Have a couple of the Marlin X7VH rifles, a .223 and a 308. Bought the .308 first, shortly after they'd moved Marlin production to Remingtons Mayfield Ky. plant, where the Rem 770 and 783 is also made. So, my .308 was an early production Mayfield plant. If I'd checked the bore more carefully at the LGS, I'd not bought the rifle, due to the lands in last two inches of bore at muzzle. After my first time at range with rifle, easy to see copper in the cross marks on lands. Way to describe them was, had appearance that a screw/tap had been run down the bore. Gunsmith scoped the bore, raised an eybrow and told me, send the rifle back or shorten the barrel a couple of inches. I shortened the barrel.
As to my .223, bought it off a fellow range member about five months ago, who decided he wanted a shorter barrel .223 after he'd owned the Marlin for a couple of months. What gent wanted for the rifle was just too low to turn down.
As rsbenden wrote, "great rifle for the $$$$$$." I've bought 4 of the Marlin X rifles. All shot decently out of the box, including the one with the bore problem. Mind you, I have replaced the barrels on my 25-06 and 7mm-08 X rifles, with heavy barrels in other cartridges for shooting from benchrest.
Last Sunday, I used the .223 X7VH (still with its factory barrel) in a 200 yd competition. It was by far, the lowest cost rifle in the competition. Chuckle, won the event with 100 score, beating out gents shooting mostly custom rifles in cartridges such as 6BR, 6mm Dasher and etc. Gent with the Dasher had a 100 score too, but I had an X bullseye and he didn't. Lowest score in the event was a 98.
I just shoot paper, so the factory Marlin plastic stocks on my rifles have been replaced with ones I've made that are more suitable for shooting from benchrest.
