Marlin XT-22 - First Outing

[Iunnrais]

So I found myself up in Ft. Worth this past weekend and stopped by a couple of "bad places" aka Cabelas and Cheaper than Dirt. Ended up bringing home a little Marlin bolt action .22LR. I figured it would be something that even my two youngest girls (We've got 4 of them) would be able to handle. Finally got to take it out to the range today along with my oldest and youngest daughters. Was the youngest's first trip out there and she's been begging for quite some time.

Reviews seem to be hit or miss on the new Marlins. This was a display rifle, so I got to look it over quite well before deciding to bring it home. They had a CZ 452 American that I would have liked as well as well as the normal Savages and Ruger 10-22s, but the choices of bolt actions _with_ iron sights were a bit slim. (Yeah, I'll probably end up sticking a scope on it sometime, but for now, irons its is). I don't think that the CFO would have approved the extra expense of either the CZ or a scope this close to Christmas.

So Dad's view: Nice little rifle that reminds me of the model 60 that my dad got me back in the early 80s. Great little shooter that groups well at ~50ft (longest distance at Best Shot avail for .22LR). I brought along a couple of grid targets just to test groupings (plain old Winchester 555 bulk pack ammo). The silver dot on the front blade was a bit hard to see indoors, but would be fine with a bit more light to reflect. Any more distance and my eyes will _need_ a scope ;) I had more fun watching the two girls interact. Well worth the price of admission. I didn't have to touch the sights on the rifle at all.

Oldest's view: Loved it and thought it was more fun than the Anschutz air rifle she shoots at Clear Lake HS on the JROTC rifle team. I'm not sure about that, but hey what do I know She had an off day compared to some of the targets she's brought home from school.

Youngest's view: Fun!

[The Annoyed Man]

Very cool. The family that shoots together.....and all that. I started my son off when he was six with a little single shot boy-sized .22 bolt rifle. We'd go the range, I'd give him a box of 100 rounds, and it would keep him busy all afternoon.

[RECIT]

I too started shooting with iron sights and some junky little .22 pump action rifle. I was shooting with my dad at playing cars stapled to a fence post out in the country. I would have been about 8 or 9 years old at the time. Its great to see families shooting together still.