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CZ 550 Review

The folks at CZ have been building tough, reliable, Mauser-style controlled round feed actions almost as long as Mauser has. CZ, for the most part, specializes in offering rifles with old-world aesthetics and a decided lack of modern bells and whistles. The American gun-buying public has always seemed more intrigued with modern touches than the Europeans have, and CZ does most of its business across the pond. The Americans who do get a hold of a CZ 550 are usually pretty happy with it, though. CZ rifles are essentially store bought models of the sporterized 98’s that many generations of Americans grew to love and for some there is no finer rig.

The 550 action has much in common with its Mauser ancestors and CZ has always been proud to point this out. The bolt has two opposed locking lugs mounted at the front of the bolt (the third rear lug from the 98 has been discarded as unnecessary) and a large non-rotating extractor. To those who favor 98-type actions, the CZ is a regular marvel. All the rough edges of the original have been buffed out to create a smooth action right out of the box without the chunkiness of their predecessors. The 550 is available in a couple of variants that feature modern bedding techniques with synthetic stocks but, by-and-large, CZ prefers to offer nice-looking wood stock models. Naturally, with wood as a base some CZ’s will not toe the mark like some modern shooters expect, but just about every 550 can still deliver close to minute of angle accuracy, which is more than sufficient for big game hunting.

Some people find the CZ 550 a bit boring due to the many design features it shares with the Mauser 98 and its lack of modern frills. The 550’s boring nature is part of what makes it such a great action, though. Every concept in the 550 has been in use, getting tested for a hundred years, which means when you buy one the legwork is done and you can sit back and enjoy a truly trustworthy rifle.

The 550 only lost two points in our comparison. One point was deducted for Accuracy because while most CZ’s shoot pretty darn good, the standard Mauser bedding system and wood stocks that CZ favors can occasionally give some trouble; it’s not likely, but should be borne in mind. Another point was deducted for Long Term Cost of Ownership because the 550 isn’t the most popular of American rifles and it can be a bit trying to find parts for them at your local gun shop. Thankfully, the 550 rarely breaks, so most owners will never know this.

Ranked #2 of 7 in our Best Bolt Action Rifle Comparison

Savage 110 Review

Imagine for a moment that it is around 1957, your name is Nicholas Brewer and you work for Savage Arms. Your boss walks into the office one day and says “Nick, we need you to design a bolt action rifle for us. This gun has to be as accurate and dependable as the stuff already out there and you have to figure out some way to make it cheaper. Oh, by the way, don’t violate any existing patents and make it flexible enough that we don’t have to ever retool.” Most folks would take out the want ads and start looking for a new gig.

The Savage 110 was what Brewer came up with and it really did meet all the requirements. Borrowing from a few existing designs, Brewer created a push feed, dual-opposed lug action with a rotating extractor and enclosed bolt face. The bolt head itself was separated from the rest of the bolt body and held in place by a through pin. The 110 also had a few features geared towards ease in production that were all new. The barrel was headspaced by a big lock nut and threaded into the receiver. The receiver itself could be produced from a single piece of seamless tubing and stamped parts were used wherever possible. The use of a separated bolt head (which had never really been tried on a commercial rifle) made the bolt lugs essentially self-lapping and resulted in great accuracy without added machining. The end result was a rifle that could easily compete on the range and blow the completion away on a sporting goods store gun rack.

The number of incarnations and variants that Savage has produced on the 110 action over the years would fill an entire page. In essence, they are all the same sturdy, affordable unit that Brewer designed and they all work pretty well. Savage has even farmed this action out in the form of the Stevens 200 rifle, which has met with great success. The 110 is Savage’s go-to action and by whatever designation it is called will be around for a long time to come.

The 110 lost points a few points in our comparison for: ergonomics, due to a sometimes sloppy-feeling bolt throw, feeding/extraction, due to occasional jamming in feeding. Also reliability, due to the action’s rather high number of parts that, however rarely, do still fail, and fit/finish, due to Savage’s well-known commitment to sacrificing aesthetics in the name of accuracy and cost control. All of the 110’s foibles are well known to 110 owners, but most either don’t care, or stop caring, when they discover how well their surprisingly affordable rifle shoots.

Ranked #6 of 7 in our Best Bolt Action Rifle Comparison

Weatherby Vanguard Series II Review

The Vanguard rifle imported by Weatherby has been around for a long time. This action is a push feed design that features a relatively large rotating extractor affixed to one of the bolt lugs and an enclosed bolt face. In design the Vanguard is very similar to the push feed version of the Model 70, but has met with greater success. Ergonomically the rifle has much in common with the Remington 700 but can be produced at a lower cost. This combination of good ideas has made the Vanguard very appealing to shooters.

The Vanguard has a reputation for accuracy and dependability at a reasonable price. Until recently, the Vanguard line was considered lacking in flash, but the introduction of the Series II rifles is a departure with special purpose models and more features. The Series II rifles are the same reliable action the Vanguard always had with a new, rather ingenious, three-position safety and the addition of extras like special coatings, bedding blocks and adjustable triggers.

Now that the Vanguard line has begun to offer special models, the sky is pretty much the limit with a flexible design like the Vanguard’s; given the low initial cost of production the Vanguard may even pop up some day in different action lengths. In their current versions, any of the Series II rifles are an excellent value available at prices lower than can be had for similar rifles from other companies.

The Vanguard lost one point in our comparison in the category of Ergonomics because the bolt throw can at times feel less-than-smooth with an occasional bit of binding. We also deducted one point in the Long Term Cost of Ownership category because the Vanguard can be a little difficult to find replacement parts for due to its foreign manufacture which, seeing as Vanguards rarely require replacement parts, is not that big of a deal. Two points were also deducted in the Versatility category due to the fact that the Vanguard’s design does not lend itself to conversion and it is not factory chambered for a very wide variety of cartridges, somewhat limiting the possibilities with this action.

Ranked #5 of 7 in our Best Bolt Action Rifle Comparison

Ruger M77 Hawkeye Review

The second incarnation of the Ruger 77 has met with nothing but success. The Mark II is a controlled round feed action with dual-opposed locking lugs and a non-rotating claw extractor. In many ways the Mark II filled the gap left in the market when the Model 70 switched to a push feed action. For a long time almost all American-made rifles were push feeds due to the fact that many of the push feed designs work just as well as controlled round feeds and the push feed was traditionally much cheaper to produce. Bill Ruger’s commitment to investment casting and mechanical genius allowed Ruger to produce a controlled round feed action that was actually lower in cost than many push feed designs. The 77 is never as slick as the original Model 70 right out of the box (this has been referred to as “Ruger Smooth”), but after break-in it’s hard to tell the difference. One of the best advancements the 77 brought to the market was integral dovetail scope mounts machined into the top of the receiver. In addition to reducing points of potential failure, this system allows the scope rings to be installed correctly every time with only a large screwdriver, which is a real boon for the mechanically disinclined.

Controlled round feed actions have a reputation for jamming less and extracting better than push feed designs. Whether this reputation is deserved is always going to be a matter of contention, but what is for certain is that the controlled round feed Ruger 77 works wonderfully. As a platform for different variants, the Mark II is accurate enough for varmint rifles while still being reliable and strong enough for safari rifles. The Mark II is a favorite among gun cranks looking for an action to rebarrel for a wildcat cartridge. Ruger has produced so many variants of the 77 over the years that they are getting hard to keep track of, but they have had no trouble selling any of them and have received few complaints.

The 77 Mark II suffered in our comparison in Fit/Finish because Rugers are not always as pretty as they could be. That being said, current Ruger rifles look far better than the original offerings and they are improving all the time.

For all uses under all conditions and especially when price is taken into account the 77 Mark II action is currently the best value in the market, and many say it is superior to far more expensive actions available from custom companies. The 77 Mark II might be Bill Ruger’s best idea among many great ones.

For more information on Ruger click here.

Ranked #1 of 7 in our Best Bolt Action Rifle Comparison

Sako A7 Review

Sako has been around for a long time but only sold its offerings on the European market until about 1950 when it began offering mini-Mauser type actions and rifles chambered for varmint hunters or target shooters in the US. For a long time the only Sako rifles chambered in big game calibers a person was apt to bump into were guns brought back by servicemen who had done duty in West Germany or other European countries. Only in the last few decades has Sako begun to be a real player in the American market. The USA prefers, and has no lack of, homegrown rifles, but Sako has been doing well and can claim many satisfied customers.

The Sako A7 action is a push feed with three lugs, an enclosed bolt face and a fairly large extractor. Sako extractors deserve special mention because they are often chosen to be used as replacements for other push feed action extractors when building custom rifles. It can be argued that no push feed extractor is better than a controlled feed extractor, but the Sako style is definitely the best of the bunch in push feed designs. The three-lug bolt with guides cut into it makes for an extremely smooth action that many shooters rave about.

Sako rifles and the A7 in particular have developed an excellent reputation for accuracy over the years. The A7 is sold with a MOA guarantee, but even if it was not MOA accuracy would be expected. Sako seems to have put its varmint rifle experience to good use in this department. The A7 is probably never going to be as popular as many American-made rifles in this country, but it does have a following that seems pretty happy with their purchase.

The A7 lost one point in the feeding/Extraction category due to the fact that occasionally the ears on its detachable magazine seem to get a bit loose and do not properly hold the rounds in place. The owner if so inclined can fix this issue or the clip can be replaced. Speaking of replacing parts, two points were deducted for Long Term Cost of Ownership. Sako is a Finnish company and does business in America through intermediaries, which is probably good for its bottom line, but makes it tough on owners looking for spare parts. It’s not impossible to get Sako parts, but it’s harder than it is with other companies. Two more points were deducted in the Versatility category because between the A7’s rather unique magazine and the action’s unique design it does not make for very good conversion fodder and, if rebarreled, should be left in its original chambering. This probably isn’t that much of a concern to Sako owners due to the fact that they usually feel they got just what they wanted to begin with, but the prospective tinkerer should bear it in mind.

Honorable Mention in our Best Bolt Action Rifle Comparison

Browning X-Bolt Review

The term cult following gets thrown around a lot, but in the case of Browning it’s nearing the truth (It has been pointed out to me that a block of wood bearing a Buckmark logo could be a good seller). Some people even go so far as to have Browning’s very recognizable logo tattooed somewhere on their body. Much of this brand loyalty comes from Browning’s continued production of their classic firearms like the A-5 shotgun, but a great deal of it is the result of satisfaction with Browning’s modern designs. The A-Bolt and it’s currently produced evolution, the X-Bolt, have owners who are quite adamant about their quality and accuracy.

The X-Bolt is a push feed action with three lugs, an enclosed bolt face and a relatively large rotating extractor. The bolt lift is shorter thanks to the three-lug design and bolt guides are machined into the lugs making for a very smooth action. The X-Bolt is also equipped with a button on top of the bolt handle that allows the bolt to be opened while the safety is engaged. This button allows the rifle to have a two-position safety mounted on the tang while offering a safe option for unloading.

The X-Bolt is an attractive looking rifle for many shooters. All sharp angles and rough edges are smoothed out with the X-bolt. The X-bolt also makes use of a few features that are a bit odd in the current market but that will find favor with many shooters. The X-Bolt uses a rotary magazine that tends to smooth out the kinks of feeding the new short magnums on the market. Stumpy, thick cartridges generally don’t like to feed very well, but the X-bolt feeds them better than most. The X-Bolt also has a small chunk of spring steel, almost silly in its simplicity, which pushes down on the rotary magazine, making it handier to remove quickly without sticking in the gun. The X-Bolt is a design with a lot of little things to appreciate.

The X-Bolt lost a point in the Trigger category because while the X-Bolt has an adjustable trigger the trigger guard of the rifle must be removed to get at the adjustment screw, which might prove aggravating at the range or in the field. A point was also deducted for Feeding/Extraction because the X-Bolt’s extractor does occasionally slip over case heads if not properly fit. One point was deducted in the Scope Mounting category due to Browning’s use of a proprietary eight screw/two piece base system that will probably be difficult to find a good selection of at any given sporting goods store. A point was deducted in the Accuracy category due to the fact that the X-Bolt usually delivers pretty good accuracy, but these specimens do not crop up more than we would like. One point was deducted in the Reliability category due to the tendency of the X-Bolt, just like the A-Bolt before it, to be susceptible to icing in extreme weather conditions varying between wet and freezing cold. If doused and then frozen the X-Bolt can lock up good and hard to the point the bolt cannot be opened without the use of a boot or wood block. This does not happen often and is even kind of hard to duplicate in testing, but it can happen and the buyer should keep it in mind. One last point was deducted from the X-Bolt in the Versatility category because the design does not lend itself very well to conversion or certain cartridges.

Ranked #7 of 7 in our Best Bolt Action Rifle Comparison

Remington 770 Review

The Remington Model 770 is the company’s latest foray into the first-time hunter rifle market. Following in the footsteps of Remington’s first budget rifle, the Model 710, the 770 comes as close to a right-out-of-the-box hunting tool as possible. The rifle is sold with a 3-9×40 scope already installed and bore sighted. In theory, all the buyer has to do is go out and fine-tune the point of aim a bit before trying for a deer. Some might say that the bore sighting can be trusted to be good enough, but in reality a little bit of diligence and practice never hurts.

This rifle has three locking lugs that engage into the barrel instead of the receiver. Having the lugs engage in the barrel is not a new idea at Remington; some of the company’s autoloaders have done this for a long time. The floating bolt head and pressed, rather than threaded, barrel make for some substantial departures from tradition.

The 770 and the 710 before it have taken a lot of lumps in print. We often see criticism that these rifles are not as smooth as other Remington rifles and that the 770 does not shoot as well as a 700 and other such gripes. Anyone who makes these kinds of complaints is probably forgetting that three or four 770’s can be had for the price of one custom 700. The 710 and the 770 are not meant to compete with more costly rifles; they are meant to fill just one role as a newbie hunter’s first rifle. This role is important in today’s marketplace. The only thing that keeps modern gun companies in business is continually widening their sales base — gun companies need new hunters to buy new rifles. This becomes even more important when one considers that rifles have gotten a whole lot more durable in the last 50 years. A guy really has to work at wearing out a new gun these days, which means that you either have to talk your buyers into buying multiple guns or make more gun buyers.

Folks looking for their first hunting rifle on a budget can have a lot of success with the used market these days. The greater longevity of the modern rifle translates into higher resale value. Even a well-used Remington 700 in the 770’s price class is hard to find. With an MSRP $373 guns like the 770 are tempting enough to get new hunters out in the field, and coupling the rifle with a bore-sighted scope means that a fellow can wake up in the morning a vegetarian and be a successful deer hunter by the time the sun sets. Rifles like the 770 might not be the prettiest smoke poles available, but they are what are going to keep Remington and a lot of other companies in business in the years to come. Not because they are great products, but because they make hunters out of non-hunters.

The only top score the 770 received in our ratings was in Scope Mounting. This gun comes with all the hardware already screwed on, which is very handy. The rest of the ratings, which hover at or close to average, are simply a result of the compromises necessary to produce a rifle in this price range.

Honorable Mention in our Best Budget Bolt Action Rifle Comparison

Mossberg ATR 100 Review

The Mossberg ATR is Mossberg’s first venture into the low-priced centerfire market and has been around for a few years now. The rifle is intentionally as plain as it gets. The only thing that sets it apart from the rest of its budget bolt action contemporaries is the fact that, like the Mossberg 4×4, it can be had with a wood stock.

We suspect that more traditionally-minded buyers may prefer the ATR to the 4X4 because the furniture on it is not nearly so strange. This rig is meant to be for novice hunters who just want to give the sport a try before investing in high-priced equipment, and for a price increase of about $90 Mossberg will sell this rifle with a scope already mounted up.

In our ratings the ATR doesn’t come out best in class in any area, but it’s pretty close in ergonomics, recoil, safety and fit/finish. With an MSRP of $355 close enough is probably good enough.

Honorable Mention in our Best Budget Bolt Action Rifle Comparison

Savage Axis Review

With the Savage Axis we see yet another repackaging of Savage’s previous highly successful bolt action rifles. The Axis does have a few differences though. The first thing noticeably different is the safety, which has been moved back to the tang. Tang safeties seem to be making a comeback in rifle designs and whether the tang safety is better or worse than any other is largely a matter of preference. If you are used to a tang safety from your favorite shotgun, then this is an added convenience.

The ejection port of the Axis is something of an oddity in the Savage line. The port is enclosed on top and looks smaller overall. Naturally, the port is plenty big enough for ammunition to get through, so the change appears to be largely aesthetic. Normally ejection ports are made smaller to stiffen up receivers and add accuracy in benchrest-type rifles. The smaller port may make the Axis negligibly more accurate, but in a sporter package it’s hard to say if anyone will notice.

In our comparison, the Axis only pulled top ratings in the areas of recoil (it has a pretty decent recoil pad) and accuracy (because it shoots as well as any other Savage). All other ratings are closer to average, but the Axis is only meant to be exceptional in certain areas to save on cost.

What will make this rifle a real hit with between seven and ten percent of the population is that it is the only rifle in its price class that can be had in either a right- or left-handed version with no additional cost for the left-handed bolt. While no gun company will ever get rich off the American left-handed shooting public, making a rifle like this available will increase sales. Savage has even wisely chosen to chamber the Axis for a couple of cartridges like .22-250 Rem or .243 Win which are difficult for lefties to get their hands on without paying a bundle.

Honorable Mention in our Best Budget Bolt Action Rifle Comparison

Mossberg 4×4 Review

The Mossberg 4×4 is a rifle that that visually emulates its namesake. The first look at the rifle makes you think that you would not have a problem dragging it around in the mud or maybe slapping it off a few rocks. This is not to say that the 4×4 won’t break when you do this, but it won’t break your heart to see it happen. These rifles are designed for the first-time hunter market to allow people interested in hunting to get their feet wet without a lot of investment.

One point of interest with the 4×4 and other Mossbergs is that they are the only rifles in the lower price ranges that can be had with a wooden stock if one so desires. Most of the buyers of these rifles will probably opt for the synthetic, but it’s still nice to have the option. Whether in wood or plastic, the stock of the 4×4 is something different in shape. The overall look makes the rifle appear thicker and beefier than most bolt guns. When it comes to hunting arms most people want slimmer and lighter guns, but sometimes just being different makes a gun stand out enough to get noticed. Aside from the strange stock the rifle is what Mossberg intended it to be in the form of a “meat and potatoes” bolt gun for the novice hunter. In its prescribed role the Mossberg 4×4 will probably give good service until the owner feels a need to upgrade.

It should be noted that the 4×4 only scored in the average or better than average in most areas, but that’s what Mossberg is shooting for with this rifle. The gun’s only best-in-class rating was for recoil. The 4×4’s strangely obese-looking stock will help cut down on felt recoil for beginning shooters, which is a definite plus for a rifle in this price range.

Ranked #7 of 7 in our Best Budget Bolt Action Rifle Comparison