Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles What brand rifles do you prefer?

For hunting rifles, I prefer a M70 or Mauser type CRF/claw extract/blade eject/square bottom action/3-position safety with a simple, exposed trigger. I also prefer short magnum cartridges and Nosler (or possibly 375 Ruger-based) cartridges in a long action. For a big gun I like the Rigby case. So I've got a mix of M70 Classic WSMs with factory triggers and CZ550s with trigger swaps and 3 position safeties ranging from .300 WSM to .416 Rigby.

For dangerous game repeaters, I like magnumized Winchester 86/71 type actions. I've got one in .45-90 and one in .50-110. They roughly match the .404J and .470NE in terms of ballistics. They're faster than a Mauser, and have way more capacity than a double. The 71 has an S-hook installed so it CRFs like an 86

For varmints I like the Browning B78for a single shot. I've got one in 6mm Remington. For a repeater I like the CZ527.

For ARs, I like both the big and small frame LMT monolithics. I've never seen a more rigid and optics-friendly auto.

I look at something like a 700, Tika or Bergara and wonder why you'd exchange money for it frankly.

Win Mod 70 Classic (New Haven) Featherweight
Rem 700 - custom shop versions like AWR, APR or special versions like Titanium
Sako 75

Have seen a couple Win Mod 70 XTR's this year and those were nice.

Absolutely NO criticism here.

I need to RE look at CZ. WAY BACK when Dirk King (Dirt ?) had a tv show CZ sponsored him. I found some
CZs at Gander Mtn in N LR ARk. I handled several and none of them did anything for me. I =honestly= don't remember
why I wasn't interested.

I'll take a serious look again.

Jerry

Tikka and Kimber.

Tikker, Fieldcraft, Ruger Predator

All my builds are rem 700 wam, a 660 in there, couple single shots, #1 and B78, gave my mark V’s to the boy

I prefer 700s and Model 70s, with the slight edge to the M70. also quite fond of the BLR, and my CA ridgeline is really growing on me

Sako/Tikka

Older Remy 700s

The new Benelli Lupo is an awesome rifle

I prefer Winchester model 70's. Have both pre 64 and classics. I also have ywo 700's that have been tuned up.

Last year I got a Huskie 1600 in 6.5x55 that was someone else's project. Sent it in to a gunsmith for a tune up and really like it.

Older Rem 700's or older Savage 110's. Older Win model 70 also great.

Tikka

Ruger m77 mkII's are great rifles. Very solid and reliable. They are a diamond in the rough though and take some work to make them exceptional. Glass bedding and trigger work are a must. I've had some that were very accurate, after working them over.

I guess I don't have a favorite brand. I have rifles I prefer. Probably my three favorite hunting rifles (talking deer on up) are my Sako 85 in 6.5X55, My Ruger 1B in .308, my Savage 99 in .303 Savage, and my Marlin Guide Gun (early '90's vintage) in .45-70. I use others, but these are my go-to's and favorites. I had a Ruger 77 tanger in 7 RM that was my go-to for years, but my son has it now.

Brand would probably be Winchester. But my favorite rifle is a Remington M7600.

I prefer Winchester, but after shooting a Sako I have been looking for one and hope I have the money when I find the one I want.

Cooper - when weight doesn't matter
Kimber (or Cooper M92) - when light weight is important
Remington (700) - when building
Winchester - occasionally
Browning - for semiauto rifles

Sako’s
700’s
Kleinguenthers
Savage 99’s
Winchester 70’s

I owned a Remington 799 in a 22-250 once, ...once. The bolt head had an issue and a local smith said it had to be sent back to Remington. I called Remington and they would not warranty it because "they didn't make it". Um "it says Remington on the action". It didn't matter. I sold it to my cousin who swears he knew a smith that could fix it. Its still not working today. It has to be over 15 years by now.

Tikka.

35 years ago I would have answered Winchester Model 70, Ruger 77 + #1. Now if the rifle weighs above 6.8lbs all up... not interested. So Kimber, Finnlight, NULA. Tried the Savage Lightweight Hunter=nice/accurate rifle, but could not get passed the ugly/funky back of the bolt hump(looks like a wrench attached to the back of the bolt.) Not carrying an ugly rifle.