New Rifles: The Good, the bad, the ugly

[jbronner13]

I love how they had their precision rimfire model in a chassis that shot worse than the 93 in Tupperware because the bolt would drag over the head of the bullet and create a deformation that negatively impacted accuracy. Watched a YouTube video where a guy broke down the design flaw.

 

[jbronner13]

BINGO

Cheap rifles are like cheap women….you end up paying more in the long run

 

[birddog 68]

In his defense he had shot my model 110 in 243 years before and loved it. Cheap and shot all bullet weights well. Unfortunately they don't make them like they used to other than the cheap part.

 

[jbronner13]

In his defense he had shot my model 110 in 243 years before and loved it. Cheap and shot all bullet weights well. Unfortunately they don't make them like they used to other than the cheap part.

We had a gunsmith around here who used to do amazing work on Savage actions, Larry Racine, LPR Gunsmithing, had an interesting switch barrel system he developed too. Made some great custom savages blueprinting the model 12 actions. Sadly he retired recently and we basically have not a whole hell of a lot of gunsmiths around here now.

About 1.25 hours north of me we probably have one of the best gunsmiths in the US ( www.Mnrcustom.com) but man does he have a ton of work. I have half a mind to take the courses and just start doing my own work at home.

 

[birddog 68]

My old gunsmith passed away and it took me a few years before I found another small local gunsmith. I was thinking about going to classes to learn but not now that I found this guy, he's reasonable on his prices and fairly fast. I prefer smaller shops that way I know who's working on it.
That cheap savage 110 my old smith worked on was one of the best shooters I ever owned and of course I sold it!

 

[jbronner13]

My old gunsmith passed away and it took me a few years before I found another small local gunsmith. I was thinking about going to classes to learn but not now that I found this guy, he's reasonable on his prices and fairly fast. I prefer smaller shops that way I know who's working on it.
That cheap savage 110 my old smith worked on was one of the best shooters I ever owned and of course I sold it!

The thing I love about Matt at MNR Custom is that he literally builds 20k dollar rifles for incredibly wealthy clients (Wayne Van Zwoll wrote about him in an RMEF Bugle issue), but then he'll get back to me with questions I have in a day or two and charges incredibly reasonable rates for all his work. Just an honest, good dude who I love giving work to….when I can afford it. Even though his prices are very reasonable my line of work doesn't lend to disposable income, at least not that covers my expensive tastes while paying the mortgage on time.

 

[2rjshort]

I'll only speak to the good. My dad just purchased a south paw version Christensen Ridgeline FFT Ti in 7rm. Its a fantastic looking rifle! I've not had any experience with Christensen arms but if this thing shoots as good as it looks its going to be stellar. Its got me wanting one.

 

[Tulsa Reiner]

I'll only speak to the good. My dad just purchased a south paw version Christensen Ridgeline FFT Ti in 7rm. Its a fantastic looking rifle! I've not had any experience with Christensen arms but if this thing shoots as good as it looks its going to be stellar. Its got me wanting one.

"Only accurate rifles are interesting."

 

[Philward]

I wish Browning would stop changing the x bolt models every couple months, settle on about 6 models and stick with them for about 4 years. I think they list on the website more discontinued models than current models by about 3x. These aren't cell phones, a rifle should last 20 years.

 

[jbronner13]

I wish Browning would stop changing the x bolt models every couple months, settle on about 6 models and stick with them for about 4 years. I think they list on the website more discontinued models than current models by about 3x. These aren't cell phones, a rifle should last 20 years.

The stainless stalker, plain Jane would be my pick. I'd rather them offer iron sights than different color camo patterns or fluted barrels, etc. I can have someone cerakote my rifle to my color preference, don't need the factory to do it for me.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

My list of great out of the box rifles. In descending price. I think.

Gunwerks, Cooper, Weatherby, Browning, Tikka, Ruger American.

Depending on the look, fit and finish, and budget, I don't think you can go wrong with any of these.

I know there is some other out of the box rifles that are also pretty good. Two others that come to mind, Seekins, and Nosler. I don't have much experience with them though.

 

[jbronner13]

My list of great out of the box rifles. In descending price. I think.

Gunwerks, Cooper, Weatherby, Browning, Tikka, Ruger American.

Depending on the look, fit and finish, and budget, I don't think you can go wrong with any of these.

I know there is some other out of the box rifles that are also pretty good. Two others that come to mind, Seekins, and Nosler. I don't have much experience with them though.

Would Howa also be considered there given the Vanguard and 1500 are essentially the same gun or are you more referring to the MKV's?

 

[RockyMtnMT]

Would Howa also be considered there given the Vanguard and 1500 are essentially the same gun or are you more referring to the MKV's?

The mkv's. I should have clarified.

 

[jbronner13]

The mkv's. I should have clarified.

The MKV's I have handled were all very slick, Sako 85's I have handled all seemed well built too and slick but I have no experience shooting them at all. The Steyr's and some of those German/Austrian rifles I would love to play around with someday (Heym, Haenel, Voere, etc.), the only place around me that carries the European guns is about an hour and fifteen minutes away in Claremont NH, New England Custom Gun but the store hours and getting in to the actual store is kinda weird I guess (you have to be like buzzed in I heard).