Marlin Xl7

[jdmidwest]

2nd time out today with the new rifle. Last weekend I put 8 rounds thru it to rough zero in the scope. Put it on target in 6 and grouped the last 2 with about 2" spacing. This weekend at the farm, I backed the target out to 100 yards and started to zero. On the 12th round, the bolt locked up. I gave it a yank and the extractor came apart and the case stuck in the chamber. I was kind of disappointed in the new rifle failing so early. I popped the spent case out and found the culprit, blown primer. Looking at the other spent cases, number 9 had a blown primer too. Then I realized that I was using reloads from who knows. I had been given them with another rifle and assumed they were factory loads. Closer inspection reveals they were probably reloads due to multiple headstamps. I broke down the rest and tossed them.

Luckily. I suffered no damage, the action contained the blast. I am sure Marlin will back up the extractor.

Next step is to custom load some 150 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips of my own and carry on.