This review is based on an XS 7 in .243 with a camo synthetic stock. I bought it used from a fellow member this past week. It is in like new condition and should be a close representation of a new one. The metal is finished in a polished blue, that seems a little out of place with the camo stock, but looks to be a very good finish especially for the modest price. The bolt is fluted and moves almost as slick as a Tikka. The bolt fitting and moving so slick is what first caused me to be curious about this rifle. I looked it over, cleared the chamber and proceded to dry fire the Marlin and I knew it was worth a little my time to check this rifle out further. The Glock/Savage type accutrigger breaks like glass @ 2lbs. according to my RCBS gauge. I brought the rifle home and disassembled it to make sure everthing looked good under the stock. I found it to be in perfect unaltered condition. The trigger features a single screw adjustment for weight, with a lock nut to keep it set. The two position safety is located next to the bolt, much like a 700. It allows the bolt to be worked in either position. The action sits atop two pillars that are camoed, so I'm not sure what they're made from. The rifle sports a blind magazine that was quite easy to get in place when replacing the stock. I torqued the action screws evenly until I reached 45 inch/lbs on both. The action sits in the stock surprisingly square, and the free floated barrel rides right down the middle of the barrel channel, without a lot free space on either side, giving a very nice almost hand fitted look. The fit of this rifle is much better than most production rifles I've seen at two to three times the price of this one. The rifle came with a one piece weaver type base, so I used a pair of Burris quick detach rings to set a Burris Timberline compact 3 X 9 scope on to it. It made a nice looking rig, without adding an excessive amount of weight to the lightweight 22" sporter. I loaded some 100g Sierra Pro Hunter flat base bullets using a dose of IMR 4064 powder at the Sierra recommended length and headed for the range. It took two shots to get it sighted in dead on @ 50 yds. I move to the 100 yd target and shot two, they were only about an inch high and 1/4" right. I adjusted the scope up 4 clicks, and to left 1 click. I let the barrel cool for 20 minutes in 45 degree weather while I set a new target and test fired a couple of pistols. After coming back to the rifle, the barrel was cold to the touch, so I loaded three rounds in the mag and chambered the first. I want to add how well this rifle feeds and ejects the rounds too. With entry level rifles in the past, I've not been overly pleased with these things. This thing is hard to find fault with. Any way back to the shooting. I fired three rounds at the first target, with all three landing well under the inch mark, the first one was dead @ 12:00 2" above point of aim. The next two were touching about a half inch below the first shot. I was firing off an adjustable front rest with a saddle and a sand bag in the rear. I let the barrel cool about 5 minutes and put two more down range at a second target. They punched through side by side about a half in apart 2" above point of aim. What can you say about this rifle other than, Damn! I don't know about the rest of you, but I've spent a lot more money, I mean a lot more money, and not got this kind of results. It's not a bad looking rifle, it's light and handles well, it works near as slick as a Tikka, it's more than accurate enough for deer and with the right loads maybe accurate enough for small varmints, all for around $350.00 new. If they all shoot and function as well as this one did today, they sure seem like a bargain to me. Chuckdog
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