Marlin’s New X7 Varmint Hunter Jon R. Sundra
The new Marlin X7 Varmint Hunter bolt-action rifl e was tested by the author in 22-250 caliber.
the hunting/shooting public when the company in question quickly introduces a varmint/target version. The way it usually goes is that the fi rst iteration of a new rifl e – whether by an established manufacturer or one just getting into the rifl e market for the fi rst time – is always with a sporter. After all, that’s the rifl e type that represents the biggest segment
Y
ou can always tell when a new rifl e has been well received by
of the market. It’s usually based on a standard-length action because it can be offered in 30-06, 270, or any other 06-based cartridge, as well as the most popular belted magnums – the 7mm Rem. and 300 Win. Assuming that goes well, the next
step is to come up with a short action version to accommodate the 308-family of cartridges. And once you have a short action, it then becomes a no-brainer to
add a varmint version, because all it takes is the threading on of a stout bar- rel. Some makers will go that extra mile by adding a fourth bolt and altering the face, feed rails, and magazine so they can accommodate the 223 and 204 Ruger cartridges, while others choose to go the less expensive route and add only the 22-250, which of course has the same rim diameter as the 308 family of cartridges. Some manufacturers go through the added expense of setting their varmint rifl e into a target-style stock with a wide, flat-bottomed fore-end, while others simply hog out the barrel channel of their sporter stock. The foregoing narrative pretty
much describes how Marlin’s new X7 VH (Varmint Hunter), came to be. In 2008 the company introduced the X7, a brand new sporter-weight rifl e based on a standard-length action of their own design, and chambered in 25-06, 270 Win., and 30-06. In 2010 they came up with a short action iteration chambered for the 243 Win., 7mm-08 Rem., and 308 Win. Now, for 2011, it’s the VH version chambered in 22-250 and 308 Win. Naturally, we chose the 22-250
version for our T&E. Like its sporter siblings, this varmint version of the X7 represents one of the best values in an American-made bolt action centerfi re rifl e. When the original sporter was in- troduced in 2008 it carried an MSRP of $326, which means its street price was under $300! Even today, three years later, the sporter still carries a very rea- sonable price tag of $391, while this new VH version goes for $397, a scant six dollars more! As an added value, all X7s come with a one-piece factory-installed Picatinny-type scope mount base that accepts Weaver-style rings. There are two positions for the rear scope ring, and four for the front. The catalog states that the VH
Shown here are the best and worst of the four fi ve-shot groups fi red. Discounting one called fl ier, average group size for 19 shots was 0.565", which is pretty good accuracy.
Page 6 Winter 2012
weighs 7¾ lbs., which is pretty light for a 26" heavy-barreled varmint/target rifl e that measures 0.800" at the muzzle. It sure felt a lot heavier than that to me, so I put it on my scale, which is accu- rate to within 1 oz. My suspicion was confi rmed: my scale read 9½ pounds!
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