Rem 770: You probably shouldn't buy it, but it is accurate nevertheless.
Just for fun, I bought one of those Remington 770 rifles when it was on sale really cheap. No particular reason, just a cheap thrill. I got it in 7mm Rem Magnum because I don't own any other 7mm Mag.
Holy crap, I am totally impressed with its accuracy, and the ease with which it develops accurate handloads.
But it has lousy controls and lousy fit and finish. I guess not everything 'Made in America' is made very well.
A hard rifle to live with, to be sure. It feels like a cheap crummy toy of a rifle, but it shoots 0.770" groups with handloads, and 0.880" groups with Remington factory ammo.
Here are my criticisms.
The fit and finish is poor.
The controls are difficult.
The stock feels like a Tonka Toy version of a toy hunting rifle.
You need the skill of a surgeon to release and insert the magazine.
The bolt release is completely un-intuitive.
The Bushnell scope is a cheap version of a cheap scope.
The trigger feels like prying open a car door with a crow bar.
The sling mounts are just barely screwed into the cheap polymer plastic stock.
Drawing the bolt feels like a tow truck winching a wrecked jeep out of a ditch.
But when you put the crosshairs on a target at 100 yards and pull the trigger, it hits within 3/8" of the where the crosshairs pointed. Yes, for all its faults, the rifle has a barrel that is indeed that accurate.
A lot of guys on this Forum bash the 770 rifle badly without ever owning one.
They would probably be surprised at its accuracy.
It probably outshoots most of them.
If you want a cheap rifle that feels and handles
like a cheap crummy rifle,
this is your huckleberry.
Just be prepared to shoot straight with it.
It will shoot straight.
I don't own a Savage, I only checked them out at the gun store.
They feel much better than the Remington 770.
Find a Savage owner and borrow one, if he lets you.
It is probably a better buy.