What is your brand loyalty and why?

I'm not brand loyal, however I will not purchase junk firearms, ie: savage, browning x-bolt, marlin, remington, H&R, etc.
 
While I still appreciate "pretty" guns, for hunting, it has to be accurate, reliable and in the case of most years, waterproof and tough as nails. In the field i don't care about aesthetics, so any brand that fits that bill is fine.

Except Remingtons. $%@#$ Remingtons.
 
I loved Ruger for rimfires but with the recent quality control issues with a few I had, combined with the poor customer service I'd never will buy another Ruger firearm again.
 
Even though I'm not brand loyal I have to wonder about the statements made in this thread about Browning Abolt rifles. I have owned two, still have one and with the possible exception of a Remington BDL in 7mm Magnum that I have given to my no2 son, they have been the most accurate rifles I have owned. I have never owned a Tikka and I don't doubt the fact that they are fine and accurate rifles but so are many others, including most Abolts. I also wonder about folks who denigrate rifles that don't cost an arm and a leg. I appreciate fine firearms and own a couple of them but to say, for instance that a savage 110 is junk just doesn't make sense to me. They shoot straight, they don't fall apart and they last a long time. For heavens sake, what is not to like?
 
reomack said:
Even though I'm not brand loyal I have to wonder about the statements made in this thread about Browning Abolt rifles. I have owned two, still have one and with the possible exception of a Remington BDL in 7mm Magnum that I have given to my no2 son, they have been the most accurate rifles I have owned. I have never owned a Tikka and I don't doubt the fact that they are fine and accurate rifles but so are many others, including most Abolts. I also wonder about folks who denigrate rifles that don't cost an arm and a leg. I appreciate fine firearms and own a couple of them but to say, for instance that a savage 110 is junk just doesn't make sense to me. They shoot straight, they don't fall apart and they last a long time. For heavens sake, what is not to like?
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Many people, myself included, don't appreciate the abortion of a magazine system used on the A-bolt. Apparently Browning is well aware of this. hence the very different magazine system used on the X-bolt. As well, the trigger and bolt system used on the A-bolt is over designed, with too many parts. The fit and finish is quite good, but the design is flawed. which is why Browning brought out the X-Bolt.
 
58% of my firearms are Rugers . 20 of the Rugers are #1.

I also own variety of others, Coopers, Luxus, Kimber ,C Sharps, JP Sauer, CZ, Marlin.

I tend to collect and shoot firearms in more unusual cartridges and or chambered in firearms that are not the normal platform for the cartridge .

Below is the current cartridge lineup.

22 LR
204
6x45
284
45-70
22 HNT
7.62X39
6.5x55
12
16
8x57R
280AI
30-30
222
280
303
475 LB
2506
225
6mm
405
375 H&H
257 Rbts
300RCM
7X57
218 Bee
38-55
45-70
9.3x74r
280
250-3000
17HMR
22 Mag
44 Spcl
357 Mag
41 Mag
45 Colt
44 Blk/45C
22/22Mag
357 Max
44 Mag
54
410

357,
 
reomack said:
Gosh, Looking at the Xbolts and comparing them to the Abolts, my thought was that Browning needed to simplify its manufacturing processes (cheapen its rifles) in order to stay competitive. I guess I was in error.
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More parts and more complication doesn't make a rifle better, quite the opposite usually. The x-bolt is a large step above the a-bolt in many aspects. I am a big fan of M98 based rifles, and European rifles, so the x-bolt is quite out of character for me, but I recognized it's qualities none the less.

Savage or Mossberg on the other hand, I tend to run from them.
 
calvados.boulard said:
Asides from an honorable mention I'm surprised no one has mentioned CZ yet. I don't have any experience with their shotguns, but for pistols, rimfire rifles, and centerfire rifles they do quite fine by me. Browning Citori shotguns hold a special place with me. As for Norinco/DA...I have a DA AR that I will never sell. Solid as a rock, and runs no matter what. I know it's not a show piece or anything but what can you say about dead nuts reliability. Every other Norinco I have tried has been mediocre at best. For the $'s they aren't bad, but I won't be bringing in any more of them.

Thanks,
Cal.
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Had a CZ 20g sxs. Nice shotgun, very good value, it was a lot of gun for the buck, and if I still wandered the uplands for grouse I would have kept it.

With Norinco, sometimes it's a bargain, sometimes it's not. Agree fully with you about their Ar15's. The 870 clone I have is excellent, more reliable than some current Remmy's I've seen. And I've had a Norinco SKS that has chugged through 10K or more rounds with minimal maintenece and only replaced 2 small parts recently. It will shoot 2.5" group at 100 yards, not bad. Been a few of their guns I wasn't a fan of at all, and some I would never buy.
 
favorite brand?

gun safe currently has: ruger, S&W, norinco, mossberg, Marlin ( JM and Remlin), savage (rim and centerfire), winchester and russian tula.

guess no real favorites.
 
Each brand has strengths and weakness's. Some just dont like differences. I like the M70 style safety, but can get along with the 3 position of the M77 MkII or even tang safeties.

About the only negative thing i have heard about Browning rifles is that they are diffucult for gunsmiths to work on. To some degree this is common to all guns. Take the hassle of bedding a M77 with the trigger. I have had a few Browning rifles, still have one, the magazine is just different. Once accustomed to it, no problem.

My taste in guns runs to "classic"....read small f fuddy. The recent trend of different makers to race each other to the bottom, ease of manufacture over quality, is depressing. Own a T3, but it takes shortcuts and is not near the quality of a 30 year old Tikka. Makers like Remington, Tikka, Savage, Browning, and even Sako are cutting corners to make a dollar. For me i would far rather buy a quality item 30 years old, tested and tried, than buy someones rifle designed by bean counters like the Savage Axis or Rem 783.
 
The guns I buy have no brand consideration. Basically I look at reviews and handle it. If it seems like it fits the bill, I buy and try it out. Pretty much every brand has something they do well - whether it be build quality, performance, features, price... they all have some form of competitive edge.
 
I have always liked Remington for fit,finish and quality. That said I have a 700 SPS that just isn't the same as my 700BDL. The public wanted a cheap gun, and industry responded with plastic stocks, sand blasted finishes, and overall less gun. You asked for it, you got it.
I have several 870 wingmasters and 1100's dating from the early 50's to the 90's, and all are superb. I did have to get a screw choke barrel for one and picked up an express barrel. I hate that barrel, it just looks cheap and unfinished, it holds dirt like a blanket holds baby poop. It shoots fine but it has no class. I will be changing it out for a Wingmaster barrel.
Unfortunately people buy the econo version and think it is the same as the Wingmaster, BDL etc. Econo versions are not the same, and you get what you pay for, function, is there, but they have no class, and never will.

These comments are not brand specific, as all manufacturers are producing econo guns to meet the new market demands where shooters are wanting cheap .
It is masterfull marketing when consumers are convinced a wood stock is not suited to hunt with. and a long range rifle has to be no glare dull anti reflecting finish , and even camo finished. Think about it folks, Long range does not need a camo finish.

Nothing is easier to clean up than a nice smooth deep blued finish gun and scope. A quick wipe and it's done. As the finish wears thin over years it has character, and still looks fine.
I don't have a huge brand loyalty as much as a build loyalty. I want wood, and nice wood, polished and blued finishes, even if worn and barely there from years of handling . Old guns with signs of honest wear and use , will always be trump over hastily built plastic stocked sand blasted junk.
 
Well said petew.
I always thought the SPS finish was the answer for cheap tactical look. They still shoot as good as the oldies which I have several.
I rebarreled one of my Rem 700 BDL's with an SPS stainless as the old one was shot out. High polished blued finish and glossy walnut stocks come at a premium.
 
Holland & Holland: Only owned two, one current, but in my opinion nobody does sporting arms better.

Winchester: My first centerfire, and love the Model 70, 94, 92.

Colt: Big 1911, and SAA fan. Like their ARs too. And I like the brand.

Ruger: Best bang for buck on the market. Diverse models and options, more than anyone else. Tougher guns than anyone else, and they give us an outfitter discount now. Sold.

Mauser: Doesn't even need to be explained.
 
Gatehouse said:
Had a CZ 20g sxs. Nice shotgun, very good value, it was a lot of gun for the buck, and if I still wandered the uplands for grouse I would have kept it.
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You likely had a Turkish Huglo then, CZ just rebrands Turkish SxSs for the small frame doubles, I had the Bobwhite 28g. But then Winchester does the same these days, Portuguese Model 70's, and Miroku levers.
 
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