What qualities make a rifle desirable to you?

[Questor]

On a scale of 1 to 5 rate the following criteria with 5 being very important and 1 being unimportant:

Price
Reputation of gun
Reputation of manufacturer
Inherent accuracy
Weight
Weather resistance
Reliability
Durability
Appearance
Tradition
Standard features
Ergonomics
Trigger quality
Quality of other controls like safety, bolt throw, and magazine operation
Ready parts and repair channels
Recoil
Speed of follow-up shot
Availability of ammunition
Favorite action (bolt, lever, auto, etc.)
Materials (wood, synthetic, blue, stainless)
Adornments (checkering, engraving, inlay, polish)
Must be new
Latest technology
Available in specific cartridge
Left-handed ease of use
Suitable for dangerous game (i.e., tuned for reliable feeding of dangerous game cartridges)
Feel free to add your own items


The following are how my criteria weigh:
5 Price
5 Reputation of gun
3 Reputation of manufacturer
4 Inherent accuracy
4 Weight
4 Weather resistance
4 Reliability
2 Durability
2 Appearance
1 Tradition
4 Standard features
5 Ergonomics
5 Trigger quality
5 Quality of other controls like safety, bolt throw, and magazine operation
3 Ready parts and repair channels
4 Recoil
3 Speed of follow-up shot
2 Availability of commercial ammunition
5 Favorite action (bolt, lever, auto, etc.)
4 Materials (wood, synthetic, blue, stainless)
3 Adornments (checkering, engraving, inlay, polish)
1 Must be new
1 Latest technology
4 Available in specific cartridge
1 Left-handed ease of use
1 or 3 Suitable for dangerous game (i.e., tuned for reliable feeding of dangerous game cartridges)

[skb2706]

2 Price (this should read VALUE) I'll pay for good stuff
4 Reputation of gun (is this internet reputation or actual use reputation)
3 Reputation of manufacturer (see above)
2 Inherent accuracy (likely any gun can be made more accurate)
3 Weight
4 Weather resistance
5 Reliability
5 Durability
4 Appearance
0 Tradition
4 Standard features
5 Ergonomics
5 Trigger quality
5 Quality of other controls like safety, bolt throw, and magazine operation
2 Ready parts and repair channels (if the gun rates good to this point it is unlikely I will need this)
1 Recoil (if you are afraid of recoil maybe you should play tennis)
1 Speed of follow-up shot (why......if inherent accuracy(?) is there and you can shoot)
1Availability of commercial ammunition (never shoot factory ammo)
5 Favorite action (bolt, lever, auto, etc.)
5 Materials (wood, synthetic, blue, stainless)
1 Adornments (checkering, engraving, inlay, polish)
1 Must be new
1 Latest technology
3 Available in specific cartridge (most are anyway)
1 Left-handed ease of use
1 or 3 Suitable for dangerous game (i.e., tuned for reliable feeding of dangerous game cartridges)

[teddy12b]

Here's how I do it:

  #1.)  Accuracy - If it can't hit a pop can at 100 yards, then I probably don't want it unless it fills a very specific niche.
  #2.)  Reputation of manufacturer - Savage has an outstanding reputation for accuracy and that's why I buy them.
  #3.)  Weather Resistance - Unless it's a timeless classic, I like stainless and synthetic.  I don't want banged up wood and rusting steel.
  #4.)  Caliber - It has to something I want and will use, hopefully something I already reload for.
  #5.)  Price - I agree it should be value, for instance I put Leupold scopes on Savage rifles and it's an amazing combo.

[RaySendero]

4 - Price
1 - Reputation of gun
1 - Reputation of manufacturer
5 - Inherent accuracy
2 - Weight
2 - Weather resistance
3 - Reliability
3 - Durability
5 - Appearance
1 - Tradition
1 - Standard features
3 - Ergonomics
5 - Trigger quality
3 - Quality of other controls like safety, bolt throw, and magazine operation
3 - Ready parts and repair channels
1 - Recoil
1 - Speed of follow-up shot
1 - Availability of ammunition
5 - Favorite action (bolt, lever, auto, etc.)
5 - Materials (wood, synthetic, blue, stainless)
1 - Adornments (checkering, engraving, inlay, polish)
1 - Must be new
1 - Latest technology
4 - Available in specific cartridge
1 - Left-handed ease of use
5 if DGR (1 if not) - Suitable for dangerous game (i.e., tuned for reliable feeding of dangerous game cartridges)

[bigjeepman]

3   Price
3   Reputation of gun
3   Reputation of manufacturer
4   Inherent accuracy
4   Weight
4   Weather resistance
5   Reliability
4   Durability
3   Appearance
3   Tradition
3   Standard features
4   Ergonomics
5   Trigger quality
5   Quality of other controls like safety, bolt throw, and magazine operation
3   Ready parts and repair channels
4   Recoil
2   Speed of follow-up shot
1   Availability of ammunition
4   Favorite action (bolt, lever, auto, etc.)
4   Materials (wood, synthetic, blue, stainless)
2   Adornments (checkering, engraving, inlay, polish)
2   Must be new
2   Latest technology
5   Available in specific cartridge
1   Left-handed ease of use
2   Suitable for dangerous game (i.e., tuned for reliable feeding of dangerous game cartridges)


bjm

[jvs]

Price  3
Reputation of gun  1
Reputation of manufacturer  4
Inherent accuracy 2
Weight  4
Weather resistance  0
Reliability  4
Durability  4
Appearance  3
Tradition  0
Standard features  3
Ergonomics
Trigger quality  4
Quality of other controls like safety, bolt throw, and magazine operation  4
Ready parts and repair channels  0
Recoil  3
Speed of follow-up shot  4  (this is why I dabble in Levers and Pumps)
Availability of ammunition  5
Favorite action (bolt, lever, pump)  5
Materials (wood)  5
Adornments (checkering, engraving, inlay, polish)  3
Must be new  0
Latest technology  0
Available in specific cartridge  4
Left-handed ease of use  0
Suitable for dangerous game (i.e., tuned for reliable feeding of dangerous game cartridges)  0


What I look for is a Blued Metal Bolt Action in a caliber that usually costs less to shoot with a detachable Mag, a Wooden Stock, Sling Mounts installed at the Factory and is drilled and tapped for scope mounts.  That doesn't mean that I don't have actions other than Bolts.  But it does mean that I don't own any Stainless, and very, very few Synthetics.  I have never bought a Package gun.

Sometimes I shop for new, other times I know that I want a Classic in Original condition.

[Brithunter]

1) Quality

2) Quality

3) Quality

4) price!

[mudstud]

I will make the wild assumption that we are talking about Big Game HUNTING rifles here.  In that case, I will shamelessly quote a poster from another forum.

1.) Flawless feeding and function.

2.) Consistent, unchanging point-of-impact.

3.) Balance and handling characteristics.

[Swampman]

It needs to say Marlin on the barrel, and it has to have a lever.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

1 Price
3 Reputation of gun
3 Reputation of manufacturer
5 Inherent accuracy
5 Weight
5 Weather resistance
5 Reliability
5 Durability
2 Appearance
1 Tradition
3 Standard features
4 Ergonomics
5 Trigger quality
5 Quality of other controls like safety, bolt throw, and magazine operation
2 Ready parts and repair channels
Recoil-------that wouldn't be the rifle but chosen caliber
2 Speed of follow-up shot
Availability of ammunition---see above
4 Favorite action (bolt, lever, auto, etc.)
4 Materials (wood, synthetic, blue, stainless)
1 Adornments (checkering, engraving, inlay, polish)
5 Must be new
3 Latest technology
5 Available in specific cartridge
0 Left-handed ease of use
0 Suitable for dangerous game (i.e., tuned for reliable feeding of dangerous game cartridges)
Feel free to add your own items

[Mac11700]

On a scale of 1 to 5 rate the following criteria with 5 being very important and 1 being unimportant:

Price=2
Reputation of gun=3
Reputation of manufacturer=3
Inherent accuracy=5
Weight=3
Weather resistance=2
Reliability=5
Durability=5
Appearance=5
Tradition=...5 if a flint lock...3 for every thing else
Standard features=3
Ergonomics=5
Trigger quality=5
Quality of other controls like safety, bolt throw, and magazine operation=5
Ready parts and repair channels=5
Recoil=1
Speed of follow-up shot=2
Availability of ammunition=2
Favorite action (bolt, lever, auto, etc.) All of them...I like them all
Materials (wood, synthetic, blue, stainless) Again...all of them...I like & own most types
Adornments (checkering, engraving, inlay, polish)...checkering...=5 inlay=2..polish...3
Must be new=1
Latest technology=3
Available in specific cartridge=1
Left-handed ease of use=1
Suitable for dangerous game (i.e., tuned for reliable feeding of dangerous game cartridges)=5
...Balance=5+...it has to feel balanced...even if it isn't perfect...This isn't talking about the ergonomics of it...but how it actually feels in my hands when I close my eyes holding it..

Mac

[sabretip]

Accuracy first, if it doesn't shoot,it doesn't matter what name or how purty it is.

[Coyote Hunter]

1. Quality
2. Accuracy
3. Looks

No time in my life for poor quality rifles, whether they shoot or not.  Nor do I have time for inaccurate rifles.  Ugly rifles, well, no thanks.

This is not to say I need expensive rifles as I most certainly do not.  Ruger M77/M77 MKII, Marlin 336/375/1895, a single Remington M700, and a single Browning B92 rifles are the only center-fire types currently in my safe.  Most were purchased used.

[DalesCarpentry]

On a scale of 1 to 5 rate the following criteria with 5 being very important and 1 being unimportant:

5 Price
5 Reputation of gun
5 Reputation of manufacturer
5 Inherent accuracy
3 Weight
3 Weather resistance
5 Reliability
4 Durability
3 Appearance
1 Tradition
2 Standard features
2 Ergonomics
4 Trigger quality
4 Quality of other controls like safety, bolt throw, and magazine operation
3 Ready parts and repair channels
2 Recoil
2 Speed of follow-up shot
5 Availability of ammunition
Bolt   Favorite action (bolt, lever, auto, etc.)
I like differnt materials for different reasons      Materials (wood, synthetic, blue, stainless)
2  Adornments (checkering, engraving, inlay, polish)
2  Must be new
2  Latest technology
4  Available in specific cartridge
1  Left-handed ease of use
1  Suitable for dangerous game (i.e., tuned for reliable feeding of dangerous game cartridges)
Feel free to add your own items

[tuck2]

Any rifle that will put five bullets into a 1/2 inch  or less size group at 100 yards is a keeper .  Dont care for any rifle over ten pounds. All the rest dont matter to me.

[teddy12b]

I think tuck2 said it best!