I know we can cut corners and they come back to bite us every time, so this isn't about a Savage vs the world. I'm more interested in hearing your experience and what you see at matches regarding WHY winners win matches. Frankly, yes, money is always a factor but at every match I've EVER been to, there are almost all top quality rifles from one end of the line to the other, with only minor differences in the actual equipment vs one another. IOW, nobody skimped out and the equipment is relatively equal. Yes, gunsmithing matters too but frankly and coming from a former tool and die maker, chambering a good bbl is actually a pretty basic operation to anyone with tool and die experience, where most of the time is spent on the setup being very good and pride of worksmanship is arguably the biggest factor...while pretty doesn't always outshoot ugly, though.
Bottom line here, what matters most to you? Tune or learning how to tune vs how to read the flags and not make any mistakes. Of course conditions play into this but assume an "average" day where you are. Please specify long range or short range as your primary discipline, but both are encouraged and input, one vs the other, as well....especially from those that shoot both extensively. Is one more important than the other distance dependent?
Bottom line here, what matters most to you? Tune or learning how to tune vs how to read the flags and not make any mistakes. Of course conditions play into this but assume an "average" day where you are. Please specify long range or short range as your primary discipline, but both are encouraged and input, one vs the other, as well....especially from those that shoot both extensively. Is one more important than the other distance dependent?