ORIGINAL: Briman
I just have almost no interest in Tristar/Diana/Baikal/etc. I know people who have bought stuff from these companies and have been happy, but I'm not willing to spend money on something that is new and completely unknown.
The one exception that I prefer that is a relative newcomer to the American market is CZ. The've been in the rifle business for a long time and also make top notch pistols- all at prices where you get a lot of value for your money. American companies like Winchester and Remington try to make rifles out of cheaper materials to compete with far superior stuff coming from overseas- I always feel like they are pissing down my back and telling me that its raining. Sadly I think the bargain prices of CZ firearms will be a thing of the past soon with the Euro outpacing the American dollar in value.
CZ has recently RETURNED to the U.S. market in strength, but there have been CVZ/BRNO arms sold here since prior to WWII.
My feeling is that European firearms made for the European market are generally of higher quality (and cost) than the mass-produced stuff made here, or made elsewhere, for the U.S. market. One of the reasons for this is that in Europe, only the wealthy and powerful can hunt or even afford to purchase firearms, unlike here in the U.S.! Guns made for the U.S. mass market have to be cheap in order to have enough buyers to keep a company in business. This is a major reason why outfits like Remington produce stuff that no self-respecting European hunter would give houseroom to! The beancounters are in charge at places like Remington, NOT gun fanciers! This is the reason for stuff like the post-64 push-feed M70 and soldered-on bolt handles, bolt heads, etc.