Do you have a brand of rifle you are committed to?

I have always thought of that as a disadvantage for bedding. I have done a Model 70 and I found it easy and straightforward because of the flat receiver bottom and the integral recoil lug.
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The problem with a flat-bottomed action, especially in a wood stock, is that as wood dries, it shrinks away from the metal and tends to string shots sideways. If a synthetic stock doesn't fit well, the same can happen.

On a round-bottomed action, tightening the stock screws tends to center the action, even if there's a bit of space at the top.

All else being equal, most target/benchrest rifles have rounded actions, often Remingtons.
 
Picher said:
The problem with a flat-bottomed action, especially in a wood stock, is that as wood dries, it shrinks away from the metal and tends to string shots sideways. If a synthetic stock doesn't fit well, the same can happen.

On a round-bottomed action, tightening the stock screws tends to center the action, even if there's a bit of space at the top.

All else being equal, most target/benchrest rifles have rounded actions, often Remingtons.
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To the first statement, I would think this would not matter when bedded properly with a good bedding material like Devcon or Marine-Tex. There would be very little shrinkage.

To the bolded statement, I know of some respected shooters like Bart B. that might argue that the reason Remington actions are used for more target rifles over Winchester 70 actions has nothing to do with the Remington being better or more suitable in any way.
 
I'm in the Remington camp as well, I have 4 mod.700's and 1 mod.7600. Haven't had any reason to try any others.:D
 
Legends of Long-ago Hunts

Not being enamoured with the modern world, I prefer guns of a bygone age. So when I go away from civilization to hunt the backwoods I don't want it to feel like this is 2014. I will have to come back to all that; but for my all-too-brief escape, I can not tolerate a plastic stocked rifle. There's just something about an old Winchester with well worn bluing that you can't buy in a new rifle. If I had to choose a Savage it would have to be an older model 99; with its rotary-spool magazine, it's a marvelous contraption, don't you think? Older Winchesters and Marlins are what I'm drawn to the most. Hmmmm, a back-woods hunting camp that has nothing newer than the 1950's....... Yep, a trusty old Winchester loaded with vintage Silvertips. What more could you possibly want?;)
 
More specifically......

Bolt action rifle of preference, (strong preference): Model 70 Winchester, duh... Lever action rifle of preference: Well I wish I could afford an 1886 Winchester, but since I can't let's go with a model 94 Winchester from the mid-1940's or earlier or model 55 Winchester. If we have to go more modern I would opt for a Marlin 336-T. An older Savage 99 with the spool magazine and side safety is respectable also, but it's in a class of it's own. I'm not much into pump rifles but there again Winchester shines and we all know that the model 1912 Winchester is the Holy Grail of pump shotguns;;) but this is a rifle forum. Suffice it to say that Winchester is not the only good brand of firearms out there; but generally, many of its products are among the very best. Additionally, if matters to you aesthetically, when the Old West was at its wildest, Winchester was there. Go with the Legend; go Winchester.
 
Ruger or Sako here. My Sako is an older Finnbear in .270 Win[circa '68-69?] and is usually the rifle I go to first. Nothing wrong with my Ruger's, just really like that Sako!
 
Liambobbi and I share the same feeling about the TC Icons. So I'm partial to any make that uses the same features.

The closest off-the-shelf rifle I've found to an Icon for a very affordable price was the Winchester Mod 70 "extreme sporter", a blued version of the extreme weather for about 2/3s the cost. I can't bring myself to spring for a Weatherby Mark V accumark, or a Sako Tecomate ($1300-$1800).

A couple of wthby vanguards end up in BC medalist full alum block stocks at my house.

I'm not manufacturer driven, I am feature driven for an affordable price.
 
I think the M98 action the best, but FN stopped making good M98 actions in the 50's, and since then, it has been Winchester M70's for me. I prefer the controlled round feed, but the push feeds are good.

While the gas venting in a M70 is not as good as a M98, I learned to wear shooting glasses.

There are other actions, but the M70 is the smoothest and slickest in my opinion. The modern FN made M70's are excellent.
 
If I only had one rifle it would be a Winchester Model 70, controlled feed.


All the others,.....not so much.
 
When you get to be older than most, you form opinions based on experience and information from lots of different sources. I grew up in the era of Winchesters, the Mdl. 70 and the Mdl. 94. When Winchester lowered their standards we were disappointed and started looking for substitutes. For me that meant Ruger and Marlin.

I am very happy with my Ruger rifles. I believe they are as good or better than most and in a price range that the average person can afford. Are there better guns, maybe, but not at a price I am willing to pay. I'll stick with Ruger for bolt guns and single shots.

Lately I have been on a quest to acquire 2 or 3 good pre-64 Winchester 94's. I have two post-64 guns and they are pretty good shooters, but they just don't have the fit, finish or smoothness of the older guns. Even a carefully used and slightly worn pre-64 has a better finish than many of the newer guns.

So for me, it is Ruger and old Winchesters. I've never been disappointed in my choices.
 
Not really, no - I change as I learn & horse-trade, and it depends so much on the extras like stock, bbl fluting, other customizations, chambering, price, etc.

But I'm *very* fond of the T/C Icon Classic and the recent Win 70s... Also a big fan of CZ 550s in about any flavor, but especially the FS models.

I like Remington 7s and 700s, and Browning A-bolts, too though, in turnbolts.

In levers, OLD Marlins. I really hope that someday new Marlins will be as good as old Marlins (since the Wins are no more, and the Mossbergs stink).

Savages, meh - I've had them and like them, but they are frankly, ugly, with that big rear hump and barrel nut, so I've divested. I really wish I could get a Savage Lightweight Hunter action & bbl (with the fluted bolt), BUT mated with a "Lady Hunter" stock - that'd be about the only Savage I'd own at this point - it would be pretty & light - enough to make up for the otherwise-homeliness.

Oh, Browning levergun rimfires are great (BL22), and the centerfire leverguns (BLR) are very high quality, but detachable mags in a hunting rifle are beyond silliness.

In pumps, the Rossi/Taurus 62 rimfire is a fine rifle, as well as the IMI Timberwolf. I love the idea of a Cooper and want one, but even if/when I get one, I doubt that I'll be "committed" to them, since I won't be able to afford that.
 
Old Remingtons (especially the 721/722 and 725 models).

Newer Savages (This is my go-to brand) especially the 14/114 American Classic and Model 12s.

Thompson's Icons are high on my list, and their Venture is pretty awesome too.

I like Older Marlins; they're just smoother than the new ones.


KR
 
I have quite a bit of diversity in my rifles but I own more Browning A-bolts than any other. Their fit and feel are just right for me.
 
YES SAVAGE I have 6 of them. They are a 1/2 at a 100 Yd out of the box! With a little reloading they will make one hole at 100 Yd. I all so have there muzzle loader that uses high power rifle powder very easy to clean!!
 
My loyalty has been the caliber that's been available that I wanted, first. For instance a 280 Hawkeye, a 260 Weather Warrior LH, 30-06 700BDL LH converted to 338-06, and a 30-06 700 SPS LH.

I'll second Brian on Savage being the premier value today. My 260 WW shoots better than anything I've got without any changes.
 
I can't believe no one has mentioned Weatherby. I also like Savage and Remington and would not be deterred by any reputable manufacturer.

I really like my Weatherby rifles. They are not popular right now because they are heavy but they have served me well over the years.
 
Weatherby offers a damn fine product. All mine are made by Howa so for me a shout out for Weatherby is a shout out for Howa. For a first time buyer I've recommended the vanguard many times. Very solid, well engineered piece of work.
 
mausers of old world quality

or any modern, true variant, of the "controlled round feed" M98 version, such as the Winchester M70, Ruger M77, FN98, CZ, Zastava 798 or M70 series to name a few, there are so many variants on the used market available at reasonable prices.
I don't particularly care for all the budget rifles by Ruger, Savage, Remington, Marlin etc.., I generally prefer wood/blue, which when cared for and maintained properly will stand up to any weather conditions "mother nature" can dish out .
I can pretty much say if the weather is bad enough to stop a gun from working, :eek: I'm not gonna be in it!! :D
I also prefer old world cartridges like the 7x57, 8x57, 300 Savage, & 30-06, they still get the job done:D
 
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