I own several rifles, virtually 95% of which are stainless synthetic types. These include the following:
Remington M700 BDL SS
Winchester M70 Classic Stainless
Browning A-Bolt I Stainless Stalker
Sako 75 Stainless Synthetic
Tikka Stainless Synthetic
Kimber M8400 Montana Stainless Synthetic - on its way.
Notice how none of them are Rugers. Why? Honestly, I have just never warmed up to a Ruger. That's all.
However, as far as the CRF and "far from a gunsmith" is concerned, I have come to learn that it is perhaps more hype than anything else - and I myself bought into it in my earlier years. Yes, in theory it sounds practical, but I have never had any problems with my M700 feeding, etc.
Also, let me tell you this, and I'm sure this will really get your attention. I bought a Winchester Classic Stainless in .375H&H Mag. It was NIB and I had a scope mounted on it and took it to the range. After about 3 or 4 shots, the shells would not eject. Actually, this was very problematic because the CRF would not allow me to pull the shells out easily. I took it to a gunsmith, and he told me that the ejector got stuck. Specifically, the ejector was jammed on the bottom and never popped up to catch the bolt as it was sliding back. I don't remember exactly what he did, either fixed it or replaced it, but it was working fine afterwards. Still, could you imagine that you are hunting a grizzly or a cape buffalo, or even a wounded 300 pound wild boar here at home, and the dang thing won't eject your shells? :eek:
An argument can be made that this can happen to any rifle, and I don't disagree. My point simply is, just don't think, like I used to, that just because it's a CRF that it will work flawlessly over a non-CRF. Yes, the same thing could have happened on any of my Remingtons, Brownings, Tikkas, Sakos, etc.,.... but they didn't. And it's not to say that it can't happend to them, or the Ruger, or any of my other Winchesters, but now it's in the back of my mind.
Most of my rifles are customized in one way or another - trigger jobs, pillar and glass bedding, recrowned, etc. On my .375, I also had the action "jewelled" (I think that's what he called it. Now, the action is soo smooth, it's like a hot knife going through warm butter - that silky smooth. My Tikkas have the smoothest actions - for out of the box, but nothing compares to my .375's Action. My advice is get a rifle, any good rifle, even if it's a Ruger, and have it customized to some degree to fit your style (such as trigger pull) and your liking (such as a super smooth action, pillar bedding, etc.).
Bottom line is that you really can't go wrong with either of them. Yes, despite my mishap with the Winchester, I would still get it over the Ruger. Heck, I would buy a Remington M700 over a Winchester at times, and a Tikka over a Remington at other times. Then again, your comparing ford to chevy - it's all about personal taste and what feels good to you.
Zachary
