Contemplating a rifle comparison.... Input desired!

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jmr40 said:
All of the budget rifles you are considering are what I refer to as "disposable" rifles. As a rule they shoot very well.

It is easier and cheaper to just buy another. It is often possible to buy a higher end gun used for about the same price and have a much better long term investment.
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All of these rifles have a barrel nut attaching system so barrel replacement should be easy. The Savage even uses standard Savage threaded barrels. I'd love to know what thread the 783 uses on the barrel. Elsewhere I have read the Ruger uses a 1"-16 thread.

What really intrigues me about the possibility of easy barrel replacement is that most of these have a closed top receiver. The added rigidity of that extra meat in the receiver is likely one reason they shoot so well and should likewise translate to great potential with a replacement bull barrel.

Poper,
Since you've got a 783 in hand, I'd be interested in the specs on that. Little things Remington doesn't tell you like the action screw spacing, barrel nut thread and if 700 triggers or stocks will fit. ;)
 
Caliper_RWVA said:
What really intrigues me about the possibility of easy barrel replacement is that most of these have a closed top receiver. The added rigidity of that extra meat in the receiver is likely one reason they shoot so well and should likewise translate to great potential with a replacement bull barrel.
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Something to consider is the closed top receiver makes FTF/FTE more difficult to clear out, according to what I heard. I don't know from experience, though. I read a review where one rifle on this list failed to feed.
 
Something to consider is the closed top receiver makes FTF/FTE more difficult to clear out, according to what I heard. I don't know from experience, though.
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In all my years of shooting and hunting (some 45 years or so) I have had one (1) failure to extract. That one time was caused by a case head separation due to one too many loadings. The case head popped out easy enough, but the body of the case was left in the chamber. In other words: Operator error. It was easily cleared with a cleaning rod and bore brush.

My old Remington 788 (purchased new in 1982) has a closed type receiver top very similar to these actions. Never had an issue. And, from what I hear, the old 788 actions are very desirable for accuracy builds.
 
Poper said:
In all my years of shooting and hunting (some 45 years or so) I have had one (1) failure to extract. That one time was caused by a case head separation due to one too many loadings.
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The important question is, is the new crop of lower priced bolt-actions that reliable.
 
peacebutready said:
The important question is, is the new crop of lower priced bolt-actions that reliable.
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Precisely... are they? Do you have factual data? My POS Axis seems pretty decent to me... I'm agreeing with your earlier post that it's a decent firearm vs. others who seem to think it's a POS. :)
 
Robustness, or lack of for these rifles under consideration

Something else important is how robust these rifles are. We can't expect them to compare against more expensive ones but just how much less robust are they?

Has anyone heard anything about that of these rifles from someone who has used it for sometime, whether that be going on hunts or firing a good number of rounds through it?
 
Price vs. robust: It turned out that my ex was a cheap -blank- but she was far more robust than the average woman. I could not break her... she broke me instead. So much for being the man. I'm all shot-out.
 
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That article mentions a magazine failure though. Having an open topeed receiver isn't going to help if the mag isn't pushing rounds up.
 
My Tikka in 270 shoots 1 inch or less with virtually everything I feed it. 1/2 inch with it's favorite load of R-22 and 130 gr. Partition. Trigger is adjustable and crisp. The only drawback is the plastic magazine.
 
Precisely... are they? Do you have factual data? My POS Axis seems pretty decent to me... I'm agreeing with your earlier post that it's a decent firearm vs. others who seem to think it's a POS.
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I've got two... just as good as my 111. Trigger pull is "meh", but both shoot under a minute, and have never had a failure.
 
Inebriated said:
I've got two... just as good as my 111. Trigger pull is "meh", but both shoot under a minute, and have never had a failure.
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You can put an aftermarket trigger in them. I think one brand is Timney. There's also info about do-it-yourself trigger-jobs out there. Is it a bad idea for a regular person to attempt this?
 
You can put an aftermarket trigger in them. I think one brand is Timney. There's also info about do-it-yourself trigger-jobs out there. Is it a bad idea for a regular person to attempt this?
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I have put a couple triggers in an Axis. A Timney and an AccuTrigger. Easy to do. The savage triggers are incredibly simple, just a pin holding it in place, and a spring at the back of the trigger is what controls tension. You can use springs from pens if you want to lighten up the factory trigger, but with that (as well as the Timney and Rifle Basix) you have to be careful, if you go too low, you can get AD's. That's why I really like the AccuTrigger. Could go as low as you want, and it's not going to risk an AD.
 
I'd end up spending a fortune on ammo trying to find the right load for all those rifles. You just can't get that money back either. I'd much rather buy a really nice rifle with really nice glass. If the rifle didn't suit me most rifles in that price range can be sold for what you have in them or close to it. You can keep the scope for your next great rifle.

I've had exceptionally good luck with Savage rifles. I have 3 that are absolute tack drivers and another that shoots very well. They make some rifles that would make anybody happy. They make different styles too whether it's a target rifle, a hunter or a tactical. I like target/varmint rifles myself. I like shooting longer ranges. But you may want something different. I only have one long range Savage. I have a 30.06 hunting rifle and a couple of .22's that are just ridiculously accurate. So is the long range varmint rifle I have.

Spend about $1400 on a rifle (or maybe a little more) and put a real top quality scope on it. I'd just about bet you won't be disappointed. And it will be a rifle that will last a lifetime too.

There are other great rifles of course. I just know that I've had really good luck with Savage stuff. I like CZ rifles too (and pistols too for that matter). You already have some nice rifles of course. But you don't have a Savage. I really think you would enjoy having one.

Some of those entry level rifles you mentioned will shoot well but I'd be concerned about how they hold up. I don't think an Axis is on par with the quality of the 110 based Savages. The Ruger might be a great rifle. I haven't messed with one much so far. They appear to be a fine design but it's a design they copied from Savage IMO. They made some improvements but until I see one do what my Savages will do I won't be convinced they are as good. Others may know already. I just don't like to make comments when I don't really know the subject all that well. I know the American is getting a good reputation. I know the Axis is an accurate model. But I don't see the Axis as being as good as most Savages and I really don't know what to thing about the Rugers.
 
I am very interested in your review. I am curious about the 785 in particular. I like to objective results.
 
Well, a new Rem. 783 is on its way for a price that could not be resisted. :)

If I go through with this project, and I just might, I think I will probably limit the entry level rifles to the Ruger American, Remington 783 and the Savage Axis. Also, I will have to do it in stages.
Stage 1: Remington 783 - How it stacks up to the more expensive Weatherby Vanguard, Tikka T3 Hunter and Browning 1885.

Stage 2 and Stage 3 will be dependent on availability of funds and price of the Ruger and Savage rifles as I continue my shopping searches.... ;)

Poper
 
I recently bought a 783, and an American. Both 30-06. Both shoot under an inch(.62), and probably would do better in the hands of marksman. They both shot sub 1" right out of the box(after cleaning), and using "store bought" ammo. My reloads do a little better. There are things that I like about both. Had a minor problem with the 783 magazine picking up the first round, customer service was nice, and there is a new one on the way.
I like the recoil pad on the 783 a little better, it's not as "sticky" as the others. The rotary mag in the Ruger is slick. I couldn't pick a winner between them. I can't afford enough reloading components to shoot out a barrel on any of the several rifles I own, so I'm not worried about that. I have three Vanguards, and they are great shooters as well. I hate to see folks "bad mouthing" products that they have no hands on experience with. Good luck with the comparison, I'm definitely interested. Wish I could afford to do the same.
 
News?

Poper said:
Well, a new Rem. 783 is on its way for a price that could not be resisted. :)

If I go through with this project, and I just might, I think I will probably limit the entry level rifles to the Ruger American, Remington 783 and the Savage Axis.
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Any news?
 
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