Great deer rifle for around $400

[ants]

Trying to get the right tools for the right skills. Ya know what I mean?

Yes, Sir. Big 10-4 on that.

Practice at all ranges, 15 yards to 400 yards.
Find out where your shot hits,
and how long it takes to get there.

 

[Davek1977]

I'll preface this with the fact I have not shot either the 770 or the XL7. However, I have done a fair amount of research on both, and it seems the general consensus is that the Marlin is far and away the better rifle. I already own a perfectly serviceable 7mm Model 70 Wnny, but if I were in the market for an economy deer rifle today, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase a marlin XL7, and wouldn't be even remotely interested in the 770. Ten million internet reviews cant ALL be wrong.....

 

[rem22long40x]

my dad 30-06 is a stainless xl7 reg. beral and he is pushing 80yr. old and he can still shoot a 1in. goop with it at 500yd. with 150gr. game kings and 48gr. varget . from a bench rest . pluss a man won a 600yd. shooting match with the same model and all the others with there 2000.00$ plus guns were in shock . dont get me rong I'm not nocking other guns I have a 2 40x rifels and would not part wiyh my 22 40x for the world but I have to give it to marlin they are puting out some fine rifels in the xl7 line and they have the tightest chamber I have ever worked with . I am buying one of the hv in 22-250 next munth .I also havent found a load that they don't shoot well enough to take game at distece. tanks for reading .

 

[rem22long40x]

sorry but my marlim is only 3 months old and it is very very accuret . I would say as for as the scope mount base , just ch the tourqu on he screws first . and the triger is adjustanle to 2lb. and some just under that. like I said my 700 R5 has had alot of work done on it and is very accuret , just not as good as my marlin . and after the fist 100 rounds the groups get tighter . just use normel barel brake in metheds and you won't be disapoited . I know what you must be thinking it'stogood to be true , I thought the same thing . I'm so glad I was wrong. and my dad and frends were right . I thout it couldent get any better than my Rem.700 , to think how much mouny I could have saved !!!!

 

[GWARGHOUL]

Thanks for all the input guys. Depending on the budget, it will be the XL7 or the Vanguard 2.

Now to decide which caliber... .30-06 or .270....

Whats cheaper, whats better for flat, hard hitting and long trajectory? Did I just open a can of worms?

 

[murf]

just picked up a used model 70 in 30-06 for $350. that said, the 270 shoots flatter for longer trajectory. the 30-06 would, on average, hit harder.

murf

 

[Davek1977]

whats better for flat, hard hitting and long trajectory? Did I just open a can of worms?

Both calibers have accounted for millions of deer. Both will do anything you could ever reasonably expect a deer rifle to do. The 06 has a bit more versatility in bullet weights, but if deer are the only thing you'll be shooting, this is largely irrelevant. One won't kill a deer any deader from further away than the other, as a matter of practicality. Both will kill deer at ranges far beyond the average shooter's skill level.

 

[Mick_W]

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_62_974/products_id/70946

 

[LoonWulf]

LOL, yeah, it might be. This is one of the age old questions.

I chose the 06, my g/fs whole family shoot .270s. The 270 will on average shoot faster and flatter, the 06 has a better selection of bullet weights and generally hits harder. It also CAN be cheaper, depends on whats available.

 

[bad_aim_billy]

XL7 is Marlin, not Remington. Sure you're thinking of the right gun?

Who owns Marlin? Perhaps it's Remington? Do a search on this thing called the internet for issues with Marlington firearms, especially over the last year. That might answer some of your questions.

 

[GWARGHOUL]

Who owns Marlin? Perhaps it's Remington? Do a search on this thing called the internet for issues with Marlington firearms, especially over the last year. That might answer some of your questions.

When a company acquires another, that does not necessarily mean the tooling and engineering staff changes up the production.

As a guitar buff, Fender acquired my favorite guitar company Jackson/Charvel.
They brought a lot of the the same staff, quality improved, and prices went down a bit too.

 

[natman]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Remington 770. People who hate on it have not most likely owned one. Biggest complaint is that your stuck with the barrel because it cant be changed out. I submit to you, there is no way you can wear out that barrel in your lifetime. It is a reliable accurate rifle. Elitists are the ones telling you that the rifle is bad. It will get you into the hunting game and keep up with the best of them.

The "never owned one" argument is pretty weak. I haven't owned one (and wouldn't even if it were free), but I have taken one apart and examined it in detail and it's junk. Shoddy machining, poor fitting and traffic stopping ugly. I don't need to throw my money away to figure that out.

I agree with you that the non-replaceable barrel is not a good reason to avoid a 770. Not when there are so many other good reasons to avoid one.

There's nothing "elitist" about having sense enough to avoid buying junk, especially when there are so many better alternatives at similar prices.

 

[hvychev77]

i handled the 770 at my local gun store, and i have shot a friends in 30-06, and it just really was obvious to me that it's a bottom of the barrel kinda rifle. It was accurate, and i'm sure they're made safe, but i would absolutely not spend my money on one. I have another friend with the weatherby vanguard. The vanguard is a totally different story, it's highly accurate and well made for the money. I was really impressed with it.........Best thing to do is to compare them at a gun store, pick 'em up and see how they feel and it will stand out to you which one is worth your hard earned dollar..........cheers, hvychev77

 

[natman]

When a company acquires another, that does not necessarily mean the tooling and engineering staff changes up the production.

It does in this particular case. The Marlin factory has been closed and production farmed out to various Remington factories. Very few, if any, Marlin staff were kept.