Best to worst in my experience:

1. CZ 550 American in 6.5x55 - - Out of box 100 yd 5 shot groups at or under 1" with factory loads; haven't had it long enough to experiment with handloads yet. No modifications to the rifle whatsoever. Purchased in September 2004.

2. Remington 700 BDL .30-06 - - Out of box 100 yd 3 shot groups at 1.19" avg using Remington 165 grain factory loads, 0.83" with handloads using Remington 165 grain PSP bullets. Subsequent groups tightened up a little more after using David Tubb Final Finish bullets to polish the throat and bore. Purchased in May 2004.

3. Remington 700 Classic in 8x57mm Mauser - - Out of box 100 yard 5 shot groups at <1.75" using Remington 170 gr RNSP factory loads (which suck), 3 shot groups at 0.88" avg using Remongton 185 grain PSP bullets in handloads. No modifications to rifle. Purchased in November 2004.

4. Winchester Modle 70 Featherweight .243 (Push feed) - - Out of box, rifle shot 2" to 3" groups at 100 yards with either factory and handloads.[] After free floating the barrel and lightening the trigger, handloads now average about an inch, many tighter than that. Purchased in April 1995.

5. Remington 742 Woodsman .30-06 Semi Auto - - 100 yard groups anywhere from 1.5" to 3", usually closer to the 3" mark, depending on rate of fire (barrel heat) and load used. I have not experimented much with handloads for this rifle as its accuracy is sufficient for its intended purpose as a >100 yard brush gun. Not sure that handloads would help much, but they might. Best bullet weight for accuracy is 165 grains. Best bullet weight for keeping your shorts clean whilst chasing wounded hogs in the shrubbery is 180 grains. Purchased in early 1981.

6. Ruger M77 MkII .30-06 - - Absolutely inconsistent and unpredictable grouping with any factory or handload. Had a lemon here.[>:] Tried bedding, trigger job, David Tubb Final Finish bullets, every imaginable combination of bullets and powder in handloads, prayer, drinking, denial and other methods. One 5 shot group would be 3.5", the next would be 5/8" with the exact same handload. Would have settled for 1.5" groups if it were consistent, but it was NEVER consistent. Was a science project for 3.5 years until I decided that there was no point in polishing a turd.[:'(] Purchased in May 2001, traded for Remington 8x57 in November 2004. Have now stopped drinking, but prayer continues.