firearm serviceability and brand loyalty

[targshooter]

Do most of you choose a rifle based on its specifications and perceived quality (hence good serviceability) or have you chosen based on brand loyalty? Or are your firearms uses a combination of both brand experience and firearms history? I believe I fit the last type, as I have picked and retained various brands of firearms for various functions. For example:
My dangerous game rifles are Winchester Model 70s in .375H&H.
For deer hunting I use Remington 7400 Carbine in .30-06, Ruger 99/44 and a Ruger Model 77 RSI in .308.
However, I hunt with an individual who exercises extremem brand loyalty and purchases Remington only. He has a fairly extensive Model 7 and Model 700 line-up, from .22-250 through .350 Remington Mag (new 673).
So, what influences most of you in your choice? Do gun magazines influence you? Are there famous people using the firearms you choose?

[760 Nut]

Targshooter,

I think I would fall under the brand loyalty category. My first gun was a Remington 30 years ago and I have stayed with them ever since.
My dad always hunted with an Rem 870 and I wanted to grow up just like him. :-)
I also bought my first 760 because of Larry Benoit. Larry made them famous and I just had to have one because the Benoit's used them.
After I owned my first 760, I found out why the Benoit's used them...because they work. They are accurate and dependable. I have since had a love affair with the pump centerfire and have quite a collection of the 760/7600. Kind of like your friend you mentioned with all the 700's, I have ALMOST every configurable 760/7600 model ever offered (A guys gotta have a hobby, right?)  Still a couple of rare ones I can't get ahold of. :cry:
There are many great guns out there by other gun makers, I just prefer good old Remingtons.  :grin:

[NYH1]

I'm a diehard Remington fan. My father bought me a model 700 BDL in 223 Rem. when I was about 14 and I've love Remingtons ever since. I alway loved the model 700 Classic, I had one in 25-06 Rem. I traded that one for a Classic in 280 Rem. which I still have and probably alway will! Now I really like the new model 700 CDL, one of these in 30-06 would be nice. I like the 870 pump shotguns, but I really like the 11-87's. I had a model 7600 Carbine that I traded, wish I didn't do that. I think I'm going to get a model 7400 Carbine next.

I also like Marlin lever actions a lot too. I have a 35 Rem. and a 444 Mar.

My favorite pistols are Glocks. I have two and don't plan on stopping there. My Glocks JUST WORK!!!

[Mike103]

I own 1- Colt, !- Marlin, 3- Rugers, 3- Mossbergs, 5- Winchesters, and 19- Remington's. I'm a Remington guy. I am right handed but have been shooting left handed for 36 years because of a left dominate eye. Because of this left handed bolts and levers never felt natural in my hands. But Remington 870's/1100's and 7600's/ 7400's just dance in my hands.    
   
I hunted with a 742 for over 30 years, wore out the rails inside the receiver and Remington traded in the 742 for a 7400 for 200 and something bucks. Now that's service. I killed over 40 deer with that rifle. My first shotgun was a single shot Winchester but I soon got my hands on a Remington 870 and the love affair began. I like having the controls in the same place and the rifles and shotguns swing the same for me. Hunting in Northeast hardwoods that is important to me.    
   
At this time I have 6-870's, three 12 gauge, one twenty gauge, one 28 gauge and one 410. Two of the 12's and the 20 are Wingmasters. The others are Express models. I have several deer barrels for the 12's and 20 gauge but the 12 gauge Express is my go to gun for deer here on Long Island and turkey upstate NY. I have shot both wild and released birds with the small bore guns, lot's of fun.    
   
I have 8-1100's. Four of them are the complete set of Sporting Clay models, 12, 20, 28 and .410. These guns are used by both my son and I for skeet shooting only. He will be buying a tubed Berretta in a few months leaving the guns all to me.    
   
The others are a Field grade 12 gauge Sportsman that has the Express style finish and walnut stocks, (this gun is at Remington right now being refurbished). A field grade 20 gauge synthetic that was a youth but has been since converted to adult that my son began shooting skeet with. A 12 gauge fully rifled with a canterlever barrel and scope and lastly a field grade 410 that has both a modified and skeet barrel.        
 
My rifles include a 7400 in 30-06 with a Nikon 3X9 and Warn removable return to zero mounts. This is my main woods gun. In the last three years I got caught up in the Grices Special run 7600's so I bought a 35 Rem carbine that sports a 2X7 Nikon with over under mounts, a 35 Whelen that has a 3X9 Nikon with the Warn mounts and a 25-06 laminate that I have not bought a scope for yet. This rifle is a gray laminate and is the uglyest stock I have ever seen. I have only killed one deer with the 35 Rem carbine. The Whelen is going into the woods for the first time this year.  
My last Remington is a 572 Rimfire pump in smooth bore. We call it the bee killer. Another special run gun I bought.
 
Only one Remington I ever gave me trouble besides the 742, the 12 gauge 1100 Sporting would not feed from the mag. A fast trip back to Remington and it works fine.  
 
I expect to buy several more Remingtons, SP-10, 11-87 Super Mag, 1100 Trap gun, 16 gauge 1100 special field and some others. Can't help it, I a Remaholic. MIKE.

[Savage .250]

Early on when i bought a gun it was, cal first then the type(lever,pump,etc) then went looking for the company that made the one that caught my eye.  Price plus standard features were considered. When you get right down to it, if it don`t look good it`s hard to part with your money.
  Later on, The Savage 99`s were top of my list. That`s the only company/
  model that seems to hold a fascination for me.  The history behind those guns is something. As there`re not being made any longer (99`s) the
  lore and legend lives on. Guys that own-um know what i mean.

 " The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

[257Robt]

Up until recently I bought just to spend money. Now that I am selling off most of everything I own, I am left w/ mostly Remington 7600 rifles. I have 2 Rugers and a Marlin also. Shotguns are a mix of 1 Mossberg and 1 Westernfield, a Ithace 66 and a Remmy 870 Wingmaster. The only rimfire I have is a Remmy nylon 66. I guess the Benoits have changed some of my ways simply because it works and alot of what they talk about is common sense, yet it seems to be overlooked. Brand Loyalist? Yeah, I guess I am.

[ihuntbucks]

Let's see....I own Springfield,Mossberg,Remington,Colt,S&W,Marlin,Sig,Savage,Ruger,Bushmaster,Para-Ordnance,Winchester and Kimber.Guess I like ALL OF THEM ..........Rick

[BloomGrad]

I started out with Remington as I precieved them as the most accurate for the rounds I was looking at.

Now I look for something from each manufacturer because they all have something that makes each an individual.  Yes they might all be bolt actions but a Mauser safety is different in desiign than a Ruger M77 MkII.  A Remingtion 700 has a different safety than a Savage.  A Win 94 is diferent than a Browning BLR.

We all start out in life liking only certain foods but as we get older our tastes change.  How many times have you heard somebody say " boy I didn't like..-?-. but the way it was prepared tonight it was really yummy, I may make that myself at home!"

Don't we all look at other cars for different features?  A 4x4 and a sports car might have the same horsepower but you can go faster in the sportscar.  To be a real red blooded American we should own both.

Yes, I could only HAVE to hunt with one rifle or shotgun if I wanted, but WHY?