I was reading an old thread about this and decided to revive it again.
If I had to pick a favorite factory rifle now, it would be hard.
For looks alone: Winchester Featherweight Classic, nothing looks as good as a Winchester.
For function: Ruger 77, probably one of the best action around.
For accuracy out of the box: Savage/Ruger (I've had good luck with Ruger lately). Savages have an enviable reputation for shooting good right from the get go.
For fit and finish: Ruger, they are the best right now, eclipsing CZ, and Winchester from the rifles I've seen lately. Remington would rate dead last.
For triggers: Remington, they have the best factory trigger. I'm aware of the problems with Remington triggers, but don't think they are insurmountable.
I don't like CZ's they just don't look or feel right and the 550 is as heavy as a boat anchor.
Sako is too expensive for what you get, I'd go custom first.
For the total package, of features and accuracy, I'd go Ruger. I'd have to add a Timney trigger, but then I'd have a super rifle. IMHO they are a classic rifle built on a classic design. They look like a rifle should look, much as the model 70 does. Although, I wouldn't sneeze at a Winchester Featherweight, although I'm probably the only person alive who doesn't like the model 70 trigger. CZs shoot pretty well and have a super trigger, but just aren't my cup of tea. They are rough in the action and feed horrible from the mags, on the ones I've owned and shot.

[ 10-20-2003, 17:06: Message edited by: Bobby ]

Of currently mass-produced rifles, Ruger Number 1.

I really don't have a favorite current factory rifle. I guess the one that comes closest is the Model 70 Classic, but I mostly buy these for the actions and have them extensively reworked into custom rifles. For me, they're really a "doner" or "parts" rifle and little else.

For as-is use, I'd rather look for older rifles such as Remington 700 "C" Grades from the 1960s or 1970s; Sakos built before 1972; Belgian-built Browning High Powers built in the 1960s; and (especially) pre-1964 Model 70 Winchesters, preferrably those built between 1951 and 1956. All of these rifles can shoot surprisingly well, especially with today's ammo, components and scopes; the resale value is certainly there; plus the true quality and pride of ownership is unmatched by anything being built today that's not custom or semi-custom. I see little need to buy any of today's factory rifles. The quality just isn't there, and the quality isn't there mostly because the average consumer isn't willing to pay for it.

Sidenote: The funny thing is, as much as I'm unenthusiastic about today's off-the-shelf hunting rifles, some of the best an most accurate handguns ever offered are being built now, today from S&W, Colt, Sig-Sauer, U.S. Firearms, etc....

AD

Before I got online a few years ago I was 100% satisfied with the rifles that I had. But these forums and other information have stimulated me to the point where I am trying new stuff.

At the moment I am still using the old rifles that I had however. Most are pre 64 M 70's with pads added, 99 Savages and an old FN or two. I had worked these rifles over and they were and are just fine.

I did buy an new M70 Classic in a WSM and that needed at lot of attention in the stock area. It's still not finished. Those new 70's have a better action and barrel than I thought that I would get. A Savage #12fvss was tried. That was a mistake.

The other day I got a new Kimber 84M and that may be a new favorite. Time will tell. I have a couple of "custom" rifles in the works. So far they have become a pain in the butt.

So my favorite rifle is really a new or used rifle that I fix up myself. The fun for me is getting it going. I have more than I need and not as many as I want. My cup is half full and I am busy and happy.

First list all the bolt rifles that are CRF, then exclude everything else! After that, rebuild them all for a finished rifle!

Most of the curent double rifles, and the Ruger No1s are OK, with the exception of the recoil pad on the No1!

Though the CZ 550 Safari does not look the way most in the USA would like, it is probably the closest to an, out of the box, hunting rifle made today! Cheap to buy as well! You will likely get by with little, or no mods to make the new Ruger 77 CRF safari rifles into something nice as well, in the $1600 range.

No amount of cutomizeing will make any pushfeed rifle into anything I want!

[ 10-20-2003, 20:02: Message edited by: MacD37 ]

The high grade Browning BAR. I've got an older grade III and grade IV, theres no reason you can't look pretty when you're hunting.

I never was that hung up on , it has to be a pre'64 M-70 or a pre '72 sako or M-700's made before 1985 or what have you. Yea some guns need a little TLC, and some need a compleat rebuild. I have seen some pre '64 70's that were at best not very good compared to what they made in the years 1937 to 1954 or so. A little TLC would take care of it. One of the best little rifles I hunt with is a MK-II Ruger M-77 in 6.5 x 55. yea it needed a bedding job and some trigger work. So what, for the 400 dollars I paid for it and the 150 bucks to the smith to take care of a couple of things and a fixed M- 8 6x leupold. I got a pretty good hunting rifle out of the deal. Lets face it, the rifle you buy off the rack for the most part is a very good value for the money spent. The above rifle just needed a few little things so that it would fit me better, and there for handle and shoot better. I have more money in just the rings on a Mannlicher Schoenaur M-1903. The Mannlicher is in a class all by themselves. You can make the same case Pre WW-I Pre WW-II and the junk they made as far as purists were conserned in the 1950's and 1960's. But those post war rifles were pretty good, they just change things a little to make them appeal to americans at the time. I would be the first to say that Savage makes an ugly rifle, but they shoot, and they work and for some its either that kind of rifle or no rifle at all. I would say that most guns do what most want them to do out of the box. For us on this board, well we are the very few that even know what it takes to make a good rifle a good rifle, and the some tolal of dollars spent is not the only thing. There are a lot of high dollar rifles around that look good and that is about it. I can remember that when fiberglass stocks first came out, there was all kinds of outrage. Now some of the best rifles that can be had, have stocks made of Kevlar and Fiberglass. Today a Echols rifle is considered to be one of the very best, If he made the Legend in the late 1950's or 1960's in would be considered to be cheap short cut way of doing things. When I pick up a new M-70 I don't see junk , I see posiblities. After all we are not the only generation of rifle loon's that took rifles out of the box and had them reworked into what we thought a rifle should be. I would and do buy current made guns as well as rifles from the past, they both have a place in my rack and in the field.

Model 70 Classic or Sako 75

Once I picked up a Sako 75, I was ruined for life..sakofan.. Right on, POP!!!

I have great luck with cz's I own 5 of them and all shoot well and are just easy to use and I think they are really worth a look for those wanting a mauser derivative. There safari 550 magnum rifles really are a bargain.

I intend to get an M70 ss .375 at some point probably my only complaint with my cz 550 .375 is that yeah it's probably a tad heavy, but that has it's advantages as well and. That weight in my cz lott and .416 is fine however.

Someone metioned cz's were rough in the action well if someone worked the action on my cz 550 .375 they would be asking to buy it off me, it is slickest cz action wise I own. My cz .458 Lott after rails and lugs polished is darn slick as well

I also like rugers there actions as there CRF.

So there you have it CZ'S, Win M70 Classic's and Rugers are my favourites.

[ 10-21-2003, 16:29: Message edited by: PC ]

As a post script to my earlier post, I have heard that CZ's lately are smoother than in the past, from several posts. I have not yet seen this at the gunshop, but do hope CZ was listening. As I said my neighbor has had a couple of CZ's for quite a while and they are rough, they did smooth up with time, but are not what anyone would call smooth.
I do agree they are a fine shooting rifle, with a fine trigger. Somehow, I just can't warm up to them. I'd still like to have a Ruger or model 70 that I've hand picked. Maybe I'll get a CZ later and it'll change my mind. I'm not died in the wool about any of them, I try to keep an open mind. If you buy a new Remington, you need a real open mind, from the last few I've seen.

I'm a fan of the Sako 75 also. Both of mine have been fantastic.

Bobby,

hand pick out a sfari Magnum buy it for your self and then go and shoot it (just get the stock bedded in kickers) and then it will really grow on you, integral rear sight base, double square bridges, M98 styled action. J.Belk has a review on cz's somewhere and he likes them, there not perfect I would purchase all Dakata actions or Granite arms if I could afford them but value for money and the features you get they are really are worth a look. Hey even the old Hogs back stock grows on you

I own two CZs and both are top notch. I have done a lot of work to both, not because I was forced into doing it, but because I wanted to do it. The bolt on both are very smooth; the accuracy is way, way above average; the wood to metal finish is good; the grade of Turkish Walnut wood is exceptional; triggers are completely fantastic; metal finish is good; and the stock finish sucked. The CZ 550 American does feel more heavy than say a Ruger. I too got a plastic follower and floorplate, but CZ readily switched those out at no cost to me. It never ceases to amaze me how someone will visit a gunshop, see one rifle and assume every CZ made is an exact copy of it. The CZs come in a wide variety of stock configurations including one that looks a hell of a lot like the Ruger from the right side of the rifle and a cheekpiece on the other side. Had a friend who asked me to go help him buy a rifle. We went into the shop and the owner there started blasting everything except Remingtons. I asked him what he owned and he responded: "Remington." To make a long story short, my bud bought a CZ, from one of the mail-order outfits and is happy as a bug-in-the-rug with it. The fellow who was downgrading the other rifles, including the CZs, had a personal agenda on tap. That was, and is, his problem. His other problem was that he lost a sale. I used to be a Ruger diehard. Not any more.

[ 10-22-2003, 02:12: Message edited by: thomas purdom ]

Gotta agree with PC here--CZ, CRF Win 70, and Ruger 77 for bolt rifles. In the levers, both pre-64 Win 94 (and 92!) are great, as are the current Marlin 336 and 1894.

I only wish the lever rifles would be offered in more of the classic hyphenated calibers, and WITHOUT the CAS claptrap and price gouging.

Wow....tough question. I like all the rifles that I currently own but if I had to pick just one it would be my CRF Model 70 classic 30-06 in stainless and wood. Followed by my Ruger mark IIs and Number 1. They are all very accurate. I have had great luck with Rugers as they come from the factory. All shooting under MOA.

For lever actions my choice is hands down my (2) pre-war (WWII......these things were around during WWI so I need to qualify) These rifles are as slick as silk. I love hunting with them.

Thomas Purdom,

Do you like cz rifles .........

I think they neally need a cz forum for us cz addicts

I love the Remington 700 Titanium .308 that my wife gave me for Christmas last year. It's now my "everything" rifle. It's taken an antelope and a deer so far, but I'm still waiting on the elk.

Yup, ditto the Sako 75. The Winchester classic would be my second choice. Sans bolts, it would be the Ruger #1.

Almost everything I shoot is vintage, except for a new Winchester M 70, BPS for steel shot, and a 77/22. I do own one other "new" shooter, a M700 in .22-250

PC ... well, yes! The darn things are just exceptional value for the money. By the way, did you ever get your problem squared around with the magazine follower and floorplate? Was just wondering. Tom Purdom

Win Mod 70 F/W; Browning 1885 Low Wall

Tom,

my sweet little cz is wearing all steel now and it looks a treat and I thank you for your offer of help, if I can help you let me know mate !!

I tell you what Tom you will be the cause of me spending more money all this talk of cz 7x57's I will have to get one to see what all the fuss is about. Thats how I ended up with a 9.3 cz, did I really need it when I have a .375 cz ?? YES

[ 10-22-2003, 16:39: Message edited by: PC ]

Another vote for the Sako 75. The Sauer 202 is a close second, but it's more expensive, and has a single column magazine, which I dislike because it cannot be topped off while inside the rifle.

carl gustav model 96 swede.

I still would buy a used pre 64 M-70, or a Customized Mauser...

If you can find and old Brno Mod 21 or 22 then thats the creme de creme of mass produced rifles that rivals the best of custom rifles....

Of todays factory guns, only the Ruger Safaris appeal to me, lots of gun for the money....

The CZ is basically a good rifle but I'd have to have one polished out and restocked, new iron sights, trigger, and bolt handle. About what I would do with a military mauser.

Browning BLR 81 in .308. Easy to carry, fast to the shoulder. Sudden death to all within my modest range limits. 300 yds

Well

Mauser obendorf 98 or a comercial Brno made 1920-1962

/ JOHAN

The BRNO ZKK series were the best "
out of the box " rifles i ever owned.

Dirk scout from Flanders

Best out of box rifle. That would be a Browning A-bolt, then a Win Model 70 Classic.

My favorite rifle is my T/C Encore in 7mm-08 with 24" barrel.. Out of the box it shoots factory loaded 140gr Partitions and Core loks into sub 1" groups all day. I can't wait to try some handloads! Trigger needs no work, no bedding required, etc. I can't say enough about this wonderful rifle. I'm surprised to see so many people out there continue to buy junky bolt actions from the BIG manufacturer's when they can get such a versatile and well made rig for a great price(mine was around $550). In stainless/synthetic it's 6 lbs. 12 oz. sans scope(Iuse a Leupold 2-7x, about 11 oz.). This is no "light contour" barrel either. Instead of some wispy, muzzle light barrel like you get on a "mountain rifle" with an Encore you get a normal well balanced rig that doesn't wander. I would recomend that anyone out there who is looking for a well made gun that shoots well try one out!