Gunsmithing Rifles

Posted September 6, 2007 By admin

Gunsmithing Rifles
What hunting rifle brands have the best features? Explain your answers with wisdom not nonsense biased b.s.?

I am looking to buy a rifle in the future and am trying to rule out different brands. What models have best features, like a easy operating safety. What action designs are better? Mid to big size game is the intent of the rifle i buy. I know a lot of people favor Remington but they aren't the only rifle maker there is. Most the people that like them seem to invest a lot of money in the gun to make it function better, like trigger jobs ,floating the barrel, glass bedding and whatever else. To me it seems a little silly to buy a gun and say its the best but it wouldn'tnt have been the best with out the extra gunsmithing. Caliber of interest is 300 win mag. My question isn't about caliber though. Experienced shooters should be the only people answering this question.Thanks

Josh, I have been a shooter for over four decades and a professional gunsmith for over three decades. I have also been often called a lousy gun salesman for telling the unvarnished truth about the shortcomings of many iconic favorites (including many modern Remington rifles, amongst others). If somebody wants to buy a rifle absolutely, you bet, I'll sell it to him (or her). But if the customer ASKS me about the rifle...they get the truth. I don't care how many huckleberries sit around happy hour at the local watering hole bragging this or that about their favorite smoke poles (including all the stories about go-zillion yard shots with their "miracle guns"), I base my opinions on how many of these guns I have owned, shot, repaired, et al.

The heart of a bolt gun is its bolt, and the heart of the bolt is the extractor.

Period.

Right now, and for many years, Remington sits at the bottom of the heap. They shoot well (except the 710 and 770), but they have the silliest, cheapest snap in extractors I have ever seen (I have replaced these by the hundreds, usually after failing in the field during the customer's hunt, either ripping off the case rim or just flat failing altogether). When you look into the bolt face, you have to squint just to see the extractor.

The best bang for the buck at the low end is the new Marlin bolt gun. At the middle end you'll find the Tikka T3...super smooth action for about 5 hundred bucks, plus it come with rings and the base rail is machined into the receiver.

In the same range we find the Howa, makers of their own rifles, as well as the Weatherby Vanguard and the Smith And Wesson models 1500 and 1700. Also good rifles.

At the very top of the strong rifle heap is any rifle directly related to the venerable old Mauser M1898, with its monster stout full length extractor. Three come to mind.

The new Winchester (FN built), model 70.

The Kimber.

The Ruger Model 77 (my first choice in this price range).

Some people will grouse and growl that the Mauser action isn't as smooth as their precious Remington, but keep in mind that when monster magnum bolt guns first began appearing in the early 1920's...they were ALL built using captured or surrendered German WW1 military rifles.

Choose for yourself, but make certain that you can actually SEE the extractor without first disassembling the rifle.

After that, it's all about what fits your body, your budget, and appeals to your eye.

As for the extra tweaking, the Tikka seems to be the best out of the box for the money.

My personal favorite is my Steyr Mannlicher Pro Hunter in 7X64 Brenneke.

But that's just me.

Good luck and good shooting!