phil384
08-12-2003, 03:02 PM
I bought the Marlin about a year ago to complement my Remy 597. To be quite honest, it hasn't really complemented it, it has replaced it!
There is one shoot where, due to the noise, the Marlin isn't welcome and that's where I use the Remy. At all the others I only bother with the Marlin.
I won't go into how expensive, lethal, difficult to get hold of, destructive etc etc the rounds are, I think we all know by now and I won't bore you further.
The rifle was £190 brand new which, I think, makes it the cheapest .17 on the market? Is the price reflected in the rifle? Well, yes and no.
The price IS reflected in the finish. The paint around the trigger guard flakes easily, the trigger is awful, extremely harsh with no feel at all, on or off. The stock is badly cut for the action let-in with splinters and I needed to shave a bit off to avoid the safety catch, well catching. Don't look for any refinement on this rifle, there isn't any.
The stock is beech with a hardwood 'Mar-shield' protective coat whatever that means! The chequering (with a diamond shape on the fore-end)is pressed in, not cut. I did say this was not a refined rifle.
The safety was quite stiff initially although, ~500 rounds later this has eased off. I suppose you could now call it 'positive'? It is mounted just behind the bolt on the side of the action and rocks backwards and forwards.
Gripes over, now to the good bits.
The magazine holds 8 rounds and functions perfectly with all 8 rounds squeezed in. The ejector works each and every time quite zealously.
The rifle is quite stubby with a heavy barrel, smallish stock and I find it ideal for use in the 4x4. It's also reasonably light at 6.5lbs although mine is now fitted with sling (the swivel studs are fitted as standard), 4-12x50 scope and b-square bipod. This all makes it a fantastic little set-up for very little money.
My shooting partner has an Anschutz 1717 which cost 3 times as much and is no more accurate.
This leads me on to accuracy. I have to say, I find it superbly accurate with dead cert kills out to 150-175 yds and further in good conitions. Furthest yet as measured by a Leica laser rangefinder was 237yds.
I have used Hornady and Remington ammo and did not need to re-zero between them, it shoots both equally well.
I have now fitted a rifle basix trigger which cost £70 and set the pull to 1 1/2 lbs. The gun is now a joy to use although I suppose it doesn't make the gun such as good value as I initially thought.
The Marlin 17v is a no nonsense, no frills rifle, I suppose a Ford Escort of guns but, it puts bullets where you point it and you can't ask much more of it than that. I won't be parting with this one for a long while!
There is one shoot where, due to the noise, the Marlin isn't welcome and that's where I use the Remy. At all the others I only bother with the Marlin.
I won't go into how expensive, lethal, difficult to get hold of, destructive etc etc the rounds are, I think we all know by now and I won't bore you further.
The rifle was £190 brand new which, I think, makes it the cheapest .17 on the market? Is the price reflected in the rifle? Well, yes and no.
The price IS reflected in the finish. The paint around the trigger guard flakes easily, the trigger is awful, extremely harsh with no feel at all, on or off. The stock is badly cut for the action let-in with splinters and I needed to shave a bit off to avoid the safety catch, well catching. Don't look for any refinement on this rifle, there isn't any.
The stock is beech with a hardwood 'Mar-shield' protective coat whatever that means! The chequering (with a diamond shape on the fore-end)is pressed in, not cut. I did say this was not a refined rifle.
The safety was quite stiff initially although, ~500 rounds later this has eased off. I suppose you could now call it 'positive'? It is mounted just behind the bolt on the side of the action and rocks backwards and forwards.
Gripes over, now to the good bits.
The magazine holds 8 rounds and functions perfectly with all 8 rounds squeezed in. The ejector works each and every time quite zealously.
The rifle is quite stubby with a heavy barrel, smallish stock and I find it ideal for use in the 4x4. It's also reasonably light at 6.5lbs although mine is now fitted with sling (the swivel studs are fitted as standard), 4-12x50 scope and b-square bipod. This all makes it a fantastic little set-up for very little money.
My shooting partner has an Anschutz 1717 which cost 3 times as much and is no more accurate.
This leads me on to accuracy. I have to say, I find it superbly accurate with dead cert kills out to 150-175 yds and further in good conitions. Furthest yet as measured by a Leica laser rangefinder was 237yds.
I have used Hornady and Remington ammo and did not need to re-zero between them, it shoots both equally well.
I have now fitted a rifle basix trigger which cost £70 and set the pull to 1 1/2 lbs. The gun is now a joy to use although I suppose it doesn't make the gun such as good value as I initially thought.
The Marlin 17v is a no nonsense, no frills rifle, I suppose a Ford Escort of guns but, it puts bullets where you point it and you can't ask much more of it than that. I won't be parting with this one for a long while!