Rifle Review: OL Ranks the Best Rifles of 2011
New rifles from Ruger and Sako stole the show during our 2011 Gun Test.
The eclectic mix of rifles in this year’s test offers something for nearly everyone. For sheer versatility, the Ruger Gunsite Scout is a rifle that lives up to its billing as a do-everything, go-anywhere .308, and is proof that the quality of Ruger’s hammer-forged barrels has improved dramatically. AdvertisementRelated PhotosSUBMIT YOUR PHOTOSADVERTISEMENTAdvertisement |
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Comments (12)
If it had a sloped front on it's magazine, it would pass for a SMLE Jungle carbine. Which can be bought for considerably less and has a proven reliability record.
Ruger Gunsite Scout is a joke, I'll take a single lugged M1A to it any day!
Ok guns but I do agree with the other guys with the over priced firearms. Winchester, Remington, and Marlin all came out with new more affordable rifles this year, but some of those companys price tags are pretty high also.
I think Bull Elk said it best. What the heck are you guys trying to do to us. I'll not drop that kind of money on a rifle. Heres the deal. Hunting isn't supposed to cause you to have to spend your kids college tuition and not many people carry that kind of equipment on a hunt. We carry proven work-horses. I know, OL is just getting paid to advertise these products, but we want to see some affordable bolt guns best of the best under the 1k price tag. One that the average Joe can run out and pickup one. Don't get wrapped up in exotics. A Remington, Ruger, Winchester, etc, etc kills them just as dead. Last season I took a nice 150's class 10 point and I don't think it mattered to much to him I used my beat up old marlin lever gun in 35 rem. lol, don't waste your money. Go with a proven Remington 700 or Savage or Ruger, etc. Thats my advice.
For Montana Rifle Co. being fairly new I think they are overpricing their firearms....
What a shame. All the big game guns are around $1K to $5K. I would think your target audience would like to see new hunting guns that are more affordable and meet Outdoor Life's demographics. Why not include some more affordable guns?
We get a lot of comments about the prices of the shotguns and rifles in our tests, which is understandable. One thing to keep in mind is that these test are of NEW guns--not existing models or simple line extensions (like adding a new caliber or different camo finish). So the field of what we test is constrained by the requirement that the firearm be genuinely new.
That's why you don't see some of the less expensive standbys in these test. It also reinforces what some of the comments here and other places say, which is that those firearms (Rem. 870s, Savage 110s, etc.) deliver a lot of performance for the money--which is why the gun companies keep making them and don't try (very often anyway) to replace them with something new.
Maybe I'm getting old, but I can't believe some of these prices. Less than a year ago I picked up a new Savage model 10 in .300WSM for under $300 and mounted a $100 Bushnell Trophy. For less than the price of some non-resident tags, my poor man's Weatherby will outperform most of these rifles in the field, where it counts.
If you want a top quality firearm IMHO, purchase a Browning X-Bolt composite stainless steel stalker in either the .270wsm or the .300wsm. This is a hunters tool that will go anywhere and take just about anything, reliably and with extreme precision. It will cost you about $900.00 plus another $400.00 to $500.00 for a highly rated scope and base/ring set up.
Break in the barrel using proven methods and use Federal vital-shok ammo with the barnes tsx bullets...you will be happier than a hog in a sweet tater patch.
Nice guns, rough guns, custom built, cheap guns, new guns, old guns...Practice with what you've got and they can all be great guns. I have always felt the Indian was more important than the arrow.
I don't even know anyone who has a Sako or a Montana or a Sauer. Anyone heard of Remington, Savage, Tikka, Browning, Ruger, or Marlin?
It's a good thing this isn't the other way around.
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)
If you want a top quality firearm IMHO, purchase a Browning X-Bolt composite stainless steel stalker in either the .270wsm or the .300wsm. This is a hunters tool that will go anywhere and take just about anything, reliably and with extreme precision. It will cost you about $900.00 plus another $400.00 to $500.00 for a highly rated scope and base/ring set up.
Break in the barrel using proven methods and use Federal vital-shok ammo with the barnes tsx bullets...you will be happier than a hog in a sweet tater patch.
Maybe I'm getting old, but I can't believe some of these prices. Less than a year ago I picked up a new Savage model 10 in .300WSM for under $300 and mounted a $100 Bushnell Trophy. For less than the price of some non-resident tags, my poor man's Weatherby will outperform most of these rifles in the field, where it counts.
What a shame. All the big game guns are around $1K to $5K. I would think your target audience would like to see new hunting guns that are more affordable and meet Outdoor Life's demographics. Why not include some more affordable guns?
I think Bull Elk said it best. What the heck are you guys trying to do to us. I'll not drop that kind of money on a rifle. Heres the deal. Hunting isn't supposed to cause you to have to spend your kids college tuition and not many people carry that kind of equipment on a hunt. We carry proven work-horses. I know, OL is just getting paid to advertise these products, but we want to see some affordable bolt guns best of the best under the 1k price tag. One that the average Joe can run out and pickup one. Don't get wrapped up in exotics. A Remington, Ruger, Winchester, etc, etc kills them just as dead. Last season I took a nice 150's class 10 point and I don't think it mattered to much to him I used my beat up old marlin lever gun in 35 rem. lol, don't waste your money. Go with a proven Remington 700 or Savage or Ruger, etc. Thats my advice.
Ruger Gunsite Scout is a joke, I'll take a single lugged M1A to it any day!
If it had a sloped front on it's magazine, it would pass for a SMLE Jungle carbine. Which can be bought for considerably less and has a proven reliability record.
I don't even know anyone who has a Sako or a Montana or a Sauer. Anyone heard of Remington, Savage, Tikka, Browning, Ruger, or Marlin?
Nice guns, rough guns, custom built, cheap guns, new guns, old guns...Practice with what you've got and they can all be great guns. I have always felt the Indian was more important than the arrow.
We get a lot of comments about the prices of the shotguns and rifles in our tests, which is understandable. One thing to keep in mind is that these test are of NEW guns--not existing models or simple line extensions (like adding a new caliber or different camo finish). So the field of what we test is constrained by the requirement that the firearm be genuinely new.
That's why you don't see some of the less expensive standbys in these test. It also reinforces what some of the comments here and other places say, which is that those firearms (Rem. 870s, Savage 110s, etc.) deliver a lot of performance for the money--which is why the gun companies keep making them and don't try (very often anyway) to replace them with something new.
For Montana Rifle Co. being fairly new I think they are overpricing their firearms....
It's a good thing this isn't the other way around.
Ok guns but I do agree with the other guys with the over priced firearms. Winchester, Remington, and Marlin all came out with new more affordable rifles this year, but some of those companys price tags are pretty high also.
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)