Question for Marlin XLR owners

[AJMD429]

Up until today, I'd only handled ONE Marlin XLR, which I wound up purchasing a year ago. The dovetail which anchors the magazine tube under the barrel was very loose, and I was under the impression that this was actually intentional, as one of the 'accurizing' things they did. It panned out, as that .35 Remington (with factory loads) did really well.

This year, I decided I just HAD to have a .444 Marlin, and being a stainless nut, and happy with the .35 Remington one, got the XLR again.

This one's magazine tube anchor has a very snug, immobile, dovetail. I haven't shot it yet (just picked it up and when I got home anxious to shoot it wound up having to spend several hours car-rescuing), and won't tinker with it if it is accurate, but was just curious - are ALL the XLR's loose there? Maybe the .35 Rem had the 'problem' and not this one!

If it goes bang and is more accurate than I am (which is likely) I won't really care, but I was just curious...

(...and YES, I will post a 'range report' and pics once weather & time permit...)

[JustaJeepGuy]

Why couldn't Marlin have started making stainless rifles when everyone else did? I would have waited if I had known they would go stainless. Now I'm "stuck" with some blued beasts. I even prefer the laminated wood, too.

[Chuck 100 yd]

The dovetail at the magazine tube anchor IS supposed to be loose as an accurizing trick with the XLR and the MX. My MX is that way also. It seems to be captive and cant come out of the dovetail. It sure is a good shooter.
I have read the above in magazines also.

[El Chivo]

Why couldn't Marlin have started making stainless rifles when everyone else did? I would have waited if I had known they would go stainless. Now I'm "stuck" with some blued beasts. I even prefer the laminated wood, too.

I'm hoping they'll start making the XLR in walnut/blue.

But if not I might get one and try painting it camo like JReed showed us. That's a neat idea.

[J Miller]

I don't think it matters anyway. I've had two of the 1894 Cowboys and when straight out of the box the dovetailed hangers were tight. Within a 100 or so rounds both started loosening up.

I don't think it's an accuracy thing, I just think it's the weight of the magazine, cartridges, spring and stuff banging up against that hanger that loosens 'em up.

Joe

[Bruce]

I have an MX that has a loose hanger and a MXLR that has a tight one. Both shoot extremely well.

[6pt-sika]

I have an XLR rifle in each caliber they've made so far and to be honest I've never noticed the hanger being loose or tight on any of mine .
I just take them out the box mount a scope and shoot ! Then kill a deer and put them away .

[Naphtali]

My Guide Gun (GS) which I have more or less converted to an XLR configuration had a rigid magazine tube anchor. Your best bet would be to query Grizzly Custom Guns or Brockman's, et al. Ask what they do when they customize Marlins.

[JustaJeepGuy]

For those of us (me, especially) who didn't know there was a difference, what's different about the XLR, as opposed to any other stainless Marlin?

[Bruce]

The MXLR came out when they introduced the new Leverevolution rounds. It is a matt stainless with 24" barrel and 2/3 rd's magazine with a laminated stock. The MX is blued w/ 22" barrel and 2/3 rd's magazine with walnut wood. Both are ballard rifling.

[JustaJeepGuy]

Thanks for the help, Bruce.