Basically, if money was no object (Not that this will ever be the case with me), what brand of factory built rifle would you guys prefer? I am only asking this because I do not know much about many of the brands that are a little lesser known. More or less the only brands that I know anything about are Remington, Winchester, Weatherby, and Savage. I would like to know about which brands you all think are the highest quality brands whether you believe the brands I listed are in this group or not. I am only 19 and I only own one hunting rifle (A Remington 7mm for deer hunting) but I just want to gain a little knowledge of some of the higher quality rifle brands that are becoming more popular with the hunting population as a whole and I figured some of you guys that have been hunting a little longer than I have could share a little information with me. Thank-you.

MRC, Dakota, Winchester, Kimber and CZ.

Weatherby

Money no object , Empire or Dakota

Welcome to the forum. Good question. I personally like rifles made with Remington Model 700 receivers. (Even with money not being an object.)

And of course Sako

MRC, Dakota, Winchester, Kimber Those are high on my list, but I really like CRF.

I actually like Ruger a lot as well, not the smoothest actions or finest wood or other features, but built like a tank and simple.

Blaser or Merkel .

Ruger offers some solid value with their hawkeye m77 rifle, and it's built here...

Sako deserves a mention when quality rifles are being discussed... and don't forget their sister line, Tikka...

check out the Forbes rifle... it's a production grade copy of the NULA custom...

with those you already mentioned, these make for a pretty good list to consider...
there are others that are out of production, but are terrific values, such as the FN Brownings...

We were all were in that position at one time.

The bottom line is just about every major,long lived brand of rifles makes perfectly good hunting arms. Truly.

Sure, some turds get out the door from time to time, but that happens with any brand. The important thing is you get a rifle that suits YOU.

I advise handling and shooting as many of your top choices as possible. Then make a choice that fits your budget.

FWIW,the Remington m700(?) in a 7mm cartridge as you now own is many folks idea of the ideal bolt actioned hunting rifle.

Happy hunting!

Dollar for dollar.....CZ

My safe has a mixed bag from most of the major makers. They all have the pros and cons, all have their place. Thought about selling off a few to fund something new, but couldn't think of what one I'd really like to get rid of.

Next factory rifle I plan on buying will be a Ruger Hawkeye in .204 Ruger or a Kimber Classic Select in .257 Roberts. My preference is classic lined stocks and wood/blued.

Like others have said, buy what you like, what feels right to you, not what others say is the best.

Nosler custom

money no object and anything I want? it would be Savage and Ruger.

Winchester.

Cooper.

Pleases me to see the American made rifles getting mention.

For sure. And I would cast another vote for Kimber being as I am the proud owner of both Cooper and Kimber. Really great rifles.

I sat at a campfire with Ken Howell and he changed my mind on Cooper rifles.

Mosin

Anything that says Remington 700 on it.

My first centerfire was a Sako Finbear Classic. My best friend replaced his Browning A Bolt with a Sako TRG. His dad got a Finbear Classic, and his brother got another TRG. They have never disappointed us. It's been a while, and the 75's and 85's have come along now. I've enjoyed mine for 25 years and if they're still as good, and they seem to be, I'd get another.

Ruger for me

Buy a used donor Remington and have it redone by a qualified gunsmith not a metal butcher. You'll have about 200 to 300 dollars more in it than a new one. It will shoot which the factory rifle may do but probably not without sinking a lot of hours into it. I haven't bought a new factory rifle in over twenty years. Its a waste of time.

Ask Redneck.

Winchester or CZ

Sauer 202 lightweight.

I guess I'm not the most qualified to answer this since money always HAS been an object for me. It usually is the greatest deciding factor in choosing a firearm. I do draw the line at pure junk though. I refuse to buy something if I know it won't last. In that case I simply save a bit longer or sell something I don't need so I can afford a better quality rifle.

Having said that, I have amassed a fair knowledge base of the quality, or lack thereof among the various "cheap" rifles. In my opinion, hands-down the very best quality "cheap" bolt-action rifle is Marlin's X series. I like them so much that I was recently given an opportunity to select any action for a custom rifle by some of you fine folks on this very forum. I probably could have selected just about any action I wanted. But I chose the Marlin. It is smooth, strong, reliable and accurate. My philosophy is: why pay more for a different brand just because it costs more? The Marlin performs just as good or better than just about anything else out there.

I do own a Ruger M77 Hawkeye all-weather in 22-250. It's the most expensive rifle I've ever owned. It's acceptably accurate, and my first controlled-round-feed action, but not nearly as smooth as the Marlin. In me Marlin has earned a life-long customer.

+1

Good exploratory question, interesting things will come out of it, but not a consensus! :lol:

Savage Model 99. With the brass shell counter and rotary mag. They overflow with class from another era.

Seriously I would look at Winchester M 70's. Weatherby Sub-MOA's are great also.

Another +1 on Remington

Without a doubt, if money isn't an object; Westley Richards.

Care to share Bart?

Was it the political bent of the owner or a mechanical issue?

From a middle class point of view: current SC mfg Winchester M70.

Remington, Winchester, Sako, All great choices

+1, it is what I choose.

No question in my mind, the best is the Dakota 76. It's basically a super refined version of the pre-64 Winchester.

The older Mannlicher Schoenhauer would be all time favorite. The newere ones deserve an honorable mention.

Custom Rem 700s do not count. The factory models with detatchable bolt handles and safety issues -- you jest!

1B

You write like a very mature and intelligent person for only 19. Thank you for composing a well written post without using text message type structure.

Nosler, Cooper, Sako.

I don't own one - yet - but if money were no object, I would have a Kimber in the caliber of your choosing. There are a lot of others out there that are of equal quality. This is just my preference.

If you are talking in the more realistic price range, I can't really find fault with the Ruger 77s. Nice guns all the way around. Not that they don't occasionally produce a lemon perhaps, but you couldn't go wrong with one IMHO.

Sako, Steyr, Cooper . . . In the $1500 to $3000 range are hard to beat. I really like my Thompson Center Icon as well. They are very well made, accurate, and affordable to the masses.

Three pages and not one mention of Browning. Make mine an A or X Bolt.

I'm really glad that we've been able to narrow it down

Seems to be a lot of bolt action love in this discussion...

Coming from a long time Sako fan, they do not make rifles like they used to. I would have to repectfully remove Sako from that list. All other things aside, the question is the best built factory rifle, there isn't one better made than a Shiloh rifle from Big Timber, Montana.

They are a factory, but everything is hand fitted, and if you compare the workmanship of those guns, they would be more likely found in the realm of custom rifles...

I think Sako and Steyr Mannlicher, but you need to carefully define "factory brand":...jim

It would be difficult to surpass the value of the Howa. I've yet to see one that was not accurate, well made and needed much work on it.

Sako, Kimber, and Ruger #1's

Winchester and Kimbers are my favorite bolt guns. I also love the Marlin 1895 leverguns too.

It begins with an 'S' and doesn't end with an 'O'.

(clue: Old indian name.)

I have two customs, Sakos, Cooper and owned a Weatherby or two, but for the money; my vote is on the Tikka.

You could do a lot worse than sending the 700 you have to a good smith for a tune up, trigger, good barrel and stock job as well as buying good glass to go on top. Russ

Mosberg!

Pre 64 model 70's, Sako L-61's. I had a Cooper 56, didn't like the little cheap safety or the rattling magazine. Sold it and bought a couple L-61 Sako's The Sakos shoot as well as the Cooper.

You have issues. lol

Can't say for sure, but Sako should be given a consideration. They're known for their accuracy and the barrel rebore people don't like to rebore their barrels because whatever steel they use in them is very tough.

Totally agree on your choices, TC screwed the pooch with the ICON they should have kept it instead of that thing they now sell that replaces it

Cooper makes a nice rifle as well.

the one you shoot the best.

hanco, a stroll down memory lane?

Sako

Holland & Holland or Rigby..

It may seem silly, but you first need to define what you consider as high quality. To me high quality means a combination of accuracy and dependability in adverse conditions. Fit and finish may look nice, but honestly it has little to do with how well the rifle functions on a hard hunt.

Many "quality" rifles chit the bed when used in adverse conditions. I'd say one of the most vulnerable areas of a rifle when it comes to functioning in adverse conditions is the trigger. Overly complex trigger designs are apt to lock up when exposed to water and debri.

So to me many "quality" rifles that work perfectly well in a tree stand or hunting blind aren't worth a hoot when hunting in wet and especially marine environments.

Finally, if money isn't an object I'd say look beyond factory rifles and consider having a custom built to your specs.

He just wanted to think on it for a while before giving an answer.

Four years should do it!!

I wonder if anyone who shared their opinion four years ago would give a different answer today?

Yeah! This is the one.

Your ask is too general, you might try setting some parameters so that a concise answer can be given.

After all, a Rigby for rabbits is not really what one is looking for...be fun though.

Don't expect a reply. He ain't been online here since 12/16/2012.

It is 5.20am and I did not take time to check.

JB is right , hanco ,you do dig for some old threads, must be cabin fever already!!!!!!!!

Winchester 70

Here's what I look for in a hunting rifle:
Accuracy: speaks for itself
Handling: comes to shoulder naturally
Ergonomics: essential features are easy to use and find
Light weight: within reason 6.5 lbs is ideal to me
Good adjustable trigger: self-explanatory
Good caliber selection: not interested in wildcats or those I can't find ammo for
Good fit of parts

My choice based on the above is Tikka.

4 Year old thread!

Riflesinc.com, Lex Webernick in Pleasanton, Tx or MG Arms in Spring Tx.

Small factories, both.

A lot of the answers are those brands that produce thousands each year and many can be bought under $1000.

In my mind there is a sort of a middle tier of brands that cost about double that and includes the Weatherby, Tikka, some of the specialized Remington models like the Sendero, some others.

I think if you double that cost again you get into a class that produces far fewer rifles each year. I'd put CZ, HS Precision, Nosler, into that class. More that I haven't thought of yet.

'Best' is a very subjective term.

Still relevant though.

At least as relevant as a lot of threads!

There is that.

Sako 85

Kimber....

I like CZ's and old Remingtons too though....

So this is what we do know that the election is over!

Now, having said that, I must come clean and tell you that my go to hunting rifle is a M70 Featherweight Winchester in 30-06. I really couldn't afford the Weatherby at the time.

The Winchester was my choice and I rate it at second best. Thirty years ago I had two kids in college and couldn't justify the difference in cost for the rifle(s); Win being $325.00 and the Weatherby being $850.00. However, now at seventy-two years old the light weight of the Win is much more appreciated!

No, we correct spelling.


Shazaam...the spelling-nazi strikes again!

This thread is likely to hatch another dozen or so rifle looneys!

With my limited experience.

Bolt Rifles Weatherby
Semi auto Springfield M21 Custom
Lever Turnbull

Purdey
Holland and Holland
Rigby

Marlin 1895G is a classic IMO. If you're ever lucky enough to run across the 1895GST (Talo)....don't worry about the $$, just buy it. You'll be VERY glad ya did!!

Model 70's, Kimbers, Rugers.

Since you premised that money is no object. I'd be inclined to take a nice Holland & Holland double rifle. Not that I can vouch for their quality first hand. I don't think this would be considered a "best value" rifle either.

A Rigby Mauser like the one they made for Jim Corbett, hold the inlay and engraving.

Those are custom, definitely not factory built.


I have a sako bolt action that is fine, but have my eye on picking up a Blaser. Seems german precision makes for a great factory rifle.

Without a doubt, one of the Nosler rifles.

Ha. I have stopped toting a thin barreled heavy WBY mag killer for a pre-64 243 Win fwt or a nosler custom light weight rifle.

For me it was the tiny groups on the sticker-shot at 50 yds.

This^^^. Stainless steel cerakoted Lilja ltwt tack driver.

In my defense, it was a typo, not a spelling error. But thanks!

Are we talking brush gun? Long range? Short range? Tree stand? Ground blind? Thumper? Light kicker?



It's very complicated.

How much we spending?

We probably have enough opinions to fill a library here, but I'm over 80 years old and have been hunting most of my life. After owning several different brands, my out-of-the-box, reasonably priced accurate rifle would be the Tikka Lite T-3 in either a .270 or 30-06 calibre. I use the .270 for Deer or wild Boar and I use a .30-06 for Elk This may be my last year hunting, because of my knees, but I couldn't have found better all around Big Game rifles.

can't believe so many people bite on a 4 year old thread. laughing

Who needs knees? Get a nice Mule or Gator and shoot 'em in comfort!

I'd rather somebody take their time to offer an opinion on a four year old question than type this stupid schit.

"Laughing"




Dave

Agreed.....

What's the harm...if you don't like it hit the back button.........

Or start another "new" thread bitching about the gubment.......

You must've missed my post about your welfare over the situation below. So, to reiterate...

Not enough experience with different rifles to know what's best and being lh, & born poor just not enough chance to experiment with different rifles of different makes

Will say I feel I've been well served by my Rem 700's though both have been worked on, one extensively to lighten it up

I'm with 458 Lott, function over style hands down for me

I've been lucky, I've hunted hard in inclement weather a fair amount

I've never not brought home game by being let down by one of my rifles

They've performed admirably in situations many would find would fall under the terms of abuse of a rifle

Wish I'd boutght the nula many years before I did. Don't know if it counts as production or custom, but lord is it a sweet package that shoots lights out

All I know for certain about rifles is there's no better feeling in the world to be headed into new country with a rifle that's proven itself in hard use and accuracy

My lord what a feeling to crest a mountain you've never climbed before or float around a bend on a river you've never run before armed with a rifle thats up to the task

No matter the inscription upon the barrel

WAIT A MINUTE!!

I'm supposed to be the spelling Nazi here!

And no quarter is given for typos!


XXXOOOXXOOXXO, Poobs

You seem very contentious lately...


GFY.

Big Smile! Big Smile!

Maybe not the best and certainly not the most graceful looking Rifles in the form they come in, but Howa's have one of the smoothest actions of any commercial rifle I've handled.

There's been talk of them offering a left hand version.

If they do I'll be buying one.

2L2Q, you said it all. Going into new country w/ a rifle you trust still rings my chime more than anything.


mike r

I am also partial to the quality, accuracy, and affordability of the Steyr Forrester rifles with the safe bolt system. I have three. .300 Win Mag; 6.5X55 Swede; and a stainless .260 Rem. All three exude understated quality, functionality, and hunt ability.


.300 Win Mag


6.5X55 Swede


.260 Rem

Isn't it shazam?

Best bang for the buck without question.

"Best" might be a stretch. Budgets aside.




Clark

Comes with age.

I'm sure you can relate.

GFYA.

(The A stand for again)


Clark

Some of these old threads are very interesting.

Weatherby

Old thread, money no object, Holland or Rigby best quality magazine rifle, I'll take one of each please, 275 Rigby and 505 Gibbs ought ta do it.

I'm thinking one of them pretty nosler 7x57 rifles with the 24in barrel

What, is it really a word!

Not factory but this is probably the most bang for the buck I've gotten in a while.

does`nt shoot worth a shyt when you bring the wrong ammo


norm

Gun Geezer: When you get old it's easy to get into a Mule or ATV, but what happens if you shoot a deer or Elk? You need to drag it out, gut it, load it up, etc. Have a little pity on us ancient critters with worn-out knees from Marching up and down hills in the Marines.

Find a big strong (helps if he is a little slow) local lad and mentor him into the hunting fraternity...make sure to praise his strength and physical prowess whilst leaving him in no doubt you were once bigger, stronger, and better...but also allow him the glimmer of hope he might eventually measure up in your eyes.

You should get at least twenty years service out of the twit.

If workmanship, fit and finish, and follow up support are the key criteria, I'd go with Shiloh Sharps. One will likely have to go to a custom builder or order from Europe to equal their work.

Thought you could spell, huh? Now GFY

That's a nice rifle!