TexasCHLforum.com

If you want an inexpensive rifle that's accurate and well built,look at the Marlin XL-7. It's a very nice rifle that's available in .25-06, .270, .30-06 for under $300 at Academy. It's got a good quality recoil pad,an adjustable trigger that's very similar to Savage's "accutrigger",and has a black synthetic stock. It's also available in wood or camo if you like those better,but of course,that comes at a slightly higher price point.
Then there's the new XS-7 in the "short action" calibers of .243, 7mm-08, and .308. Same basic gun from what i can see,just in the shorter cartridges.
JL

jlangton wrote:If you want an inexpensive rifle that's accurate and well built,look at the Marlin XL-7. It's a very nice rifle that's available in .25-06, .270, .30-06 for under $300 at Academy. It's got a good quality recoil pad,an adjustable trigger that's very similar to Savage's "accutrigger",and has a black synthetic stock. It's also available in wood or camo if you like those better,but of course,that comes at a slightly higher price point.
Then there's the new XS-7 in the "short action" calibers of .243, 7mm-08, and .308. Same basic gun from what i can see,just in the shorter cartridges.
JL

I have one of these, XL7 actually, chambered in .270WIN with a Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40mm scope with two-piece bases that I'd be willing to sell... Shot it a few times, and love it... but wife will not shoot it. So we're going to work with the 6.8SPC instead.

I "inherited" my Dad's Chilean made 7mm Mauser and had been using that. It does a fabulous job, but he is wanting it back because he is thinking of going hunting again so I had to find myself another rifle. I ended up picking up a Remington 700 VTR in .308. I really like it. For a short barrel rifle it shoots very well. Of course I upgraded the glass and bought a nice Leupold rather than using the Bushnell that is on my Dad's.

my personal choice is 30/30 lever gun for small-medium game out to 150 yards, and 30.06 (rem 700 is very affordable) for medium-large game or the longer distances. For NE Texas purposes I have recently become a real fan of .243 though (I really love my new stainless Ruger M77). In general though, I guess I am still a traditionalist. Other than .22 cal poachers, the old 30/30 has probably dropped more white tails in East Texas than any other caliber, and the lever guns are extremely reliable.

surv

pbwalker wrote:People bash it all the time, but I LOVE my Remington 770 in the .30-06 flavor. It's treated me well and if I were to drop it in mud, it won't bother me as the rifle and scope combo cost me $369.

Did Remington replace the 710 with the 770? I have a 710 in .30-06 and its downed quite a few hogs and deer. This year I decided to treat myself to a new goto deer rifle, the 700VTR in .308. Its sweet!