how do you forget a model 70?
I wish I could.
An impression can be taken from the thread thus far that all goods are created equal, though that is clearly not the case.
Relative to a 700:
- Winchester 70s are tanks, and their triggers pale by comparison. They redeem themselves with generous mag box constraints, but that can be had in a 700.
- Howa 1500 / older Weatherby Vanguards, are very nice overall. Their triggers are good but saddled with a ridiculous safety arrangement that boxes in their range of adjustment. They've also far fewer upgrade paths, if you have an eye for that
- A Bolts / X Bolts are first rate garbage, all around. I've never broken anything faster than an A Bolt and I've never hunted alongside more that ended up likewise. Shooting for kicks off a bench, your only exposure is going home early are hoping for better at the next outing, if that sounds like fun.
- Savages are tougher than X Bolts but not by much. Their bolts design is a marketing stunt. Accutriggers are great if you don't know how to tune good factory triggers, but otherwise best left on the shelf. Accustocks are better than Remington's factory milk jug stocks, but your upgrade paths are again limited if you ever want something better.
- TC doesn't have a clue, and can only take wild swings at product differentiation.
- Tikka gets twist rates and triggers right. Which is unfortunate because they don't do anything else well. Stocks are lousy across the board, their milk jugs are the worst of the worst. Astonishingly for a DBM: Mag box length leaves you hamstrung, despite twist rates that can handle long bullets. On the plus side you can source replacement parts in the Barbie section at Toys R Us.
- Weatherby Mark Vs have far too many lugs and a factory rifle is lucky to have more than 1 that bears. A tuned action might make 3. They are tanks as well. If that sounds 'good' to you, you just might be in their demographic.
- Ruger 77s are as tough as anvils and weight about as much. Only rifle in the list that you couldnt put tougher bottom metal if you tried. Their laminate stocks are great as well. Trigger are middling and require either a stone or a replacement sear to approach acceptable. Scope mount options range from awful to really awful.
- CZ 550s could do for a bench rifle if they could chamber / throat consistently, but they can't. Their stainless rusts if the forecast calls for rain and blue is worse. As above your upgrade paths are seriously limited.
What does Remington screw up? Twist rates, pretty much all over the place. Their low end plastic stocks are junk. Their laminates not much better. Factory DBMs are fussy and easily broken.
If I missed one listed is is because I don't own a copy to know anything about it. Of the above I'd only ever build on a 700 or someone else's copy. For a fair weather bench rifle a 70, 77, or 1500 would do.
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