Modern Commercial Rifles - What Do You Buy?

I was surfing the Internet, reading about the various rifles for sale at local gun stores or online. I was searching for opinions about several different makers. There are as many opinions to be had, as there are rifles for sale.

I've owned a pile of North American made firearms from companies like Remington, Ruger, Savage and Winchester, but kept very few of them. Some were traded away or sold because I needed the money. Most, because they lacked personality.

I discovered that I prefer European rifles. You're probably thinking that I'm some sort of gun snob. Nope. I hunted for years with a 303 in order to save up for them. My personal opinion is that most are well made, tough and more appealing.

Canadians have been pretty lucky over the years. European firearms have always been more plentiful here than in the US. I think there's a higher percentage of Sakos, Tikkas and CZs (Brnos) in Canada than down south. That might be because of the duties the States imposed on foreign made arms.

MY ACCURACY STANDARDS

When I was in the military, a rifle was judged on how much of a beating it could take and still do its job. To this day, I still consider toughness to be more important than accuracy.

How important is accuracy to me? Well, it's not always first. It can be second, third or even fourth in line. Its position changes in relation to the activity for which the rifle is being used. I have heavy barreled actions that exist solely to punch holes in paper. They have to be tack drivers, so accuracy is first on the list. My varmint rifles have to perform to almost the same standard, but have to be portable. Accuracy drops to third spot behind carry and toughness.

Accuracy is fourth with my big game rifles. They only have to manage two inches at 100 yards, but must be reliable, easy to carry and be chambered in a common calibre (in case I have problems with, or forget ammunition).

ACCURACY STANDARDS FOR OTHERS

Accuracy isn't important for everyone. Case in point: New Brunswick, Canada - 1984. In order to get my moose license, I had to be able to hit an 8.5 by 11 sheet of paper at 50 yd. I remember thinking a blind man could hit that target by tossing a rock in the general direction!

The Ministry of Natural Resources had a point to this however. A hunter only had to be accurate enough to keep the bullet on paper. If you could hit an area that size, the animal will drop. Safe use of a firearm was more important.

I suppose it's because of magazines and gun writers, but we seem to expect ridiculous performance standards from our rifles. Think about it for a minute. Some tiny, light object is launched over a great distance - 100 yards is the norm, but we'll try to shoot even farther - and we expect it to hit within an inch (or less) of where we aimed. Wow! Even three or four inches at that range is great!

I'm not talking about benchrest machines here. I'm talking about ordinary rifles, bought at gun stores, that we take into the field every fall. How tight do they have to shoot? Each of us has a different standard of performance.

We usually buy our rifles after seeing an ad in a hunting magazine or, these days, after someone posts a flattering review online. Who do we trust? Is the Internet a reliable source of information? Are magazines better?

WHAT FIREARMS DO I BUY?

I don't put a lot of faith in what I read on the Internet, so the decision to buy happens the old fashioned way. I prefer to talk to people and go to the range to observe. This practice has led me to buy more Tikkas and Savages.

Am I a sniper? No. Am I a benchrest shooter? No. I am a jack of all trades and master of none. And as much as I appreciate a rifle that can shoot ragged, one hole groups, it just ain't gonna happen. Why? Because I cannot consistently shoot well enough, nor do I have all the proper equipment. And honestly, neither can you. There was a time when I was a better shot. There was a time that I shot in competition. That time has passed.

WHAT RIFLE SHOULD YOU BUY?

Good question, but be wary of anyone that talks about tiny, quarter inch groups. Since the arrival of the Internet, virtually all groups have shrunk...appreciably. For some reason, almost every rifle shoots an inch or better these days - regardless of calibre or brand. Call me crazy, but there's something suspicious about that!

Even in the electronic age, nothing beats actually going to the range or talking one on one with real people. I rarely trust anyone that posts a story about the phenomenal accuracy of the firearm he just bought.

In the end, which rifle you buy has more to do with how much you can afford, rather than other people's opinions. Buy what you can afford based on the job you expect it to do. For hunters, the worst rifle out there can shoot two MOA at 100 yd. A Lee Enfield or a Savage made Stevens will deliver that level of performance for people on a tight budget. You can save for your Sako that way.

You know what? When I read posts or listen to people, it often sounds like they're mindlessly repeating what someone posted on a web board versus what actually works in the field.

Of course, we're all entitled to our opinions. Here's mine: Don't sweat the details. Don't sweat what others will say. When you proudly proclaim that you took a deer with your Savage, don't be distracted by some poser that ignores your success and slams the rifle.

Just ask yourself who's eating a Big Mac and who's eating fresh venison.

Safe Shooting!
Steve Redgwell