I used to have a lot of rifles that wouldn't shoot one inch. I don't have them anymore. Its true, many if not most bolt guns will not shoot one inch from the box without trigger work and experimenting with loads. I try a rifles, Rework the trigger, play with some loads and if the potential is not there, its gone. I won't put much extra money in a rifle. If it won't shoot pretty darn good from the box with good factory loads, it gone. I have a Browning A-bolt stalker that has shot every factory and hand load that I have tried in it into one inch or less. I have the trigger set to about three lbs and it does it every time out. The Remington 700 rifles I have had will usually shoot one inch with the trigger done and shooting Nosler BT's and Sierra Pro-Hunters.

I am talking three shot groups off sand bags under fair to good conditions. I don't give a hang if a hunting rifle won't shoot five shot one inch groups, I seldom if ever shoot more than two shots at an animal, if I have not hit it with two then I probably won't hit it with four or five either. Its where that rifle puts the first shot every time that counts.