[Roger Ruger]

Wow. Took my Marlin XL7 .30-06 today for first time and couldn't even hit paper at 100 yds.
It came factory with a cheaper but seemingly decent Bushnell 3x9-40mm scope.
This was my first time ever shooting a high powered rifle with a scope.
I tried making several scope adjustments to at least get on paper but had absolutely no luck. I got discouraged and was packing up when an older guy showed up and offered me to shoot his Ruger American .30-06 First shot was on target and subsequent shots were in the bull at 100 yds!
Just placed my order for one!
In fairness to the Marlin, I know I should go back and sight in at a closer distance or get another scope. But reports of their bolt being made of cheap cast parts and prone to breaking is bothering me.

 

[chas1988]

i just bought the american in 243 cal. and put a scope on it. had my father in law bore sight it using his eyes and within 5 shots or so the gun was hitting the bullseye at 100 yards! i couldnt be happier with this gun! i know i made the right choice! very good gun for the price!

 

[ChrisLCR]

I was just checking out a RAR .30-06 at Gander Mountain today while bringing in my Remington Model 770 to get the scope boresighted. It looked and felt nice for the price point.

I was hoping to get one for Black Friday at Walmart, but none of the stores in my area sell firearms. (they were selling them for $337 without scope), so I settled on the Remington which came with a scope for $299.99 plus a buy one get one free camo rifle case.

I couldn't pass up that deal.

 

[Steve in PA]

A local store has one in .243 that I am dying to buy. I have to wait and see until next week in order to see how my funds will be due to talking my new dog to obedience classes.

 

[ColoradoChris]

I'm trying to decide between the .308 and the 30-06. Decisions.... decisions...

 

[HBK]

It sounds like the problem may be you not understanding how to adjust a scope. I say this due to your statement that it was your first time using a scope.

As for the Marlin X-7 I have not heard reports of bolt problems, but have heard rave reviews on accuracy. I bought my grandson a Marln X-7 in 7mm-08 a month ago. While load testing, I got a very accurate deer-antelope load on the first load i tested. 140 gr. Sierra Pro-hunter bullet, 41 gr. of H4895 powder and cartidge overall length of 2.800.

That first load put 3 bullets at 100 yards into a group that measured .495
That is a shade under 1/2 inch. Not bad for a rifle that had a base price of $377.00.

 

[Roger Ruger]

It sounds like the problem may be you not understanding how to adjust a scope. I say this due to your statement that it was your first time using a scope.

As for the Marlin X-7 I have not heard reports of bolt problems, but have heard rave reviews on accuracy. I bought my grandson a Marln X-7 in 7mm-08 a month ago. While load testing, I got a very accurate deer-antelope load on the first load i tested. 140 gr. Sierra Pro-hunter bullet, 41 gr. of H4895 powder and cartidge overall length of 2.800.

That first load put 3 bullets at 100 yards into a group that measured .495
That is a shade under 1/2 inch. Not bad for a rifle that had a base price of $377.00.

I also bought a Marlin XS7 7mm-08. Haven't fired it yet. I don't reload. PPU ammo is $15.00 a box. All other commercial ammo goes for $25 a box and up.
You're right, I gotta start from the beginning on how to sight in a rifle scope.
In your opinion, is the the 140gr. 7mm-08 suited for taking wild boar from 200 yards?

 

[HBK]

I will be taking my grandson wild boar hunting this spring with his 7mm-08. I do handload and will use 140 gr. Nosler Partitions or 140 gr. Barnes TSX bullets. It will depend on which bullet is most accuate. Do not use light jacketed bullets like the Rem. Core-Lokt on wild boar. They sometimes open too fast and will not get into the vitals and you loose a wounded animal. I feel that even the Sierra Pro-hunter bullet, that shot the group of.495 has too light of a jacket for wild boar on a shoulder shot.

Also a hint for better accuracy. That Marlin X-7 has two pressure points in the forearm barrel channel. If you do not get good accuracy, remove those pressure points by sanding them down even with the barrel channel and free float your barrel. That is what I did to my grandson's rifle before I fired the first shot. I have heard many guys state the Marlin X-7 is very accurate with the pressure points left in, so try the gun first. Another point of information, you expressed the opinion that the Marlin was not so good do to cast parts in the rifle. Ruger was the one that pioneered using cast parts in making their firearms and still do so today.

 

[Roger Ruger]

I will be taking my grandson wild boar hunting this spring with his 7mm-08. I do handload and will use 140 gr. Nosler Partitions or 140 gr. Barnes TSX bullets. It will depend on which bullet is most accuate. Do not use light jacketed bullets like the Rem. Core-Lokt on wild boar. They sometimes open too fast and will not get into the vitals and you loose a wounded animal. I feel that even the Sierra Pro-hunter bullet, that shot the group of.495 has too light of a jacket for wild boar on a shoulder shot.

Also a hint for better accuracy. That Marlin X-7 has two pressure points in the forearm barrel channel. If you do not get good accuracy, remove those pressure points by sanding them down even with the barrel channel and free float your barrel. That is what I did to my grandson's rifle before I fired the first shot. I have heard many guys state the Marlin X-7 is very accurate with the pressure points left in, so try the gun first. Another point of information, you expressed the opinion that the Marlin was not so good do to cast parts in the rifle. Ruger was the one that pioneered using cast parts in making their firearms and still do so today.

Just to clarify, would you please define "light jacketed bullet" are you talking about the grain or the actual metal jacketing? I was planning on using PPU Prvi Partizan 140gr. Soft point made in Serbia.

 

[HBK]

I am speaking about the thickness of the jacket. those Partizan you mentioned are very similar to the Sierra Pro Hunter and I would avoid shoulder shots if possible. Go for the heart or lung shot and they should do the trick.

 

[kiwihunter]

As a longstanding Ruger fanatic and owner someone that has shot and hunted since i was a kid and owned and loved many Ruger Rifles, i have to say my impression of the American was not good i thought for a Ruger it was poorly finished ,the fit of parts was awful and the stock felt and sounded like a hollow piece of tupperware....the one i played with shot ok....but just ok,i really believe Ruger has taken a step backwards with the production of these i wouldn't even put it in the same cabinet as my M77 Hawkeye or my Browning X-bolts seems to the American to Ruger is what Stevens is to Savage or what Tikka is to Sako a down graded cheaper model.....JMHO.

 

[Roger Ruger]

As a longstanding Ruger fanatic and owner someone that has shot and hunted since i was a kid and owned and loved many Ruger Rifles, i have to say my impression of the American was not good i thought for a Ruger it was poorly finished ,the fit of parts was awful and the stock felt and sounded like a hollow piece of tupperware....the one i played with shot ok....but just ok,i really believe Ruger has taken a step backwards with the production of these i wouldn't even put it in the same cabinet as my M77 Hawkeye or my Browning X-bolts seems to the American to Ruger is what Stevens is to Savage or what Tikka is to Sako a down graded cheaper model.....JMHO.

I'm just a newbie, so don't flame me, but I've heard several people say the M77 Hawkeye's accuracy leaves alot to be desired.

 

[ChrisLCR]

As a longstanding Ruger fanatic and owner someone that has shot and hunted since i was a kid and owned and loved many Ruger Rifles, i have to say my impression of the American was not good i thought for a Ruger it was poorly finished ,the fit of parts was awful and the stock felt and sounded like a hollow piece of tupperware....the one i played with shot ok....but just ok,i really believe Ruger has taken a step backwards with the production of these i wouldn't even put it in the same cabinet as my M77 Hawkeye or my Browning X-bolts seems to the American to Ruger is what Stevens is to Savage or what Tikka is to Sako a down graded cheaper model.....JMHO.

I recently handled the Ruger American, Remington 770 and 700D, all in black synthetic, and from an aesthetic and quality point of view they all appeared to be about equal.

All are entry level rifles and are priced accordingly.

 

[Roger Ruger]

Don't get me wrong though. I'd love to get a M77 Hawkeye in the beautiful wood. I'm just shying away because of all that say it's not that accurate.
Does it have a hammer forged barrel like the American does?

 

[kiwihunter]

I'm just a newbie, so don't flame me, but I've heard several people say the M77 Hawkeye's accuracy leaves alot to be desired.

My .223 Predator was a tack driver and a joy to shoot,sadly it went missing en-route by courier to a Gunsmith for a bedding job,my wood blue .308 also used to shoot well from the box,i have since replaced them with a pair of Browning X-bolts ,a wood blue .223 and a synthetic stainless 7mm08 both are absolute tack drivers from factory (but they are factory floated and bedded).
Dont get me wrong i am as pro Ruger as it gets and currently own eight Ruger firearms and have had many more in the past,just in my opinion the American although i realise is an entry level rifle feels and looks cheap and clunky and definitely has no appeal to me, JMHO..

 

[kiwihunter]

I recently handled the Ruger American, Remington 770 and 700D, all in black synthetic, and from an aesthetic and quality point of view they all appeared to be about equal.

All are entry level rifles and are priced accordingly.

Hey Chris i agree all the above mentioned rifles are entry level and are priced accordingly....as i said in an earlier post i believe the American to Ruger is what Stevens is to Savage or Tikka is to Sako. If after picking up an American then picking up a M77 or a Number 1 the difference in quality is blatantly obvious.
Whilst all these rifles have there place in the market,personally i wouldn't own an American..."but one mans poison is another mans honey".

 

[Roger Ruger]

I am speaking about the thickness of the jacket. those Partizan you mentioned are very similar to the Sierra Pro Hunter and I would avoid shoulder shots if possible. Go for the heart or lung shot and they should do the trick.

Or should I chose the .308? Is it more appropriate for hog hunting? If I accidently hit it in the shoulder. would the .308 have more likelihood of being fatal compared to the 7mm-08?

 

[bwinters]

The ruger is a great gun but I have never had a bad marlin product out of about 10 firearms.

 

[kiwihunter]

Or should I chose the .308? Is it more appropriate for hog hunting? If I accidently hit it in the shoulder. would the .308 have more likelihood of being fatal compared to the 7mm-08?

The hog wont notice the difference they are very very similar with the 7mm08 being built on a .308 case.The 7mm08 stays a little more stable out past 250-300 yds apart from that 6 of one half a dozen of the other.Both are utterly deadly on Hogs or Deer..

 

[Spike12]

I haven't shot a American but everyone I looked at seem to have had zero time spent on finishing the gun - pretty rough. BUT the price/value point is typical Ruger - Very Good.

Personally in that price range I prefer the Savage Axis. I think it's put together a little better.

Please don't put the American in the same class as a Browning X-bolt. They're not even close.