plug the screw hole at the front sight. It is nearly a perfectly flush fit and looks very clean. Can't wait to take her to the range! I have purchased 5 boxes of 22WMR, different brands to see which loads the gun likes best. Once I dial her in and find her favorite pills, I will probably purchase 500 rounds of that recipe. I really see this as my GO-TO-GUN for so many reasons moving forward. __________________ John Last edited by Wildernesshunter; July 10, 2020 at 07:40 PM.

July 10, 2020, 09:12 PM	#2
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,160	I had the stainless version of that rifle, and sadly got talked out of it. I'd been a CZ fanboy for quite some time and only stumbled across the rifle because I felt like I got such a good deal on it. It was gummed up with something sticky- like soda goo or something. Once I got it cleaned up and a scope on it- I was tickled silly with it. A young fella just starting out in shooting took a shine to it, so I made a deal with his dad. I wouldn't turn down another one if it wandered my way. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

July 13, 2020, 11:59 AM	#3
hagar Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2000 Location: Colombia, SC Posts: 745	I still have a Marlin 922M and a Ruger boat paddle stocked one. Almost bought a Ruger Precision but opted for the 17HMR. Killed a few coyotes with the Marlin, some areas around Phoenix you were restricted to shotgun or rimfire. Not the best coyote caliber, but with the Marlin you could double tap them and that normally did the trick, Liked the Winchester 40gr SP rounds the best. __________________ I don't have time for busy people

December 11, 2020, 03:01 PM	#4
Wildernesshunter Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2016 Location: Western High Desert Posts: 168	Ridiculous.... utterly absurd..... Mainly because of COVID, but partly because of my busyness.... This gun purchased in July was finally shot three days ago. I worked on the sights and different loads at 50 yards with about 100 shots. Once I got it zeroed and found the most accurate load, I then starting shooting at 100 yards. The 1" Circle below is how it shot CCI, 40gr FMJ rounds. They were the most accurate. __________________ John

December 11, 2020, 05:35 PM	#5
GarandTd Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2016 Location: Rural PA Posts: 1,639	Was that 1" target @ 100yds? Nice group. I have a Marlin 981t. It's a bolt action tube fed 22lr. Very accurate, but the trigger is stiff. Not as nice looking as your XT either. __________________ 22lr, 20 gauge, 8mm Mauser, 35 Remington, 30-06, 5.56x45/223, 9mm, 380acp

December 11, 2020, 08:18 PM	#6
Wildernesshunter Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2016 Location: Western High Desert Posts: 168	Yes... that was the group at 100 yards. I really feel like if I were on a good bench rest, I could hit a squirrel in the head at 100 yards. I have a Redfield 3-9x40 on the gun and can hone in on 9x at 100 yards. Tell ya though... the Winchester and Hornady ammo was all over the place. The CCI 30gr hollow points and the CCi 40 grain FMJ were by far the most accurate. ....... __________________ John

December 11, 2020, 10:02 PM	#7
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,693	I have a Marlin 983s Stainless 22 mag tubefeed and it's a great gun that doesn't get shot as much as it should. I should have put the weaver bases on it. I also have a matching/not matching Glenfield 25 - 22LR. __________________ NRA Lifetime Member

December 11, 2020, 10:57 PM	#8
kenny53 Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2015 Location: My back yard Posts: 971	I bought a bolt action 22 mag a couple weeks ago. No where near as nice as yours. It is a Rossi and I put a weaver 3x9x40 scope on it. I have only taken it to an indoor range and sighted it in at 25yards. Not sure why I bought it, I don't hunt anymore and haven't in years. I do enjoy shooting tin cans and such so maybe that's way.

December 21, 2020, 12:23 PM	#9
Picher Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 3,694	I bought a used .22 Mag, CZ455 at Kittery, ME Trading Post a few years ago and it shot well, but I shot a couple of critters with it that took extra shots, so I bought a heavy fluted .17 HMR barrel for it and love both the balance and the cartridge, killing skunks, woodchucks, and a couple of coyotes, the second one at 130 yards, running directly away. I'm really loving the quick-killing power of the .17 HMR!!! Trajectory is also flatter than the .22 Mag and within an inch of the crosshairs out to about 130 yards and is about 1 1/2" low at 150. I still have the .22 WMR barrel, but haven't used it since.

January 4, 2021, 11:15 PM	#10
Big Shrek Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: NorthWest Florida Posts: 1,358	Fatter bullets work best in Marlins due to the Micro-groove barrel rifling. Grab a micrometer and it'll bear it out. Pretty much stick with 40-grain and larger. The 15-rd mag for the 25M also fits the XT22... as do all stocks for the 25MN, 25M, 925M, etc... all the Top Hat bolts share everything. And, if you get a Marlin Camp 922M, if you drill the magwell catch into your OEM Marlin .22WMR mags, they'll fit that too! __________________ 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.