I'm in the market for a new deer/hog rifle. I want stainless and either synthetic or laminate.

I had my choices narrowed down to a Rem. 700 XCR and a Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker....I'd be happy with either I'm sure.

Had a chance to look at a stainless/synthetic Ruger 77 the other day. The Ruger really felt good, as they always have in the past.

Here's my question. I seem to hear A LOT of totally different things about Rugers as far as out of the box accuracy. It seems to be pretty consistant that they need some trigger work done, but I'm not sure if the Remington or the Browning would also need work to get them to be acceptable.

Any input would be greatly appreciated


Schoolcraft

My most recent purchase was a Ruger (my first new gun in many years). I went with the M77 VT in a 25-06 with the stainless(grey) barrel and composite stockand "out of the box accuracy" to me is what you get after you break in the barrel. I have zero complaints with mine and I absolutely love the double set trigger (not sure if that is correct terminology). After shooting in the barrel this gun performs excellent to the tune of 1/2"MOA@200 yds. I could not be happier and I too heard all the trigger issues and was told not to go thisbuy a rugerbut I did and I don't regret it one bit. I own a total of 6 ruger M77 rifles and I could not complain about one of them. None of my rifles are synthetic, I am a wooden stock guy I guess,I did buy two different 700's (good deals used)with the synthetic stock's and shot them a few time's before selling them,I guess I just did not like the fact that a 270 in a synthetic would kick like a 30-06. Either way I don't think you will have any major issue with any of the rifles that you mentioned, they are all quality rifles for your intended purpose

You have listed 3 nice firearms. Even though most manufacturers claim to have incredible out of the box accuracy,I would always go to a range to tune in the gun. Deer hunting is too important to me to take chances with a variable that could have beeneasily corrected. Plus I've always felt more comfortable knowingexactly what my gun can do. What ever you buy make sure you put a couple of boxes through it at a range. Even though the gun you buy may shoot very well out of the box, this range time will assist you in becoming more comfortable as well as givingyou more confidence in the field.

Maybe "out of the box" accuracy was a bad way to phrase it......

I guess what I'm saying is that I've heard more people talking about their Remingtons or Brownings shooting very small groups than Ruger owners.
I may be totally wrong about that, but I think its the perception that placed on Ruger rifles kinda' like they're GOING TO have a poor trigger.

I own a M77 Mark II Stainless / syn. in .308 and it is out of the box onle ofthe mostaccurate rifles I own. I have not done any trigger work to it. I also bought a M77 Compact in stainless / laminate in .243. While it is very accurate, and it is a beautiful gun, it does not have the inherent accuracy of the .308, ..... but I believe that to be becuase it is so short, having only a 16.5 " barrel. But it is one sweet rifle to carry in the woods. I have found the Rugers to be every bit the rifles that my Brownings or my Remingtons are. I do not feel them to be inferior in the least.Some folkshave their nitpicks, and wants on improving certain rifle aspects, but there are other poeple who can take a rifle and use it straight out of the box, and never tweak it, and have just as good of results. Some people are never happy with what they get.

It really depends on you , the shooter, and what you want and wheather or not you can be happy. It might need some trigger work, but others people might find the triggers very acceptable...

But regardless, they are great guns.

MET

I have a Browning A-bolt WSM .270 and a Ruger M77 .270. To be honest, I like my Browning better, butthe Ruger is an excellent gun. I hunt with both, but mosty with my Browning.You won't go wrong going either way.

Schoolcraft...Every factory rifle needs work on the trigger to get it down to a nice crisp 2 1/2 - 3 pounds, that is not at all unusual no matter who makes the rifle...

In our family of hunters we own all 3 brands that you list...I have done the trigger work on most of the Remingtons...They are pretty easy to do, but personally, I shoot a Ruger .243 and my brother shoots a .270, both shot as well as like rifles in Remington and Browning (after you find out what brand ammo they prefer)...

Here's another $.02.

Fortunately we live in a time where every major mass producer of bolt action hunting rifles has a great product. Browning, Ruger, and Remington make good stuff. In my opinion that can be said for any of the major manufacturers.

OTB accuracy and trigger pull characteristics will var, For many years Ruger had an extremely heavy trigger pull. But that was not unique to Ruger. My brother bought a Rem. Model 7 in 308 a few years back. The trigger pull was measured by me at over 8# OTB. As already mentioned, it is to have the trigger "tuned" to what you like. For most hunting applications I'd say somehting in the 3#-3.5# range and crisp is good enough. "Bench Rest" settings I do not think are wise for hunting.

As far as OTB groups. There is no realistic way any maker can guarantee anything so specific as 1MOA. Too much depends upon the ammo. For example I have a great shooting Remington 700 in 300 Win. Mag. that has has some customizing. It will shoot lights out with a particular hand load I have worked up. It will also shoot outside 2 MOA with another I worked up in the process of trying to find the best load. Those of us who have shot enough understand that every rifle is a thing unto itself. Having said this, you should expect any of these 3 to shoot great groups OTB. What I'd suggest is that you buy the one that "fits". Too often fit and feel are not considered as strongly as they should. LOP (length of pull), drop, balance, grip shape and size ... and all of what makes a good fit are "standardized" in mass produced rifles. So it is no surprise that one or more may just feel better to you than the others.

I will add that the Ruger has a Mauser like , positive feed action. The other two might be described as semi-control push feeds. It is very difficult to short-shuck or otherwise jam a control feed. It is easy to short-shuck a push feed. Been there and done that.




ua itng. ' chuntingoninwised.

I used to think well of he Brownings but I do not anymore so eliminate it from your options. If you do not mind spending a little extra than go for the Remington 700 XCR or get a stainless 700 SPS. The Ruger Hawkeye is nice also but it will take some time to break in the barrel. If you can afford the extra $220 than get the XCR but if not than get either the Hawkeye or the SPS.

Good luck