I'm not a fantatic "backer" of any brand rifle. I just bought a 700 SPS Buckmasters because I loved the camo stock and the all black action. It's smooth as silk, the trigger is the best of all the rifles I tried in the store and it's a very pretty gun. the bore is glass smooth. I checked it against all the other rifles; Tikka T3 (looked cheap), TC Venture and Icon (almost bought one of these), Weatherby Vanguard (horrible, gritty trigger), Browning X-Bolt and A-bolt, Winchester 70 (better then the pre-64's now), Sako A7 (black bolt shroud on a stainless bolt?) and the cheap Marlin and Mossberg bolts. Midwest Shooters Supply (Lomira, Wis) didn't have any Savages but I really don't like the looks of them anyway. I wanted to look at CZ's but none there either. The Remington 700 just stood out as more pleasing to my eye and the price was right (with the rebate) so I bought it. I just got the scope on it so will be shooting it soon and will report on results. I spend alot of time at the range and am an above average shot.

And poorer quality? Get used to it because everything you buy is not going to be like it was 20 years ago, cars, clothes, houses and food. The euro rifles are not going to still make them like the "old world" anymore either. Check out the new Sako 85's compared to the Finnbear. Not even close.