Best factory Rifle

[shaner72]

Hi. Im looking for a varmint/target rifle to have fun with. I want a 223cal.with a 1.12 twist. 200 yrd or a bit more is what I am shooting Im looking for any suggestion's. I also prefer wood stock's. I was looking at the Tikka and the savage. I also seen a write up on the T/C Icon. Thank's Shaner

 

[kjcpoint]

savage all the way, the only factory rifle barrel that isnt hammer forged. accurate and made in the usa.

 

[k80skeet]

I second the vote for the SAVAGE RIFLE they are a great rifle and you would have to spend 3 times as much to get a more accurate rilfe. Don't be fooled by the looks They SHOOT!!!!!!!!!!

 

[shaner72]

Thank's for the reply's.

 

[fdshuster]

Nothing wrong with a hammer forged barrel. If done properly can be just as good as a button or cut rifled barrel, and seldom will have any reamer or tool marks. I have a Tikka 308 that easily holds sub MOA, and is one my easiest barrels to clean. Ditto for a friends Tikka 223, 1-12 twist. Tell the many g'hogs that he's put down that the barrel is "no good".

 

[kjcpoint]

Tikka used to be buttoned rifled before sako jumped in and forged them. I have yet to see anyone shooting a forged barrel at the varmit hunters shoot in pierre,sd. But there are plenty of savages in the 600 yard event.

kyle

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

+1 on the savage!

Mike

 

[broncman]

Since you said 200 yards or so, I think a hammer forged barrel (tikka) would be fine.

I have Savage, Remingtons, and Krieger barreled AR and several others. I just picked up a Sako A7 rifle in 7mm-08 and WOW! LOVE this gun! The Remy and Savage feel like driving a 70's era car compared to a Sako being a late model!

Another A7 in 270 WSM is on it's way! The 7-08 showed NO signs of copper fouling after as little as 20 rds! My 2 Remmys are copper mines even after 2-300 rds...

I REALLY want a Krieger heavy barrel on one of my Sako A7 actions. Did I say how enamored I am with the A7 action over the Remmy and Savage?

 

[fdshuster]

kyle: I did not mean to infer hammer forged was better than cut and button rifled: I have more than my share of kriegers, Shilen's and hart's: all excellent barrels, and my experience with hammer forged Tikka's have also been excellent. The 308 remains one of my most accurate and easy to clean. The finish in the bore, as seen with my Hawkeye borescope, is just as smooth as some of my handlapped custom barrels. With hammer forging machinery costing over a Million each, it's easy to see why they are limited in use, and you don't see many in the PD fields.

 

[kjcpoint]

frank, If i were to buy a factory rifle and savage was not an option tikka hands down would be my first choice. In our shop and we are a factory service center for several firearms companies, i can tell you first hand that I see far fewer savages for accuracy issues than any other make out there. To me savage seems to be concerned with the needs of shooters and there price is well in hand for the accuracy. As seen with my hawkeye, kriegers and liljas are the sure ticket. Also, accuracy terms are different for some people.

kyle

 

[1000yardstare]

Tikka is a lot of money to spend for a "fun gun at 200 yards". The Stevens 200 is a lot cheaper, built on an unpolished Savage action and is a 9 twist in .223 so you could use 60 grainers if so desired. Not a wood stock but for g`hogs who cares. Have no idea if the barrel is cut, buttoned or hammer forged and for the casual shooter that doesn`t amount to a hill of beans.

My .22-250 and 7mm-08 Stevens are dead nuts accurate and are my go-to rifles for deep and dirty action in the snow for coyotes or in spruce bogs for moose. Can drop them in the mud, doesn`t hurt them and they clean up real nice.

 

[fdshuster]

kyle; Yes, we can agree then, Savage is one of the best choices out there. I have several, original factory barrels are long gone now, having been shot out & replaced with Harts. Have been in personal contact with Joe LeGrand and Ron Coburn, both class people who know what the customer wants and do not hesitate to provide it. One of my Savage's arrived with heavy reamer & tool marks in the bore, sent back & was replaced & returned with one of excellent accuracy (and easy to clean), also accompanied by a letter of apoligy for the condition of the original barrel. Not many companies would do that.

 

[Steve Blair]

I have two Savage 12Fs, one in 6BR. I intended to replace the factory 6BR barrel with a Shilen but it shot so well that I kept it. My borescope shows that it is no Bartlein or Brux but it sure does shoot. A current Savage is an excellent choice short of a custom rifle.

Frank's statement about barrel fabrication methods is correct. I have shot cut, broached, button (pull & push), hammer-forged (hot & cold) and ECM barrels. All can shoot well if properly executed. I shot a HK PSG-1 on their Aixheim range and put five rounds of RWS .308 match through one ragged 15mmX13mm hole at 100 meters. I visited the factory that produces those cold-forged barrels and saw the automated machines that measure and straighten them. Barrels for the PSG-1 were selected from those that required no straightening.

 

[londonhunter]

I would not hesitate to vote for cooper rifles as one of the best factory rifles

 

[Steve Blair]

I agree with a vote for Cooper's quality, but are low volume, high price point makers like Cooper and Kimber "factory" rifles? They seem to fill a niche between custom and factory.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I agree with Steve 100%! Cooper makes a very fine rifle but, I would not lump them in with "production" rifles! Another reason for this is all the wildcat chamberings they offer in their various models! "Production" rifle makers don't offer anything that doesn't have a SAAMI or CIP spec! Probably just CYA on their part!

Mike

 

[RJinTexas]

Purchase a Savage model 12 BVSS in a 9tw and don't look back, most will shoot sub .500 groups right out of the box. They shoot everything from 40gr to 69gr bullets and do it well. Their their trigger are owner adjustable and the stock is very stable off a bag.

Good luck with your purchase
RJ

 

[k80skeet]

Well you are right about Cooper being a great factory rifle no question about. Just most people don't know much about them. And they are more money than the regular hunter is willing to spend. When you go over $1500.00 you thin the field down to about 10% who can afford one of these or even find one in most gun shop's With that being said I am very happy with my 3 Cooper's. I only wish they had Jewell triggers like they used too. Like the other guys said it is in between a factory rifle and a custom rifle not quite either.

 

[ar15topgun]

I would go with the savage but get one with a 1:8 or 1:7 twist barell. It will shoot the light bullets just fine but also allow you tou use bullets up to 80gr. with no stability problems.

 

[boogershooter]

Wow, its amazing how far that company, (SAVAGE) has come in so few years. Hats off to those guy's who make it work so well ! Just go look at their website also.Check out the palma rifle. Who else caters to what I think would be a small market in the scheme of things.