Q: What are the key differences between budget and high-end rifles?
A: Jason Livingston, OOD contributor and gun expert, breaks it down as follows.
Budget rifles (Below $800):
Generous tolerances, cheap materials, and simple-to-manufacture designs make budget guns possible. The biproduct is variability in both functional and shooting performance. Bad examples sometimes have issues, particularly in adverse conditions, but good ones can be really great value. It all depends on where your gun lands on the quality spectrum.
Mid-range rifles ($800 to $1,800):
As price climbs above budget level and into the mid range, the first thing to improve is manufacturing consistency, reducing the chances of getting a lemon. A bit farther up still and key design improvements occur, increasing performance. More importantly, finish and material quality improve significantly. This can be a reliability and durability game changer, particularly in harsh conditions.
High-end rifles (Above $1,800):
Moving into high-end firearms, improvements are largely aesthetic. You will still see improvements in the aforementioned areas, but this is where the law of diminishing returns kicks in. For some, these additional gains are worth the increasing cost.
Value sweet spot:
For all-weather durability, reliability, and general performance, the ultimate value sweet spot is between $1,100 and $1,600. That said, you remain the biggest factor in how your rifle will perform at the end of the day.
Originally published in Ontario OUT of DOORS’ 2023-2024 Hunting Annual
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