I am looking at replacing my current 300 mag for another on in a Remington 700 XCR or the Ruger magnum. Both are stainless and are very similarly priced. I am leaning toward the Remington because that is what I have now and I am used to it. I have hunted with the Ruger (bowwrowed from outfitter) and liked it. But the safety system is a little awkward, at least to me. Any one have any cheers or jeers for either one?

I've got a Remington model 700 Stainless Synthetic that I've had for many years, it's a great rifle that I've taken animals with from 11,500 ft to sea level. Great rifle, Baker

Remington.

I'd buy the one that fit me best.

X2

A 700 with a Timney trigger is a thing of beauty. Never really been a fan of Ruger rifles.

My sentiments as well.

Or skip both brands and buy a Tikka. Better action, great factory trigger, will shoot just as well, or better, than the Ruger or Rem.

I trade around a lot, so I have had a lot of both in the OP. All I will say now is that our Sako A7 won't be traded.

Well, bringing up a Sako in a discussion about "Ruger or Remington?" is like bringing up a Mercedes in a discussion about Korean econo-boxes.

I avoid Remingtons as there have been way too many QC issues with the company lately. - You don't know what you are going to get. Rugers are good rifles, finally past the barrel problems that they were famous for in years past. Tikkas are good for longer cartridges, but unnecessarily heavy for compact rounds.

If I were shopping for a new rifle today, it would be a toss-up between a Browning X-bolt, and a Weatherby Vanguard.

If I were choosing between a new Remington and a new Ruger, it would take me only a millisecond to go for the Ruger. It's twice the rifle for about the same money.

- But that's just me.

Will take Ruger over Remington any day unless going to spend a bunch extra with the gunsmith.

Give me a Tikka over Ruger or Remington anyday and twice on Sunday

I think you answered your own question when you said you find the Ruger safety clumsy.

I do not whatsoever claim to be a Sako expert. As a matter of fact when I bought the A7 I viewd it as their bottom of the line of Sakos, kind of like a Remington 710.

However their bottom of the line gun, that isn't much more expensive than the oringal OP's selections, isn't that much more expensive. And I think they guarantee either 3 or 5 shots in an inch at 100 yards with factory ammo.

To me that does two things, 1. it gives a gun that is a better gun than I am a shooter. And 2. I don't have to reload the ammo for that particular cartridge.

And if you saw my Glock 41 trade offer a Vanguard is in the hunt. I should have added the Tikka to that offer.

Remington with s Timmey trigger as others have suggested.

Why not just a Savage model 10 or 12?

Remington-Do those other brands win world championships? Remington's, or copies of Remington's are still, after decades, considered the go to action.

IMO, The Remmy 700 reciever is kinda like a small block Chevy V8. Starting with a 265CI in 1955, then a 283CI in 1957, to todays 5 liter....are all off the same original design, only with 65 years of tweaks and tuning tricks.

I've been told by several hundred gunsmiths - from backyard tinkerers to accomplished professionls - in my 50 years of fooling with all kinds of guns and spending 13 years in the wholesale/mfg'er side of the business...thr reason for Remmy's longevity is the simple "pipe within a pipe " design, and everything else came initially as an aftermarket upgrade. The Aftermarket toys developed for the Remmy 700 action have had the most extensive experimentation of any commercial bolt action rifle ever made in America, rivaling the 120 year old Model 98 Mauser design that set the world standard for smokeless powder bolt action rifles.

The ? was though, does that make it the "Best" reciever on the market today ?? IMO Hardly....it is however the easiest and cheapest to work on & a gunsmith's dream of a revenue producer....kinda like the old Chevy Small Block V8...and I won't go into Big Green's shoddy history of production standards & QC, or the numerous lawsuits and Recalls covering mebbe hudreds of thousands of rifles. Or, comparing a 1940's Post War era hard line dial telephone design, same time frame and technology that gave us the Remmy 700, that's been gussied up for a Post 2000 retail market's demands, to an I-Phone.

Lots better guns on the market today...keep looking, you can do better for a Off the Rack production rifle.
JMHO & YMMV
Ron

These days it's almost all good. I like r700's, Rugers and Tikkas.
Probably looking to get a Tikka next.

How lite do you want it. It's still lighter than ruger or Remington's offerings. Unnecessary or not.

Tikka < 6.5 lbs
Remington > 7 lbs
Ruger > 7 lbs

Remington. Ask yourself why are they popular for custom builds and you rarely hear of a custom based on a Ruger action. I've had both and all the Remingtons have been better shooters and better triggers out of the box.

Remington if you're wanting to do a ton of upgrades later on and you're really set on those two brands. If upgrades aren't a big deal, go with a Savage if you're on a tight budget, Tikka if you've got some financial flexibility.

Valid points but not an issue when the OP is talking about a 300 Winchester Magnum.

I have two Remington 700's left in my collection. Both have sentimental value, and I installed Timney triggers in both of them. Both were built back in the 60's and 70's and are pretty darned accurate with my hand loads.

That being said, the rest that I used to have are now gone and have been replaced with Browning X Bolts, Winchester Mod 70's (pre-'64) and Tikkas. Love the Tikka T3's, to me they are a great value for the money.

I've owned a few Ruger M77's over the years, for me they just didn't feel or shoot right. To each their own.

I'd have one of the gunsmiths on this site re-barrel, bed and install a Timney trigger to your current Remington 700 rifle. You will not regret it.

The reason why there's so many band-aids out there for Remington rifles is because they so consistently need one.

I'd rather buy a quality item that doesn't have to be worked-over and rebuilt before it is satisfactory.

That's why I've gotten to where I prefer a Browning X-bolt, or a Weatherby Vanguard.

There was a huge aftermarket for Volkswagen Beetles too - but that wasn't because they were what you would call the cream of the crop.

If you want something that is good right out of the box, then something with a big aftermarket for it is a sucker bet.