Remington 597 or Marlin 7000
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NailGun
Member
Welcome to the forum! 
I'm betting you will get lots of opinions (pro and con) on these two rifles.
I will start by saying I HAD a 597. I had nothing but problems with it, and Remington was no help in solving any of them. I sold it at a loss, disclosing to the purchaser all the details and providing him with the bag of extra parts I had replaced. In the end, we were both happy. I have heard reports that Remington has since made this a "working model". Personally, I would buy the Marlin.
NailGun
NEXT......
I'm betting you will get lots of opinions (pro and con) on these two rifles.
I will start by saying I HAD a 597. I had nothing but problems with it, and Remington was no help in solving any of them. I sold it at a loss, disclosing to the purchaser all the details and providing him with the bag of extra parts I had replaced. In the end, we were both happy. I have heard reports that Remington has since made this a "working model". Personally, I would buy the Marlin.
NailGun
NEXT......
If you buy the Remington, buy a new one, or at least buy new magazines for it (that was the problem, apparently: they skimped on the magazine construction when they first made them -- Remington again tries to screw their reputation for a few pennies).
I know nothing about the Marlin. Seems like everyone has the Model 60 tube-fed.
The Ruger 10/22, while it is missing a few features like last-shot-holdopen, has the best reputation for reliable feeding, for a budget detachable magazine .22. It's been rising in price, but you can now get all sorts of versions.
A semiauto .22 is no fun if it doesn't feed near 100% of the time.
I lust after a Browning, but I'll probably never spend the money.
I know nothing about the Marlin. Seems like everyone has the Model 60 tube-fed.
The Ruger 10/22, while it is missing a few features like last-shot-holdopen, has the best reputation for reliable feeding, for a budget detachable magazine .22. It's been rising in price, but you can now get all sorts of versions.
A semiauto .22 is no fun if it doesn't feed near 100% of the time.
I lust after a Browning, but I'll probably never spend the money.
railroader
Member
I have the marlin 7000. It is very accurate 22. The triggers are a little heavy. I did some spring tweaking and a little polishing and the trigger is very acceptable now. Reliability has been good too. Even though it has bull barrel the diameter is less than on my ruger 10/22 bull barrel which it makes it balance well. Mark
Technosavant
Member
Love my 597
I've got a Wal-Mart bargain basement 597 (camo stock, $140 or so).
It's a fantastic little rifle. Points great, feeds well (have had a couple FTFs, but usually with new magazines; that spring is stiff with 10 rounds loaded until it breaks in). It's scary accurate for such an inexpensive rifle, even with the cheap stuff.
Recommendations about the 597:
1) Make sure you have 3rd generation magazines (metal, a little "10" in a circle). They went to this design some time ago, so most of the ones on the shelves (unless a particular one has sat there a LONG time) should have them. I have read about people who have had Remington make even-up exchanges of old magazines.
2) loosen the guide rod screws. They should not be that tight- just touching is fine- otherwise they will torque and bend the rods, causing the bolt to bind.
The Marlin 7000 isn't bad. The 10/22, while reliable, just doesn't have enough of a reputation for accuracy- while you can make it very accurate, you will spend many times more for parts than you did for the rifle. The 597 starts off plenty more accurate, and I would think the Marlin 7000 would as well.
You can read plenty on www.rimfirecentral.com on these various models.
I've got a Wal-Mart bargain basement 597 (camo stock, $140 or so).
It's a fantastic little rifle. Points great, feeds well (have had a couple FTFs, but usually with new magazines; that spring is stiff with 10 rounds loaded until it breaks in). It's scary accurate for such an inexpensive rifle, even with the cheap stuff.
Recommendations about the 597:
1) Make sure you have 3rd generation magazines (metal, a little "10" in a circle). They went to this design some time ago, so most of the ones on the shelves (unless a particular one has sat there a LONG time) should have them. I have read about people who have had Remington make even-up exchanges of old magazines.
2) loosen the guide rod screws. They should not be that tight- just touching is fine- otherwise they will torque and bend the rods, causing the bolt to bind.
The Marlin 7000 isn't bad. The 10/22, while reliable, just doesn't have enough of a reputation for accuracy- while you can make it very accurate, you will spend many times more for parts than you did for the rifle. The 597 starts off plenty more accurate, and I would think the Marlin 7000 would as well.
You can read plenty on www.rimfirecentral.com on these various models.
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Rupestris
Member
Oh what I would give for a left-hand T-Bolt
.Personally, I like the Marlin. My 60 is surprisingly accurate with the micro-groove bbl.
That said, I'll give the same advice I gave in the last .22 thread. Shoulder 'em both. See which one is balanced more to your liking and fits you best.
toivo
Member
Best advice so far. By all accounts, Remington has sorted out the problems on the 597. And the Marlin 7000 never really HAD any problems. So it comes down to which one feels best in your hands.
One thing you might or might not be aware of: If you go with the Marlin, you'll have to scope it. No iron sights on the 7000. For those, you'd have to go with the 795 (box magazine) or 60 (tube magazine). Neither one of those has the bull barrel.
rangerruck
Member
the remmy 597 is interesting. supposedly , they have fixed all the problems that it had, especially with the magazines. even if you get bad ones, you can call remmy , tell them, they will send you new ones. also the 507 is starting to get the ruger treatment; lots of aftermarket parts to tweak it all out, if you like that sort of thing.
The marlin is pain jane, and will proly outshoot it from the box, will cost less, but no aftermarket stuff. I'll take the marlin, even though i very much like the weight and feel of the remmy.
The marlin is pain jane, and will proly outshoot it from the box, will cost less, but no aftermarket stuff. I'll take the marlin, even though i very much like the weight and feel of the remmy.
rocketfish
Member
- Joined
- May 19, 2006
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- 111
The 597 has a lot of good points and bad points.
Good Points
I like the way it shoots and feels. It has the feel of a full-size centerfire rifle. It is hellishly accurate and there's a guy at rimfire central showing off 1.5" 50 round groups at 100 yards (scoped and benchrest) - just a ragged hole. That's better than my scoped CZ 452 bolt action. The factory iron sights are decent.
Bad Points
I've had 2 problems with mine so far and I've had the rifle since April '06 and less than 1,000 rounds through it. Both problems were in the trigger group which is made of plastic. One time the bolt-hold open fell off and I lost the spring, which was not a big deal and Remington sent a new one for free. Last weekend while shooting, I had the hammer pin snap in half on me. It's a dinky little pin that the hammer rotates on. From the looks of metal exposed by the break, it was cast or MIM. Remington is sending me a new trigger group and their customer service has been outstanding though.
Good Points
I like the way it shoots and feels. It has the feel of a full-size centerfire rifle. It is hellishly accurate and there's a guy at rimfire central showing off 1.5" 50 round groups at 100 yards (scoped and benchrest) - just a ragged hole. That's better than my scoped CZ 452 bolt action. The factory iron sights are decent.
Bad Points
I've had 2 problems with mine so far and I've had the rifle since April '06 and less than 1,000 rounds through it. Both problems were in the trigger group which is made of plastic. One time the bolt-hold open fell off and I lost the spring, which was not a big deal and Remington sent a new one for free. Last weekend while shooting, I had the hammer pin snap in half on me. It's a dinky little pin that the hammer rotates on. From the looks of metal exposed by the break, it was cast or MIM. Remington is sending me a new trigger group and their customer service has been outstanding though.
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