lilabner,
i know the reputation of the Sssssssssaaa.... action is strong, and believe that it could be so. but the lock- time of the Remington is allegedly the fastest out there. HOWEVER: does anybody believe that the other brands are so slow that it might matter if one is not a world-class shooter? when looking at any game the size of a coyote, at a distance out to maybe 300 yards, i doubt the lock-time of a Ruger is a problem, for example. i just doubt that it matters all that much with the rifles that are of a modern design and production. yeah, the .300 Win' mag' in the Mauser action just used to win the long-range title IN 2006 at Camp Perry is possibly a relatively slow phenomenon. but, the champ' learned to shoot with it and took the title. you can read about it elsewhere.
ctrout'
do you really believe that your semi-custom can beat the price of a Remington Varmint rifle when it is on a markdown somewhere? my buddy got one of their lightweight, fluted, stainless steel rifles for under $550 on a clearance. that's on a $1040 list price. yeah, it was a bargain, but you can find 'em if you are patient.
take care,
ss'