I know a little about short range br and br shooters and believe me if savage rifles were up to the task in this very technical game the shooters at all these matches would be using them. They are not, nor are they using remingtons.
X2, without the knowledge about br. Thanks for that. I think it would be ridiculous to claim otherwise too. (So would Jerry. Necessary, because things are being said about him that simply aren't true.)
All that being said, having bought and shot Remington, Springfield, Mauser, etc. for so many years, I have been pleasantly surprised by Savages recently, and by the Savage action I have (my first in years). What has happened to me is that this has rekindled my interest. The other day I started thinking Nesika, Panda, Krieger, Gaillard, etc. just because of the small groups I have been seeing with my Savage (not teeny, teeny, tiny; yes 5 shots; I want to eliminate yesterdays results as there was a fishtailing wind that drove me nutz.). This for somewhere around $500 for the basic equipment without the scope (Leupold 36X BR, bought many years ago; my money went into a scope); second hand barrel ($100); $350 rifle; free stock; could build my own, but got lucky and lazy). Rechambering and reinstallation of the barrel cost extra. That's the way interest grows for me and for many others. For myself, having a life outside shooting; and having so many things I want to do; and having so many different types of shooting I like to do; and having so many more kinds to learn about; causes a problem and forces choices. I would really have to approach the dedication of funds and time it would take to shoot respectable benchrest, let alone compete well, or even be a champion, if it was in the cards and I had some talent, slowly and in small steps. The desire is there, of course, for me as well as ANY friends I have in shooting. There is something fascinating about the idea of extreme precision (where br exists in my mind). What helps it grow is having other more dedicated and talented people making information available to get you started on the developmental path.
Another thing that strikes me again and again is the question of what exists in the shooting sports, regardless of venue, for the guy or girl who, for whatever reason, never will be top competitor or even competitively inclined. They are the people that keep a sport going and, in case no one has noticed, there is alot of competition for their time from other sports, as well as negative public opinion to deal with. None of this is helped by dissing people who are out there trying.