what do you classify as a 'premium' hunting rifle?

Does premium rifles only refer to bolt actions? Is there such a thing as a premium lever action or semi-automatic rifle?

For lever action, would it be a Browning BLR?

Semi-auto?
Many single shot rifles out there such as, blaser, merkel, luxus, miller, dakota and even the ruger #1.
 
I don't have any "ultra premium" hunting rifles, but I think I just went through the same thought process as you in choosing a firearm. I wanted a. handling (had to fit me), b. durability, c. lightweight d. accuracy. I looked at the Kimber 84L and thought it was the one, I loved the handling but I thought the stock was to hard, possibly brittle. I liked the tikka T3 lite but it didn't seem to fit right. Then I picked up new X bolt stainless stalker and loved everything about it. So I think what you do is, spend the time to find and handle all the ones you think meet the list of priorities you've chosen, then pick the one you like most.

Oh and I forgot about the trigger, not sure where it would fall in that list of priorities but all three of the rifles noted above were pretty good. Tried an axis just cause...awful trigger...maybe as bad as my 858.
 
This could change with the addition to my herd of a Benelli R1 338 mag, it may become very high on the list... JP.
 
Seriously? Brittle?

I know they are not, but it's just an adjective, and a pretty accurate one at that. I would have described it as "stiff" and "rough" feeling. No give to it like many of the tupperware jobbies that so many have become accustomed to. I get it completely. If you feel a Browning XBolt and a Sako Finnlight, both of which have "tacky/grippy" feeling stocks, and then handle a Kimber, it would seem 180degrees different.
 
I know they are not, but it's just an adjective, and a pretty accurate one at that. I would have described it as "stiff" and "rough" feeling. No give to it like many of the tupperware jobbies that so many have become accustomed to. I get it completely. If you feel a Browning XBolt and a Sako Finnlight, both of which have "tacky/grippy" feeling stocks, and then handle a Kimber, it would seem 180degrees different.

A rigid stock that doesn't flex or give, is a good thing.
 
I used to have a finnlight with that "grippy texture" and hated it. It seemed to be exactly the same as a cheap hogue stock from an SPS I had a while back. Ill take a "brittle" feel all the time.
 
Seriously? Brittle?
Yes, I used that term quite literally. I know that stock is made of top notch materials but how thick is it through the flat sides of the butt end. They feel thin, like putting a hole in it by say dropping it on a sharp piece of BC rock would be very easily accomplished. Like a cheap fiberglass boat hull.
 
I know they are not, but it's just an adjective, and a pretty accurate one at that. I would have described it as "stiff" and "rough" feeling. No give to it like many of the tupperware jobbies that so many have become accustomed to. I get it completely. If you feel a Browning XBolt and a Sako Finnlight, both of which have "tacky/grippy" feeling stocks, and then handle a Kimber, it would seem 180degrees different.

That is what "premium" feels like.
 
That is what "premium" feels like.

How exactly? It it somehow more accurate? Sounds like Kimber is plagued with accuracy issues (not saying they aren't turning out perfectly acceptable accuracy levels for sub six pound hunting rifles. But come on, what exactly is it that this stock design is doing for enhanced performance, putting it in the "premium" class?
 
Light and stiff is better than soft, flexible and injection molded...

Ok....I'll continue to take the grippy, durable feeling stocks for hunting rifles.

Fwiw, I like the rigid feel of fiberglass and aluminum in target stocks...where having a stiff stock actually counts.
 
It counts in hunting stocks as well, where being slightly off, can result in a wounded animal.

Thats really funny because if you go have a look at the accuracy challenge in this forum it is dominated by the lowly working class rifles of all the common manufacturers. The only premium rifle there is a cooper.
 
Thats really funny because if you go have a look at the accuracy challenge in this forum it is dominated by the lowly working class rifles of all the common manufacturers. The only premium rifle there is a cooper.

Maybe because the only good use for cheap rifles is bench paper punching at 100 yards from bags and sleds? Real life accuracy is way more affected by how you can shoulder the rifle itself without supports all around it. The experience from premium rifle that fits you is way beyond savage axis despite "all weather durable plastic". Just a thought.
 
Thats really funny because if you go have a look at the accuracy challenge in this forum it is dominated by the lowly working class rifles of all the common manufacturers. The only premium rifle there is a cooper.

The accuracy challenge is all about group size, off of a benchrest, not a consistent point of impact with varying conditions, as with hunting.
 
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