Marlin XL7c 25-06

[Jon in TN]

Anybody shooting these? Likes/Dislikes?

[Huffmanite]

I assume the c in your XL7c 25-06 represents caliber.  If so, I have owned one for over a year.  I don't hunt, just shoot paper at a local range, usually 100 yard targets.  Likes: very accurate rifle out of box, smooth bolt, great trigger.  Recoil on rifle is less than my other brand rifles in 270 or 30-06, so pleasant to bench shoot.  Dislike:  Happen to prefer wood rifle stocks. So not too happy with its plastic stock, but it fits me and handles well and I'm not worried about dinging it like my wooden stocks.

[Jon in TN]

I assume the c in your XL7c 25-06 represents caliber.  If so, I have owned one for over a year.  I don't hunt, just shoot paper at a local range, usually 100 yard targets.  Likes: very accurate rifle out of box, smooth bolt, great trigger.  Recoil on rifle is less than my other brand rifles in 270 or 30-06, so pleasant to bench shoot.  Dislike:  Happen to prefer wood rifle stocks. So not too happy with its plastic stock, but it fits me and handles well and I'm not worried about dinging it like my wooden stocks.

The "c" is for camo.

I'm looking for a hunting rifle, so the plastic is a plus.... Even though I like the looks and feel of wood better as well.

[nomosendero]

I tested a new Mar. 25-06 for a friend. It shot very good & the overall quality of the gun along with the accuracy was way more than I expected.

Likes were many, the only dislike is the 22" barrel, which is fine on the 30-06 & OK for the 270, but I will not buy a 22" 25-06, I have chronied too many & you lose more speed with that round with top end reloads than any non-standard round I have ever fired. But for shooting out to 300 or so if that suits your needs, you would not notice much.

[shot1]

I agree that the 22" barrel is a killer on a 25-06. I can't understand why Marlin and Tikka (SP?) put 22" barrels on their 25's. They need at least a 24" and a 26" is about perfect. But on the other hand the 22" 25-06 is still doing a bit better than the 257 Roberts +P and the old BOB is one heck of a varmint whacker.

[Huffmanite]

shot1, I have a few 257R rifles, love them.  If I ever hunted again and needed to choose one rifle to use on a hunt, I have a hard time deciding between one of my 257Rs or the marlin 25-06.

[whsk]

the deer don't have a chrony and in the same class as a + P Roberts is not a bad place to be in my book-whsk

[dks7895]

I have the XS7 in .308 and love it.  Like the others stated...it's accurate, great trigger, nice tupperware, comfy recoil pad, and under $300.  The .25-06 is a great round, but I'm not sure how the XL7 is with the 22" barrel.  Have you considered a different chambering, or are you sold on the .25-06?

[tjrod]

I have no problem with mine. I hit the animals I shoot at and they die. Nice " hunting " rifle. I was a bit concerned with the 22 inch barrel, but after three one shot kills on Wisconsin whitetails I have no regrets.  Might just get my wife one in 243.

[nomosendero]

the deer don't have a chrony and in the same class as a + P Roberts is not a bad place to be in my book-whsk

No, but gravity exists everywhere I hunt. The lesser vel. amounts to more drop, more wind drift & less long range
energy/terminal performance at the target. Like I said, under 300 yds, no big deal & seldom a factor where most
people hunt Whitetails. This was the case for my friend's application hunting Deer & shooting Coyotes in western TN.
But for my uses, there would be zero logic in using a 22" I have made a bunch of trips to WY for Mule Deer?Antelope with my Sendero & yes the difference is there for me, but we all have different requirements.

Bottom line is if you want the most out of the 25-06 round for longer ranges, then get at least a 24", my personal preference is a 26".

The Marlin is a nice rifle, I am thinking of getting a 308 & cutting the tube down to 18.5-19".

[Lloyd Smale]

ive never had a 2506 with a barrel shorter then 24 inch but dont see why it would be all that bad. 243s 270s ect all come with 22 inch barrels as the norm and many have 20 inch or shorter barrels and guys get by just fine with them. Theres nothing majic about the 2506 that makes it any differnt. Sure your going to loose a couple fps but you do in any caliber. Ive even contenplated buying a cdl in 2506 and cutting it back to 22. It would in my opinion make a nice handling hard hitting flat shooting whitetail gun. Ive got nothing against long barreled bolt guns. I have many and they work just fine for stand hunting but when walking in the brush a 22 inch gun is more handy.

[woodyed]

A little known fact about the XL7's barrel length. When Marlin introduced this rifle into the market and to the public they all had 24" barrels. The American Rifleman magazine in their March 2008 issue had an extensive review and evaluation on the XL7 in 30-06 caliber and the rifle used had a 24" barrel. The AR magazine rated the XL7 very high and put it at the top of the list for a bargain in respect of the features that you get. I imagine there are many rifle fans that wished Marlin had kept the barrels of the 25-06, 270, and 30-06 at 24" instead of going to 22", and I'm one of them. The 30-06 might be OK at 22", but the 270 and 25-06 I think should have stayed at 24".

[nomosendero]

I have a few 22" barreled rifles & shorter in appropriate rounds & for what they are they are fine.

[tt4617]

I have had the XL7 25-06 for about a year and I will say that I love it. Never a problem, very accurate, nice trigger. The only thing I notice is that after 3 shots, the barrel heats up and you start getting fliers. Prior to that, I am getting 1 - 1.5 inch groups at 100yds. I am sure it could do better with a more proficient marksman, but it is plenty accurate for my hunting needs and has also served well as a gun for my son to use during his first year of deer hunting. Perfect gun for whitetails here in WI.