Gun Quality

[noonebil]

I'm not talking about a collectors gun you get for $100 at a garage sale. I'm talking a new gun at a reputable dealer. Please elaborate on your answer!

[noonebil]

I own 2 NEF Handi-Rifles that cost less than $230 each. I call them my Poorman's Thompson's. Multiple barrel options (rimfire, centerfire, shotgun, muzzleloader) & they both shoot good groups. (FYI: Both rifles are fitted with scopes that cost more than the gun.)

I own a 12 guage Maverick 88 made my Mossberg. I paid less than $225 for this shotgun. I've used it for deer, turkey, dove, & snakes with no complaints.

I own a muzzleloader made by Centurien. It is based on an older Black Diamond design. I paid $125 for it. It shoots good groups out to 150 yards.

The other guns I own were inhereted (Mossberg 22mag, Ruger 10/22, & Ithica 20 guage), so I don't figure them in the cost/quality discussion.

I feel I own some cheap guns. I also believe these same guns are of good shooting quality. None are stainless or have fancy stocks. None of the rifles have MOA accuracy. Most importantly though, I feel comfortable using these guns. I would be very uncomfortable using an expensive shotgun for deerhunting (dragging the gun in & out of the truck). Same with an expensive rifle (dragging it through briars & swamps).

[deerslayer11]

I voted #2. I can afford about what ever I want within reason. Savage makes a damn good gun and are a lot cheaper than the rest of the big names.
I do own several Brownings, and have Leupold Vari-X IIIs on them, but I also own several cheap guns I had to buy used back before I made much money. Ive always believed in buy the best you can afford.
The only rifle I own besides the 3030 that will not shoot 1" groups at 100yds is my NEF 2506. I think a lot of it has to do with it having a cheap scope (came with the gun when I won it) on it and have been thinking about getting a Nikon or Weaver to put on it.

[BlueNorther]

I've only got about three firearms that I bought new out of the box,all are big name and were expensive.They all shoot where I want them to and they are put together well,good metal to wood finish,nice triggers etc.

I also have a bunch that I bought used or were given to me.One in particular is a Swedish mauser 6.5x55.I paid $75.00 for it still in its military stock.It was made in 1899.I was a little skeptical about it,but it has turned out to be one of the finest shooting rifles I've ever had.I put a new stock on it that I had my Dad make,cut and turned the bolt,had the barrel cut and recrowned and put in a Timney trigger.Now I've got a little less than $300.00 into it and in my opinion you couldn't buy a new one that shoots like this old girl does.

[Shorthair]

I know what I like and it's Browning. I only have one but I love it like a brother. When it comes to guns I get exactly what I want. I haven't bought a new one three years but when I get ready for a new one I will save up until I can get exactly what I want. I know that there a less expensive guns that what I want but buying a gun to me has become liking picking a wife.

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

Well I didn't vote as there was not an option that I could truthfully use.

Cost does not in my mind equate to quality...... for example take a look at Weatherby's a lot of money for glitzy finish but you could also polish up a Rossi to the same high gloss. Nope Weatherby's are grossly overpriced and to my mine over rated.

Remington's quality has dropped through the floor in recent years.... and will remain low all the time folks buy them............ after all why improve when they still sell ? .................Barnham had it right.

Sako and Tikka have also dropped in quality seems Berretta needs more profit so guess where it comes from ?.................... yep cutting corners in production but at a higher price and sold with flashy adverts .

Sorry but have no experience with Savage and Winchester and due to the drastic drop in quality of new rifles I look for good quality older used ones last new rifle I brought was an Obendorf Mauser M96 Slide Bolt several years ago now and the quality on that is no where near what Mauser was famous for .

My last rifle purchase was an old BSA 1st Pattern Monarch in .270 win and a Sportco Model 44 single shot target rifle back in March. The BSA is from the 1960's and cost me $180 US and only has a couple of small scratches on the wood. Even has the fore sight hood still. The Sportco is from the 70's and has not been mucked about with, no rail added under the fore stock and is complete with sights, chambered for 7.62 Nato of course and all for $171 US.

My next rifle is going to be a Parker-Hale also in .270. Not sure of the model but it looks like a Rigby but the serial number is wrong for a Rigby finished rifle so a little more searching will be called for. Perhaps it's one of them elusive Safari Deluxe which folks tell me about and advertise but I have never seen. Until I can find it in a P-H catalogue I will not be sure which model it is. Am working out the trade just now with the dealer and need to get a variation to my licence to get it so it will be a while before it comes home

A rilfes cost does not indicate it's quality or it's actual worth only what they can induce some one to pay for it. Hence with new rifles the glowing reports in the Gun mags and the flashy adverts. If only they would spend more actually on decent materials and quality in the rifle and less of the glitz but that does not suit the throw away society and the Great God Excessive Profit