Who sells marlin? Or at least keeps stock of them

I wouldn't touch a Remington since Freedom bought them. Maybe you can find a used ADL in the $350 range if new ones are $380? Their new stuff is junk compared to the older Remington quality firearms. I am not knowledgeable in the market, but my guess is that the older 700 ADLs might be bringing a premium because everyone knows the new ones are not as good.

Savage or Mossberg would be my choice. My little bro has a Mossberg ATR in .270 and it's a fantastic rifle for the price. Good trigger and very accurate. We stuck a Redhead scope on there from BPS and it'll shoot 1 MOA all day long at 100 yards. Most of the Mossberg hates comes from folks who've never used one. The Ruger allegedly has a terrible trigger, which is a complete deal-breaker in a bolt gun, although I've admittedly never shot it. Stinks too, because Ruger usually puts out really good quality products. Does the Axis come with the Accu-Trigger? It's the only one of the bunch I don't know all that much about. If it does, it would probably get my top vote. If not, I'll give the Mossberg the edge just because I've had such a good experience with it. A used 700 ADL obviously gets the nod over all of the new budget models.

The ruger has an adjustable trigger and is pretty decent when brought down a little

My vote is the marlin.

Ruger

Save a few more bucks and buy yourself a Tikka in 7mm-08.

I asked about this in another thread, so I'll just throw this out there. Remington 783? I know everyone is still scarred from Remington's last attempt at a lower price point rifle, but I have really only heard positive things about the way this one shoots. Complaints would be that I think it has plastic sling studs pre-molded into the stock, and I believe a plastic trigger guard. Other than that it seems like it might be worth the $379.

Disclaimer - I want someone on here to start shooting one regularly so they can give me a REAL review!

Also, to whoever asked above, I do not think the Axis has an accu-trigger on it.

Anything with a plastic trigger is an automatic not gonna happen had picked up a Remington 770 a while back and the trigger flat out broke off

The trigger guard was plastic on the 783, not the actual trigger. Did the 770 have a plastic trigger? The 783 uses the cross-fire adjustable trigger. Similar to the accu-trigger supposedly, though I have never shot the 783 so I don't know how similar.

I've bought several at Academy. However, that was a couple of years ago.

My only problem with the cheap rifles is how you can tell that the plastic stocks are hollow. The balance is all wonky to me.

I like the Marlins.. especially one a few years old!

Thanks, I didn't think so.

I hunt with a savage axis in .270 and love it. I am considering getting a Timmey Trigger installed, once that's done I don't see any reason to buy another hunting rifle. The triggers run for about 100 bucks.

I would vote for the Marlin X series if you can find one in a caliber you want. I've cycled the bolt and shouldered one and man did it feel nice. I've never been able to find a dealer who stocks them new though and the used prices around here are near the new prices, so that's a non-starter for me.

After trying out the 770, Axis, and Ruger I decided to put a Ruger American in .308 on layaway. The bolt was super smooth and it has the adjustable two stage trigger along with steel receiver bedding. I felt like it was the best available option for me.

The only one I've consistently heard bad things about is the 770. I played around with one in store and it felt like junk all the way around. The bolt sucked, the stock felt flimsy, and it just seemed cheap overall.

I've seen used Savage 10/110 rifles for sale in the $250-275 range from time to time. It seems to me that those on a very tight budget could make many worse choices.

i have bought two of the Marlin XL7 and really like it.
despite having many other more expensive rifles, it is my go to gun.
very accurate, well balanced, nice trigger for stock gun.
i put a nikon monarch up top and it has killed a bunch of critters
i have a howa 1500 too and it is a great gun, but i believe they are more expensive than the marlin. i prefer the trigger on the marlin to the trigger on my howa