Marlin XT Series Bolt Action .22 - Box or Tube Mag?

[HoosierQ]

I am really loving the Marlin XT Series Bolt Action .22 rifles. I need to make a choice between the 7-round detachable box and the 17-round tubular magazine and I do not have sufficient knowledge of the cons, primarily of the tube, to know how to choose. If the tube held significantly less, or the box at least ten, I'd just go box and be done...but that 10-round "advantage" if it really is one, seems worth debating.

Gotta choose between wood or plastic, blue or stainless. I'll deal with that somehow.

There are obvious pros and cons to each. These box magazines are only 7 rounds...not a deal breaker by any means but still just 7. The tube is 17...wow love that. Load it on Sunday and shoot it all week

On the other hand a box magazine can be easily loaded ahead of time and NOT inserted thus making loading the weapon out of a trunk really easy and one can always buy more mags. With the tube, you gotta pull out that plunger and load 'em in 1 by 1. Only a problem if you need to go from unloaded to loaded quickly. So again not a deal breaker.

The tube magazine is certainly a sleaker profile and doesn't have that protruding little mag sticking down there where you are going to want to carry the thing.

So as far as deal breakers go then there's reliability and or smooth operation. I am choosing a bolt for simplicity, easy of cleaning and reliability. I watch "Swamp People" and all the guys with semi's make for extra drama as the 900 pound gator thrashes about while their guns jam. Kind of dramatic and I am sure played to the hilt for TV but nonetheless, the guys with the bolts don't have those issues...blah blah blah.

So choosing bolt then I want something that will be reliable enough that my soon to be born grandson, Christopher, can still have this rifle when he's my age in 2064 and it'll still be working just as well as when old grampa Q got the thing way back in '11.

So what is there to know about Marlin tubular magazines? Thanks for reading my long-winded post...my boss hates my verbose memos too.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Normally, I'd go with a box magazine -- the tube attaches to the barrel and can affect accuracy. But a 7 round box magazine hangs too low and interferes with your left hand (which should be almost against the trigger guard) when shooting off-hand.

So I guess in this case I'd choose the tublar magazine.

 

[HOOfan_1]

I personally don't like tubular mags on anything other than lever actions.

For hunting, the tubular mag is probably a better choice, for shooting off a rest (as long as it is elevated enough for the magazine to clear) the removable box is by far the better choice...no need to take your gun off the rest every time you need to reload.

You can also buy more removable mags....especially if one gets damaged. Never seen a tube damaged, but I suspect that would be a very bad thing.

 

[dewalt-2]

The choice is up to your preference. I have the basic XT22 with wood stock and box mag, just loving it . A couple of things you should know-the provided iron sights are very flimsy, and scope bases aren't included-you'll need 2 Weaver Top Mount #12 bases. And if you use a scope with a large diameter eyepiece/power ring, you'll have to relieve the bolt unless you use high rings. I don't care for synthetic stocks, not very stiff. Here's mine...

Good luck, it's a great rifle!

 

[22-rimfire]

I would go with the underbarrel tubular magazine myself. I dislike buying extra mags and loosing/misplacing them. With the tube you don't have to worry about it. I also find the tubes easier to load.

If looking for a pure target rifle, I'd go with the box magazine.

 

[Jay the Plinker]

You can get ten round nickel plated box mags. At my gun stores website how ever they're under Remington.

 

[dagger dog]

I've seen to many tube magazine inner tubes lost while hunting, you take a shot at a squirrel or rabbit and miss, go for the second shot and all you get is a click. The inner tube and all the ammo is lying on the ground somewhere.

You can do the same thing with a box mag, but I see plenty of box mags on the shelf at local stores, try to find a replacement tube.

Another bug with tube mags, they dent real easy but it takes some time to undent them if you can.

Of course if you don't hunt then you ain't got nothing to worry about !