Questions About the XL7

[Hawnted]

Hello all, I am new here. I have been a duck hunter most of my life, never been deer hunting. I own 6-7 shotguns from 20 gauges all the way to 10 gauges, several handguns, and a few automatic rifles handed down to me, but nothing suited for deer hunting. So basically what I am saying is I have been around guns, but have never shot a rifle with a scope, or used one in a hunting aspect.

With that being said, I am looking at the Marlin XL7. I am fairly certain this is the gun I am buying, research has produced favorable results, and the gun is right in my price range. I have read this thread: http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,34286.0.html about the caliber talks. However, I would like to know if the 270 or the 30-06 would be better for a person who has never deer hunted or sighted in a rifle, and who will only have ONE hunting rifle. So I would like it to be versatile.

Next, I would like to know what ammo people seem to have the best results with. It seems a lot of people favor the Hornady 165gr is this a good choice for deer hunting?

Lastly, what do you guys prefer, the XL7 or the XL7c and why? (more of a personal preference but thought I would ask).

Thanks in advance.

[Combat Diver]

Hawnted,

  Where are you at and what type of terrain/style of hunting do you have in mind?  Both the .270 and 30-06 are very verstile cartridges along with the 7-08 and .308 if you get a short action XS-7.  Cartridge and stock are a personal preference as you thought.  All are very good deer cartridges.  The cartridges do depending on bullet design might give you a slight edge in trajetory and a few pounds more in energy, but all will do the job for a deer hunter.  What are your autos?

CD

[Hawnted]

I live in TN. So, most of where I hunt is pretty thick. Mostly hills, with thick brush and trees. Would this terrain be a deciding factor on caliber?

As far as the guns handed down, they would be M1918, AR-15, and AK-47.

[JELSIS]

Tough to beat 30-06 for a do almost everything gun. I sent you a PM with link to a rifle.

[mousegun87]

If you have thickly vegetated terrain then you are more likely to take down a game animal from close to intermediate range (100-150 meters or less). The AR15 is perfectly usable for deer hunting at these distances. I have taken two deers myself using a carbine and a full size AR15, one from 75 meters, and the other from 130-140 meters, both using iron sight.

[Hawnted]

Those rifles I mentioned that were handed down I would rather not use for hunting day in and day out. They have more sentimental value to me that it is worth to lug them hunting. However, I do appreciate the response.

I did not realize there was a XS7. So I guess I need to include 7mm and 308 in my discussion.

So based on what I have posted would you go with XS7 or XL7 and which caliber would it be?

Thanks

[raxar]

I live in TN. So, most of where I hunt is pretty thick. Mostly hills, with thick brush and trees. Would this terrain be a deciding factor on caliber?

As far as the guns handed down, they would be M1918, AR-15, and AK-47.

Sounds a lot like where I hunt in PA, either the .270 or 06 would be fine in that terrain, my preference is for the 06 over the .270. You could also consider a marlin 336 in 30/30 or .35 rem. It is pretty hard to beat a lever action with a red dot scope for thick brush when your shooting is going to be 100 yards or less.

I originally wanted an xs-7 in .308, but they were out of them when I bought mine so I went with the 06

[Hawnted]

So which scope and what ammo do you use with your 06 in PA? I have heard that is very simlar to TN hunting.

[raxar]

So which scope and what ammo do you use with your 06 in PA? I have heard that is very simlar to TN hunting.

This is my first year using the marlin (since I only bought it in june) the scope is a Simmons blazer 3x9x50 I picked up on closeout at wally world.  I use reloads with a hornady 165 grn spire point boat tail and 48 grns of 4064, which has been my dad's prefered load for a couple decades. He's taken 40 + deer with it along with 2 elk, so I trust it's performance.

I have not played around with loads in it yet, but it shot very well with that load when I zeroed the scope so I'm going to stick with it

[Hawnted]

Thanks. I am trying to decide on a scope, whether to get Camo or Black, and what ammo to buy to try out. I do not reload. I think I have decided on 30-06.

[JesterGrin_1]

You can never go wrong with the 30-06. As for ammo the Remington Core Lock line will do well for factory ammo.

[Hawnted]

Good deal. Is it best to use what you will be hunting with when sighting in your rifle?

[JesterGrin_1]

Yes site in the rifle with the same ammo you will hunt with. Happy Hunting

[bigjeepman]

Good deal. Is it best to use what you will be hunting with when sighting in your rifle?

Yes. If I were you, I would try at least two different factory ammo offerings to see what runs best through your rifle. It is a good investment to know what will perform best accuracy-wise.

bjm

[Hawnted]

Thanks much guys. Now off to research scope options. So far I am looking at the Nikon Prostaff, that seems to be around the price range I will be looking.

Then to decide if I buy locally for 279 in black, or order offline for 300 in camo..... So many decisions!