the .243 is accurate, and a bit cheaper to shoot, meaning perhaps more time at the range learning to place shots.
either calibre depending on target species and range isn’t too bad a choice for a newer hunter tho

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The first thing to work on was the trigger, it’s the Pro Fire that has a release in the center of the trigger that helps prevent accidental discharge. It is probably a lawyer/insurance driven innovation but it works and I find it no determent to controlling your trigger pull. I removed the barreled action from the stock by removing the two #20 torque bit action screws and adjusted the trigger by the instruction in about 3 minutes. The trigger pull is crisp, light enough to shoot accurately from the bench but not too light for hunting, just right.

Now I have the stock off I can take a look at the particulars. It’s plastic of course, mine is black and you can get camo. Sling studs and a very soft recoil pad are installed. The action screw holes are sleeved with steel tube to keep you from crushing the stock when tightening the screws. It has a raised cheek rest (not Monte Carlo), molded in checkering that looks and feels good, a removable plastic trigger guard., 13 5/16” length of pull, and has pressure pads at the forend (not free floated). It feels good and is comfortable to shoot. I happened to have a Remington ADL plastic stock in the shop while doing this and comparing the two they are nearly identical. If you like the fit of a Remington you’ll be happy with this stock, only the Reminton’s recoil pad was a little firmer and the checkering pattern was different. I went ahead and took out the pressure pads and free floated the barrel, I had to remove the pads and some more material on the bottom and left side of the barrel channel to get the clearance. My one issue with the stock came when I reassembled the rifle, the front action screw went in and bottomed out on the pillar bedding solidly but when I started tightening down the rear screw expecting the same positive bottom it just kept snugging down until it sorta bottomed out. Then I realized I couldn’t retract the bolt because the rear action screw was screwed out into the race-way for the cocking piece. The front screw solidly makes contact with the pillar sleeve and in turn the bottom of the receiver, the rear would do the same but the soft plastic trigger guard spoils the benefit of the sleeve. I crushed the trigger guard with the small head of the 1/4” action screw. I made a cone shaped bushing/washer out of tubing and created an all steel pillar and it still holds the trigger guard on snugly. I shouldn’t have to do that to a new rifle but I don’t think Marlin would have done much, anyway it works good now. The in-letting for the recoil lug was very loose, so a with a little Accuglass I bedded the lug and nothing more.

Okay now for the action. The receiver is milled from tubing like Remington, Savage and others with a recoil lug wedged between the barrel nut and receiver face like the Savage. Drilled and tapped and supplied with a Weaver style one piece base that I like pretty well, I usually prefer the Redfield JR type rings but this one is working real well with the Weaver Grand Slam rings I used to mount my Intensity 3.8-12×44 scope. The finish is not overly shinny but not as flat and my scope’s matt finish, no machine marks, burrs etc. The bolt has groves lateraly that look like Weatherby Vanguards bolt. The bolt handle is shaped like the Ruger 77′s with a dog leg and is fluted to clear the scope. The bolts shroud looks a lot like the Browning A-bolts. The bolt release is just like a Winchester Model 70. The safety is a two position situated above the stock and above the trigger like Remington. The bolt face looks like a Winchester push feed model 70 with the slide type extractor on the outboard lug and a spring loaded pin ejector. My only complaint so far is a very weak ejector, it just barely throws the brass out onto the bench. The 22” barrel has no sights and is not drilled and tapped to receive any, it does have a nicely recesses crown. I don’t think they missed knocking off something from any of their main competitors, but it came together real well.

I went thru about 40 rounds of assorted ammunition that I had accumulated, some miltary, some commercial and 25 or so reloads using some pulled 168 gr. match bullets. While doing this it seemed that 150 gr bullets were the way to go and I loaded 5 rounds each of Nosler Partition Gold, Nosler Ballistic Tip and Reminton Core Loct. It showed a preference for the Nosler BT’s and I loaded 10 using Accurate Arms 2700 (max load), a Fed 210M primer and Nosler Match brass. From a cold clean barrel I shot a 3/4” group 1 1/2” high and 3/4” right. I moved the scope three clicks left and cut the verticle line 1 1/2” high.

My conclusion is it’s worth the money and may be the best bang for the buck available. The Savage package rifle cost about the same as my set up cost me but I don’t think the scope, rings and bases on the Savage is as good as I have on the Marlin. I also like the shape and feel of the Marlin stock better than the Savages I’ve had in the past. Nine stars out of ten.

Tarheel

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I would also like to know more about how to break in a rifle. A friend of mine told me that I needed to shoot a whole box of shells, cleaning the gun out completely between each shot…thoughts?

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Hope to here from any of you soon,
steve

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I compared it to my Rem BDL .30-06 when I got it home, it almost looks like a clone of the Remington, similar bolt design and the trigger out of the box feels like 3#s, breaks nice and crisp, just like my 40 year old BDL. I like the Pentax scope a little better than my Nikkon Pro that is on the Remington.

I will laser sight it tonight at 100 yards, then off to the range tomorrow with my grandson to see how it shoots. I found Remington Core Lok 150 grain bullets at Wal-Mart on the way home for $17.97 per box, so bought two boxes. If all goes well, it will be my granson’s new deer rifle for this fall, we may go shoot some Javelinas for practice once we get it sighted in.

This looks like a real nice rifle for an unbelieveable price. Rifle, Scope and strap was a little over $475 out the door at Academy. That’s less than half the price of a new BDL!! Hope it lasts as long and shoots as straight!!

Cheers and happy hunding!!
Mike B.

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