Yes, Savage, off the shelf rifles have won.
But we don't know how each rifle was selected to use. If I owned Savage, I'd have several dozen checked for bore uniformity and diameters best for accuracy, then test those few that perfromed best and pick the four best ones to represent my company. We don't know if Savage did that. Savage button rifles their barrels. If they're measured for bore diameters and the smallest ones picked, then the ones with the most uniform twist are selected, they would shoot most accurate.
Does any major manufacturer produce a gun that would b considered a true long range rifle?
No, not in my opinion. But Savage probably comes the closest to doing it. Any one with an external box magazine should be avoided; they're the hardest action types to make shoot accurately. No factory uses a custom, aftermarket barrel precision chambered and fit to their untrued receivers. I've never read nor heard about any factory rifle review claiming one would shoot at least 10 shots in 7 or 8 minutes under 1/2 MOA at 500 yards or 3/4 MOA at 1000; that's what the best custom made long range rifles do with ease.
I know savage makes a bench rest model but is it comparible to a custom rifle?
Several of Savage's rifles will do pretty good, but there's a small spread in the accuracy across all of the same model and caliber.
Do they really blue print or true the action?
No. Costs too much for their marketing departments to allow.
Shouldn't all rifles b trued when they leave the factory? I know they are not but seriously is there any rifle in production that should/could possibly b a true long range rifle straight out of the box? No limit on price! Sako, kimber, cooper, weatherby, sig, anybody?
Well, if they were all trued up, half the truing details would not make any difference. And less than 5% of their customers would be able to tell the difference between a trued one and one that's not trued. The price difference would be substantial between standard and trued versions.
For the price of one of the rifles Mr. Borland mentions, you could get a used Win 70 rifle, lap its lugs then true its bolt and receiver face, have a Kreiger match barrel properly installed and chambered, the receiver epoxy bedded in a cheap but decent wood stock, put a $500 scope on it and have money left over to buy good reloading tools and a bunch of components then take your family out to dinner. It'll shoot as good as any match winning long range rifle. People have been doing that for decades.
After you get one, you'll need to reload ammo that's up to the accuracy task you'll need to equal what the winners get. But that's cheap and easy to do.
Rifles are like cars. You don't buy a NASCAR, LeMans or Indy 500 that'll "hang with the others performing the best" from a local, distant or an on-line retailer.
