The best shooter I've ever had my hands on is my son's M96 6.5x55 that I sporterized and gave to him. When he stashes it at my house during hunting season my guns stay in the safe and his gets to go play in the woods with me.
I've had a few rifles and all but one has put meat on the table, and I liked them all for the reasons I bought them. Of the ones I have in my safe now I'd say my Ruger #1 .38-55 is my favorite. Nice looking, fun to shoot, fun to carry, big hole in the barrel, big bullets, big holes in deer (though not the meat grinder my .257 was). Gotta get a scope on it 'cause my eyes ain't what they used to be and gotta get an elk with it.