Heads up. The idiots at the Freedom Group are dropping the Marlin X7 bolt action in favor of of the new Remington try (POS) entry level rifle.
X7s are all over the net for dirt (Bud's, Gunbuyer.com etc).
Handsome reliable rifle (I own 5) and they are Switch barrel (like a Savage, whose barrels fit them too !).
Just bought a 223 for $318 to my door. I see a 22" 450 BM bbl in my future that unlike my AR will shoot cast bullets (how do you spell 45-70-300 in a short rimless case ?)
Marlin was brilliant and stole everything to make a great inexpensive rifle
-700 stock, safety and bolt handle
-Weatherby bolt body and shroud
-Savage bolt head and barrel attachment
-Glock trigger
-Winchester 1960s Varminteer barrel (VH models only)
Here is my X7VH 308 that, with a bit of stock tweaking will drop 5 175 gr Midway seconds into 7/8"@100. I did the camo wrap and yes the scope is a bit more $ than the gun. But, scopes stay when guns are sold.
Pal of mine just bought one of every model available, figure he can dump one or two duplicate Pre 64 70s and cover the cost.
Act fast, there are no more being made and I'd bet in less than a month they'll all be gone as us guys over on the Marlin Collectors site are buying them like hotcakes.