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The following questions are in terms of what is important to “you”. Opinions are going to go in every direction but that will be cool because of the rationale. And you don’t have to answer for each maker, and you can certainly add a maker of your own.
1. What 10 year time time period was the best for each of the following rifle makers? Add in case I missed a big one.
Winchester Remington Savage Browning Sako Weatherby Ruger
2. What company makes the best production rifle today?
Me:
1.
Winchester. 1950-1960. By this time, all M70s were drilled and tapped.
Remington. 1960-1970. Some quality guns were made during this timeframe.
Savage. 1930-1940.
Browning. 1960-1970. Not including the salt guns.
Sako. IDK
Weatherby. IDK
Ruger. I really think highly of this rifle maker, but I have to think on this one more.
2. Tikka. They changed the standard of accuracy. They really did.
"...aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one." - Paul to the church in Thessalonica.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Ruger 1990-2000
They produced an old school (by today's standards) wood and blue rifle that came with rings for a reasonable price. The MKII had CRF, wing safety and IME was accurate, certainly enough for the hunting and ranges we were shooting at back then.
I'm biased tho - that also overlaps my formative years as a kid learning to hunt and shoot and I did so with a M77 MKII in 30-06 purchased from Nickolai's Sporting Goods for about 368 bucks out the door. Was a pile of chore/allowance and birthday money.
Me
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Edward Maynard 1850-1860 He's a cousin.
"...A man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box and the cartridge box..." Frederick Douglass, 1867
( . Y . )
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I certainly agree with the winchester with maybe a slight change to 1948-58....
For Sako, I personally like from around 1985-95...
For Remington - I like the 62-68 when it comes to 700's... for an 870 anything from the same era
Weatherby, Hard to say, the german made guns are nice but they have always produced some really nice guns (atleast all the ones I have owned) even the Japan made guns... I am referring to Mark V's nothing else
The worst thing ever to happen to cops is the personal video recorder... Now people can see the truth
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Campfire Kahuna
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Savage you and I agree Jeff. I tend to gravitate to the 1927-1940 guns.
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
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Campfire Tracker
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Absolutely. Stopped in there shop last summer and was able to fondle all their current production rifles. Really nice stuff
Buy once, cry once.
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Winchester starting in 1992 with the M70 Classics right up until they introduced the WSM.
I can walk on water.......................but I do stagger a bit on alcohol.
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Joined: Aug 2010
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 48,116 Likes: 12 |
The following questions are in terms of what is important to “you”. Opinions are going to go in every direction but that will be cool because of the rationale. And you don’t have to answer for each maker, and you can certainly add a maker of your own.
1. What 10 year time time period was the best for each of the following rifle makers? Add in case I missed a big one.
Winchester Remington Savage Browning Sako Weatherby Ruger
2. What company makes the best production rifle today?
Me:
1.
Winchester. 1950-1960. By this time, all M70s were drilled and tapped.
Remington. 1960-1970. Some quality guns were made during this timeframe.
Savage. 1930-1940.
Browning. 1960-1970. Not including the salt guns.
Sako. IDK
Weatherby. IDK
Ruger. I really think highly of this rifle maker, but I have to think on this one more.
2. Tikka. They changed the standard of accuracy. They really did. Good question RAS. I agree with you about the Winchester model 70, for sure. And also Remington as well. I like the older Remingtons, much better than the newer ones. In the 60's and 70's, they still produced the 788's, but discontinued the 722 in 1962, when they brought out the 700. The 700 was the beginning of the new generation of rifles for Remington, and they also later discontinued the 788 (in 1983), which was a cool little rifle (especially the 30-30's). They had some bad years, like when they started putting the J locks in, in the 90's. Stupid!!! Sako: Hopefully the haters aren't going to get mad, but I prefer the older Sako's over the newer ones too. Sako did some really stupid things with the newer rifles, like put the ejectors in the wrong place (6 o'clock position). Any of those are absolute garbage. 9 times out of 10 it will throw the spent brass up into the scope tube or turret. Even my 1980's AII is better in that regard. Some believe the pre Garcia Sako is the best of the bunch though. Ruger: The model 77 Hawkeye really was about the best iteration of that m77 rifle. The first one (tanger) was good, with its adjustable trigger and tang safety. It's almost a toss up between it and the Hawkeye. The Hawkeye was introduced in 2006, and it is a great rifle. Often shooting much better than the older M77 mk2, and having a much nicer trigger (LC6) and stock design. So, I'd say 2006-2016 for that one. Tikka: The T3x, IF I had to pick one. From 2016 to present. There were some good upgrades done to the T3x model. For example, the aluminum recoil lug (stupid engineering on Tikka's part) to a steel recoil lug, aluminum bolt shroud, and a much more ergonomic stock with a better recoil pad. The smaller ejection port on the T3 is a non issue, but was also opened up on the T3x.
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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I certainly agree with the winchester with maybe a slight change to 1948-58....
For Sako, I personally like from around 1985-95...
For Remington - I like the 62-68 when it comes to 700's... for an 870 anything from the same era
Weatherby, Hard to say, the german made guns are nice but they have always produced some really nice guns (atleast all the ones I have owned) even the Japan made guns... I am referring to Mark V's nothing else "SAKO", come on "SAKO". How do you feel about them? You like the ones with schidt azz poor designed ejector location?
I try to stick with the basics, they do so well. Nothing fancy mind you, just plain jane will get it done with style. You want to see an animal drop right now? Shoot him in the ear hole. BSA MAGA
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Good conversation. For my humble opinion for what its worth.
Winchester- last 10 years before the '64 redesign. Honorable mention to the 90s SS, USA Classics
Remington- harder for me to nail down... for best balance I would say 1990-2000
Ruger- as much as I would like to say the 90s MK IIs, all my Hawkeyes have shot better out of the box. Early SS Hawkeyes with the matte finish sucked and scuffed when you looked at them wrong. The new polished stainless guns are nice. For Ruger I'd have to say from 10yrs back now.
The rest I dont have a dog in the fight. I do know I like the old Savage 99s but don't care much for their current products, but thats just personal preference.
Last edited by Steelruger22; 03/08/24.
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same... President Ronald Reagan
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Campfire Tracker
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Winchester: 1886 to 1896. Four of the best lever gun designs ever in that span. And it was still Oliver Winchester's old company AKA the real Winchester!
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Campfire Outfitter
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OP
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I forgot to add Marlin:
To me, is the 10 years before they added the idiot button.
"...aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one." - Paul to the church in Thessalonica.
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I have to pass on the Winchesters as I’ve never owned one. Ruger 1990-2000. Remington I would choose the 1974 to the j lock period because I prefer the actions with the milled slot on the bolt to take out side play without the lawyer lock. They are also glass smooth and will rebarrel my AWR this year changing out the lock for one of Hollands.
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Winchester 70 Classics from 1992-2000. that's only 8 years, but after 2000 they started to decline. While I prefer the trigger on the older guns the FN Winchesters that were made in the South Carolina factory from 2008 until they moved production to Portugal are pretty nice too.
Marlin lever guns made in the 1970's. That is before the crossbolt safety and when they were using trim fore ends. Many of the older rifles and all the newer ones leave way too much wood there.
Remington 700: Anything made before they changed the safety so it no longer locked the bolt handle. I'm thinking that was around 1982.
Most people don't really want the truth.
They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth.
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Remington 1962-1990, the others don’t matter.
I prefer classic. Semper Fi I used to run with the hare. Now I'm envious of the tortoise and I do my own stunts but rarely intentionally
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For Marlin I'm choosing the 1970's
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Brno. Roughly 1950- 1960, give or take a year.
These are my opinions, feel free to disagree.
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Winchester 70 Classics from 1992-2000. that's only 8 years, but after 2000 they started to decline. While I prefer the trigger on the older guns the FN Winchesters that were made in the South Carolina factory from 2008 until they moved production to Portugal are pretty nice too.
Marlin lever guns made in the 1970's. That is before the crossbolt safety and when they were using trim fore ends. Many of the older rifles and all the newer ones leave way too much wood there.
Remington 700: Anything made before they changed the safety so it no longer locked the bolt handle. I'm thinking that was around 1982. Yes the trim forends made all the difference in the world. That's the main reason I chose the 70's. No Marlin I like more than one with a gold trigger and a slim forend
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I have Remington rifles from 1960's to 2005 and they all shoot and function great, also have Winchester's from early 50's to 1990's and they also shoot and function great.
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What about Kimber, what are the best years for Kimber and which models, I know they use to be hit and miss, I been thinking lately to get one but kind of skittish due to their inconsistencies.
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Early 50s 336 Marlins are the bomb!
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“Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away”. Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Posted by Brad.
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Campfire Ranger
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Winchester 70 Classics from 1992-2000. that's only 8 years, but after 2000 they started to decline. While I prefer the trigger on the older guns the FN Winchesters that were made in the South Carolina factory from 2008 until they moved production to Portugal are pretty nice too.
Marlin lever guns made in the 1970's. That is before the crossbolt safety and when they were using trim fore ends. Many of the older rifles and all the newer ones leave way too much wood there.
Remington 700: Anything made before they changed the safety so it no longer locked the bolt handle. I'm thinking that was around 1982. Yes the trim forends made all the difference in the world. That's the main reason I chose the 70's. No Marlin I like more than one with a gold trigger and a slim forend Didn't have anything g for this thread until you all mentioned the fat Marlins. Things perked. For Remington, the 10 years they made 600s and 700s. Before the 700 got fat and lost the trigger locking safety.
Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
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Any opinion on the best years for FN Mauser Sporters?
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Early 50s 336 Marlins are the bomb! Never felt good in my hands. I've had 5 or 6 but they've all moved on. I prefer every decade of Marlin after the 1950's
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Any opinion on the best years for FN Mauser Sporters? Was there ever a bad period? Serious question. Over the years, I have rebarrelled a lot of Mausers in various makes, one of the most popular (read low price, good value) old Mauser's in my area was the JC Higgins model 50 ( FN action), many people have commented, I'd like to change this to a .29 caliber whizz, but it's just been so reliable and accurate for my Dad, and now me, I hate to fool with it. I had my doubts about the Hi Standard chrome lined bore, but here we are 70 years down the road, and none of my circle of friends and customers mention problems. I would have guessed the typical .270 handload in my area is sufficient to blow all the chrome off a Cadillac, apparently not.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
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What about Kimber, what are the best years for Kimber and which models, I know they use to be hit and miss, I been thinking lately to get one but kind of skittish due to their inconsistencies. There was a gentleman who worked for Kimber who used to post here who stated that the later years out of Yonkers were probably the best from a strict manufacturing standpoint. These would’ve also been the years they were using bargera and criterion barrels. I would think from roughly the time they started the “moa” guarantee on.
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Sako’s: Bofors steel era. 1960’s
Yes I know, most all of Sako’s barrels are Bofors, whether marked that way or not. I just like the 60’s era best.
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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What about Kimber, what are the best years for Kimber and which models, I know they use to be hit and miss, I been thinking lately to get one but kind of skittish due to their inconsistencies. There was a gentleman who worked for Kimber who used to post here who stated that the later years out of Yonkers were probably the best from a strict manufacturing standpoint. These would’ve also been the years they were using bargera and criterion barrels. I would think from roughly the time they started the “moa” guarantee on. Thanks AK
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