Not every bolt-action rifle is ready to roll out of the box. Some show up with rough triggers, sloppy feeding, or loose stocks that can ruin your first trip to the woods. It’s frustrating to spend good money only to realize you’ll need a gunsmith just to make it hunt-ready. These twelve rifles have earned a reputation for needing some help before they’re truly reliable. A quick visit to the gunsmith can fix them, but you definitely shouldn’t skip it if you want your hunt to go smoothly.
Remington 770
The Remington 770 is known for rough actions and poor triggers. Many owners report accuracy issues unless a gunsmith tweaks the bedding or replaces the trigger.
The plastic stock also tends to flex, throwing off consistency. A gunsmith can help tighten it up, but it’s not a rifle you want to hunt with straight from the store.
Mossberg Patriot
The Mossberg Patriot is affordable, but factory triggers often feel gritty, and some rifles arrive with loose action screws.
A quick trip to a smith for a trigger job and torque check makes a big difference. Out of the box, it’s hit or miss on reliability and accuracy.
Savage Axis (Original Models)
Early Savage Axis rifles often had rough triggers and inconsistent groups. Bedding and stock flex were common complaints.
Many shooters have them fixed up with new triggers and pillars, but you’ll want a gunsmith to get it dialed in before trusting it on a hunt.
Winchester XPR
The Winchester XPR can be a solid gun, but owners have reported extraction issues and inconsistent feeding in some calibers.
A gunsmith can polish feeding ramps and clean up the trigger pull, making it a smoother and more reliable hunting tool than it is out of the box.
Ruger American (Early Runs)
While Ruger has improved things, early Ruger Americans sometimes came with mushy triggers and uneven barrel fitment.
Many shooters need trigger adjustments and action bedding to get the best accuracy. They shoot well once dialed in, but often need some help from a smith.
Thompson/Center Compass
The Compass gained traction for its price, but some rifles struggle with feeding and inconsistent triggers. The factory fit and finish are rough.
A gunsmith can usually correct the issues with simple adjustments, but expect to spend a little extra time tuning it up before trusting it in the woods.
Remington 783
The 783 offers decent performance after tuning, but factory triggers and stock flex are frequent complaints. Many arrive needing trigger work or bedding.
If you want reliable accuracy, a gunsmith’s help getting the trigger right and stock secured will save you headaches later.
Marlin X7 Series
The X7 rifles were affordable but known for heavy triggers and cheap plastic stocks. Accuracy could be good but often needed bedding help.
Shooters often see better groups after a professional trigger tune-up and stiffening of the stock. Not quite ready for a serious hunt out of the box.
Howa 1500
Howa barreled actions are solid, but their factory synthetic stocks can be problematic. Flex and poor bedding lead to inconsistent accuracy.
A gunsmith can re-bed the action and improve trigger pull, making it a much more dependable rifle for the field after some work.
Remington 710
The 710 developed a reputation for loose bolts, bad feeding, and poor triggers. Most shooters end up needing gunsmith work before seeing any hunting success.
If you inherit or buy one, expect to put some money into repairs or adjustments before it’s something you’ll trust outdoors.
Ruger M77 Hawkeye (Early Models)
Some early Hawkeyes had extremely heavy triggers and rough bolt cycling. Many required polishing and trigger work to smooth them out.
Once tuned, they can shoot great, but without the gunsmith touch, they often feel clunky and unpredictable in the field.
Mauser M18
The Mauser M18 comes with promise, but reports of stiff actions and inconsistent groups are common with early batches.
A trip to the gunsmith for trigger tuning and bolt polishing helps fix most of the issues. It’s a solid rifle after some attention, but not flawless from the factory.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
