What bolt action rifle do you regret buying

[RedTag]

I voted Browning for the A-bolt in .270 Win. that proved to be a 2 moa gun at best and 4 moa on average. Barrel was bad. Stock was bad. Action was ok but the trigger seemed too fragile to risk a custom job. Took a big loss on that one.
A newer Winchester 70 (also in .270) is a close second. Another bad barrel and another bad stock on another rifle that wasn’t exactly cheap. The safety did a funky “4-position” thing sometimes too. I didn’t like the moa trigger either. It could be a good place to work from but not for me, so it got traded away. Winchester had it right from ‘36 to ‘63, not since.

Savage was ok when they were actually cheap but now they have thousand dollar price tags on new 110 rifles. Hard pass.

On the flip side, the best value in a bolt action rifle of all time must’ve been the MR-7 made by Marlin in the late 90s. Truly affordable for the working man, a tasteful design and nicely executed, oh and accurate. I got 3 of them and they are tack drivers. The .270 in particular with a rudimentary bedding job around the recoil lug will stack rounds with almost boring repetition, like 10 shot groups, not 3s or 5s.

 

[deewayne2003]

Why the hell wasn’t Remington on the list?

The last couple Remingtons I bought (10years ago) we’re dog shit quality!

 

[Andrew62]

Why the hell wasn’t Remington on the list?

The last couple Remingtons I bought (10years ago) we’re dog shit quality!

I had a Remington 30.06 bolt rifle that accidentally discharged, 2x, when I pushed the safety from ‘safe to fire’!

 

[375Fox]

I had a Remington 30.06 bolt rifle that accidentally discharged, 2x, when I pushed the safety from ‘safe to fire’!

My Thompson Center didn’t fire but after a few shots and getting warm, it would decock itself when closing the Bolt with safety off. It allowed functioning the bolt with safety on, I had to keep safety on then close the bolt and take safety off. I always expected it to fire flipping the safety off.

 

[deewayne2003]

I had a Remington 30.06 bolt rifle that accidentally discharged, 2x, when I pushed the safety from ‘safe to fire’!

I’ve had one new out of the box do the exact same thing.

Cousins ranch hand had the exact same thing happen with an out of the box rifle.

I Had another one that wouldn’t extract for me and saw several more do the same thing…. Again new rifles.

Watched a highschool buddy shoot a brand new 7mm mag that was so poorly headspaced that every primer was blowing out of the case, For 8 rounds before he noticed while sighting in - brand new out of the box rifle with corelokt ammo.

The difference in quality between the 870 wingmaster & 870 express is a crime against humanity!

 

[CBH Australia]

I think I saw the YouTube video.

The ones I really wanted to upgrade are long gone.

The ones I regret buying might be the ones not getting much use. But they do get out occasionally.

One that comes to mind that I don’t like is my Brothers Browning X Bolt in .308. It’s either poor stock design or lightweight it just has a sharp kick that seems unlike all the other .308’s I have fired.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I won a Christensen from a raffle (so didn’t even buy it). Had nothing but issues and traded/sold it. Should’ve picked one of the other guns that had a much lesser value and the Christensen.

 

[Flewis]

I only regret the ones I didn’t buy.

 

[Muskox]

I’d vote Remington if I had the chance.

I have not seen a new Remington on the shelves. Are they even available? That was the goal of the question. Only current available companies.

 

[R eight]

No more Remington or Winchester for me. Rifles were crap. Frustrating for me but a great source of income for gunsmiths.

Tikka T3’s never seen a bad one.

Sako’s….usually good but the occasional brumby turns up.

Custom builds (excluding Rigby, H&H etc) never again. Long waits and often with no happy ending.

If I need an off the shelf hunting bolt rifle then I’m buying either a T3, R8 or Rigby/Mauser 98. They’ll all work and shoot better than me.

 

[R eight]

I have not seen a new Remington on the shelves. Are they even available? That was the goal of the question. Only current available companies.

Still available new around here.

 

[Sideshow]

My Thompson Center didn’t fire but after a few shots and getting warm, it would decock itself when closing the Bolt with safety off. It allowed functioning the bolt with safety on, I had to keep safety on then close the bolt and take safety off. I always expected it to fire flipping the safety off.

Bugger that! Just asking for an AD.

 

[Major Bonkers]

Add: Husqvarna (poor fit, accidental discharge) and Steyr Mannlicher (can't load from the breech (which is designed more like an ejection port), only from the magazine, too much plastic, ugly design)

 

[WI-2021]

I've bought and sold quite a few rifles now, but mainly due to changing tastes. There were a couple I was actually disappointed with though:

Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker 30-06 - Way more felt recoil than a 30-06 should have, at least to me. Mediocre trigger. I could have restocked it and replaced the trigger, but since it was a lefty version the stock would pretty much been a custom job. I sold it rather than sink money into it. I'm rather ashamed to admit that I don't currently own a 30-06, but it seems a bit redundant to me considering that I have both .308 and .300WM in the safe.

Christensen Ridgeline 6.5 PRC - Way more flash than quality. I consider them to be a slightly upgraded Remington with a lot of bling. Mine grouped quite well, but had a very heavy bolt lift if the chamber was anything other than perfectly clean and dry. Even when it was clean and dry it still was a little heavy. The stock was rather mediocre as well. I could have restocked it and had the chamber fixed, but then I'd just have a $3000 Christensen. Instead I sold it to partially fund its replacement, a Pure Precision SKLTN build with a Carbon Six barrel and AG Chalk Branch stock. Better in every way and only a little more money than I would have sunk into the Ridgeline.

 

[jruby]

A MK V weatherby in 300 weatherby. Nothing wrong with it, just dont need four 30 cal magnums. It does have a stiff safety. At the time I bought it, it and my 300H&H were my only two. Since I have inherited a 30-338 and a 300WM. I love that 300H&H and it will be one of the last guns that leave my hands.

 

[Bonk]

I had a Remington 30.06 bolt rifle that accidentally discharged, 2x, when I pushed the safety from ‘safe to fire’!

According to the R700 fan club that didn’t happen and it was obviously your fault.

I had the same thing happen with a Kimber. Kimber replaced the entire bolt group but I never trusted the rifle after that. I sold it at a substantial loss with full disclosure to the new owner. So, even though it wasn’t on the list my regret was that Kimber.

I don’t understand the negative comment about Ruger rifles. Arguably my most accurate and favorite rifles are Rugers.

 

[dchum]

I bought a J.p Sauer 100 in 9.3x62. Sold it fast…

It was a very light and wood stock, to light for calibre . The non walnut wood stock would flex on recoil and the plastic mag box would release and fall out. Had it happen on a Nilgai hunt I got the gun for.

My, Sako, Ruger #1 , Bergaras, are all perfect and shoot very well. All of my rem 700s have been very accurate and feed and function very well. I did have a 22-250 that hangfired… new trigger and all was well.

 

[375Ruger416]

My newish Blaser R8 is mine. It’s been good so far, feeds and shoots well. However, now that I own one I see that many of its advantages aren’t that significant to me now as when I chose to purchase it. It is as advertised - great trigger, shoots well, quick reloads and is modular. I bought it for two primary reasons: convenient to transport with two or three cartridges in a small case and both my boys are L eye dominant and it can be converted to L hand easily. Finally, I did rush my decision a little bit to get it purchased before tariffs kicked in here in Canada and prices when up another 25%.

However, have realized that my single favorite rifle is my Gunwerks Nexus in 300 PRC. And, since its appropriate for all non-dangerous game (especially as it’s a switch barrel and also has a 6.5 PRC barrel), I’d like to take it on every trip where feasible. Though my Blaser R8 in 375 H&H and 300 WM will cover all bases, I either need two Blaser stocks and receivers or to swap barrels to hunt with the other cartridge. I pictured myself hunting dangerous game (or not) and switching to the appropriate barrel day by day or midway through a trip. However, I would much rather take two complete rifles on the Land Cruiser and grab the appropriate rifle for the game we target if I’m hunting dangerous AND plains game on the same hunt. Or even if I am hunting much different sized non-dangerous game. I have realized that safaris are far less predictable than hunting here in NA. You may be looking for buffalo and see a great kudu, or tracks for same.

If I had it to do over, I think I’d get a Dakota or M70 from Hill Country Rifles in 416 for my big game rifle and call it good. Something as similar in fit and function as possible as my Nexus. A M70 would also be an option, but I like a 14 to 14.5 LOP.

While I value simplicity and like the idea of using one rifle for everything, I can see why people take a 375 H&H or similar medium bore as well as a true big bore in matching rifles when hunting a mixed bag in a dangerous game area. Probably going to work my way up to a 416 or 458 for my second rifle. Still not planning to join the double rifle world, but never thought I’d want anything bigger than a 375. Planning my first buffalo hunt for next year or 2027, but it may turn into a buffalo/hippo (on land preferred)/crocodile hunt and find myself thinking about tuskless someday so will need a bigger gun.

 

[Doug3006]

I’d wager that for every brand of factory rifle, as well as every custom maker, somebody somewhere has had a terrible experience. For them, that brand is forever a piece of junk. I totally understand that sentiment. I start paying attention when I hear of, or have had, multiple bad experiences. For me, the “never buy again” brands are Remington, Christiansen, Ruger (sad to say but I’ve been burned more than once), and Savage. Kimber no longer makes a rifle that interests me, but the 2 Caprivi’s I own are great rifles.

 

[375Ruger416]

I’d wager that for every brand of factory rifle, as well as every custom maker, somebody somewhere has had a terrible experience. For them, that brand is forever a piece of junk. I totally understand that sentiment. I start paying attention when I hear of, or have had, multiple bad experiences. For me, the “never buy again” brands are Remington, Christiansen, Ruger (sad to say but I’ve been burned more than once), and Savage. Kimber no longer makes a rifle that interests me, but the 2 Caprivi’s I own are great rifles.

I’d buy that. In the rifle world, I think there are more often problematic rifle models or even factory shifts or time periods that are problematic than manufacturers.

I had a Kimber LPT in 223 that I sold and have always regretted. Was my second centrefire rifle and I thought lots of rifles shot like that. It was a bit heavy and I wanted a lighter semiauto for coyote hunting. I’m still looking for another rifle that will shoot like that one. Holes on paper were routinely touching. When I missed, it was 100% me.