Top 5 Rifle Manufacturers

[sticky]

When I first started hunting as a kid in the late 70's, it seemed like there was a definite hierarchy in terms of who made the best production hunting rifles (bolt action).  This was not necessarily based on research, but more by word of mouth and what gun my hunting buddies would buy if they had the money to purchase new.  As I recall the order was something like this:

1.  Weatherby
2.  Winchester
3.  Remington
4.  Browning
5.  Ruger

I seriously doubt the new order looks like that.  What do you think?

[carpsniperg2]

1:sako-tikka
2: remington
3:winchester
4:browning
5:weatherby

this would be my top 5, but you got it pretty close i would say more like big 8 is more like it. add savage-ruger-t/c and maybe a few other so maybe top 10.

this one could get going 

[jackelope]

Quality or sales volume?

[JackOfAllTrades]

Define 'Quality'.  Is this 'accuracy, durability or beauty'?

And 'Sales Volume' might need to be broken down to price ranges.

My Marlin, Rugers, Remingtons (shoties), are made in America of very high quality.

Definately need to add Marlin and Savage to that list.

-Steve

[jackelope]

Define 'Quality'.  Is this 'accuracy, durability or beauty'?

And 'Sales Volume' might need to be broken down to price ranges.

My Marlin, Rugers, Remingtons (shoties), are made in America of very high quality.

Definately need to add Marlin and Savage to that list.

-Steve

Kinda what I was getting at....there's sooooo many possibilities there.

[JackOfAllTrades]

And a Sako,  Is not a Tikka.

-Steve

[halflife65]

Does this count custom rifles?  Or custom rifles built on a rifle like a Remington 700?

[JackOfAllTrades]

I'll bet there are more competitive F class rifles built on Savage actions than any other... I could be wrong, but there's a whole slew of them.

I think that one has to realize that just like Ford, Dodge, Government motors, trucks, that there are high and low points for rifles too. Rugers are known for being tanks. Weatherby's for their personalized selection of cartridges. Tikka's and Savages for that 'bang for the buck' but they sure don't make much of anything like they used to. I remember Remingtons and Winchesters having some of the most beautiful wood stocks ever checkered. Bluing back in the day was considered more of an art form than it was a way to preserve and protect metal. Weatherby too. Each of the top manufactures used to have different classes of rifles. Now Savage has come on strong to challenge Remington for the accuracy title. Yes, I know, there are a lot of very accurate Win's, Sako's, Brownings, and such out there. Several of the manufactures listed experamented with Broached, Button cut, Hammer forged barrels that each of them has some that are more accurate even within their own line. They also have some less accurate representations. Many of them had recalls for safety or other reasons. I know Remington fixed a flaw in their design years ago.. I still don't own one. Marlin's XL7/XS7 has one of the best recoil systems I've ever shot. Ruger has the absolute ugliest boat paddle composite stock known, but I'd own one.  Browning and Winchesters... Hmm... The A-Bolt.. Mod 70... But now.. Japanese steel?  I've never had a jap/chinease knife that could ever hold an edge or didn't snap off during rough use.  Not to say that rifles are built to different standards... I'm just sayin.

Reading the thread of 'What's your go-to rifle'.  Rugers/Brownings/Rems/Wins listed there.

-Steve

[Elk-aholic]

Sako
FN
Weatherby
Browning
CZ

[carpsniperg2]

And a Sako,  Is not a Tikka.

-Steve

i know they are not the same, i am kinda a gun freak remember
they are made by the same company that owns all 3-sako-tikka-berreta 
and i put them together because i like them both so much for the 1 spot on my list. i came up with my list based on everything overall that i like. thats me! no everyone else

[JackOfAllTrades]

FN,   You mean Fabrique National? 

I'm not sure that there's an FNH (American facility), hunting rifle produced here.

I have an FN Bolt 30-06 for sale, but so many people don't know what it is, it won't sell because the stock needs a refinish. Made in Belgium at the same facilities, it's pretty much, an old Browning.

I do understand what you meant by Sako, Tikka, Berreta. I mentioned it, because others might not.

-Steve

[carpsniperg2]

  gotcha

i guess some poeple are not crazy gun freak's like us

[FC]

I'll bet there are more competitive F class rifles built on Savage actions than any other... I

-Steve

I suspect you are right just due to performance, price and ease of customization. Nearly any idiot can take one apart and put it back together correctly with a minimum of tools and get excellent accuracy. Changing barrels, bolt heads and such is also easy and their trigger is remarkably easy to work on.

[Elk-aholic]

I own a FN patrol rifle in 308 I use for shooting Deer, it's made here in America ... It might be considered a Tactical Rifle but I shoot Deer with mine

[addicted]

1. Merkel
2. Sako
3. kriegoff
4. Mauser
5. Sauer

 

[Bofire]

FNH is Winchester!! Production rifles I do not know if there is 5.

Sako
Tikka
FNH
Sauer
Remington

thats it for me, I guess next would be Ruger? or what ever Japanese company is making brownings, weatherbys, howas etc.
I am not including any of the custom rifles or elite firms, like Merkel.
Carl

[addicted]

Carl has a point. i guess if we stick with stateside availability it would be

1. Kimber
2. Savage
3. CZ (seeing more and more americans with them )
4. Weatherby
5. Remington

[sticky]

I guess what I was getting at was that the rifles that most kids wanted to own 30 years ago has changed considerably.  Given the posts I have seen, that really seems to be the case.  Competition from foreign manufacturers and the economic troubles of Weatherby, Winchester, and Remington have made today's top 5 a much different list.  I didn't really include custom guns because for the majority of first timers, they are simply out of the price range.

Thanks for the great responses.

[sako223]

never considered Sako, Tikka, or Sauer when I was younger even though they were available.
Now my first stop is Sako
                           Sauer
                           Tikka
                           Armalite
                           Rock River

[Bofire]

 :)You know winchester and remington was all I thought about as a younger shooter. Now it is different. Is that because we American shooters are smarter? more discerning? Has the quality changed? Do we demand more?
What do you think?
Carl

[C-Money]

When I was a kid, my opinion was about the same. I use to think more of Remington rifles and disliked Savage, but that has changed for me. I now think a little less of Remington, and a little more of Savage, If that makes any sence. Here is my top 5

Weatherby
Browning
Winchester
Ruger
Marlin

I know this is about bolt guns, but the Marling lever guns are hard to beat and shoot very well!

[sako223]

I personally have become more discerning. It can easily be compared to the auto industry.
Features that perform are important. Most guns made today will get the job done. The more desirable ones that may not cost more are more refined and function pleasantly.

[alecvg]

There are so many I like, I can't limit it to five.  Favorite all time is browning, just personal preferance.  But here is a list of companies I would buy from:

-Remington
-Winchester
-Tikka
-Savage
-Ruger
-Marlin
-Henry
-CZ

Those are just some of my favorites, although there are many more.

[Mookie]

Cooper LVT
Bushmaster BA 50
Savage 110 BA
Steyr SSG 08
Glock 20 

[csaeteurn]

savage
browning
winchester
ruger
sako

 

[BlackRidge]

No love for T/C??

IMO:
-Thompson Center
-Remington
-Tikka
-Browning
-Springfield Armory

[WDFW-SUX]

winchester,remington,weatherby,browning,kimber

[superdown]

Browning,Winchester,Kimber,Sako,Ruger

[Curly]

Cooper LVT
Bushmaster BA 50
Savage 110 BA
Steyr SSG 08
Glock 20 

I'm glad someone mentioned Steyr.  I sure like my Steyr.........but I do want to get another rifle that isn't so damn heavy.  Probably a Browning X-bolt or a Kimber will be my next rifle once the economy turns-around.

[Alchase]

To many categories to consider,

Out of the box affordability:

Tika
Savage
Remington
Winchester
Browning
Ruger

All around quality mid range price:

Sako
Weatherby
Kimber
CZ

That can be modified inexpensively to shoot with the mid range guns:

Remington
Winchester
Savage
Ruger

Custom guns: To many to list