All of my hunting rifles are Savage. They're good, but I bought them at a time when I wasn't sure I would continue hunting (=low cost), and also didn't know what made a good "hunting rifle".

The biggest single regret I have about these is not that they're Savage rifles, but that they're not stainless. Forced to re-arm, I would undoubtedly get at least one X-Bolt, but I'd be satisfied with Savage as long as they were stainless (i.e. Model 16s instead of Model 11s). Except perhaps my .22 plinker, I would not buy another blued rifle. I've struggled with rust prevention in the field too much. If the Savage Bear Hunter didn't have that asinine base plate, I'd grab one in .338 Federal tomorrow.