I get pumped up about the "economic stimulus" rifles - the Savages, the $400 Weatherby, the $500 T/C, and the not much more than $300 Marlin bolt guns - rifles that are putting quality new rifles in the working man's hands, and making the other makers look silly if not nervous.

These rifles, with their low price tags and unbelievable performance for the price, will be good for buyers at all price ranges. The manufacturers not turning out these rifles are forced to either make a better product, or one that competes in price and performance.

I'd like to know how many guys have been made jealous when their friend busts out a new Marlin or Savage that outshoots their rifles that were twice as much.

The past few years have been very good ones in the world of riflery, both in accuracy/performance improvements overall, and in high availability of accuracy and performance at very affordable prices. Factory guns now are shooting with just about anything at any price from only a decade ago.

I think a lot of credit is due to the Savage "renaissance" - they have always been pretty accurate, but were cheap in a bad way, ugly, and low on features. Now there is at least one Savage model that will impress any rifle connoisseur. The Accutrigger is a mini revolution, they make good looking guns now, and accuracy is better than ever. They make target guns that are competing against $5,000+ custom jobs, and even winning. This is unheard of.

Winchester is back with the M70 and better than ever.

My question is where is Remington in all of this? Everyone else has a great bargain gun. Their bargain gun (the 710 and now the 770) is a piece of crap. The "cheapo" 700s are about $600, and are outgunned by the T/C, a whole Benjamin less. Their most accurate out of the box thing doesn't hold any water these days. I wonder if their sales are lagging? Probably not, Remington loyalty might be the strongest there is.

The downside are those cheesy Remington SRs...

I would have to agree with Del, the triggers on the Steven's, Savage's, and Remingtons lately are either heavy or creepier than tarrantula! But, the rifles that are coming out for less than $300-$400, are pretty darn good overall, contributing to me buying 4 rifles in the past 18 months!

i own 2 new steven modell 200 the trigers are crap to heavy had to change them out but the rifles shoot great for less than $325.00 each but they are cheap os no thrills but im all for compotion to bring prices down works for me
but im a remington and ruger guy over all i too do not like the remington 710 it is junk like shane has stated