Marlin is one the grand old gun names in America. Famous for its value priced .22 LR rifles including the greatly popular Marlin Model 60, Marlin is a name that many associated with rugged and economic firearms. Marlin's lever action 336 is an old favorite in many deer woods, but they have had some problems during quite a few tries to enter the bolt action centerfire rifle market. It appears that Marlin may have found a winner in its Model XL7.

The Marlin XL7 is a bolt action rifle that comes in a standard 22 inch barrel, with a checkered black synthetic stock that also has built in sling studs, and a nice bluing job that conveys its design as a hunting and not a shiny show piece. The Marlin XL7 has a recoil pad on the stock that also allows the hunter to quietly rest the gun on its butt stock when compared to the hard plastic butt plates that used to be found on some inexpensive guns. The Marlin XL7 feels light in the hands, this is confirmed by factory stats showing a weight of under 7 pounds. The XL7 holds four cartridges in the magazine. The XL7 does not come with open sights but is of course drilled and tapped for scope mounting. The standard XL7 is offered in 25-06 Remington, 270 Winchester, and 30-06. Other model variations are also available including camo or wood stock and some other calibers.

The XL7 that I had to shoot was chambered for the 25-06 Remington. The trigger for the Marlin XL7 is called the Pro-Fire which the manual explains and does not take long to get used to using. The trigger broke crisp with a fairly light pull. I personally like a little heavier pull (the trigger is adjustable) for a hunting gun. With or without gloves, when your hands are frozen a light trigger might not be a good thing, but that is just my preference.

I shot the Marlin XL7 for accuracy with a couple different 25-06 loads. The hands down accuracy winner (and therefore the one I would hunt with) was the Remington Core-Lokt 120 grain pointed soft point. Groups were reliable at an inch or so. There was a slight wind that day so better groups may be possible and a handload worked up for the gun would probably improve things as well. Then again a 1 inch group is more than enough accuracy for hunting. The XL7's felt recoil was not remarkable but the light weight may make a model in 30-06 with a large bullet kick considerably.

The Mossberg XL7 is an economic choice for those who are looking for their first deer hunting rifle or for anyone else interested in a gun that will get the job done well at an affordable price.

Bolt Action Rifles

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Whether your preview the traditional tried and true or are looking for something new and different, selecting the right rifle for your next trip to deer camp is an important part of the hunt.

Of course, a well-maintained rifle will last you a lifetime – several lifetimes, actually – but from time to time, we do find ourselves in the market for a new rifle.

“The first question you have to ask is what caliber you want,” said Ken Howard.

Howard knows a thing or two about hunting rifles. He’s the principal spokesman for Winchester, a company that has been making hunting rifles and shotguns since well before the West Was Won.

“There’s such a great variety of good, quality weapons available out there, it can be both fun but kind of a challenge to decide on which rifle you like best,” he said.

A favorite of Howard’s is Winchester’s relatively new 325 Winchester Short Magnum, or WSM. That gun, ideal for large game, recently was honored as a 2005 Editor’s Choice Award winner by On Target Magazine.

The 325 WSM is a good weapon for going after larger game, like elk or moose or more dangerous game, like bear. It probably packs a bit more of a kick than the average deer hunter would care for, but it is still a great weapon.

Howard said older, traditional choices in calibers, such as the .270 or the 30.06, are also enjoying a resurgence in popularity in recent years.

Hunters who want to get double-duty out of a rifle for use with whitetail and varmints or predators, such as coyotes, may want to consider a Winchester 25 Super Short, Howard said from Winchester’s East Alton, Ill. headquarters. The Super Short features a shorter barrel and a very mild kick.

So how do you start narrowing down your own choices at your local gun or hunting supply store?

When selecting a rifle, you should consider how it fits, the sights, how heavy it is, plus its action and caliber. A properly fitting gun will help you fire a more accurate shot. The size of a weapon is something you particularly want to keep in mind if you are outfitting your son for his first deer trip. While your current rifle may be perfect for you, it may have too long of a stock or too much kick for your son or daughter to properly handle.

Another consideration is the weight of the rifle. Most rifles used for hunting weigh between six and nine pounds. Lighter guns are much more comfortable to carry, but the heavier guns generally kick less. The heavy rifles are easier to hold steady and are better for stand hunting and long range shots. So how you hunt is a consideration.

One great option for selecting the right rifle for a son or daughter is to hand down one of your existing guns, after it has been adjusted by a quality gunsmith. A gunsmith can easily change the length of a stock to adapt to a new individual’s size. If you don’t know a local gunsmith, your local gun shop may employ one or be able to recommend someone.

Remember when you are handling a rifle and considering it for length, you should wear a coat or heavy shirts, like what you will be hunting in.

The next consideration is the action. This is as much about personal preference as anything, but different actions do impact how quickly and smoothly you can get off a second shot, when needed. Howard says he prefers a bolt action, but that various rifles feature single shots, lever actions, pumps and semi automatics.

“I find that using a bolt action seems to help me develop a rhythm in my shooting, but its like anything else: you need to practice with the rifle until you become comfortable with it,” he said.

Perhaps the best selling bolt action deer rifle of all time is the Remington Model 700. Even though the Model 700 has been around for decades, it is still a good, quality rifle, said Dave Jaworski, a Michigan deer hunter.

Before hunting with any rifle, you’ll want to spend some time at the range, zeroing the aims.

“Really, I’d say you have to shoot at least a couple boxes of bullets, at a minimum, with a new rifle before you take it out into the field,” said Jaworski, who is also a retired Navy senior chief petty officer and spent more than 20 years working as a weapons expert in the military.

“All rifles have their own characteristics and so does every hunter. You need to get in sync with your new weapon so you have a feel for how it will perform,” he said. “I’ve been firing guns professionally and as a sportsman for my entire life and I still consider range time to be a part of the hunting process.”

***
10 Tips For Gun Safety

Gun safety should be the first rule of every hunter, says a veteran sportsman.

“If you treat every weapon as if it were loaded and respect the power of every loaded weapon, you’ll have a much safer experience,” said Dave Jaworski. Jaworski is a lifelong deer and small game hunter and is also a retired firearms expert from the U.S. Navy.

“I used to tell our young sailors the same thing I tell kids in hunter’s safety class, you have to respect the capabilities of the weapon,” Jaworski said.

Here are the National Rifle Association’s basic rules for firearms safety:

1)Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
2)Always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
3)Always keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
4)Know your target – and what is beyond the target.
5)Know how to use the gun safely.
6)Use only the correct ammunition for your gun.
7)Wear eye and ear protection as appropriate.
8)Never use alcohol or over-the-counter, prescription or other drugs before or while shooting.
9)Store guns in a safe, secure place.
10)Make sure your gun is properly cleaned after use.

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Hand Loading Forum | Remington Model 700 Rifles

I would like to start off by saying that I own a UTG L96 AWP Spring Air soft Sniper Rifle. I am very proud of the durability UTG provided with this Spring rifle. The AWP goes 450-480 fps, right out of the box! I got it chrono'd, or it's speed tested, (with .2g BBS) and it went 445 or so. That is very high for right out of the box, no modifications to the gun or anything. When you open the box, you will see it's in two pieces. Its a easy put-together, you just screw the barrel into the fore grip and trigger area.

The gun also comes with a bi-pod, sniping made easy, right? This is one particularly favored piece of the gun, the bipod. The bipod helps a lot, giving stability, and just basic support if you go prone, or try and set up on a table or something. I have a scope for this gun, and I highly recommend getting one. With this amount of FPS, and how far it can go, you definitely need to pin point your accuracy. However, scopes will not hit direct on every time because of wind, or whatever it is, don't always count on it. If you take some practice shots, and they all go a little Lower Right or left or upper right/left, then just remember that when shooting if you cannot get the cross hair to match up with the results.

The gun is around 9-10 lbs, because of all the metal in it. However, it gets easy to carry once used to it. I recommend that when doing a skirmish, or just practicing with the gun in any way, do a few practice shots to see where the BB went, then make the corrections to the scope, or just remember that it doesn't go straight, but more lower right, or upper left, or whatever it does. This factor will also vary on the wind factor. If there are strong winds, obviously the BB will be overtaken by the wind either up down or sideways. Overall, I give the UTG L96 AWP Spring Air soft Sniper Rifle a 9.5/10, because of its accuracy AND power right out of the box. The only reason it didn't get a 10, was because of the measly 9 to 10 lbs of the gun, which obviously isn't a big deal if you are strong, and can easily carry around 10 lb weights all day.

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The sniper is without doubt the most feared combatant in any theater of war, the best of whom have an array of skills far beyond simply being able to hit human targets at a distance. Snipers are the most cost effective way of killing the enemy. Individual snipers routinely account for more kills than entire battalions operating in the same place at the same time, hit the target almost every time, and each bullet costs around €2. Whatsmore, snipers inflict a psychological terror on an enemy force that restricts its ability to operate effectively – when elite snipers are operating, they are invisible close up, and can strike from enormous distance, so nowhere is safe. Indeed, an elite sniper's skills cannot be assessed with a single measurement, so the “longest confirmed kill” record stands as the pseudo world championship for military combat riflemen, and as of now there's a new outright champion - using an Accuracy International L115A3, British Corporal Craig Harrison killed two Taliban with consecutive shots at a distance of 2.47 kilometres (8120 ft) in Helmand Province, Afghanistan last November (2009). He then fired a third shot and hit the Taliban's PKM machinegun in perhaps the most prodigious feat of marksmanship in military history.

If you're wondering why it took so long for Harrison's kill to be made public, (it was made last November and only became commonly known in the last few days), understand that the publicity such a feat brings may not necessarily be wanted, or healthy, particularly if you are still “in theater”. Harrison, who also survived a bullet passing through his helmet, and two broken arms from an IED explosion, has now finished his tour of duty and the story can be told.

The previous longest kill by Canadian Army Corporal Rob Furlong had been spoken of by soldiers in hushed tones for five years before it fell upon the ears of a reporter and become public knowledge and his name revealed.

Harrison's feat is clearly the stuff of legend.

The previous record holder - Furlong - killed an al-Qaeda fighter from 2.43 km during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan in 2002. Furlong's shot was also legendary – he made military history. There would not be any military personnel in the world who would not be aware of Furlong's feat, and subsequently Harrison's, and who would not measure that distance off towards the horizon every day when they are in a combat zone. Harrison bested it TWICE – with consecutive shots – then fired at and hit the much smaller target of the gun the Taliban had been carrying. This is completely without parallel in military history.

The rifle used by Furlong for his previous record was the “Big Mac”, the McMillan Bros Tac-50 used by Canadian Special Forces and the best .50 sniper rifle in the world.

Like Juan Manuel Fangio's car, Valentino Rossi's motorcycle or Sir Donald Bradman's bat, a varying proportion of the glory should also go to the champion's tool of choice – for snipers, the tool of choice is critical, with Harrison using an Accuracy International L115A3 Long-Range rifle – a rifle originally developed by an Olympic gold medalist target shooter which we wrote up two years ago in an article entitled – the best sniper rifle in the world.

Craig Harrison's AI L115A3 cost the British Ministry of Defence GBP23,000 (US$34,000), weighs 6.8 kilograms, and fires an 8.59mm bullet which is heavier than the 7.62mm round of the previous L96 model and hence less likely to be deflected over extremely long ranges. The L115A3 has a five-round magazine, enabling the sniper to fire five rounds rapidly, though that would almost never happen.

The L115A3 has an adjustable cheek piece to comfortably align the shooter's eye with scope, and a folding stock so the rifle can be more easily carried in a backpack.

It comes with an adjustable bi-pod stand and a suppressor to reduce the flash and noise of the gun – once the enemy knows where a sniper is, he too becomes a target – and a scope, in this case a 25 X magnification S&B 5-25×56 day scope.

In extremely skilled hands, the L115A3 can hit a human-sized target from 1400 meters (even at that range, it hits harder than a .44 Magnum does in the same room), which means Harrison's shots put him in almost superhuman company, as he almost doubled that distance, in combat, and killed a first then second Taliban with consecutive shots, then took a third shot at the PKM machinegun they unfortunate pair had been carrying with the intention of disabling it – the gun was hit but damage could not be assessed.

Firing one bullet with that accuracy over more than a mile and half, has never been recorded previously – Harrison did it three times running. Though the bullet leaves the barrel at three times the speed of sound, it still takes more than two and a half seconds to travel that distance. Though the day was clear and still and in thin mountain air, Harrison still had to aim six feet higher than the targets, and two feet to the left to allow for the gentlest of breezes and bullet fall.

If the world of the military sniper is intriguing to you, I can suggest an excellent new book on the subject written by Hans Halberstadt entitled “Trigger Men” I just spent seven and a half hours listening to the audio book though, go figure, exactly the same book is much cheaper in printed form, despite the cost of paper and printing and binding and schlepping and postage.

The book more than adequately kept my brain busy during an international flight and covers the exploits of the modern sniper with hours of anecdotes from Iraq and other recent wars. Halberstadt spoke with some of the most revered names in sniping history to put the book together – names such as Carlos Hathcock II, who recorded 93 kills, including one of 2.29 kilometers during the Vietnam war, and Sgt James Gilliland, who also pulled off one of the most remarkable kill shots ever recorded in a strong breeze. The role of the sniper has changed, and this book explains why.

The New, Even Deadlier M24 Sniper Rifle Silently Kills from a Kilometer Away

The original M24 had an effective range of about 800 meters. The new, upgraded M24 hurls heavier .300 Winchester Magnum rounds over a kilometer away. All while being more silent and accurate. Note to enemies: You are so dead.

The fancier scope has an adjustable magnification system, ranging from 16.5x to 25x, while the new body design is modifiable in a way the old one wasn't, allowing attachments like night-vision accessories. It's more awesome in every way, at least on paper.

The reason the military's pursuing a $5.6 million upgrade of the venerable sniper rifle, BTW, is that it's more valuable than ever in the combat environments of Iraq and particularly Afghanistan, where sniper engagement is super serious.

I kind of can't wait to see this in the next Battlefield game. [Popular Mechanics, Image via TimoStudios/Flickr]

Send an email to matt buchanan, the author of this post, at matt@gizmodo.com.

How to fire a bolt action rifle

First-time shooter? Long-time pistolero looking for a new challenge? Long-range precision marksmanship is arguably the deepest of the shooting sports; as mental as it is physical, it's a fusion of quick-thinking, a delicate knack for gauging environmental conditions, excellent posture and patience, and finally an art of choosing: Choosing the right rifle components when a fraction of a centimeter of inaccuracy compromises an entire rig.

There's no lack of cool-factor when it comes to “sniper rifles” (although calling them that may get you frowns from legitimate sportsmen such as bench-rest shooters and hunters, not to mention actual military snipers). Many of us are initially attracted to the hobby after seeing a masterpiece of firearm aesthetics and performance courtesy of high-end brands such as Finland's Sako, Britain's Accuracy International, and the USA's own iconic Barrett. That attraction can wear off in a hurry due to sticker shock; many of the previously mentioned brands have “basic” high-precision models starting at the price of a small used car, well into the multiple thousands without a scope. For a newcomer or a budget-minded hobbyist, such prices can make not only the purchase, but also the maintenance (Barrel wear? A replacement costs how much? Maybe I'll just look at it instead…) of such rifles a painful experience.

That's where this article comes in. Several well-reputed firearm manufacturers offer rifles which, although not as tacti-cool in appearance, nor neurotically precise, are built on the same fundamental operating systems and offer nearly the same modularity, all with accuracy close enough that only a seasoned competitive shooter could take advantage of the gap.

The basics:

So what are these things? The fundamentals of a precision rifle are about consistency and stability. For those reasons, they tend to be heavier than your standard deer rifle. Barrels tend to be of a lesser taper, thick enough to remain structurally sound during rapid varmint-hunting or balloon-blasting via superior heat dissipation compared to a thin or light barrel. Barrel materials vary. “Varmint”-labeled rifles will often go with a stainless steel barrel. “Tactical” rifles are usually had with a blued or chrome-moly matte look. The primary differences will be barrel life and, perhaps more so, appearance. There is no definitive answer regarding which barrel type is more accurate; so long as both are cleaned properly before and after usage and both are of high-quality manufacture, you should be good to go. Thickness varies and lengths range from the legal minimum to well over 22 inches. 18-22 inches is the norm, depending on cartridge and the amount of “burnoff” time preferred for a given propellant powder.

Since we mentioned the words “varmint” and “tactical”, I'll touch a bit more upon that issue. There is no fundamental difference between a varmint rifle and a tactical rifle: Often the exact same rifle is marketed as both. Avoid paying too much attention to names, and instead pay attention to specs and features. “Tactical” is especially a double-edged sword. Few environments can test the functionality of a piece of equipment like live combat, so high-end tactical components tend to be the best of the best. However, the word is thrown around quite lazily and you'll find a lot of “tactical”-labeled gimmicks better left on airsoft toys.

Stocks are also a major point of contention when defining a proper precision rifle, being more massive than their hunting counterparts and often more accessorized, modular and adjustable. A quick browse through the McMillan line will give you the general idea. Adjustable cheekpieces are popular, as are girthy fore-grips, and even rear mono-pods. The debate on the “best” type of bedding rages on.

Wooden stocks are are due to the inherent tendency for wood, even heavily treated and laminated wood, to expand and detract in varying temperatures and humidity levels. Nearly all long-range precision rifles are dressed in stable synthetics. Bi-pods such as those offered by Harris are almost a requirement; bench rest shooters may prefer a more stable foundation such as sandbags, but if you plan to move around at all then a bi-pod is an absolute must. Most precision-oriented stocks take this into account and receive after-market stocks well, if not including their own in-house bi-pod system.

The guns themselves are nearly all bolt-action in operation. Semi-automatics have come a very long way the past few decades and many AR-based platforms deliver impressive results comparable to bolt-gun standards. However, maintenance, cost, and the extreme variability of internal moving parts keep the bolt-action dominant in the realm of pure long-range accuracy and regulate semi-autos to a “designated rifleman” (or mid-range) role.

Many precision rifles have increased emphasis on the trigger compared to all-purpose rifles, including DIY adjustment and/or a lighter break straight from the factory. A bad trigger or a very heavy break can be the Achilles' heel of an otherwise solid rifle due to the excessive pressure required to discharge the firearm disrupting aim. It's never a bad idea to see a trusted gunsmith and let him micro-adjust your trigger to your personal tastes either.

Ahhh… and the biggest sticker shock of them all: Scopes. Optics, glass, whatever you call them, they're those tubes you look through to aim. What's one of those going for these days? 50 bucks? Think again. A top-notch scope can cost as much as a top-notch rifle, surging into 5-figure price tags. Don't worry! We're here to help.

The options:

By now you either skipped through everything else I've written or you're growing impatient and want me to tell you what to buy. Let's do it. How close you stay to the $1,000 mark will depend on incremental increases in quality, especially regarding optics.

The Tikka, Savage, and Remington lines all offer budget-savvy options for an aspiring ballistics artist. So do many more, of course, but those are my top picks.

The pros and cons?

Tikka:

Tikka is a Finnish sub-brand of also-Finnish high-end rifle-maker Sako, which is in turn affiliated with one of the most respected and senior names in firearms, Italy's Beretta. The Tikka T3 line starts in the upper-mid hundreds and ends in the mid one-thousands. As you may have guessed, the high-precision models are the ones in the thousands. What does the extra cash get you? Mainly, a beefier (but not all that beefy) stock, and one of the best deals in precision barrels on the planet. The flagship of the Tikka line, the T3 Tactical is also covered in modular attachment railing, making scope ring compatibility child's play. Tikka triggers are excellent and action is very smooth for the price. Accuracy is, out of the box, perhaps the best in this bunch. Expect to be consistently under .75″ at 100 yards with a 3-5 shot group. The cons? Well, as mentioned, they're a little bit more pricey. Being foreign and less known, the accessory market is downright absent compared to the other two options I cover.

Remington:

Remington needs no introduction: It's one of the largest, most famous American firearm brands. The Remington 700 is the standard when it comes to bolt-action rifles, hunting or target. Multiple branches of the US military use a modified variant of the 700 as a sniper system and the 700P and its siblings are massively popular to civilian target shooters as well as police marksmen. The pros? When you buy a Remington 700, you're not only buying a rifle but the keys to thousands of other possible rifles. The after-market is practically infinite: Nearly every major precision stock maker bases their line around the 700 and builds for other actions as an afterthought. Magazine kits, exotic chamberings, drop-in triggers, you name it. The cons? Remington doesn't have the best reputation as far as out-of-the-box accuracy, especially regarding the low end models in our price range. A “trigger job” and tuning of the action from a qualified gunsmith are often recommended as a must, and further fine tuning goes from there. Think of it this way, however: You can start out with an $800 Remington 700 easily capable of 1″ groups at 100 yards, see if you like it, and if you do, make that very same rifle into a rig capable of going toe-to-toe with high-end customs via after-market parts. We're talking .25″ groups down the line.

Savage:

The savage I'm covering here is the 10fp/110fp (depending on chosen cartridge). These rifles are built around function. With a bit of know-how, barrels can be changed at home. Triggers are DIY adjustable. The 10fp seems from the ground up to be designed around immunization to gunsmiths. Out of the box accuracy is impressive for the price, under 1 inch at 100 yards just like you could expert from a Remington. The price? The 10fp has the most bang for your buck, available at under $600. That leaves you $400 for a scope and bi-pod and you'd still be under $1,000. The after-market for this rifle is strong, and that's a good thing; the basic 10fp comes with a flimsy, rubbery-feeling stock which is an obvious candidate for early replacement. Another con? The name Savage won't quite make other shooters drool like a shiny new 700P or exotic pseudo-Sako. In fact, Savage has a reputation for being downright cheap, boring and Spartan. Exactly what we want in a budget “sleeper” rifle.

Scopes:

So you've looked at rifles and decided on one and now you're completely lost when it comes to scopes. This may be the most valuable part of this article because I'm going to run you through a simple step-by-step list of features you may need/want on a precision rifle scope.

First, choose a reticule. The standard fine cross-hairs on a hunting scope are fine if you plan to manually adjust your scope with external turrets for every shot (for ultra-precision work, you may be doing that regardless of reticle), but aside from that, the mil-dot is the way to go. The mil-dot reticule is just that, a few dots on a reticule. These dots can, with a bit of simple practice, be used not only to find out the approximate range of a target but as alternate aiming points. After shooting your rifle enough, you'll be able to tell what amount of ballistic drop each vertical dot on the mil-dot represents. I highly recommend a simple laminated paper slide rule called the “Mil-dot Master”. If you're not convinced you need a mil-dot reticle, then you just opened up a lot of great scopes like the lower end of the Zeiss line, perhaps the best value in glass clarity under $1,000.

Speaking of range-finding, once you get the basics down do yourself a favor and set a few hundred bucks aside for a laser range finder. Finding out the exact range of a target is the basis of all long-range precision shooting. Between a mil-dot, a laser range-finder, and a lot of practice, you can average out distance estimations with surprising success.

Second, choose a magnification type and amount. Fixed or variable power? A fixed scope is all about simplicity, cost, and ruggedness. There's not much moving around inside of there and sometimes a fixed-power scope will even have a slight advantage in image clarity over a variable-power sibling, assuming all other factors are equal. Variable scopes offer the ability to “back off” a target and widen your field of view before zooming back in for the shot. For a long time, the military specified a fixed power of 10x magnification for “sniper” rifle scopes. For extreme precision target shooters, magnifications may get into spotting-scope territory, but often a rule of thumb is that you don't need more than 1 or 2 levels of magnification per 100 yards. That means for 800 yard shooting, anything from 10x to 16x magnification would do the trick.

Fixed or variable is your call:; simply a matter of preference. It should be noted that due to the position of the focal plane on most scopes, the mil-dot reticle will only work at a specific magnification on a variable-power scope. Sometimes this is 10x, sometimes 12x, sometimes the maximum setting. Included manuals or web documentation should specify.

Third, choose a level of adjustment. A standard hunting scope has “capped” adjustment turrets. You find zero, cover 'em up, and forget about it. You don't have that option in precision shooting. Turrets are finger-adjustable in small intervals so that you can make on-the-fly alterations to your zero based on range, elevation, wind, temperature, and a multitude of other factors. If you must skip one feature, I recommend skipping this one least of all.

The importance of tube diameter is hugely exaggerated. a 30mm tube and 1 inch tube will not make a world of difference to a casual shooter, but in general 30mm and wider is sometimes considered preferential. At this price, you'll only be wasting time being tedious and picky about the physical dimensions of the scope: Go for decent clarity and as many accuracy-oriented features as you can.

The “Super Sniper” line is a major budget-shooter favorite. At around $300, this fixed 10×42 scope has a mil-dot reticle, adjustable turrets and a mixed past. It was once tested for a Navy contract and apparently some found their way into usage before the original manufacturer met some financial woes. Now resurrected, quality seems to have risen again to the original Navy contract candidate. Why so cheap? At that price, you're buying a scope made in none other than China. From my experience, these are decent scopes all around and exceptional for the price. I've even personally seen photos of one on a soldier's high-caliber rifle in Afghanistan, although I've never seen one used in a serious civilian target match. Slap one of these on a Savage 10fp, pick up a Harris bi-pod, and you have a weapon only marginally less accurate than an expensive custom, for a small fraction of the price.

One step up and you're looking a double that fraction. The Burris XTR line is USA-made and themed around being simultaneously heavy-duty and precise. Occupying a unique sub-$1000 price niche between entry-level options like the Super Sniper and “pro” options like the Leupold Mark 4, the XTR is my all-around pick. Finish options, reticule options, and power options are generous.

I also highly recommend the Burris XTR rings and mounts, even if you're not using an XTR scope. they're both light and heavy-duty.

And finally, ammo. I will say this once and say it bluntly: .308 Winchester.

There are a great many rounds which surpass the .308 in various areas in performance, but none have the all-around combination of availability, brand and design variety, bullet weights, and perhaps most importantly, thorough ballistic documentation in virtually all conditions. When you move into a higher end rifle you may want to look into cartridges like the .300 Winchester Magnum or .338 Lapua, even .50 BMG, but at this level the .308 will take you to 800 yards and perhaps beyond without killing your wallet or requiring from-scratch math. If varmint shooting or anything under 600 yards is your game, the .223 Remington is also a viable option.

So there you have it, the basics of a cheap long-range rifle. Using the Savage 10fp as a platform and a scope like the Super Sniper or XTR, you can get into the game for less than a single component on an Accuracy International rifle might cost.

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My Marlin 25N is a classic bolt-action .22 caliber rifle with a walnut-finished hardwood stock. The rifle uses a traditional box magazine (or clip) that holds 7-rounds of .22 Long Rifle ammunition. A scope can easily be mounted via grooves on top of the rifle's receiver. However, traditional iron sights are provided and are easily adjusted for elevation. When I bought this rifle back in 1990 or 1991, I had just completed marksmanship training before graduating from the University of Florida. As a beginner, I appreciated that the safety lever on the right side of the action was clearly marked “SAFE” and “FIRE.” When the rifle is cocked, a red dot is also revealed on the striker knob. While the Marlin 25N is clearly an entry-level sporting rifle, its barrel features Marlin's vaunted Microgroove rifling. This gives the Marlin barrel more lans and grooves than .22-caliber rifles from other manufacturers and is reputed to make the rifle more accurate by reducing the grooving and distortion of bullets as they pass through the barrel.

The Marlin 25N is a well-equipped basic rifle. However, I've added a few accessories. I had a gun shop add sling swivels to the stock and added a nice leather sling that is suitable for carrying the rifle on a hike or bracing it when shooting at the range. I also purchased two extra Marlin 7-round magazines as a convenience. While I don't currently have a scope mounted on my Marlin 25N, over the years I've had some success with relatively inexpensive Tasco 4x and variable power scopes. The top of the receiver is grooved so that many inexpensive scopes can easily slide right onto the rifle.

Generally, the Marlin Model 25N is a substantial rifle. It is hefty enough to feel solid without being heavy. In over 17 years of ownership, I've only had one minor problem with this rifle. Shortly after I bought my Marlin Model 25N, I rather forcefully pushed the safety lever forward to the fire position and sheared the knob off of the thumb safety. I shipped the rifle back to the Marlin Factory and they fixed the problem under warranty and returned it within a few of weeks. Otherwise, my Marlin 25N has been delightfully trouble free. In this era of synthetic stocks, mystery alloy receivers, and plastic magazines, my Marlin 25N is reassuringly traditional.

The real test of any rifle is how it performs at the range and in the field. As an entry-level firearm originally priced at $155, I feel my Marlin 25N has delivered a great performance value. At about 50-feet, when I do my part as a marksman, my Marlin can deliver tight groups with each bullet touching. When I first purchased my Marlin, I had the young eyes of a 25-year old and I was a great shot with it. However, on my last trip to the range, I had a lot of trouble getting a good site picture with my 41-year old eyes. Nevertheless, I was able to hit a 2-inch targets from 50-feet without any problem and produced several groups with most of the bullets touching. I was often able to hit a 1-inch target and with most misses being very close.

The trigger on my Marlin 25N is consistent without noticeable creep, but it is just a little stiff. The rifle is simply set up for hunting, plinking, and casual target shooting with beginners in mind. An extremely light trigger may simply not be a good or safe choice for the majority of Marlin Model 25N shooters. I believe the Marlin Model 25N will deliver excellent performance at the range for most marksmen and in the field for most hunters. However, if I was ever going to do a Marlin Makeover, I would swap out the trigger mechanism for an after-market trigger group with a lighter trigger pull. With Marlin's microgroove rifling, a good scope or micrometer-adjustable peep sight, and a lighter trigger pull, I think my humble Marlin Model 25N would turn in exciting Olympic-quality performances at the range.

The lineage of the Marlin Model 25N continues on today in the form of the Marlin Model 925. The rifle appears cosmetically identical, but uses Marlin's new T-900 Fire Control System for the trigger mechanism. It also has swivel studs for mounting a sling. Today's Marlin customers will be pleased to see variants with camouflaged stocks and synthetic stocks coupled with available stainless steel barrels and actions. I'm sure future Marlin purchasers will continue to be pleased with these wonderful rimfire rifles.

Sources:

Marlin 2008 Sporting Firearms Catalog, Marlin Firearms Company, New Haven, CT, 2008

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