French guy sir I don't know about the 22lr model but my 22magnum surprised me to no end. Here is the story way back in 2009 I was shooting gophers with my older brother up at Cedarville...I fell in love with his Marlin 983 SS tube fed rifle. He would not sell it to me so had to find one of my own...so I looked and all I could find was a 883 Tube fed 22mag...I was super happy with it and then about a year later I fould a 983 Fleur de Lis which I never knew they were even made. This whole time from 2009 to 2016 my brother and I would make two/three trips up to Cedarville every year...the weather would be different every time. some times it would be really hot and most of the time it was cold, windy and nasty. On a few trips it would rain and even hail down on us.

So I wanted something I could go out there and not worry about dealing with bad weather. So I was on the hunt for a Stainless Steel rifle because my brother would not sell his rifle to me.

Well Bud's gun shop had a Marlin XT22MSVR = Magnum Stainless Varmint Rifle in 22magnum for sale for about $230 or so. I had bought two other rifles about the same time which both were CZ rifles those also in magnum calibers.

I waited a few weeks for the weather to be good enough to go sight in all three rifles. I took the Marlin rifle and bolted on a Weaver V-16 on it no bore sighting I just went out and shot it. I wanted to spend more time with my two CZ rifles because they were more expensive and looked better...so I shot the Marlin first.

Here is my target with the first shot....I thought I missed the target until I walked up to it...my first thought was man was that a lucky shot.


So I went back and shot the other three rounds in the 4 rounds magazine and here is what the target looked like:


Now I am thinking Holy smokes I have something here So here is the target for this rifle on that day.


I went and sighted in my two other CZ rifles that day and they did good but it took a while to get there. But let me tell you I was singing and dancing all the way home...because I have never in my life had a rifle that shot this good right out of the box and its half the price of my CZ rifles.

Granted it is in a synthetic stock. But man it shoots. Here is what the rifle looks like...the one in back...my 980V in front.


So after all this time my older brother out of the clear blue sold me his Marlin 983 SS in late 2016 and here are my other Marlin tube fed magnum rifles. 883, 983 Fleur de Lis and his/now mine 983 SS.


so yes they can shoot...but remember every rifle is different.

I hope this helps. :bthumb:

Signalman

 

Have you considered a CZ 455? Yes a step up in price but a JUMP UP IN QUALITY and a solid reputation for accuracy. After you get the CZ, you'll probably just sell your savage. Good luck with the 597. You must have decent mags for yours. rc

 

Have you considered a Marlin 795 ?
Not a bolt ... But it's mag fed.
Micro grooved barrel'd.
Very accurate.
Forget a CZ..
I didn't have much luck with them.

 

Isn't the 795 very similar to my Remingyon 597?
I was maybe thinking about a bolt action, heavy barrel?

 

No... It's a model 60.. mag fed.
Very good accurate.

 

Marlin..

 

Are you talking about Marlin 795 or Marlin 60???

 

Marlin XT22 SK Pistol Match 5 shots 50yds.

 

I have 2 Marlin bolt guns and 2 CZ 455's, love them all. I got my 2 CZ's after selling of some old 12GA truck guns, wanted two classic style walnut rifles and didn't want to pay the price for collectable Winchester Model 52's, the one 52 I have is a family heirloom.

 

I have several 22 rifles, including two Marlin bolt actions. One is a relatively new XT22M (22 WMR) and the other is an older 25N (22LR). While both are perfectly serviceable rifles, I'm not sure the microgroove rifling is any specific advantage. The XT22M is the least accurate of my three 22 mag rifles, albeit not by much. It does OK at 100 yards however, doing 1.3-1.6" groups with CCI or Winchester 40g ammo; CCI and Hornady 30g ammo doesn't do as well, averaging right around 2" groups at that distance. It is limited by a 3-9 scope and me shooting it.

The older 25N is in the middle of the pack among my 22 LR bolt guns. It averages 1" groups at 50 yards with a 2.5-7 scope, using bulk ammo, e.g., CCI SV, Federal AutoMatch, or Winchester M22.

However, they were both relatively inexpensive (about $110 for the 25N when new and $190 for the XT22M a couple years ago. My least expensive bolt guns. I did replace the trigger spring in the old 25N to lower the pull weight, and it shoots better now. The current XT series has the newer and much lighter blade trigger on it. Much nicer to shoot than the old 25 series triggers.

Will a Marlin bolt action be more accurate than what you have now? Quite frankly, it all depends on the specific rifle you get. It may be astounding, as Signalman's example above. More likely, it will be adequate but not stellar. But it will be fun and won't cost a lot.

The next step up, in my opinion, would be a Ruger American Rimfire. I have a Compact model in 22LR and a Standard model in 22WMR. Both were $260 when they first came out. The 22WMR shot great right out of the box, which convinced me I needed one in 22LR. Unfortunately, my specific 22LR Compact model didn't shoot quite as well, although it is improving. Right now it shoots just about the same as my old Marlin 25N. But the RARs are loaded with nice features that the Marlins don't have, like the bedding blocks, interchangeable stock modules, a solid feeling stock (for an inexpensive synthetic stock), and nice trigger. And those handy Ruger rotary magazines.

 

I have an XT 22 with a std. weight. barrel. It has better than average but not spectacular accuracy.

I like the size, weight, and overall feel of it.

The best attribute that it has IMO is the trigger. Take out the middle blade, replace the trigger spring with one that is softer (all easily done) and you have a very crisp, light trigger, which helps a lot in making more accurate shots. I consider it more of a field gun than a bench gun.

Mine would probably do better if I used better ammo.

I also have a 980V (heavy barrel) which is a little more accurate and is not as ammo sensitive.