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Let me start by saying I currently have three Marlin rifles in the safe, an 1894 in .44 mag, an 1894 Cowboy Limited in .357 mag, and a 795 (in .22lr obviously). Used to own a 39 TDS as well, but foolishly traded it away. Currently in the process of aquiring a 39a to replace the TDS, but that is a story for another time. All were made at the North Haven, Connecticut plant. Was mulling over a 925 when the Great .22lr Ammo Shortage Hit about ten years ago. No sense picking up another .22lr when I can barely feed the ones I already have.
Of course, the 925 has since been replaced with the XT-22. The 925 had a reputation for having a hit or miss trigger from the factory, with little in the way of aftermarket options should your 925 come with a sub-par trigger. The new XT-22 copies the Savage Accutrigger, which I suppose allows Marlin to feel okay about putting a good adjustable trigger on their .22lr bolt action rifles.
Anyways, now that .22lr is available again at a reasonable price, I decided to go ahead and pick up yet another bolt action .22 and I decided to give the new Freedom Group owned Marlin a chance so I ordered one from a local dealer. There are actually several options and combinations (plastic or hardwood stock, tube or detachable box magazine, stainless or blued, etc.) but I went with a blued finish, hardwood stock, detachable box magazine, and iron sights.
So I was able to pick up the rifle earlier today and give it a little bit of a closer look than I was able to in the shop. Fit and finish is very good for a budget rifle (it cost me $285 OTD). Bluing isn't as nice as my CZ 452, but much better than my Romanian M1969. Bolt cycles smoothly and locks up tightly.
The hardwood stock is plain but mostly well fitted. Sights look straight as far as I can tell. Alas, the tip of the forend is visibly asymmetrical and touches the barrel a bit on the right side, so it isn't free-floated. That's really the only complaint. I mean, I could nitpick and say the trigger has visible tool marks on the side of it, but that's about it.
I plan to shoot it with the iron sights this weekend and will probably put a 2-7x rimfire scope on it in the future. I tried taking a few picture but they all came out looking terrible so I won't bother to post them. The rifle ain't exactly a looker anyways. Hiwever, a good barrel and trigger are more important to me so I will be happy if it groups well.
BTW, I haven't exactly been following the goings-on at Marlin too closely of late and for some reason I was expecting my XT-22 to have been made in the new Kentucky plant. It isn't. It says "Huntsville AL" on it. Fine by me as long as it shoots well.
Anyone else have an XT-22 or one of the older 925's or even older 25's? How do you like it?
Of course, the 925 has since been replaced with the XT-22. The 925 had a reputation for having a hit or miss trigger from the factory, with little in the way of aftermarket options should your 925 come with a sub-par trigger. The new XT-22 copies the Savage Accutrigger, which I suppose allows Marlin to feel okay about putting a good adjustable trigger on their .22lr bolt action rifles.
Anyways, now that .22lr is available again at a reasonable price, I decided to go ahead and pick up yet another bolt action .22 and I decided to give the new Freedom Group owned Marlin a chance so I ordered one from a local dealer. There are actually several options and combinations (plastic or hardwood stock, tube or detachable box magazine, stainless or blued, etc.) but I went with a blued finish, hardwood stock, detachable box magazine, and iron sights.
So I was able to pick up the rifle earlier today and give it a little bit of a closer look than I was able to in the shop. Fit and finish is very good for a budget rifle (it cost me $285 OTD). Bluing isn't as nice as my CZ 452, but much better than my Romanian M1969. Bolt cycles smoothly and locks up tightly.
The hardwood stock is plain but mostly well fitted. Sights look straight as far as I can tell. Alas, the tip of the forend is visibly asymmetrical and touches the barrel a bit on the right side, so it isn't free-floated. That's really the only complaint. I mean, I could nitpick and say the trigger has visible tool marks on the side of it, but that's about it.
I plan to shoot it with the iron sights this weekend and will probably put a 2-7x rimfire scope on it in the future. I tried taking a few picture but they all came out looking terrible so I won't bother to post them. The rifle ain't exactly a looker anyways. Hiwever, a good barrel and trigger are more important to me so I will be happy if it groups well.
BTW, I haven't exactly been following the goings-on at Marlin too closely of late and for some reason I was expecting my XT-22 to have been made in the new Kentucky plant. It isn't. It says "Huntsville AL" on it. Fine by me as long as it shoots well.
Anyone else have an XT-22 or one of the older 925's or even older 25's? How do you like it?
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