Bolt action rifle question?

Question

I was curious to see if anyone on here has any experience with the Marlin XL-7 rifle, or the Mossberg ATR/4X4 rifles, I saw that the Cabela's store near me has the Marlin on sale now for $269, and the thought of having a cheap rifle to take hunting and not having to worry about getting beat up would be nice. thanks for your answers

Answer 1

If the Mossberg 4x4 is only half as bad as the ATR100 you will be lucky to get 2 inch groups at 100yards.

My ATR100 .243 is absoloutely c**p. I am hoping handloads will make it work a bit better. Yet to test this theory.

I can't speak for the Marlin as im unfamiliar with it but I would be fairly confident it would be better than the cheap *** mossberg.

Good luck mate. Witty

Answer 2

mossbergs are cheap c**p don't touch, that my advice

Answer 3

I get the feeling from the answers here that people aren't keeping cheap rifles in perspective....  A guy made a comment his cheap rifle cant make a group tighter than 2 inch MOA.... So What??  If your doing serious target shooting or trying to hit a chipmunk at 200 yards then that might be a problem........ But if your doing some deer hunting it doesn't make any difference if the bullet goes thru the lungs an inch to the left or an inch to the right.... It will be just as dead!!!! And I haven't had any problems getting coyotes with my Mossberg 100-ATR chambered in .308 (yeah that's a little big) to 200 yards.......

I own many expensive rifles but I also have a few cheap ones also..... I find cheap rifles to be just as enjoyable to use as my expensive ones... I like the fact you dont have to worry about the furniture finish either......  

I dont know much about the marlin bolt actions but do know they make a fine lever gun...

The Mossberg 100-ATR is a decent rifle... Mine has been a pleasure to use. I dont expect it to perform like my Remington 700 or Kimber Montana so I theres no disappointment if I occasionally miss that woodchuck at 200 yards.....

Answer 4

I personally would go with the Marlin. I like the new adjustable trigger systems that are available now, the XL7 has one. The Mossberg doesn't.  

Answer 5

I bit the bullet so to speak and just purchased a marlin xl7based on the positive reviews I have seen for it(plus my 336 lever action has been one of the best and most reliable rifles I have owned).  I mounted a Burris fullfield II on it.  I liked the adjustable trigger on it and it was a clean pull.  It is fairly lightweight and easy to carry.  The action is smooth.  I was shooting a little less than one inch groups with both remington and federal ammo.  The winchester ammo didn't fare as well but the groups were still a little over an inch and tight.  Now I like the rifle but the real test will come this fall.  Plus we'll see how many years I can get out of this one.  I hope it's not a throwaway after a year.  Overall for less than 400 to get a nice tack driver I'm impressed.  

Answer 6

you get what you pay for.

I am reminded of the Remington 710 made for remington by some third party hack to be sold primarily at walmart, but was also sold at other stores.

The gun did a LOT to ruin Remington's good name, as that was basically the only reason people were buying it.  People were unhappy that it was basically only lasting 3-5 deer seasons before having serious problems.

If you want a cheap rifle that you don't want to worry about, those will probably work fine.

However, I strongly suggest you get a stainless steel rifle with a synthetic stock, that way you have a quality rifle you don't have to worry about.