If you accumulate rifles like Irish setters pick up cockleburs, a McMillan may not be for you. This company's bolt guns cost enough to make you think before buying. On the other hand, if you want a really, really well-made hunting rifle of sound but distinctive design, McMillan's new Prodigy is a must-see.

From a distance, this synthetic-stocked rifle looks like many others. Up close, you'll find the fit, finish and function of custom-built sporters--those traditionally stocked in fine French. It's carriage class gone practical, a rifle for the connoisseur who actually pulls triggers and tramps trails.

"Our family has been in the rifle business more than 20 years," says Kelly McMillan, president of the McMillan Group International and its well-known subsidiary, McMillan Fiberglass Stocks. Those stocks have become a staple for small-shop gun makers specializing in sterling sporters. They've also appeared on myriad rifles from major gun firms.

The McMillan Group includes two other subsidiaries: McMillan Firearms (formerly McBros) and McMillan Operator Development, a shooting school.

"Our stock and rifle manufacturing facilities are all here at our Phoenix headquarters," explains Kelly's daughter Britany, who handles public relations for the group. "We make the actions and stocks for our new rifle line, including stocks designed specifically for these models. Outsourcing is limited to small parts like Pachmayr recoil pads, Uncle Mike's swivel studs and Timney and Jewell triggers."

And barrels. Britany tells me the firm uses mainly Lilja, Shilen and Schneider stainless barrels, depending on the application. "All are of the best quality we can find--just like our other components," she says. "We spend more for materials than most rifle makers, and we fit to closer tolerances. Prices reflect those differences, but our rifles, we think, are simply the best you can buy."

McMillan's new rifle line comprises eight configurations, each with its own barrel, stock and list of chamberings. They share all-stainless round McMillan receivers, with washer-type recoil lugs and NP3-finished bolts.

The Prodigy, a lightweight sporting rifle, comes in six chamberings; I was sent a .30-06. Its G30 action (once labeled the MCRT) and barrel wear a black DuraCoat semi-gloss finish. I could find no flaw or blemish. Maker and cartridge markings show the same attention to detail lavished on the skin-tight mating of stock and receiver.

"We glass-bed the receiver with aluminum pillars around the guard screws," says Britany. "The barrel floats." But the gap on this rifle is a mere slit, and very even. "Every rifle we build is fitted and finished by hand," she emphasizes.

As impressive as the detailing, the action's profile and the shape of the stock hew to traditional form: lean, clean, almost austere. Grip and fore-end checkering comprise diamonds as crisp and uniform as professionally checkered walnut. A slim, open grip complements a ruler-straight comb with an understated but sleek and supportive cheekpiece.

The fore-end, perfectly proportioned for a slender 24-inch barrel, is properly straight of line and slightly pear-shaped. A black one-inch pad carefully contoured and fitted caps a butt generous enough to distribute recoil. Still, it has a modest footprint, in keeping with the rifle's lithe appearance.

"Our hunting stocks include graphite as a primary material," Britany tells me, "to give us the strength, resiliency and light weight we demand."

McMillan's Prodigy leaps to my shoulder eagerly. Its seven-pound heft suits me just fine--an ideal blend of liveliness and pulse-dampening mass. Balanced perfectly with a 2.5X Sightron scope, this rifle carries as delightfully as it points.