Which one?

[Encore 280]

Savage 111 Hunter XP or Ruger American 6901 both '06? Have a friend that's trying to decide which one. Thanks guys.

[goosegetter79]

Savage! Got mine in 7mm got it home tightened the scope rings on it took it out to sight it in took 3 shots at 100 yards. It shot 1 1/2" high 1" grouping. Needless to say I left it alone.

[Encore 280]

He already has the Savage 7mm but it's too big for blacktail and it weighs quite a bit so we're looking for something more versatile and lighter weight.

[Lingcod]

I've heard great things about that savage model shooting moa out of the box. If it were me I get the savage in 243. I've taken many deer with a 243, and they have all dropped in their tracks. If he already has a scope the Tikka T3 lite is a great rifle too and in the same price range and weighs less than 6.5 lbs non magnum. Good Luck!

[b23]

This would be a no brainer if I was the one making the decision.  I'd pick the Savage all day long and twice on Sunday.

Depending on what a person considers as "shooting well," buying an off the rack rifle is always a crap shoot.  Sometimes, you luck out and get one that no matter the brand, it just shoots well.  But, I've also purchased plenty of new rifles that struggled like hell to get close to a 1 inch group at 100yds.  I've even had some that on their best day, shot groups at 100yds that measured well over 1 inch, some, you measured the groups in inches.    Unfortunately, most companies today are more concerned about their production #'s and keeping their cost per unit as low as possible instead of trying to produce precision rifles that shoot really well.  Remington model 700's are my all time favorites and if I was looking for a factory action to build a semi custom off of, a Rem. M700 would be my only pick but what Remington has allowed the model 700 production rifle to become, in my opinion, is tragic.  Especially, when you take into consideration what they once were.

Savage seems to be one of the few companies that appears to be doing both, quite well.  I, personally, really don't care for how the Savage receiver looks, but, if I were buying an off the rack gun tomorrow, there is no doubt, it would be a Savage.  I'm sure they have built and sold rifles that didn't perform very well, everyone does, but I've yet to be around a Savage, that for a factory built off the rack gun, didn't impress me.  I'll always love my Remmie M700's and I've got quite a few, factory and semi customs, still in my safe but if I was taking my chances with a store bought rifle tomorrow, Savage would easily be my first pick with Howa a close second.

[baker5150]

Savage all the way

I picked up a Savage Axis in 3006 as an all around beater gun.  I could not believe how well it shoots. 
I also have a Bear hunter in 300wsm, im working a load up now for it.

My boss shoots a Ruger American in 06 and is happy with it,  not super impressed, but happy.

[couesbitten]

He already has the Savage 7mm but it's too big for blacktail

Don't understand this, what's this mean, does it make them too dead?  I'd go with the Savage as well.

[jackelope]

An '06 bullet is bigger than a 7mm bullet. I don't get it either. The 7 mag will make them too dead I guess.
 

I'd go with the Savage all day and twice on Sunday.

[mountainman]

Vote for Savage here

[Old Man Yager]

Got my kid the Savage for Christmas. Told him I would spend the extra money for the one with the adjustable trigger, but nooooooooo, he had to have the one without the adjustable trigger. It's still a nice little rifle. So, anyways,he shoots his buddy's Savage that does have the adjustable trigger. Then the wise ass comes home and says" we should put that trigger in my rifle". I said, Hell no, you just learned your lesson on why you should be patient and listen to your Dad!!

[TVHunts]

I'd tell to buy that 500.00 tikka stainless that's posted here over either of those. No tax either.

The savage would be my next choice