My next gun idea...

[blzeye]

I want to get the new Marlin XS7S in 7mm-08. A friend got a blued one & I like it, so I'm gonna get a stainless one. I want to have to barrel cut/chamfered to 18", (comes w/ 22"). What I'll end up w/ is a gun dimensionally the same, (almost), as the Rem Model 7 Compact, only for about $200 less. Have any of you tried shortening one of these? Other than the loss in velocity, what problems might I encounter? I'll use handloads so I should be able to find something it likes to shoot.

 

[Abel]

Remington doesn't make the Compact, its Ruger you're thinking of.

http://www.ruger.com/products/m77HawkeyeCompact/models.html

I would employ the 308 if you are cutting the barrel. There will be a better powder burn with the larger bore size. The 7mm-08 would be wasting more powder than the 308 would.

 

[cal74]

The Remington Model 7's with the 20" barrels can be a bit whippy unless you put them in a lighter stock, same goes with the 18" barreled versions.

Marlin is a heavier action (I believe) and with that light of a barrel up front I imagine it wouldn't balance very well? (My thoughts anyways)

 

[stsimons]

This has been done, only in .308. You should only loose a few fps by cutting the barrel with the .308. I would imagine the velocity loss in the 7mm would be higher.

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,82804.0.html

By all reports the carbine length XS7s are well balanced and shoot very very well. FYI you can now get 3 different flavors of Boyds stocks for the xl/xs series in walnut, nutmeg or black lam, and forest camo lam. and still come out better than buying a new ruger compact.

 

[blzeye]

Rem. does make a compact Model 7. Go here & click on "specs" tab:
http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-seven/model-seven-synthetic.aspx
Anyway, thanks for the input. Hopefully there will be more. I wanted to go w/ the 7mm-08 for a few reasons: I already have a 308, (although that could be a reason to get another, too), A bit less recoil & flatter shooting than the 308. But I might end up getting the 308.
Someone wrote in another forum that the Model 7 compact in 7mm-08 kicks like a mule. I find that very hard to believe...

 

[Haxby]

Based on my experience with a Ruger 77 19" 308 and a Remington 700 20" 308, I see nothing wrong with your plan.

 

[Maverick223]

As much as I dislike the chambering, a .308Win. would probably be a better choice with that barrel length. Other than that, you shouldn't encounter any problems.