Those with 10 years or more hunting under their belts, your favorite off the shelf...

What is your favorite hunting rifle manufacturer?

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Ardent

Ardent

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Northern BC, Coastal BC, or Africa. Depends on the
For those who've hunted consistently for ten years or more, what's your favorite off the shelf rifle manufacturer? I'd like to think the poll represents the big ten, as they stand at present. Not aiming for your favorite rifle, but rather your overall favorite manufacturer.

For me, Ruger. Wicked products, wicked selection, wicked prices, wicked tough. Mine are at 6 countries, 8+ species, and counting. Lets keep the debate to a minimum, and stick to straight statements and a vote.
 
Winchester for me. Nothing like a Model 70 (unless we're talking high end like Sauer, Cooper, Dakota, Merkel, Blaser, etc). Sako comes close in my mind (and probably cranks out better hardware on average), but there's just something to the Model 70 that I love, it just *feels* right.
 
i'm trying, but I can't choose a specific manufacturer. I like my remington, browning, marlin, and winchester guns. I like my milsurps too :confused:
 
I'm a fan of the Winchester Mdl 70 but overall I had to go with RUger, too. Innovative company with a wide selection of quality products, bolt actions, semi auto rifles, single shots, handguns....

And of course they created the NEW KING.:)
 
a have always been a ruger fan not sure about the nerw models like hawkeye but the older bolts with tang safty were and still are a great hunting rig .the rem 700 also has a spot in my safe DUTCH
 
Hey Ardent I have seen that you have a great Gold Label shotgun, but dont you think otherwise that Ruger offers a middle of the road slightly boring type firearm? Their build style reminds me alot of Soviet style construction, rough around the edges, functional but slightly crude. I say this owning several Rugers.
 
None of these, except, sometimes, Brno and Sako... mostly HVAs (of course), FN Mausers, and my SHR 970 (wich I used quite a lot in the last years). When the weather is good, a Ross .280 or .303, too.
 
Every sako/tikka that I have seen (to the rifle), you could pull off the shelf and go hunting with in confidence. The only other manufacturer that I could think of on that list that's the same is Weatherby, but UUUUUUUG!, the stocks!
Mike
 
i have owned a lot of them on the list but for all their ugliness i like the accuracy of the savage. But i do lean unnaturally twords the ugly...please dont tell my wife she thinks shes pretty :) i just bought a browning a bolt medallion in 280 and have a standing order for the new weatherby S2 stainless in 300wthby when they hit the market. im collecting a bunch of rifles just in case gatehouse invites me to BC hunting. my brother is too inconsistant with his invites....just saying clarke ontario turkeys for BC blackbears after all they are around every tree according to the shows on direct tvs outdoor channel.
marsh
30yrs experience
 
The tang safety Rugers ....all variations of model 77 tang safety models closely followed by the tang safety Brownings...A bolt & X bolt.

50 plus years of hunting experience.

Pete G
 
Can't vote in the poll. I'm a fan of Savage 99's and old Marlins and good Rem 700's and I love my Hawkeye.....There are no losers on the list, but it's just too apples vs oranges to me. I could hunt the rest of my life with my Savage 99 or my Marlin 336A, but I couldn't say either is my favourite manufacturer.
 
Older Winchester/Older Remington, neck & neck. On it's heals, a newer Browning.
I have a soft spot for some well made Mausers too.....

PS: Coopers and Kimbers always get my attention, though I've never found my endearing combination. (And spare cash!)
 
USP said:
Hey Ardent I have seen that you have a great Gold Label shotgun, but dont you think otherwise that Ruger offers a middle of the road slightly boring type firearm? Their build style reminds me alot of Soviet style construction, rough around the edges, functional but slightly crude. I say this owning several Rugers.
Click to expand...

Good question, I agree actually with regards to the heavy, relatively simple nature of a lot of the Ruger product line, and must say I like that. I do tend to lean towards the high end of the Ruger line, my favorites being the Gold Label as you mentioned, the RSM, and the No.1. I certainly wouldn't call Ruger middle of the road or boring though, mind you, unless one is purchasing one of their middle of the road, boring guns, which certainly have a market but I don't buy in to. I see their offerings in interesting, rare calbers and models for one as negating any 'boring' being attached with them. In the last handful of years I've owned Rugers in .257 Roberts, 7x57 (in standard, and Boddington editions with high end wood and special finish), .218 Bee, .375 H&H, and on. They support, and cause to thrive, a lot of very unique, and special calibers forgotten by other makers, just recently doing the Ruger No.1A .303 and stainless steel Mannlicher/fullwood walnut M77 Mark II 7x57 as well. Pretty good for a straight up American operation, and for me at least exciting and definitely pulls them out of the middle of the road. Mind you, as mentioned, I tend to avoid the middle of the road products of any manufacturer. I'm not wealthy, but I like nice guns, so I stay out of gorgeous customs and dabble in the sweet end of production, Ruger seems to do that best for me and my style of hunting.
 
I couldn't vote in your poll because may 2 fav. rifles for hunting were made by C. Sharps a 45/70 and a 50/90 Sharps, both feature my favorite Badger Barrels. Next is my fav. varmint gun, a CPA Stevens, and then my Marlin leverguns.
 
I went with CZ/Brno. I like the Mauser 98 actions and the fact that these rifles generally come with 5-6 round mags, even for magnum cartridges. I also definitely like the full stock options available on some models. And they generally look very nice, with quality bluing and nice wood.

Ruger a fairly close second, due to their rugged, reliable nature, integrated scope bases and free rings.
 
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