I didn't accept delivery of the Rem 770 and got a refund. To reassure myself on this decision I played with the bolt action and it isn't smooth and would be terrible for follow up shots. It's a heavy rifle too. I checked out two versions of the Savage both in 30.06 one for $399 and the other for $499 and the actions were superior to the Remington 770.
I have decided to go with the Baretta T-3 it has the smoothest action and you can see the quality in it. If I didn't know about the Baretta then I would have got one of those Savages which are readily available though I'm in no hurry as I have all the time in the world pending price increases and availability of these rifles.
If memory serves me correct when I compared these guns a few months ago:
The Baretta T-3, Savage, Remington, CZ and Vanguard,
the Baretta really shined in the bolt action over all of them being so smooth for follow up shots.
The heavier Remington clearly the bolt kept getting hung up. The Savage was a little better but didn't hang up as much as the Rem 770.
The only thing I remember about the CZ was that it was a larger heavier gun with nice wood stock for $549 made in CZech. Same thing with the Vanguard priced at $649 great looking wood stock but a large rifle made in Japan.
Both of these rifles are loaded via floor plate which is slower and more difficult to load than pre-loaded detachable clips like on the Baretta.
I don't think the smoothness of the bolt actions got my attention on the Vanguard and CZ like the Baretta T-3 did where it really stood out as well as the lighter weight of rifle which means more recoil.
I have found a place that has both of these guns but you have to pre-pay for the CZ and then they can take 10% of the price of $689 so in this case I would be buying a gun with a great reputation but not really knowing how it felt which would be a poor basis to make a decision for purchase but at a great price.
The Baretta I already know how that rifle feels and it is more obtainable to find but I know now that's the one I want and but price difference is only 30.00 between Baretta and the CZ in this case.
I would still want to give the CZ the benefit of a doubt since it has a great reputation and see what that feels like because at 689 minus 10% is the best price I have found so far on a CZ but again as previously mentioned you have to prepay for a rifle that I can't be as sure of like the Baretta.
Maybe I should get both of them?
Or get the CZ first since the opportunity is there
I have a gun collecting friend that said If he were only able to have one rifle it would be the Mauser and the CZ is the closest to it. All the others are pushers.