Best In Box Factory Rifles

[Shadow]

What is your opinion on factory rifles? Which ones shoot best? I am spoiled for life with my Remington model 700. I floated the barrel, found a load it liked, and am turning out groups tighter than my gun dealers custom rigs. That was even before I lightened up the trigger a bit. It only has a sporter barrel, so I shoot three shot groups. 5 shot groups start giving me a little barrel walk. I like Brownings too, but I think they are a over priced. My vote goes to Big Green, and that is a very biased vote LOL.

[seanshank]

I would have to go with the Weatherby line. Any company that guarntees 1" groups at hunderd yards in all there rifles has got it on. the bigges problem is price. but i can shoot 1" groups all day, I like to reload so I'm trying to find better, so far haven't been able to be the factory ammo, but I haven't given up

sean

[willettm]

Go BIG GREEN! There has got to be a reason the military stays with the 700 for their snipers. Sure they tweak'em and I do to looking to punch the same hole but I've never had a problem out of the box and never had one I couldn't find a factory load for that would get me under the magical one inch. My old wooden stocked BDL .270 needed a float job after years of hard work but she's back on the tack and will stay in my rack (the boy can't have it till I'm dead). I really wish I could afford to buy rifles at a rate that I could compare brands but with my budget I'll stick with what I know works and stay Green.

[Elmer44]

Iam 47 yrs old and have two yng. brothers that hunt as well.We have handloaded from the very first rifle we have had.Remingtons always shoot pretty good.1" groups most the time.Winchesters next,and finally Ruger bolt actions which have been very disappointing.My last was a ruger bolt in 257 roberts,3 "! Now I have a ruger number one in a 257 though and its shoots 3/4". I have a feeling the Brownings which have free floated barrels may be good as well.Maybe better than remington.

[Michael]

Weatherby,doe's not guarntee a 1 inch groop , it is a 1 1/2'' with there ammo.
Out of the box nothing will beat a Styer Prohunter. ;)

[seanshank]

Phillips you are correct, sorry I was thinking of mine. It actually came with the target that the rifle was tested with, which was a 7/8" inch group.

Weatherby guarentee is 1 1/2" groups at 100yds. I don't know to many other companies that will make that claim with all their rifles.

[wallaby]

I have used a Win mod 70 in 7mm mag for twenty plus years and straight out of the box with a box of factory ammo she knocked feral pigs down left right and centre,this is my pet deer rifle and after what its done for me i would never part with it.I still run the original factory trigger weight as we hunt heavy bush and light touch triggers are a no- no item here especially when you are in company.

[Shadow]

I am a Huge 7mm Rem Mag fan myself Wallaby. I wouldn't trade mine for anything. It has been nothing but good to me since the day I got her. A night I should have been studying for an Economics final. I have used mine so much, the paint is worn off the synthetic stock where I hold it. This gun would turn out around 1" groups with factory ammo right out of the box. I had a friend float the barrel, and the first 3 shot group it turned out was .216". I have since shot another group under 1/4 inch, and most never venture much past 1/2 inch. I lightned the trigger last year on the advice of a friend, but regret doing it. I dropped it to 3 pounds, and I swear it feels like 1 pound. I am going to have to use extra caution with this gun now. 3 pounds was too light in my book. I should have left it alone or gone no lower than 4 pounds. I am going to give it a shot hunting for a couple years, and if I don't get used to it I am going to drop in a heavier after market trigger. I shot rifle team in high school, and I have shot some super light triggers. I am talking triggers measured in ounces not pounds. I can also tell you I shot many a round in practice on accident while aiming, breathing, or adjusting position. I am not a big fan of the light triggers. I made a mistake with my rifle.

[wallaby]

Shadow good to hear that you are a fan of the 7 mill.I dont know if you had a look at my pages but if so they are a real tough deer species renowned for carrying lead,i have nailed these deer with a few different calibres and my old Mod 70 has always done the job, people can praise their own personal rifles in whatever cal they have,some of my mates carry far more expensive rifles than mine but it do`sent help them any more than have people envious of their smart new rifle in camp.I had a hand built plastic stock which i swapped over to a Bell and Carlson stock in fern camo and like yours the paint is worn off in places from carrying it over many miles.My rifle is more than a gun its also a repository of hunting memories good and bad that reminds me of those memories when ever i take it out of the gunsafe.I have had this gun underwater crossing rivers and hunted many miles of thick bush in hard steep country resulting in many falls and it has taken all i have thrown at it in those hunts, all in all it is really an old friend that money cant buy.

[RuralKentuckian]

Has anyone seen or had hands on the new(?) Charter 2000 bolt rifle?
It is supossedly the old Howa(?) patent. The article I read mentioned a fairly low price for this gun. I would hope it comes in 257Roberts or maybe .25-06.
Also, does anyone have time behind the .25-06 to give me an idea of the recoil as compared to the .243?
thanks! Larry
:confused:

[EricB]

Everyone will think I'm crazy but I love Savages. Out of the box I will put them up against anything!

No need looking for a load and lightening the trigger (that will help though).

I have a 270 that is 15 years old, has killed more deer than I can count at unspeakable ranges and still shoots off the shelf 130 gr corelokts into one little hole at 100 yards.

[Delta Hunter]

As much as I would like to give the nod to an American company, I just can't because the finest factory rifles are not made here, at least in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, Remingtons, Winchesters, Brownings, Savages, Rugers and the like are nice rifles that will definitely get the job done. I own three of the aforementioned and enjoy using them, but when you consider the total package; accuracy, trigger, barrel, fit, finish, overall quality, etc.., I think companys like Sako, Sauer and Blaser etal, are tops. The Sako 75 is the first gun I reach for whenever I go hunting. I bring along the Remington 700 as a backup. The Sako has everything I need: 1/2 MOA accuracy, nice trigger, great feel in my hands, rock solid Optilock scope mounts and smooth bolt operation. The one thing these rifles do have, however, that is not in their favor, is their higher price. Except for the Sako-made Tikka, these rifles are generally going to run $1,000 or more, which is more than most probably want to spend. If the budget is limited to $750 or so then I would cast my vote for either the Savage or Tikka.

[Shadow]

Prices can definitely get high quickly. I would love to have an HS Precision custom rifle built for myself. I have seen some Sakos at the range here lately, and even fired one in .300 Ultra Mag. They are really nice rifles. I like the synthetic stock they are using. The one I shot had a palm swell, and some rubber built into some key points in the grip. I assumed it was the factory stock, though it could have been an add on. I also read an article a while back that tested several brands of rifle for accuracy out of the box, and Savage won!?! It wasn't even their top end rifle. I am not familiar with their line up, and I can't remember which model it was. I have also read lots of good things about the Blazer, but I just can't get used to the straight bolt pull. It just doesn't look right to me. I see Browning has come out with one as well, the Acera I think it is called. Bottom line...A rifle is only as accurate as the person behind it.

How are the ducks flying?

[EricB]

Alan
A friend of mine has an HS Prec. in 338 Lapua
Thisis byfar he finest shooting gun i have ever touched. Handloads go into 1/2" at 100

the muzzle brake eliminates just aboutall recoil. For 2500 with scope it is a good investment.

[Shadow]

Man that has got to be a shoulder stomper! Does it have a brake on it?

[Shadow]

Opps, didn't read the post far enough :D I ahve heard nothing but good about HS Precision. I will own a rifle from them one day....

[Delta Hunter]

Alan, the ducks aren't flying yet, at least not like they will when it gets colder. The heavy rains we had two weeks ago has sure helped, though.

[Headhunter]

Here is another twist with the Remington 700. Parts and accessory availability. Anywhere you go you will find parts and accessories. If anything goes wrong, and it rarely does with a 700, most gunshops and gunsmiths have repair parts. Most gunsmiths are very fimalliar with accurizing them and installing accessories.

Headhunter

[chansen92]

most out of the box factory rifles will do a very good job. I am very fond of the rem 700. I used a 270 for many years and i have shot ground hogs so far away you could not see them without using a spotting scope. It will shot honest 3/4 inch groups any time. I would dare say that todays Savage rifles will shoot with best of them. My son shoots a savage 06 and I have seen him shoot under 1/2 inch groups. I hear tell the Browing boss system is exceptionaly accurate but over all I will but my money the model 700.

[Anthony T.]

I like the accuracy of the browning a bolt. Shoot an m-1000 then tell me how much you liked it. :beer)

[E.ShoreMD.]

savage...$400 and it will shoot with the best of them.

not to mention the savage muzzleloaders....you cant beat'em, dont even try.

[Anthony T.]

Smokeless muzzleloading is taking the name out of the game. I like my Omega and like my smoke. The omega will hang with any smokeless muzzleloader and I still have my smoke cloud. :lol1)

[E.ShoreMD.]

Smokeless muzzleloading is taking the name out of the game. I like my Omega and like my smoke. The omega will hang with any smokeless muzzleloader and I still have my smoke cloud. :lol1)

you obviously have no knowledge of smokeless muzzleloaders. dont argue about it cause you just dont know what your talking about. :lol1) :lol1) :lol1) :lol1) :lol1) :lol1)

[brentnadeau]

Having owned a Browning, Remington, and Weatherby NIB, I would have to give the "best in" prize to Browning. The fit and finish, accuracy, and over-all appeal of the A-Bolt was just leaps and bounds beyond the other two, with the Vanguard coming in a respectable second (the Browning had the BOSS on it, which was also interesting as I don't hand load). The one shortcoming of the Browning was a personal one, but an important one - fit. The Weatherby outshoots my 700 I had, and it feels better in my hands, as well. Now, hopefully this year I will be able to afford my Featherweight.

[Anthony T.]

you obviously have no knowledge of smokeless muzzleloaders. dont argue about it cause you just dont know what your talking about. :lol1) :lol1) :lol1) :lol1) :lol1) :lol1)

Care to enlighten me then? Oh great one. :lol1)
I have no knowledge of smokeless ML's and if they are so superior to blackpowder, I'd like you to elaborate on that.

[E.ShoreMD.]

Care to enlighten me then? Oh great one. :lol1)
I have no knowledge of smokeless ML's and if they are so superior to blackpowder, I'd like you to elaborate on that.

ummm? dont you think if black powder was superior to smokeless they would use it in shells? its really a no brainer! higher velocity, better accuracy, no smoke, cleaner, so many more choices in powders, etc.

its ok, keep using your omega. when that wallhanger is at 300yrds and your out of range just remember if you had a savage it would be going on your wall, not trotting off to the next guy. lesson over!

[Anthony T.]

Dude, everybody knows smokeless powder is better than blackpowder. Rifles and BP rifles are 2 different things, besides ease of cleaning and maybe more efficient burning, how can you have a 300yd muzzle loader just because it burns smokless? What speed are you shooting with it, what BC on the bullets? Thats what makes long range, not smokeless or blackpowder. Im beginning to wonder what evidence you have to support your statement.

[E.ShoreMD.]

maybe this site will help you out.

http://dougva.proboards34.com/index.cgi?board=Savage

[16pointer]

Well Well, a topic right up my alley. Ballistic Coefficient or BC as you referred to it as is a very important factor. But another equally important factor is the smokeless powder. Three pyrodex pellets produce roughly 19,000 PSI. The loads that are shot out of a savage most of the time are roughly 40,000 PSI.
A big difference. I sell atleast 50 of these a year and have done some testing of my own. the longest one I have seen shot is 277 yards. but as far as your argument about not being able to have a 300 yard gun. that is a losing argument as for that, Practice is the most important factor, not BC or Type of powder. Smokeless powder does make it easier though because you have more pressure there for creating Higher velocities which means flatter trajectory. Now everyone is not going to agree on the smokeless thing but thats why they still make the muzzleloaders that shoot blackpowder or substitutes. But If its legal and you dont like to clean muzzleloaders and dont like smoke it is the way to go. Unless of course you like doing things the hard way.

[E.ShoreMD.]

i shoot a 300gr. hornady sst which has a bc of .250. there are to many different powders and duplex loads available to list. many exceed 2600fps.

did i mention it doesnt smoke so you can actually see when and where you hit the target. :lol1) :lol1) :lol1) :lol1) :lol1)

savage ml2 black synthetic, stainless barrel with a meopta 3-12x56 30mm.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y112/eshoremd/IMG_0476.jpg

[Anthony T.]

Ill admit they shoot flatter if theyre shooting 400fps faster than mine. But anyone could be just as efficient with either one. Im not saying my omega is any better than that savage, but I will say the savage isnt superior to the BP rifle either. Im not shooting at deer over 200yds with either one, and either one will do that.