Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles poll: highest quality *out of the box* rifle currently in production for $1000/less

No a $1K rifle, but Sauer 100 6.5 creedmoor is on sale for $479. Save the money to spend on optics and ammo. Great crisp trigger, slick action, very good accuracy. I like the ergonomic of the stock as well
https://stdgun.com/sauer-100-classic-xt-rifle-synthetic-stock-6-5-creedmoor-22-barrel/

Out of the box my last Kimber wouldn't extract a round
Out of the box the two Kimber Montana's I owned only needed new barrels to shoot under 2"
The Kimber before those 3 was sent back 3 times
New crown first
New stock second
New barrel lastly

Kimber's are fantastic in and out of the box...
back and forth through the mail.

I like a simple push feed, dual-lug bolt. 70 degree or 90 degree it doesn't matter. It must positively feed well and eject well and have a good trigger. With that, Tikka comes to the top. Howa/Weatherby Vanguard would be my next choice.

I own more tikkas than anything. Best bang for the money out of the box IMO.
The sauer 100 feels better than tikka in every way. But the weight.
Kimber Hunter needed to go back for a chamber polish job, but she feels and shoots on the money now.
My tc venture is the cheapest of the bunch at $299 and keeps up with all of them. If not better at times.

I have a Dimension in 6.5CM and .223. it's ugly, but shoots lights out.

I’d love to have a Kimber, but if I wanted “out of the box” quality (rather than “back from the factory”), I’d go Weatherby, Tikka, or Howa. My Bergara is excellent although I’m not in love with it.

I've almost bought a Bergara multiple times. Not sure why the trigger never gets pulled.

if i had to go 1g all in on a gun i'd throw together a mack bro's with a remage and some 700 takeoff parts.

but a tikka in 223 gets a lot right with some bottom metal and magazine and a vertical grip-cheek pad addition.


from there it's a great action to build from. screw on shouldered prefits from other people's take offs or a plethora of custom barrel shops.


bolt stroke is very good.with some lapping compound they wont bind.

becoming a huge fan of the sportsmatch ring combo with factory dovetail. makes a ton of sense.

tons of stocks/chassis to use to upgrade. krg bravo is the first good move but a bajillion of other ways to skin the cat. the factory stock isn't bad. slide forward a ctr cheek riser and you got reverse comb.


grab an LRI bolt and a couple take off barrels and ur golden for a lifetime of fun. beware the man with one rifle

That’s my vote.

Me too