For the record, Big Green, aka Remington, still builds great rifles, as does Savage, as does BACO, Browning Arms, who produces Winchesters and Brownings, etc. A lot of the complaining you get to read on the inter web is from folks who have limited experience with rifles and have difficulties for which they own a good part of the responsibility. Some is no doubt legit but bad customer service and defective rifles are rare indeed.
As examples, this is my first 3-shot group at 100 yards from a very recently acquired Rem 700 XCR II in .375 H&H Magnum using some hand loads. I had quickly sighted in the scope with some factory loads using Federal Premium with 260gr Nosler Accubond bullets; this set used the same bullet and the accuracy load at 2640fps recommended in the Nosler manual. I decided that load development was completed for my North American hunting needs...and that, just the one more time, Big Green got it right.
To show you that Remmy's less expensive rifles in .308 do just as well, this next pic is a 5-shot group at 100 yards with the hand loads indicated, that I shot two weeks ago. As in the rifle above, these are unmodified Rem 700s except for replacing the factory stocks with Bell & Carlson Medalist sported or target stocks and glass-bedding the action, which I do with any Rem I acquire.
This group is using the 2700fps "accuracy load" recommended by Sierra for the 168gr Match King bullet, used in Federal Gold Medal Match factory loads.
The final pic is a 3-shot group I obtained at a range session in March 2012 with my Savage 116 in .30-06, also at 100 yards. I was using my standard Match loads in .30-06, as indicated. The rifle, a 2009 unmodified 116 FHSAK, is straight out of the factory box, but wearing one of my Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 scopes in Leupy bases and rings.
I posted this to show that all these companies produce rifles as good or better than they ever have and that, as delivered, they shoot better than the shooter can in most cases. I'll admit, when I get a rifle, I check all the action screws and their tightness, I mount my own scopes, and work to find loads that are particularly useful for both practice and hunting, and, in the case of synthetic stock Remmys, change out the stocks and have my bud, a gunsmith, bed them and free float the barrels. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to expect excellent results from all the major manufacturers in their medium-priced lines. You should buy the rifles you like and, expect satisfaction.
Good luck,
FH
Certified NRA Instructor
NRA Life Member
1946-vintage Curmudgeon
