This is the first in a two-part installment on the Nightforce ELR Steel Challenge.

The Nightforce ELR Steel Challenge is arguably the most difficult long-range match in the world. It is held each year on a large ranch near Glenrock, Wyoming. Competitors come from all over the globe for the opportunity to pit their skills against each other and the demanding course of fire, which consists of steel targets arrayed from 800 yards out beyond 2,000.

It’s safe to say that the skill set of the assembled collection of shooters is unrivaled—at least as far as long-range shooting at steel under practical field conditions goes. And yet, the majority of the 300 shooters who participated head home after the two-day ordeal feeling beat to a pulp by the experience.

Simply put, the competition is brutally unforgiving. If there’s any weakness in your gear, load development, marksmanship skills, trajectory calculations, wind calling, or mental focus, this match will expose and exploit it to your detriment. It’s a meat grinder, but that’s part of its appeal.

Proper Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performing PRCs

While you won’t win this match through preparation alone, it is certain that you will lose—and badly—if you don’t put your time in before the range goes hot that first morning.

Every high-level shooting competition requires a degree of prep, but with matches as demanding as the Nightforce ELR Steel Challenge it takes on an extra level of urgency.

The following is a rundown of what I did in the weeks and months prior to making the 450-mile drive from my home to Glenrock.

Team Effort

Even though I’d be shooting the match as an individual, during the preparation process I worked closely with a group of friends who I planned to squad with. This included Scott Seigmund, the vice president of Accuracy International of North America, some of Scott’s AI team shooters I’ve come to know over the years, and two of my buddies from Montana—Chris Gittings and Owen Koeppen who were competing in the team division. Shawn Burkholder, the owner of Hawk Hill Custom Barrels, also joined our crew.

.300 PRC Bandwagon

Scott and his boys shot .300 PRCs the year prior and had good success with that round so Chris, Owen, and I decided to shoot it as well. In previous Nightforce ELR matches Chris shot 6.5s (both the 6.5 SAUM and 6.5 PRC) and had several podium finishes.

But the consensus was that the .30-cal magnums—the .300 Norma Mag., .300 PRC and some .300 Win. Mags.—had an edge over the 6.5s at the location where the match is currently held.

The two main reasons for this are the high winds at the ranch—it is smack dab in the middle of a wind farm—and the thick sagebrush cover that dominates the landscape. The big .30-cal bullets handle the wind better than the 6.5s, while the sagebrush makes it more difficult to spot misses. The smaller 6.5s get eaten up by the foliage more readily than the harder-hitting .30s.

Cartridge Components

Not only were we all shooting the .300 PRC, but we planned to all use the same components for our handloads, which we acquired in bulk. Our bullet of choice was Hornady’s 230-grain A-Tip, which is one of the best .308-caliber match bullets on the market. It is blessed with a high BC (.823 G1, .414 G7) and like other A-Tips it is manufactured to exacting tolerances to minimize variations from one projectile to the next.

ADG Brass

For brass, we turned to Atlas Development Group, which makes excellent high-quality cases. I’ve used ADG brass many times over the years, including in my ultimate open-country rifle build, and have had nothing but excellent results.

AI AXSR Chassis Rifle and Hawk Hill Customs Barrel

Most everyone on the squad was shooting Accuracy International AXSRs, which are among the best sniper rifles currently fielded by military and law enforcement and are one of the most accurate rifles period. Scott got us lined up with barrels from Hawk Hill Customs. With a 1:9 twist, those 30-inch barrels had no problems propelling the 230s at 3000 fps.

But as you’ve no doubt heard, just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Running cartridges full tilt is a risky proposition in a high-volume long-range match. Performance tends to get more inconsistent at the ragged edge of maximum velocities and the chances of getting a case stuck, blowing a primer, or experiencing some other calamities go way up.

Instead, we all set a target velocity of 2940 fps, which is more than respectable and would keep our bullets supersonic well past 2,000 yards in the thin Wyoming air, but which was also mild enough to diminish the chance of some mid-stage mishap.

Hodgdon H1000 Powder

I helped secure 64 pounds of the same lot of H1000 for our group. I’ll tell you what, I was feeling a little cocky about that coup. That powder, one of the mainstays for long-range magnums, has been unobtainium since the global pandemic.

All of us running the same cartridge using the same batch of bullets, the same type of brass, and the same lot of powder—at the same speed no less—was going to make our collective load development a snap and give us an edge over much of the field. As I’ll get to in a bit, it turns out my celebratory cork-popping was premature.

Gun Prep

Whether you’re getting ready for deer season or prepping for a big match, it makes sense to go over your gear with a fine-toothed comb—particularly your rifle and scope.

I had been shooting my AXSR a fair bit in the months prior to the match, leveraging its multi-caliber capabilities to test 6.5 PRC and 7 PRC ammunition. Even so, I stripped it down, gave all the fasteners and components a thorough cleaning and inspection and reassembled it.

To make sure my scope—a Nightforce ATACR 7-35×56 with the Mil-XT reticle—was dead nuts level in its Spuhr mount, I used a Short Action Customs’ Final Scope Level and Accessory Kit.

That SAC scope level has been a game changer for me. When shooting at extreme long range, even the slightest cant in the reticle will throw your trajectory off. In conjunction with the plumb line in the accessory kit, the leveling base lets you set the orientation of the reticle so that it is perfectly vertical.

Barrel Break-In

Before I got down to the serious business of load development, I needed to break in my new barrel. There are numerous schools of thought about how to break in a barrel, or whether it even makes a difference.

For most applications, particularly with hunting rifles and rifles that will be shot mostly within 1,000 yards, I’m skeptical about the benefits of an ornate break-in procedure. But there’s no doubt that a barrel will speed up after a certain number of rounds and making sure it has stabilized its velocities is critical for generating precise ballistic calculations.

In light of that, I decided to follow Scott Seigmund’s recommendation, which was to break in the barrel over the course of the first 100 rounds. Here’s his method:

1. Shoot five rounds and clean (repeat four times for 20 rounds total; cleaning procedure below)
2. Shoot 10 rounds and clean (repeat four times, bringing the round count to 60)
3. Shoot 20 rounds and clean (repeat twice, for a total of 100 rounds)

Velocity Gain

I shot factory Hornady 212-grain ELD-X ammunition during the break in. The first 30 shots were consistent, averaging 2920 fps. Then the barrel sped up. I chronographed the next three groups of 10 shots at 2935, 2938 and 2939 fps, for an average of 2937 fps. I got another bump with the next 40 shots, where the barrel sped up to 2952 fps.

I was 100 shots into the process, but didn’t feel my barrel had totally settled in. So, I shot two more 10-shot groups and recorded an average velocity of 2965 fps. At this point, the barrel had gained 45 fps.

I needed to start developing my load for the match since my time was limited, but every time I cleaned the barrel during that process I’d shoot more of the factory ammo, which was all from the same case, to see if the barrel picked up more speed.

When all was said and done, that factory ammo shot 3004 fps on average, for a total velocity gain of 84 fps.

Cleaning Procedure

When it was time to clean, I removed my Thunder Beast 338 Ultra SR suppressor and unscrewed the barrel from the chassis. That’s accomplished by loosening a 4mm set screw on the side of the chassis and then using a 1-inch wrench that fits in the flats machined in the barrel a couple inches below the muzzle.

Being able to pull the barrel so easily made cleaning a snap. I’d spray some Hoppe’s Elite down the bore and then push a couple wet patches with my .30-caliber jag and cleaning rod. After letting that soak for a few minutes, I’d switch to a rod with a copper brush and give it 10 strokes back and forth. (When using a brush, always wet the bristles with solvent first.)

After that I’d run three wet patches through the barrel. The first one would be filthier than a USMC Sergeant’s mouth while inspecting his platoon. The second is always moderately dirty. And the third should be more or less clean.

At this point you have a decision to make. The fouling from the powder has all been removed, as has most of the copper. But if you want to really get as much copper out of the bore as possible (I did), let the barrel sit for a while so the solvent can really work. Wait at least five minutes (10 to 15 minutes is even better) and run another wet patch down the bore. If the patch comes out bright blue, it means you’re still removing copper. Repeat this process until the patch only has a hint of blue. (FYI, since many jags are brass, which contains copper, you’ll get some blue on your patch no matter how little copper remains in the bore.)

Accuracy Gain

During break in, I also measured every group the factory ammo produced. I started by shooting and measuring five-shot groups (since that was the cleaning interval), but then switched to 10-shot groups, which is a better representation of the rifle’s performance. It’s also in keeping with the round counts during the match, where you might shoot up to eight rounds a stage.

I wasn’t expecting magic at this point since those groups were all shot from a cold, thoroughly cleaned barrel—but I was curious to see how those factory 212 ELD-Xs performed.

The first group through the virgin barrel was an encouraging .773 inches. But the next three groups opened up to 1.210 inches on average.

At this point, I shifted to 10-shot groups. The barrel definitely tightened up. The next 70 shots of 10-shot groups averaged 1.18 inches. Under normal circumstances, going from a 5- to 10-shot group will see a bump in group size of about 25 percent. So the fact that groups with twice as many shots had an average dispersion just as tight, is a good thing.

Then my last three 10-shot groups tightened up even more, averaging .928 inches. Between groups I’d let the barrel cool as long as it needed so that the area around the chamber was barely warm to the touch. At this point I was feeling pretty good.

Consistent Factory Ammo

One thing I noted about that factory Hornady ammo is that it shot consistently in terms of its velocities as well. The standard deviation of those first 120 shots (measured in shot strings that varied in sizes of 5, 10, and 20 rounds) was 14.8. That’s about as good as it gets with factory ammo.

Load Development

My fervent hope whenever developing a load is that it progresses smoothly and quickly toward eye-popping accuracy. I thought the cards were tipped in our collective favor with our .300 PRCs for several reasons. One, Scott and his team shot a similar load the year before with good results. Two, we were all pulling on the same oars by virtue of having identical components. Three, our aggregate experience with long-range shooting and precision handload spans many decades.

With stars in my eyes and hope in my heart I got to work at my reloading bench.

Brass Prep

All brass, no matter how expertly crafted, has a certain amount of variation from one piece to the next. You can see that in neck wall thickness, headspace (most commonly measured from the case head to the mid point on the shoulder on bottle neck centerfire cartridges), overall length, neck diameter, and so on. Necks in particular are susceptible to dings that throw them out of round, so before loading it makes sense to run them through a mandrel to make them uniform and concentric.

After taking my initial measurements on 10 pieces of brass, I ran them through a neck mandrel on my Forster Co-Ax. I then trimmed the brass to a uniform length on a Giraud Power Trimmer, which also chamfers the interior and exterior of the neck.

I was pretty happy with the results, but as my load testing went on I felt there was room for improvement. I added a step of running the new unfired brass (I had 400 pieces total) through a SAC Sizing Die with a .333-inch neck/shoulder bushing.

This uniformed my brass beautifully in terms of neck diameter and shoulder length. A neck diameter of exactly .3335 inches on every case ensured my bullets would be gripped with the same amount of tension, which is critical for peak precision. Uniform shoulder setback is beneficial for consistency too.

Here’s some extra information for those who might care. The degree of constriction on my bullets—meaning the difference between the bullet diameter (.308 inches) and the interior diameter of the neck (.3055 inches)—was .0025 inches. Generally speaking, neck constriction between .002 and .004 inches is a smart bet—so .0025 inches is right on the money. To calculate the interior diameter of the neck you take the exterior diameter—in this case .3335 inches—and subtract twice the neck wall thickness, which on the ADG brass averages .014 inches. So: .3335 inches – .028 inches = .3055 inches. 

Ladder Testing

There’s a lot of hokum around how to conduct a ladder test and what the significance of it is. The common wisdom is that you shoot small samples of different charge weights and measure their velocities to find flat spots, or “nodes,” in the results. The theory is that a flat spot indicates forgiveness in the charge weight—meaning you can be off in your powder charge by a tenth or two of a grain, and still have similar muzzle velocities.

I have some good news and some bad news here. The bad news is that this theory is a pile of hot garbage. These nodes don’t exist. When reloaders think they’ve come across a node all it really indicates is that their sample size is too small.

Most reloaders will load only a small number of rounds at a given charge weight. Sometimes, that number is as small as one, but rarely does anyone load more than five rounds at each weight. This is done to save time, money, and barrel life. 

But for gathering statistically valid data, these sample sizes are insufficient. I’ve done a lot of searching for these nodes with three- and five-shot samples. I noticed that when I repeated the tests multiple times and overlaid the data that the velocities versus charge weight behaved in a linear fashion, the nodes disappeared. 

This has been borne out by my friends at Hornady—specifically Jayden Quinlan and Miles Neville—who are two of the company’s chief ballistic nerds. They’ve conducted controlled experiments with massive data sets that show these velocity nodes are a myth.

The good news about nodes is that you don’t need to bother looking for them. Instead, use your ladder test to simply arrive at a target velocity and then start testing for accuracy.

H1000: Old vs. New

My share of the 64 pounds of H1000 we got for the match was an eight-pound container. Because I like to gather data, I wanted to compare this new lot of H1000 against some of my older, pre-pandemic H1000.

I quickly saw there was a bit of a difference in my velocities. The older H1000 was about 25 fps faster per given charge weight than the new stuff. While 76.5 grains of the older lot got me around 2940 fps, it took 77.0 grains of the new H1000 to hit the same speed.

That didn’t concern me much, but the differences in accuracy did. My first efforts with the new H1000 didn’t impress me. I shot three five-shot groups that averaged 1.516 inches, which for this rifle and application is terrible. With the older powder I shot one five-shot group that measured a tidy .590 inches with an SD of 10.3, which was much more encouraging.

Testing Other Powders

The fact that the new H1000 powder didn’t seem to agree with my rifle and loads threw a monkey wrench into my vision of having our whole team running identical loads. Turns out my squad mates were having similar struggles finding a load that would be competitive in the match.

Some had better results when they switched from Federal 210M primers to CCI 250s. Their velocities got more consistent, and accuracy improved.

I didn’t have that option, as my primer selection was limited to the 210Ms. So I started messing around with other powders. I shot N565, Retumbo, N170, and Reloder 26, as well as more of my old lot of H1000.

I got the best results with N565 (.680-inch average), RL 26 (.710-inch average), and my old H1000 (.648-inch average). That data is based on multiple five-shot groups.

Final Match Load: 77.5 Grains of H1000

Because I had the most data with the old H1000 and had the best results, that’s where I focused my efforts. I was running out of time and needed to finalize the load in order to dial in my ballistic calculations.

I had shot a lot of groups with the older H1000 with charge weights from 72.9 grains to 78.0 grains. Across that broad range of velocities—which varied from 2775 fps to 2960 fps—my groups averaged the .648 inches, as mentioned above, and my SDs were right at 10.9.

Within that range I seemed to have better results between 76.0 grains and 78.0. At 78.0 grains the load was running a little hotter (2960 fps) than I cared for. But when I knocked .5 grains off that charge, I landed right at 2940 fps and everything tightened up. I shot six five-shot groups to confirm. The averages of my groups (.540 inches) and SDs (9.3) would be competitive.

It’s worth noting that during my struggles to find a good powder and powder charge, I burned through a lot of ammunition and spent a lot of time making the hour round-trip drive to my gun range. All told, the barrel break-in and the load development required 373 rounds to complete. That’s a good chunk of my 30-inch Hawk Hill’s barrel life, which based on how I run it should deliver peak performance for 1,600 rounds. I liked where I ended up, but I’ve never worked quite so hard to develop a load.

Reloading Equipment Used

To get peak accuracy from any handload you need to have consistent and concentric ammunition. In addition to the brass prep mentioned above, I used the following gear to craft my ammunition.

I primed my brass on a Primal Rights Competition Primer Seater. For speed and accuracy, no other priming system can match it. I can prime 100 cases in eight minutes on it, with all the primers seated to a precise depth, which the user can adjust. In the case of these .300 PRC rounds, I seated the 210Ms .003 inch below flush.

I threw my charges with my bank of three RCBS Matchmaster Powder Dispensers. They are capable of dispensing charges that are accurate to plus or minus a single kernel of powder and, once calibrated, are in perfect sync with each other. With three running at once it makes loading a couple hundred precision rifle rounds much quicker.

I seated the bullets in an Area 419 Zero Turret Press with a Redding Competition Seating Die. I replaced the seating stem that comes with the die with Redding’s VLD stem, which worked perfectly with the shape of the 230-grain A-Tips.

I don’t think I’ve ever loaded such concentric rounds. Measuring bullet runout on the ogive with a Sinclair Concentricity Gauge and Mitutoyo Digital Dial Indicator I had measurements as low as a fraction of a thousandth, with some maxing out at .002 inch, which is terrific.  

Cleaning the Bullets

Before seating the 230-grain A-Tips, I cleaned them using a technique Scott Seigmund told me about. This is necessary because A-Tips come from the factory with a coating of lube on them, which should be removed before loading.

Hornady ships the A-Tips with a felt Crown Royal-type bag you can use to wipe them down, but that gets old quick when you have dozens of rounds to load. Instead, spread out a lint-free shop rag and dump your bullets on it. Sprinkle acetone on the bullets and rag. Roll the rag like a burrito and grab both ends. Rock the bullets back and forth in the rag for a minute and that will remove the lubricant without damaging the projectiles.

Truing

Truing a load means different things to different shooters. I’m using it in the common, less-technical sense, meaning it is the process by which you get a ballistic calculator’s predicted results to line up with what you see the bullet do in the real world.

Since I burned through so much of my unfired ADG brass and supply of bullets during load development, I didn’t have much cushion to work with.

The course of fire for the Nightforce ELR Steel Challenge has a maximum round count of 160 rounds and I had exactly 182 pieces of unfired brass left over. While I didn’t plan on shooting 160 rounds at the match, I didn’t want to tempt fate by rolling into Wyoming with a bare minimum of ammunition.

Shooting Groups at 100 and 600 Yards

I started by checking zero with three rounds at 100 yards, which hit dead center and measured .165 inches. I was shooting with Chris and Owen, who did the same thing. Happy with our results, we moved to the long-distance range.

We painted steel targets at 600 yards and got solutions from our Kestrels. At 2940 fps my elevation adjustment was 2.7 mils. I held for the 9 mph crosswind and shot a good group which indicated my calculated elevation correction was correct. So far, so good.

Chris’ and Owen’s loads were quite a bit slower than mine. Chris was pushing his 230s at 2830 fps while Owen was at 2885—an indication that we all had to go our own way to find what worked best in our rifles even though we were shooting the same components through barrels that were produced consecutively from the same batch of steel. They dialed their corrections and shot well at 600, too.

Stretching It to 1,000 Yards and Beyond

We had a handful of targets from 1,000 to 1,400 yards to shoot, and at 1,000 yards my data still looked good. I was running Applied Ballistics on a Kestrel 5700 Elite and Hornady’s 4DOF on my phone. In addition, I had a Sig Sauer Kilo10K-ABS rangefinding binocular with AB on board. I had to manually adjust the environmentals on the Sig 10K to accurately reflect the temperature, but once I did that all three units were basically in sync.

That said, I started to have difficulties on the 1,400-yard target. Chris and Owen were both spot on, but my shots weren’t grouping as tightly as they had been. My impacts were landing close to the target but not connecting. The only thing that took a hit was my confidence.

Had I gone through all this work only to end up with a rifle and load that dipped into mediocrity at longer distances—where the majority of the targets would be?

Desperation Time

Those thoughts were racing through my head as we packed our stuff to head home. I grabbed my rifle by the suppressor and felt it give a little, and my stomach lurched. I didn’t mention it to Chris and Owen, but told them I was going to do just a little more shooting and sent them on their way.

I don’t know when my suppressor had come loose, but it is one of the cardinal rules of long-range shooting to obsessively check your gear. In fact, Chris and I, who often partner during team shooting events, have a term for it. We call it doing a Macarena, as our hands go through a head-to-toe motion to make sure everything is in order on ourselves and our rifles before starting a stage.

After screwing the suppressor down tight, I reengaged the targets at 1,000 yards, 1,100 yards, and 1,400 yards. My shooting was tighter than a gnat’s nether regions. I was ready for Wyoming.

Running on Fumes

Expending those extra rounds was necessary but cost me some of my valuable remaining handloads. All told, I shot 53 rounds that day, and had fewer than 130 left for the match. 

As a backup, I reloaded some of my once-fired brass, but as you might know, there’s usually a difference in velocities between virgin brass and cases that have been previously fired. I think this is because virgin brass expands more than fire-formed brass in the chamber—even if it has been fully resized, which mine was. So, some of the powder charge goes to that effort, resulting in reduced muzzle velocities with virgin brass.

To compensate, I dropped the powder charge in those resized rounds by two-tenths of a grain and hoped they’d shoot as close to 2940 fps as possible. 

Final Thoughts

Despite spending a lot of time and resources preparing for the match, I was rolling into Glenrock with fewer rounds than was ideal. But there’s no shortcut when shooting something as difficult and competitive as ELR. If you leave anything to chance or otherwise half-ass it, you’re courting trouble.

It took me 373 rounds to get my rifle squared away, but in the end it was shooting groups averaging in the .5s (with a spread between .259 inches and .840 inches) and with SDs hovering right in the single digits or just above. For a .30-caliber magnum, that’s excellent performance—and good enough to win even the Nightforce ELR Steel Challenge.

As it turned out, my fellow shooters on the Accuracy International squad and I did shoot well. We also encountered some major difficulties along the way—which I will detail in the second installment of this story.

The post Prepping for the Nightforce ELR Steel Challenge, One of the World’s Toughest Long-Range Matches appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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So, you’re fixing to get your first long-range rifle? As John McClane said, “Welcome to the party, pal.” Picking one didn’t used to be so difficult—at least if you were looking at production rifles—for the simple fact that there wasn’t much variety to choose from.

A long-range hunting rifle, for instance, was often the same as a standard rifle, only with a heavier and longer barrel and the addition of a second swivel stud on the fore-end to mount a Harris bi-pod.

That was then; this is now. I won’t describe that period prior to the early 2000s as a Golden Age. No, sir. In terms of long-range shooting, today is the best of times.

I’ve shot and evaluated a lot of rifles over the years, collecting data along the way. And the trend is clear. Year by year, production rifles are getting more accurate.

Choosing A Long-Range Rifle

Long-range rifles come in many flavors, depending on the shooter’s needs and desires. At the far end are heavy task-specific rifles for competition and ELR (Extreme Long Range) chores. These are rifles that are built for shooting out to 2,000 yards and optimized for the Precision Rifle Series and similar games.

Then there are numerous heavy crossover hybrid models that can be used in certain competitions or hunting applications. These rifles also appeal to recreational shooters that like to ring steel at long distances, but don’t have a burning desire to compete.

Lastly, there are lighter guns that also happen to be stunningly accurate. They are ideal for hunting and for shooting in long-range competitions like the NRL Hunter series that impose weight limits. They also showcase some of the most innovative technologies with lightweight materials that are able to hold the tolerances that precision rifles demand.

Which flavor long-range rifle to go with is up to you, but don’t be surprised that once you catch the bug that you end up with blasters from every category.

How I Picked the Best Long-Range Rifles

I went through years of data compiled during our annual tests of the year’s best new rifles and through my reviews of individual long guns. The rifles here are the most accurate I’ve shot. They also excel in other categories as well, such as handling, ergonomics and reliability. Though these rifles aren’t cheap, many of them represent excellent values for the money.

A Note on Our Long-Range Rifle Accuracy Data

The accuracy figures here are derived by taking the average of the 10 best five-shot groups these rifles delivered during our evaluations. This is a much tougher accuracy standard than you’ll find anywhere else. Not only are five-shot groups more telling than three-shot groups, but averaging it out over 10 groups raises the bar.

The next time a gun company (or shooter) brags about their half-inch (or even quarter-inch) rifle, take a closer look at their data to give it the proper context. The rifles here shooting in the .5s, .6s and .7s are remarkable performers in the world of production rifles.

• Best Lightweight Long-Range Hunting Rifle: Proof Glacier Ti
• Best for Extreme Long Range: Accuracy International AXSR
• Best Long-Range Hunting Rifle Under $2,000: Seekins Havak Pro Hunter 2
• Best Budget Hunting Rifle: Mauser M18
• Most Accurate Sniper Rifle: Sako TRG 22 A1
• Best Budget Long-Range Rifle: Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical
• Best for Competition: Accuracy International AT-X
• Best for NRL Hunter: Tikka T3X UPR
• Best Hybrid: Seekins Havak HIT
• Best Lightweight Long-Range Rifle: Christensen Arms MPR
• Best Long-Range .308: Daniel Defense Delta 5

Best Lightweight Long-Range Hunting Rifle: Proof Glacier Ti

Alex Robinson

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• Test Gun: 6.5 CM
• Average Group: .677 inches
• Best Group: .438 inches

I’ve shot a lot of Proof Research rifles over the years and they all hammer. They are also all made with an obsessive attention to detail. That includes the quality of the materials, the tight tolerances held in their chambers and the rifling process, the overall fit and finish and the general design.

The Glacier Ti, introduced back in 2019, was one of the stars of that year’s gun test. Ultralight rifles and excellent accuracy usually don’t go together, but the folks at Proof worked some of their magic with this rifle, which averaged .677-inch five-shot groups while weighing just north of 6 pounds.

It had an outstanding 2.5-pound trigger and is blessed with fabulous stock ergonomics and an action that cycles with the smooth assuredness of a safe door swinging shut.

For a serious mountain hunter who can’t afford to have anything go awry on what might be the animal of a lifetime, the Proof Glacier Ti is the perfect companion.

Best Extreme Long-Range Rifle: Accuracy International AXSR

Nick Setting

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• Average Group: Varies by caliber
• Best Group: Varies by caliber

The AI AXSR combines rugged construction, multi-caliber versatility, dead-nuts precision, and excellent ergonomics like no other rifle in the world. As I wrote in my roundup of the best sniper rifles, it is tough enough to survive a fall out of a helicopter and still be able to make shots on a 10-inch plate at a mile.

When I wrote that, I was rocking it in the potent .300 Norma Magnum, but more recently I swapped the bolt body and barrel to run handloaded .300 PRC ammo through it at the Nightforce ELR Steel challenge where I took 10^th place out of nearly 190 competitors in the open heavy division.

That grueling match features two days of shooting at targets out to 2,100 yards and if you dig into who was shooting what, you’ll see that the top two teams in the match were also shooting AXSRs, as did the second-place overall finisher in the match, as well as the top military/LE shooter.

In fact, no other rifle came close to replicating the success of the AI AXSR at this match, which is the most demanding of its kind in the world.

With my handloads, running 230-grain Hornady A-Tips over 77.4 grains of H1000, my five-shot groups averaged in the .5s and .6s. Other shooters running their AXSRs in .300 PRC with that bullet reported similar results.

Even with factory ammo, such as Hornady’s 212-grain ELD-X load, my rifle shot 10-shot groups averaging .75-MOA, which is remarkable for a magnum.

This is one of the more expensive rifles out there, but if you have your heart set on the best, the juice is worth the squeeze.

Best Hunting Rifle Under $2,000: Seekins Precision Havak Pro Hunter 2

Seekins Precision

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• Test Gun: 6.5 PRC
• Average Group: .758 inches
• Best Group: .483 inches

Gun makers looking to build the ultimate hunting rifle have worked hard to blend elements of accuracy taken from the competition world into a platform that is usable for stalking game in the mountains or when setting up for long-shots in open country. No one has succeeded as well as Glen Seekins, the man behind the Havak Pro Hunter.

He created a lightweight rifle that could survive punishing treatment and put one shot after another on target.

The stock on the Havak Pro Hunter 2 has a broad fore-end, a nearly vertical pistol grip with ample palm swells and QD cups for slings and other attachments—all of which are common on competition rifles. The deep spiral fluting on the barrel keeps the weight of the rifle down but doesn’t have any adverse impact on accuracy. My rifle in 6.5 PRC averaged .75 MOA with Hornady factory ammo shooting 5-shot groups.

The rifle runs flawlessly, looks great, and given its feature set and quality, is an amazing value.

Best Budget Long-Range Hunting Rifle: Mauser M18

Tanner Denton

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• Test Gun: .308 Winchester
• Average Group: .877 inches
• Best Group: .673 inches

The Mauser M18 won our admiration, and our Great Buy award, when it debuted in 2018. This three-lug bolt-action based on a Remington 700 pattern receiver is a screaming deal, especially in light of the excellent accuracy it demonstrated with factory ammo.

The price has crept up a bit since 2018, but you can still find them for less than $800 if you shop around. Currently, it’s the best long-range deer rifle for the money.

The rifle is basic, but solid. The action on this German-built rifle runs smoothly in the receiver, plus it has a good trigger and a three-position safety that locks the bolt down when on “safe.”

Among the hunting ammo that did very well in our M18 was Nosler’s 165-grain Accubond, which turned in a .673-inch group, and happens to be one of the world’s best big-game bullets to boot.

Most Accurate Sniper Rifle: Sako TRG 22 A1

John B. Snow

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• Test Gun: 6.5 CM
• Average Group: .384 inches
• Best Group: .050 inches

The Sako TRG 22 A1 is the most accurate factory rifle I’ve ever tested and is one of the world’s top sniper rifles as well. I reviewed this Finnish marvel not long ago, getting into the nitty-gritty of its construction to shed some light on why it shoots as well as it does.

First off, the Finns have a long history of not only making accurate rifles but making rifles with excellent ergonomics and go-to-hell-and-back durability. They’ve been at this game a long time and when you combine their cultural roots as outdoorsmen (the Finns were among the last people on earth to transition away from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle) with their need to fend off large aggressive neighbors (I’m looking at you Russia) it is no surprise they take their rifle building seriously.

There’s a bit of sorcery with Sako’s ability to make cold hammer-forged barrels that deliver mind-boggling accuracy. No other rifle maker is their equal with this technique. And their product designers and engineers have a deep understanding of the need for a rifle to correctly fit the shooter for peak performance.

You get a feel for this with any Sako or Tikka hunting rifle, but it really comes to fruition in the TRG series—the 22, 42, and M10.

In the A1 trim, the TRG 22 employs a chassis stock that borrows heavily from the Sako M10. It has elegant and easy-to-use controls to adjust the stock to the shooter’s specific needs. The trigger adjusts for pull weight, reach and the orientation of the shoe.

The action and magazine pair beautifully for flawless cycling under any condition, and when the shooter trips the trigger, they can be confident that the bullet will strike where intended.

Best Budget Long-Range Rifle: Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical

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• Test Gun: 6.5 CM
• Average group: .558 inches
• Best Group: .247 inches

The Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical takes the company’s workhorse Patriot action and combines it with a smartly designed stock to create one of the most affordable deals for long-range shooters.

The rifle isn’t elegant, but it handles surprisingly well. Though it comes with a heavier-contour barrel, it isn’t cumbersome. It weighs 8.75 pounds without scope and is easy to maneuver in and out of the typical types of positions one encounters in long-range field steel matches.

Of course, one reason the rifle won a Great Buy award this year is that it is very accurate.

In fact, it turned in the tightest group of this year’s rifle test, a .247-inch 5-shot group with Federal 140-grain Berger Hybrids. Overall, its 5-shot groups averaged .558 inches.

The rifle takes AICS pattern magazines, which are widely available and come in varying capacities. The effective paddle magazine release made reloads a snap. Ours was chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, but you can also get them in 6.5 PRC and .308 Win.

The stock adjusts for cheek height and has a vertical grip that positions the trigger hand nicely. The texturing on the grip is sharp and gives a solid purchase. The chassis stock also has slots to mount M-Lok compatible accessories.

Best For Competition: Accuracy International AT-X

Tanner Denton

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• Test Gun: 6.5 CM
• Average Group: .456 inches
• Best Group: .346 inches

The original audience for Accuracy International’s rifles was military and law enforcement professionals who needed world-class precision in a rifle that could perform under extreme adverse conditions.

Plenty of civilian shooters took to AI rifles too, but the company didn’t design their products with them in mind.

While the AT-X draws heavily on AI’s history of catering to snipers, it is also configured for competition shooters, who have been running it with great success in a variety of long-range matches.

The fore-end has a flat bottom that incorporates an ARCA dovetail that extends straight back to the magazine well. The action uses AI’s six-lug system (two rows of three lugs) that has been a mainstay of the company for decades.

The short, snappy bolt throw helps the shooter cycle the rifle quickly and the three-position safety mounted on the bolt shroud is smooth, positive, and bomb-proof.

By loosening a single set screw, the shooter can swap barrels. Our sample was chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, but barrels can be had in .308 Win., 6mm Creedmoor, 6 BR, and others.

The two-stage trigger provides outstanding control. The trigger on our rifle broke at 10.4 ounces, has a flat face and is adjustable for trigger reach—one of the many dimensions that the shooter can alter for a custom fit. The rifle also comes with a heavier spring for the trigger that will set the minimum break weight to 1.5 pounds.

Best for NRL Hunter: Tikka T3x UPR

Scott Einsmann

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• Test Gun: 6.5 CM
• Average Group: .633 inches
• Best Group: .493 inches

The NRL Hunter series was created to give hunters a chance to put their skills and equipment to the test. Shooters start from a blind position and must find, range, and engage targets on the clock using gear that is suitable for big game and doesn’t exceed specified weight limits. In the case of the “factory” and “light” divisions, that figure is 12 pounds and includes the rifle, optic, bipod, and other accessories one might mount to the gun.

The Tikka T3x UPR is one rifle that’s used widely—and with great success—in the factory division. Its accuracy and handling match well with the fast-paced stages one encounters in the series, where the targets typically range from 200 to 800 yards away.

I recently reviewed the Tikka T3x UPR, breaking down the features that make it such a good rifle—especially for the price.

In short, the rifle has an excellent stock that is designed to be steady in field positions. It’s shape works with you whether you’re shooting prone or bracing it on something like a rock, cattle gate, or tree branch. The adjustable trigger is terrific. And the rifle, like others in the Sako/Tikka line, has intuitive controls, feeds and cycles ammo reliably, and is accurate.

The fact that it is good for NRL Hunter also makes it a smart choice for hunting and casual long-range shooting.

Best Hybrid Long-Range Rifle: Seekins Havak HIT

Tanner Denton

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• Test Gun: 6.5 PRC
• Average Group: .524 inches
• Best Group: .482 inches

This rifle caught our attention in a way that few firearms have in recent years. In the initial writeup I mentioned that my fellow gun testers and I were blown away by how well this original, innovative, versatile, and accurate rifle performed.

Chambered in 6.5 PRC and weighing a reasonable 13 pounds, it coughed up legit 1/2-MOA performance with factory ammunition.

Glen Seekins designed a relatively svelte folding chassis stock for the Havak HIT that functions great, but doesn’t tack on unnecessary extras. By loosening one set-screw a person can quickly swap barrels on the rifle, and changing out the bolt head to switch from one class of cartridges to another is nearly as simple.

This means the HIT can be used for general plinking, can be run in long-range field matches with weight restrictions and, with a carbon-fiber barrel installed, would be a portable (and accurate) hunting rifle.  

If we were to anoint one rifle as the do-it-all champ, the Seekins Havak HIT would claim the belt.

Best Lightweight Long-Range Rifle: Christensen Arms MPR

Christensen Arms

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• Test Gun: 6.5 CM
• Average Group: .557 inches
• Best Group: .401 inches

The 2018 gun test featured a stacked field of exceptionally accurate rifles. One had to lead the pack, and this Christensen Arms rifle was it. It shot every 6.5 Creedmoor factory load well and when we tallied the results its average 5-shot group was .557 inches, with loads from Norma, Barnes and Hornady in the .4s.

This sleek black rifle sports lots of carbon fiber and has a sexy, sci-fi look that the team really liked. The folding stock is a great touch, as is the ultra-crisp DiamondTech trigger. Some testers found the stock a bit slick during some of the field drills, but that really comes down to a matter of personal preference.

Best Long-Range .308: Daniel Defense Delta 5

Daniel Defense

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• Test Gun: .308 Winchester
• Average Group: .639 inches
• Best Group: .346 inches

This accurate, no-nonsense rifle is built around an excellent three-lug action that operates nearly effortlessly and is mated to a stock with impressive ergonomics and adjustability. Daniel Defense introduced the Delta 5 in 2019 and due to the quality of the rifle and its competitive sub-$2,000 price, it has managed to gain a foothold in the competitive high-end bolt-action market.

The company didn’t skimp on features. The ambidextrous grip is among the best I’ve seen, and the cheek piece can be tweaked in every dimension—height, lateral position, and yaw. It has a 20-MOA scope rail. The butt stock adjusts for length of pull. The stock incorporates QD sling attachment points. The Timney trigger adjusts from 1.5 to 4 pounds.

The one I tested really like Federal 168-grain Sierra Matchkings, turning in multiple groups that averaged ½-MOA. That’s fantastic performance, especially for a .308 shooting factory ammo.

Why Long-Range Rifles Are Getting More Accurate

Victory has a thousand fathers, the saying goes. There’s truth to that as it relates to precision shooting. One needs only to look at the components of a rifle that contribute to accuracy—barrel, action, stock, trigger, brass, propellant, projectile, optic—and it is clear that the long-range performance we currently enjoy traces its origin to many sources. Without getting too deep into the weeds on any of these elements, we can identify some common themes.

Tighter Manufacturing Tolerances

One is the state of manufacturing capabilities with gun, ammo, and optics companies. The prevalence of CNC machining allowing for tight tolerances has given rise to components that a hobbyist at their workbench can literally screw together to build an accurate rifle. This plug-and-play interchangeability speaks to a level of consistency we’ve never had before. And, as long-range shooters know, consistency is key to accuracy.Take bullets, for instance. Whereas serious shooters would often sort bullets by weight to cull those that deviated too much from the average, we now have projectiles by Lapua, Berger, and Hornady that are dead-nuts consistent from one to the next. The Hornady A-Tip is a great example of this. The same holds true for the makers of premium brass like Alpha Munitions, Lapua, Peterson Cartridge, and ADG.

Rapid Evolution of Gear

All systems in life evolve or eventually perish. But the rate of evolution isn’t a constant. Looking at the history of long-range shooting from the late 1800s until today we can identify many milestones that changed the game. The development of telescopic rifle sights. The adoption of smokeless powders. The introduction of composite stocks and pillar bedding.

The early 1900s was one era of rapid change and evolution in the accuracy game. The mid 1950s, with the introduction of many long-range magnum cartridges was another. But I’d argue those pale in comparison to the evolution in our gear over the last 20 years.

We now know how to make better long-range rifle cartridges, thanks to the principles of Modern Cartridge Design, than ever before. Our ability to calculate trajectory solutions for elevation and windage with products such as Hornady’s 4DOF solvers and Applied Ballistics software found in devices such as Kestrel ballistic meters and laser rangefinding binoculars (like the Leica 10×32 Geovid Pro) has changed the game. Even something seemingly as basic as rifle bipods have evolved in recent years to help us become better long-range marksmen under practical field conditions.

Rapid Evolution of Shooting Skills

The evolution of our marksmanship skills goes hand-in-hand with the evolution of our gear. One compliments and encourages the other. This dynamic interplay is, in fact, inseparable.

We see this on the military side of the equation because of the outsized role that snipers played in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in the civilian world where the explosive growth in the popularity of long-range steel matches created a Darwinian laboratory where new ideas were tried and fine-tuned or rejected at a dizzying clip.

For instance, sandbags—which just used to be something to rest your rifle on when sighting in—have become an essential piece of gear for long-range shooters who employ a bevy of techniques to get the most out of them.

FAQs

Read Next: The M1 Garand, the Greatest Generation’s Service Rifle

Final Thoughts On Long-Range Rifles

Today’s long-range rifles have become so good that I don’t think we’ll see major improvements in their accuracy anytime soon. That’s not to say the quest for one-hole groups is over. It’s just that future gains will be incremental.

The rifles that today shoot a quantity of five-shot groups that average .5 or .6 inches, might someday become legitimate .4-MOA rifles with some that inch down into the .3s. But I doubt any of them will achieve that mythical quarter-MOA status that so many Facebook snipers boast about.’

That said, you can accomplish amazing things with a rifle that shoots between ½- and ¾-inch. With a good wind call and a ballistic calculator, ringing steel at 1,000 yards is child’s play. Engaging targets at one mile (assuming you’re using a good target bullet) is quite doable. And excuses for missing a deer at any reasonable distance fly out the window.

These are the best of times for the rifleman. I hope you’re taking advantage of it.

The post Best Long Range Rifles of 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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It’s hardly a secret these days, but Tikka makes some of the best and most accurate rifles for the money. I’ve lost count of how many Tikkas and Sakos I’ve shot over the years, yet I’ve never had a bad experience with any of these kissing cousins from Finland. (Such as the Sako TRG 22 A1 I recently reviewed.) The Tikka T3x UPR I’ve been shooting for the last few months maintains that streak.

In fact, the T3x UPR is my favorite Tikka to date thanks to its blend of precision, ergonomics, and workmanship, and how smoothly and reliably it runs. It is well-suited to many tasks, but what prompted me to try it is the reputation it has developed as an out-of-the-box winner in the factory division of the NRL Hunter series.

If you’re not familiar with NRL Hunter, you just need to know that it’s a precision rifle competition where shooters start from a blind position and must find, range, and engage targets on the clock using equipment that is suitable for big-game hunting and doesn’t exceed specified weight limits. In the case of the “factory” and “light” divisions, that figure is 12 pounds and includes the rifle, optic, bipod, and other accessories one might mount to the gun. This is in stark contrast to the rifles shot in long-range games like PRS, various ELR matches, and sniper/field competitions where the guns often weigh twice as much (24 pounds) or more.

Tikka T3x UPR Specs

Scott Einsmann

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• Action: Two-lug bolt
• Stock: Glass fiber with adjustable cheek piece
• Barrel: 23.7 inches, 1:8 twist, cold-hammer forged, threaded 5/8-24
• Chambering: 6.5 Creedmoor (tested), .308 Win., 6.5 PRC
• Capacity: 10+1 (short-action cartridges)
• Weight: 7 pounds, 14 ounces (measured)
• Trigger: Single-stage, user-adjustable
• Trigger pull: 3 pounds 13 ounces (measured)
• Length: 43.6 inches
• Price: $1,299

Set Up to Win

• Scope: Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18×44
• Rings: Hawkins Ultra-Light Tactical with offset level
• Bipod: Harris Type S
• Suppressor: Silencer Central Banish Backcountry and TBAC Ultra 7

Tikka T3x UPR Highlights

The Tikka T3x UPR is a hard-working rifle that’s rugged and measures up against every metric we use to evaluate firearms.

Here are the CliffsNotes. First, it is amazingly accurate. With factory match grade and premium hunting ammo it averaged .649-inch five-shot groups, over 17 groups.

Next, it handles beautifully, whether shooting prone or from supported positions. Lastly, it operates in a bomb-proof manner. It doesn’t matter if you expose it to dust, mud, ice, or snow (all of which I did)—it runs flawlessly. There’s nothing finicky about it.

The T3x UPR Stock

The stock is what most distinguishes the T3x UPR from other models in the T3x line. All T3xs share a common two-lug action with similar controls and feed from detachable magazines. The barrels feature different contours and lengths, but all originate on Tikka’s excellent cold-hammer forging equipment in Finland.

UPR stands for “ultimate precision rifle” and that claim is what drove the stock’s design. It is made of a rigid and solid glass fiber material that is surprisingly light and is shaped and contoured with precision shooting in mind.

The stock weighs just 1 pound, 13 ounces, which is impressive since that includes the hardware for the adjustable cheek piece, three swivel studs (two on the fore-end and one on the rear), two QD sling cups, and the recoil lug, which is embedded in the stock just forward of the front guard screw.

While the T3x UPR isn’t currently offered in a left-handed configuration, the stock is symmetrical and therefore ambidextrous, making it friendly for shooters mounting the rifle on their left shoulder.

Recoil Lug

If you’ve ever taken a Sako or Tikka centerfire rifle apart you’ve likely noticed that it doesn’t use a typical Remington 700/Winchester Model 70 recoil lug, where the lug is machined into the action or is sandwiched between the barrel and action. This type of lug slides into a recess in the stock, helping the action and stock move as one under recoil and maintain their alignment from shot to shot.

The design employed on Tikka and Sako rifles achieves the same goal but does so in the reverse manner. Rather than hanging below the action, the lug sits within the stock and sticks above the barrel channel. The bit that’s above the channel fits into a recess machined into the action. The amount of contact between the raised portion of the lug and the cut in the action isn’t much. The lug in mine extends a mere .087 inches above the stock while the cut it goes into is just .090 inches deep. Yet that amount of engagement was sufficient to help the Tikka T3x UPR deliver excellent accuracy over hundreds of shots.

Well-Proportioned Vertical Pistol Grip

The stock sports a nearly vertical pistol grip that swells to fill the palm of the hand but narrows at the rear, creating a recess for the meat of the thumb to nestle in. It gives the trigger hand full and even contact all the way around without any gaps—and without being unnecessarily bulky.

The configuration of the grip offers the shooter a lot of control, which translates to steadier holds and more precise shot placement.

The “desert sand” finish gives the surface of the stock a bit of texture that provides a secure handhold. A lot of high-tech carbon fiber stocks have slick finishes, which aren’t the end of the world from the standpoint of handling and marksmanship, but historically stocks have had grippy elements cut into or added to them since time immemorial for a reason—and the UPR stock gets solid marks in this category.

Broad Fore-end

The fore-end has a flat bottom and is wide enough (1.75 inches at its widest) to allow for firm contact with a sandbag for positional shooting but narrow enough so that even shooters with smaller hands can get a good grip.

Butt Stock with Sniper Hook

The butt stock has a sniper-hook cut on its underside which can be employed a couple ways by the shooter. The non-trigger hand can put rearward pressure on the cut to solidify a position. The cut can also be used in conjunction with a sandbag to make larger changes in elevation without needing to adjust the bipod. It’s a valuable feature whose utility is only limited by the shooter’s imagination

The recoil pad is a medium-stiff chunk of rubber with a substantial surface area that does a good job mitigating felt recoil. The material is a bit tacky to the touch, which helps it stay in place when the rifle is snugged into the shoulder. But that level of grip can also cause the rifle to hang up on clothing or the strap of a backpack when attempting to mount the gun. It’s a common tradeoff and the T3x UPR, geared toward precision shooting, favors solid contact over snag-free shouldering.

Adjustable Cheek Piece

The benefit of an adjustable cheek piece is that the shooter can align their eye with the optic in a consistent manner, particularly when employing scopes that require extra clearance, which is often what long-range scopes (and their large objective lenses) require.

One common drawback with adjustable cheek pieces is weight. The hardware often adds the better part of a pound to the rifle. The system employed by the Tikka T3x UPR is ingenious in its weight-saving simplicity. The hardware consists of a couple pieces of polymer and a basic thumbwheel screw so you can loosen, adjust, and re-tighten the cheekpiece. It all fits into a slot molded into the stock. In total, the hardware came to 2.6 ounces on my calibrated postal scale, making it one of the lightest adjustable cheek pieces on the market.

In the lowest position the cheek piece is flush with the rest of the comb. The highest setting lifts it about an inch above the stock. It has eight positions across its adjustment range.

The cheek piece is easy to remove and service, another feature I appreciate. All you have to do is unscrew the thumbwheel and the works slide free. It makes a thorough cleaning of the rifle simpler.

Adjustable Trigger

The single-stage trigger on the Tikka T3x UPR is user adjustable, but one has to take the barreled action out of the stock to get to it. That’s done by loosening the two T25 Torx head guard screws on the bottom metal.

Once the action is free from the stock it’s easy to locate the adjustment screw on the front of the trigger housing. It takes a 2mm hex wrench and, by turning it counterclockwise, you can lower the weight of the trigger pull significantly.

From the factory, the trigger on my sample was set at 3 pounds 13 ounces, not exactly an ideal weight for precision rifle work, but is fine for hunting and general shooting.

Out of sheer laziness (and the fact that I’ve had another couple dozen rifles to test this year) I didn’t bother to alter the trigger weight on the rifle prior to my evaluation. Which, in all honesty, makes its sub-3/4 MOA performance on paper at 100 yards even more impressive.

While the trigger was as crisp and positive as I could desire, the excessive break weight always bugged me. I finally got around to backing out that adjustment screw and wish I had done it first thing.

The trigger pull shed more than two pounds and now sits at a consistent 1 pound 12 ounces. I have no doubt that will help the rifle shoot better from here on out, particularly from the positions shooters encounter in NRL Hunter matches.

Two-Lug Action

The action on the Tikka T3x UPR has a two-lug bolt with a Sako extractor and plunger ejector. The bolt face is recessed, and surrounds and supports the case head except where it is cut to accommodate the small spring-loaded claw extractor.

20 MOA Picatinny Rail

The top of the action has a full-length Picatinny rail that attaches with four fasteners. Depending on the specific model, that rail is either dead flat or has 20 MOA of declination built into it. I opted for the 20 MOA rail, which is better for long-range work.

Solid Bolt

The bolt body doesn’t have any fluting or other cuts machined into it—it is just a solid tube. Fluting can help a bolt run more smoothly (and can enhance a rifle’s looks), but the UPR doesn’t need help in this regard.

The bolt glides fluidly in its raceway, even after long shooting sessions. Though if it gets really filthy, all it takes is a shot of brake cleaner followed by a quick wipe with an oiled rag to return it to pristine operating condition.

Oversized Bolt Handle

The handle on the bolt has a smooth, oversized round knob that’s easy to grasp. In turn, this facilitates fast and positive manipulation of the action. That’s a fancy way of saying you can dump a 10-round mag in short order with the UPR.

Two-Position Safety

The safety locks the bolt shut in the “safe” position, which is desirable because it prevents the action from opening when you want it to remain closed—as when stalking through timber and brush or rucking from one stage of a match to another.

The safety toggles back and forth smoothly without undue effort and operates intuitively. The fine lines cut into the tab give the thumb solid points of contact. When pushed forward, the safety reveals a red dot giving a visual cue to the rifle’s “hot” status. There’s also a red dot on the firing pin that comes into view when the rifle is cocked.

Bolt Release Tab

The bolt release tab is located on the left side of the action. Pushing down on the tab lifts the forward end of the tab which has a small protrusion that limits the bolt’s reward travel. (The protrusion engages the backside of the left-hand lug on the bolt.) It requires a firm, deliberate push to activate, but once done the bolt slips free.

Unlike some bolt-release mechanisms, you don’t need to push the button to reinsert the bolt. Just guide the bolt head into the raceway and run it forward. The lugs slide over the protrusion with an audible click, signaling that the bolt is secure in the receiver.

Bottom Metal and Magazine

As much as it pains my red-white-and-blue soul to admit this, the detachable magazines on European rifles are often superior to those produced domestically. They tend to load more easily, run more smoothly, and exhibit fewer glitches than their American-made counterparts. And if I had to rank the best magazines from across the pond, I’d put those made by Sako and Tikka, along with Accuracy International’s superlative AW magazine, at the top of the list.

The 10-round magazine on the Tikka T3x UPR is similar to AICS style magazines in that it is a double stack magazine that feeds the top round from the middle. I had no difficulty loading it to capacity, which isn’t a given with some magazines.

The magazine has a steel body and polymer floorplate that is permanently attached to it. To service the magazine, you tilt the rear of the follower down (the end where the case heads sit) and when the angle is steep enough slide the forward part of the follower out past the feed lips. Keep working the follower out of the magazine until it—and the spring that is attached to it—comes free. Putting the magazine back together again is even easier. Simply reverse the process.

Solid Bottom Metal

The bottom metal contains the trigger guard, magazine well, and magazine release tab. It sits flush and even within the inletting cut in the stock. There is nothing ornate in its design, but the quality of the fit and finish is very good.

The trigger guard incorporates a nicely executed paddle magazine release. The trigger guard is hogged out a bit where the mag release is located, giving an index finger or thumb good access to the tab. I like this design because it eliminates the need to have the tabs stick out like Mickey Mouse’s ears, which makes them more prone to snagging on things and gives them a goofy look. (That’s it with the Disney metaphors.)

As with the safety, the surfaces on the tab (one on each side of the trigger guard) have striations cut into them, giving whichever digit the shooter employs a nice contact area. When the tab is pushed forward, the magazine drops free—even when empty and when the rifle’s muzzle is angled sharply upward.

The magazine well isn’t beveled at all, but because the magazine itself is tapered, it seats easily and clicks into place in a positive and effortless manner.

Metalwork and Fit and Finish

There isn’t a whole lot to say here other than that Tikka did a very good job with the coatings on the metal and the rifle’s fit and finish.

The matte black coating on the barrel and action is even and smooth, and has withstood a fair measure of abuse without looking any worse for the wear. All the components on the rifle snug together cleanly with no uneven gaps or misaligned parts.

Accuracy in the Field

Even though the Tikka T3x UPR isn’t a new rifle, I brought it along to this year’s evaluation of the best rifles and best handguns that we conducted at Gunsite in early April. We shot it along with all the other rifles in the test and gathered a lot of data on its accuracy and handling.

Legit .5 to .6 MOA Precision

While at Gunsite we put six different 6.5 Creedmoor loads through the rifle, all of which it repeatedly shot sub-MOA groups with. Four of the loads did particularly well in the rifle. Those included Federal’s 135-grain Berger Hybrid Hunter, Freedom Munitions’ 140-grain BTHP, and Hornady’s 140-grain ELD-M and 143-grain ELD-X. When popping off with those from a prone position the UPR printed a steady flow of groups in the .6s.

A few weeks after the test I put a bunch more ammo through the rifle—more of the Hornady factory 140 ELD-Ms and a few groups of some Peterson Cartridge ammo also loaded with the 140 ELD-Ms.

I shot the Hornady 140s even better—with 5-shot groups averaging .566 inches. That ammo was also consistent, shooting at 2640 fps with extreme spreads in the 20s and 30s and SDs ranging from 8.9 to 13.3. That’s good enough to win any NRL Hunter Match—and indeed just about any other long-range match—you might sign up for.

The Peterson Cartridge ammunition, even though it was shooting the same 140-grain ELD-M bullet, didn’t perform as well. Its groups averaged .808 inches, which isn’t bad, but not on par with the other factory ammo I shot. That load ran a touch hotter (2656 fps) and had a slightly higher average ES (33) and SD (14.4).

Tikka T3x UPR General Handling and Performance

Everyone loves accurate rifles, so it would be difficult not to warm up to the T3x UPR on that account alone. But the rifle’s appeal extends well beyond its ability to stack bullets on top of each other at 100 yards.

When you combine a well-designed stock and a smooth-running action in a rifle with intuitive and ergonomic controls you have the ingredients to create a potion with some ballistic magic.

Read Next: The Best Gun Cases

That’s exactly what the Tikka T3x UPR accomplishes. The shooter’s experience behind the gun is immensely satisfying. While locked into the stock and shooting from prone positions or off barricades, the rifle recoils straight back so that the shooter can maintain a sight picture and spot impacts. I found that movement predictable and easy to control.

The minimal effort required to cycle the rifle and the surefooted way the rifle ejects and feeds subsequent rounds also let the shooter stay on target and quickly follow up with more shots.

Surprisingly Nimble

All this is in the context of the rifle’s weight, which at 7 pounds 14 ounces, is on the light side for any precision rifle and puts it squarely in the company of many big-game hunting rifles.

With the Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18×44 mounted—which happens to be one of the best options for NRL Hunter shooters who want a fully capable optic that doesn’t require a trip to Laos to sell a kidney—the rifle weighs 9 pounds 11 ounces.

This leaves a fair bit of room for the shooter to add a quality bipod and muzzle device while remaining under the 12-pound limit set out in the NRL Hunter factory division. It also means you end up with a rifle that is portable and maneuverable.

Without a muzzle device or bipod attached, the rifle’s balance point is right in front of the magazine well. I shot my UPR with a couple different suppressors—the Silencer Central Banish Backcountry and the Thunder Beast Ultra-7—and attached a Harris bipod. Predictably, this made the rifle more muzzle-heavy, but it never felt unwieldy in my hands.

If you want to improve the rifle’s balance with a suppressor you have the option of going with a 20-inch barrel rather than the 23.7-inch tube I have on my UPR.

Tikka T3x UPR Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent accuracy
• Outstanding shootability and handling
• Reliable
• Great value

Cons

• The T3 UPR doesn’t fall short in any meaningful way

Final Thoughts on the Tikka T3x UPR

Everyone on the Outdoor Life gun test team had good things to say about the T3x UPR. Given that the team represents a diverse set of perspectives—it includes Alaskan big-game hunters, Western long-range specialists, and Northwoods deer hunters—that speaks to the rifle’s broad appeal.

The impression the Tikka T3x UPR leaves you with is that of a professional-grade tool that is responsive, accurate, durable, and will excel at any task you ask of it.

The post Tikka T3x UPR, Tested and Reviewed appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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For the second year in a row the Outdoor Life gun test team converged on Gunsite Academy to generate our decades-long roundup of the year’s best rifles, best handguns, and—as a bonus to you old-school pistoleros—a test of the best 1911s.

We’ve been conducting this massive gun test for decades now. It is the most time-consuming, ambitious, and costly editorial project Outdoor Life does each year. No other publication or group comes close to duplicating this singular effort. More on that in a bit.

First and foremost, the test is motivated by our desire to provide valuable and unbiased data and insight. There’s a lot of low-quality information about new guns out there. A combination of evaluators with questionable skills, limited resources, and a desire to please sponsors and advertisers results in a preponderance of ballistic drivel.

So I get why many readers react to gun reviews with reflexive cynicism. Sadly, that jaded response is often justified.

This test is an antidote to that.

Beyond providing our audience with top-quality, honest content, the Outdoor Life gun test team also derives tremendous professional satisfaction from this project. The opportunity to shoot all these guns side-by-side with a nearly inexhaustible supply of ammunition at hand gives a perspective that you can’t acquire shooting them individually. Evaluating firearms in the context of their peer group is remarkably illuminating.

Best Rifles of 2023: Return of an Icon and Some Amazing Values

• Best Rifle of 2023: Marlin 336 Classic  (Editor’s Choice)
• Best Rifle of 2023: Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical (Great Buy, Precision Rifle)
• Best Rifle of 2023: Stevens 334 Walnut (Great Buy, Hunting Rifle)
• CVA Cascade XT
• Fierce Firearms Carbon Rogue
• Nosler CCH (Carbon Chassis Hunter)
• Henry Repeating Arms Homesteader
• Bergara Wilderness Ridge Carbon
• Browning X-Bolt Target Max
• Weatherby Mark V Backcountry 2.0 Ti

This year’s rifle field was smaller than last year’s. (The bursting of the post-Covid bubble accounted for the unusually large number of introductions in 2022.) But it still included an interesting variety of long-guns spanning a spectrum of price points and uses.

One dominant theme among the best rifles of 2023 is budget guns that punch above their weight class. The Stevens 334 Walnut and Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical both distinguished themselves in that light and earned this year’s Great Buy awards. We also gave high marks to the CVA Cascade XT for the value it represents. In 2023, bargain-minded shooters have some good options to pick from.

Another takeaway from the gun test is that Marlin’s resurrection by Ruger can now be deemed a complete and legitimate success. The new Marlin 336 Classic we evaluated is the latest in a string of fabulous lever actions that have been rolling off the production line at Ruger’s facility in Mayodan, North Carolina. In conjunction with the Marlin 1895 SBL we tested and the Marlin 1895 Trapper we’ve been using—both in .45/70—the Marlin 336 Classic cements the iconic brand’s comeback.

We were so smitten with the Marlin 336 Classic that it was the unanimous selection as this year’s Editor’s Choice.

How We Tested the Best Rifles

As I alluded to above, Outdoor Life’s gun testing protocol is unlike any other in the outdoor industry. This test is different, and always has been. We pit the entries head-to-head and when the dust settles we tabulate the scores and whoever wins, wins. There’s no favoritism at play. Unlike other awards you see touted, our Editor’s Choice and Great Buy honors are not for sale.

We shoot the hell out of each rifle for accuracy and practical field handling. We go over each with a critical eye to pick apart their construction and evaluate workmanship.

Our published accuracy results are the averages of the 10 best five-shot groups for each rifle. While it is fun to highlight some of the smallest groups in the test—which we do as well—this 10-group average is much more meaningful with respect to a rifle’s true in-the-field performance. (And, incidentally, is a much tougher standard than you’ll see in other gun reviews.)

It takes a long time to gather that much accuracy data. The five shooters on the team spent days shooting a collective 375 five-shot groups for record. One reason we shoot that much is that we want each rifle to shine as brightly as possible. We shoot a variety of ammo, bullet styles, and bullet weights. (With respect to the ammunition I have to give special thanks to our industry partners who support us in this including, Federal, Nosler, Winchester, Hornady, Remington, Black Hills Ammunition, Berger, Weatherby, Wilson Combat, and Freedom Munitions.)

And in between groups we cleaned the rifles if needed and refouled them to get the most accuracy out of each. When the accuracy work was done, we ran each rifle through dynamic shooting drills from field positions.

How We Grade Guns

Each rifle is evaluated on nine categories and given a score of 1 to 5 from each judge, except for the accuracy score, which is based on the data from the groups shot. We average the scores for each category and use that to determine the ranking and awards. The categories are handling, accuracy, workmanship, aesthetics, ergonomics, meets purpose, versatility, reliability, and value.

Read Next: The Best Handguns of 2023

The scores then translate to the grades on the report cards for each firearm. Performance consists of the scores from handling, accuracy, ergonomics, and reliability. Design includes workmanship, aesthetics, meeting its purpose, and versatility. Value stands on its own.

To earn an “Excellent” rating, the average of that score must be 4.5 or higher, a difficult mark to hit. “Very Good” is an average score of 3.5 to 4.5; “Good” is from 2.5 to 3.5; “Fair” is from 1.5 to 2.5; and “Poor” is under 1.5.

Best Rifle of 2023: Marlin 336 Classic  (Editor’s Choice)

Scott Einsmann

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Report Card

• Performance: Very Good
• Design: Very Good
• Value: Very Good
• Accuracy: 1.627 in. (Avg. of 10 best five-shot groups)

Marlin 336 Classic Specs

• Action: Lever
• Stock: Walnut
• Caliber: .30/30 Win.
• Capacity: 6+1
• Weight: 7 lb. 1 oz.
• Trigger: 8 lb. 0 oz.
• Barrel: 20 in.
• Length: 38.5 in.
• Price: $1,239

The biggest trend in rifles for the last decade and a half has been in bolt guns pushing the boundaries of accuracy and long-range performance. In other words, precision rifles—whether for competition, hunting, or general recreation.

So it is rather surprising to see a rifle that traces its roots to 1893 firing a cartridge that was introduced in 1895 anointed as the best rifle of 2023. But indeed, that is the case.

The Marlin 336 Classic in .30/30 Win. is a throwback rifle and cartridge but has been made relevant again by Ruger, which is producing them in North Carolina. Even though I grew up shooting Marlins produced in North Haven, Connecticut, there is no doubt that these new lever actions are the finest to wear the signature bullseye logo in their stock.

The fit and finish on our 336 was superlative and the quality of the wood, metal polish, and bluing make this rifle a real looker. As much as we were smitten by its svelte lines and attractive workmanship, we also praised it for its balance and handling.

The 336 handles exactly how a big-woods lever action should. It’s quick to shoulder, points instinctively, and—for a lever gun in .30/30—is pretty accurate.

It’s also a hell of a value—assuming you can find one for the MSRP. For the time being the demand will continue to outstrip the supply but be patient and sooner or later you’ll be able to acquire one.

As an aside, Marlin will be chambering the 336 in .35 Remington again too. Expect to see those later this year. Nor would it shock me if they chambered some in the new 360 Buckhammer as well.

Best Rifle of 2023: Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical (Great Buy, Precision Rifle)

Tanner Denton

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Report Card

• Performance: Very Good
• Design: Good
• Value: Excellent
• Accuracy: .582 in. (Avg. of 10 best five-shot groups)

Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical Specs

• Action: Two-lug bolt
• Stock: Synthetic chassis
• Caliber: 6.5 CM
• Capacity: 10
• Weight: 8 lb. 11 oz.
• Trigger: 2 lb. 9 oz.
• Barrel: 22 in.
• Length: 42.3 in.
• Price: $1,085

We have been shooting, hunting with, and broadly praising the Mossberg Patriot rifle in its many variants since it was introduced in 2015. New this year is the Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical, which matches the familiar two-lug action with a chassis stock and heavy barrel.

Line extensions like this tend to be ho-hum affairs, eliciting little in the way of remark, let alone excitement. That’s not the case with the Patriot LR Tactical.

This precision rifle is one of the best deals going for affordable long-range shooting and trotted off with a Great Buy award in the precision rifle category.

This LR Tactical configuration suits the workmanlike Patriot action to a tee. This rifle is very accurate. In fact, it turned in the tightest group of the test, a .247-inch five-shot group by editor in chief Alex Robinson with Federal 140-grain Berger Hybrids. (Ours was chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, but you can also get them in .308 Win. and 6.5 PRC.)

The rifle also handles surprisingly well. Though the barrel is heavy, the rifle isn’t cumbersome. It weighs 8.75 pounds without a scope and was easy to maneuver in and out of position during the practical shooting portion of the evaluation.

The action isn’t the smoothest but we were still able to cycle it quickly while running through a variety of drills. The rifle takes AICS pattern magazines, which are widely available and come in varying capacities. The effective paddle magazine release made reloads a snap.

The stock adjusts for cheek height and positions the hand nicely thanks to its vertical grip. The texturing on the grip is fairly aggressive and gives a solid purchase. The chassis stock also has slots to mount M-Lok compatible accessories.

Best Rifle of 2023: Stevens 334 Walnut (Great Buy, Hunting Rifle)

Tanner Denton

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Report Card

• Performance: Good
• Design: Good
• Value: Excellent
• Accuracy: .724-in. (Avg. of 10 best five-shot groups)

Stevens 334 Walnut Specs

• Action: Three-lug bolt
• Stock: Walnut
• Caliber: 6.5 CM
• Capacity: 3+1
• Weight: 7 lb. 14 oz.
• Trigger: 5 lb. 10 oz.
• Barrel: 22 in.
• Length: 43 in.
• Price: $489

The Stevens 334 Walnut was the most surprising gun of the rifle test. It is a basic wood-stocked bolt action imported from Turkey, and at first glance doesn’t seem to be anything special.

While the stock is nice enough, the metalwork and design of the action is basic—though in keeping with the rifle’s modest $489 price tag. After dry firing the trigger, you’d have no reason to anticipate any particular ballistic magic, either. The 5-pound 10-ounce trigger has a bit of mush before it breaks.

But handsome is as handsome does, and the Stevens 334 charmed the entire test team once we started shooting it for accuracy. Its five-shot groups averaged less than ¾ MOA, making it one of the most accurate rifles of the test, and easily the most accurate hunting rifle we evaluated.

It shoots way better than it has any right to, was our collective takeaway.

It has other features we liked as well. The three-position safety locks the bolt down when fully engaged, while the central position lets the shooter clear or check the chamber without putting the gun on “fire.”

The polymer single-stack magazine loads easily and holds three rounds of 6.5 Creedmoor, though the rifle is also available in .308 Win. and .243 Win.

The three-lug design, with its 60-degree bolt lift, is surprisingly smooth and easy to operate from the shoulder. It comes with a Picatinny rail that runs the full length of the action which makes mounting an optic a snap.

In sum, the Stevens 334 Walnut is a wonderful rifle for the price and is our Great Buy award winner in the hunting rifle category in 2023.

CVA Cascade XT

Tanner Denton

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Report Card

• Performance: Good
• Design: Good
• Value: Very Good
• Accuracy: .858 in. (Avg. of 10 best five-shot groups)

CVA Cascade XT Specs

• Action: Three-lug bolt
• Stock: Synthetic
• Caliber: 6.5 CM
• Capacity: 4+1
• Weight: 7 lb. 7 oz.
• Trigger: 2 lb. 12 oz.
• Barrel: 22 in.
• Length: 43.6 in.
• Price: $850

The CVA Cascade XT is another solid value among this year’s new rifles. Like other rifles in the Cascade family, it has a three-lug, large-diameter bolt and a two-position safety that is easy to manipulate.

Larger and heavier than the other Cascade rifles, it was built with hunting at longer distances in mind. It comes with a stout No. 5 contour barrel, dual swivel studs on the fore-end, a radial muzzle brake, and a user-adjustable trigger.

It isn’t an elegant rifle. Nothing on it can be considered svelte. But for its intended purpose—placing accurate shots at longer distances—it hits the mark.

The rifle’s weight, stock design and brake do a good job mitigating recoil, so it is a rifle you can put a lot of rounds through without beating yourself up.

The polymer double-stack magazine holds four rounds of 6.5 Creed. (The rifle can also be had in .223 Rem., .308 Win., .450 Bushmaster, .350 Legend, 6.5 PRC, 7mm Rem. Mag., and .300 Win. Mag.) It loads effortlessly and is easy to insert and remove from the mag well.

The double-stack design and open-bridge configuration of the action make it easy to top-load the magazine when it runs dry. That’s a good thing, because when we fed the rifle with single rounds after emptying the magazine they often had difficulty chambering.

The synthetic camo stock has a tacky rubber-like texture and effective checkering molded into the fore-end and grip, so you won’t need to worry about this rifle slipping from your grasp.

Fierce Firearms Carbon Rogue

Tanner Denton

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Report Card

• Performance: Good
• Design: Very Good
• Value: Good
• Accuracy: 1.033 in. (Avg. of 10 best five-shot groups)

Fierce Firearms Carbon Rogue Specs

• Action: Two-lug bolt
• Stock: Carbon fiber
• Caliber: 6.5 PRC
• Capacity: 3+1
• Weight: 6 lb. 4 oz.
• Trigger: 3 lb. 1 oz.
• Barrel: 24 in.
• Length: 45.5 in.
• Price: $2,199

We’ve been a big fan of Fierce Firearms’ rifles. This semi-custom maker based in Redmond, Utah, makes high-quality lightweight big-game rigs that perform under trying conditions. Their prices, while not cheap, represent a good value for the quality.

New this year is the Carbon Rogue, which Fierce introduced as a more affordable carbon-fiber barreled mountain rifle at $2,199. To get the cost down, the Carbon Rogue uses a stainless two-lug action, rather than the titanium actions found in the flagship Edge ($3,995) and Rival ($3,050).

The fit and finish on the rifle is superb. The hinged floorplate magazine, for instance, is nicely inletted so that it sits nearly flush with the stock. Likewise, the gap between the barrel and barrel channel is small and even.

The accuracy of our sample in 6.5 PRC didn’t wow us. At 1.033 inches it was good but not outstanding. We had some feeding issues with our sample too. The second round in the magazine rarely fed properly because of how it would tilt in the magazine. This is something that wouldn’t be too difficult to resolve, but it did cost the rifle some points.

Other than that, the rifle impressed us. Most of the judges loved the shape of the stock, which has a moderate swell at the grip—though one of our evaluators who has smaller hands found it awkward.

Like many carbon-fiber stocks, the one on our sample is a bit slick. Some hunters make a big deal out of that, while others don’t care. It’s a matter of personal taste.

One thing about the stock we all liked was the short section of Picatinny rail recessed into the fore-end. It’s a great mounting surface for clamping on a bipod in a flash. The rail has a QD cup in it as an attachment point for a sling, and the buttstock of the rifle has a QD cup as well.

The spiral fluted bolt can be taken apart without tools in the field for maintenance, and it incorporates dual ejectors and a nicely designed extractor. We didn’t have any issue with extraction and ejection of the empties.

At 6-pounds 4-ounces, the empty weight of the rifle makes it portable but it still has enough heft to handle properly. During the dynamic drills the rifle was nimble and steady. Fierce is chambering these rifles in a slew of cartridges ranging from the .22 Creedmoor to the .300 PRC.

Nosler CCH (Carbon Chassis Hunter)

Tanner Denton

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Report Card

• Performance: Very Good
• Design: Very Good
• Value: Fair
• Accuracy: .913 in. (Avg. of 10 best five-shot groups)

Nosler CCH Specs

• Action: Two-lug bolt
• Stock: Carbon fiber folding chassis
• Caliber: 6.5 PRC
• Capacity: 4+1
• Weight: 6 lb. 10 oz.
• Trigger: 2 lb. 13 oz.
• Barrel: 26 in.
• Length: 45.25 in.
• Price: $5,295

Any notion you might have had of Nosler as an old-school firearm and ammunition company that caters to your grandpa is dispelled by the new Carbon Chassis Hunter (aka CCH). This thoroughly modern rifle is a marked departure from the traditional lines of the M48 that Nosler launched their firearms business with nearly 20 years ago.

It takes the same action as their award-winning Model 21 and pairs it with a folding carbon-fiber stock made by MDT to cater to technically savvy (and well-heeled) hunters.

If I had to describe the CCH in one word, I’d go with slick. Slick describes the smooth-running action, which was our favorite of the test, as well as the feel of the non-textured chassis stock.

The slickness of the chassis, which in theory makes the rifle more difficult to hold on to, is largely mitigated by the pistol grip, which allows for a strong handhold on the rifle. The flat-bottomed fore-end, which has an integral ARCA rail machined along its length, is easy to grasp firmly, too.

Our sample, chambered in 6.5 PRC, has a 26-inch barrel. Normally that makes for an unwieldy rifle, but the light weight of the carbon fiber barrel helps the rifle balance well. Even with that long tube, the rifle tips the scales at just over 6.5 pounds.

Because the stock folds flat, transporting the rifle is more convenient too. I carried this rifle last fall on a spot-and-stalk mule deer hunt in Northeast Montana and slinging the rifle with the stock folded made for easy hiking.

The accuracy of our rifle was good, but we found it a struggle to get great groups out of it. We turned in a handful of five-shot groups between .65 and .85 inches, which is quite good. But most of our shooting was right around the 1 MOA mark.

There’s nothing wrong with that level of precision, but for the price you couldn’t blame a guy if he expected a bit more.

Speaking of the price: If the CCH has an Achilles heel, it is cost. Nosler spared no expense assembling best-in-class components to build the rifle and—for better or for worse—that expense is passed along to you. The Proof Research barrel, Mack Bros action, TriggerTech trigger, and MDT Chassis aren’t cheap. With an MSRP of $5,295, this isn’t an everyman’s hunting tool.

It’s capable, fun to shoot, pretty accurate, has wonderful balance and handling—but whether the shooting public will take a shine to it to the tune of 5Gs remains to be seen.

Henry Repeating Arms Homesteader

Tanner Denton

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Report Card

• Performance: Very Good
• Design: Very Good
• Value: Very Good
• Accuracy: 2.21 in. (Avg. of 10 best five-shot groups @ 50 yd.)

Henry Repeating Arms Homesteader Specs

• Action: Semi-auto
• Stock: Walnut
• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 10
• Weight: 6 lb. 10 oz.
• Trigger: 6 lb. 10 oz.
• Barrel: 16 in.
• Length: 35.75 in.
• Price: $928

The fun factor of the Henry Homesteader is undeniable. This simple 9mm PCC, which operates from standard pistol magazines on a blowback design, quickly established itself as a test team favorite.

It is reasonably accurate, has negligible recoil, doesn’t cost a ton, is super handy, and fires cheap ammo. What’s not to like? I wrote about the Homesteader at some length after I first got it, and it turned out that the other judges shared my positive impression.

We topped it with a couple very fine LPVO scopes—a Leupold Mark 5HD 2-10×30 and a Nightforce ATACR 1-8×24. Both pieces of glass are, admittedly, overkill but we wanted to get the best accuracy possible from the carbine while testing for accuracy.

This rifle doesn’t require an optic at that level to perform, however. A simple red-dot reflex sight mounted on the rifle’s Picatinny rail is all the Homesteader really needs.

We ran the rifle a lot on Gunsite’s famed Scrambler, where it was right at home ringing the steel targets that are about 50 to 100 yards downrange. It functioned flawlessly here and throughout the week-long evaluation.

Getting picky about the rifle’s design, we did note a few things that could stand improvement. The recoil pad is thicker and squishier than needed. A thinner, harder pad would shorten the length of pull and make the rifle less likely to hang up on clothing as it is shouldered—both good things.

The team was split on the blocky fore-end. It reminded me of my old Crossman 7600 BB gun as a kid and brought images of the M1 Thompson to another judge, good associations both. Another judge thought it could benefit from a bit of contouring.

But in the end we were united in our appreciation of this fun little gun. If we gave out an award for top plinker, the Henry Homesteader would have it.

Bergara Wilderness Ridge Carbon

Tanner Denton

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Report Card

• Performance: Good
• Design: Very Good
• Value: Fair
• Accuracy: 1.346 in. (Avg. of 10 best five-shot groups)

Bergara Wilderness Ridge Carbon Specs

• Action: Two-lug bolt
• Stock: Synthetic
• Caliber: 6.5 CM
• Capacity: 5+1
• Weight: 7 lb. 0 oz.
• Trigger: 2 lb. 15 oz.
• Barrel: 22 in.
• Length: 43 in.
• Price: $1,599

Our impressions of this new rifle from Bergara were mostly positive. We liked how it handled and balanced. It operated flawlessly, feeding, cycling, and ejecting everything we shot through it. Its intuitive controls make it easy (and fun) to operate.

That said, it didn’t exactly win our hearts either. For $1,599 we were expecting a bit more—particularly with its fit and finish and its accuracy.

It’s 1.346 in. five-shot group average was near the bottom of the test and is humdrum for a rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. It did manage three groups (from three different shooters using three different types of ammo) that were just above 1 MOA, which was encouraging. It was consistent, if not super precise.

The stock also isn’t commensurate with a rifle costing this much. It’s a bit basic, as the kids say. The so-so fit of the hinged floorplate and the overall look and feel of the Remington style stock doesn’t scream “premium.”

The metal work is more in keeping with the price. The Sniper Gray Cerakote on the receiver contrasts nicely with the polished stainless bolt body, which has spiral flutes along its length that are offset in black. And the wrap on the carbon-fiber barrel is also attractive.

Overall, it struck us as a capable hunting implement. It comes with an effective radial muzzle brake that makes recoil a non-issue in 6.5 Creed. (The rifle is also chambered in .308 Win., 6.5 PRC, and .300 Win. Mag.) The single-stage trigger broke at a clean and crisp 2 pounds 5 ounces.

Browning X-Bolt Target Max

Tanner Denton

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Report Card

• Performance: Very Good
• Design: Good
• Value: Good
• Accuracy: .719 in. (Avg. of 10 best five-shot groups)

Browning X-Bolt Target Max Specs

• Action: Three-lug bolt
• Stock: Synthetic chassis
• Caliber: 6.5 CM
• Capacity: 10+1
• Weight: 9 lb. 9 oz.
• Trigger: 2 lb. 5 oz.
• Barrel: 26 in.
• Length: 47.75 in.
• Price: $1,799

The Browning X-Bolt Target Max is in its element when you have steel targets hundreds of yards down range, variable winds to figure out, and a pile of accurate ammo to burn through. Everyone on the team really enjoyed shooting this hefty rifle from Browning that comes with a 26-inch barrel, three-port muzzle brake, and substantial competition-style stock.

Ours delivered good precision, with the average of its 10 best five-shot groups coming in at .719 inches. One judge on our test team, who isn’t as experienced with long-range precision rifles as some of the others, really liked the familiar feel of the X-Bolt controls, which include the two-position tang-mounted safety and short three-lug bolt throw.

But the experienced precision rifle shooters liked it as well. The Target Max ran smoothly and reliably with one exception: It was very picky about which magazines it accepts. Like many precision rifles it is designed to accept AICS detachable magazines. The Browning ships with one polymer 10-rounder from MDT.

During the week of shooting we’ll run many different magazines through rifles of this type and that’s where the Target Max fell short.

We had a hard time inserting and seating most magazines in the mag well. On top of that, the magazine release button was difficult to manipulate, making mag swaps a chore. Browning placed the magazine release button on the side of the rifle between the trigger guard and magazine well unlike the typical paddle release you see on the bottom metal of most precision rifles.  

The rifle could benefit from a couple upgrades to its feature set, too. QD cups (rather than swivel stud type attachments) should be standard on a rifle of this type and while the section of Picatinnny rail on the fore-end is useful for mounting a bipod, an ARCA rail (ideally running the whole length under the fore-end) would be an improvement.

The stock earned high marks otherwise. The vertical grip is well done and has some very nice texture molded into it. The rifle has a cheek piece that can be raised or lowered as needed and it comes with a spacer to adjust the length of pull.

Weatherby Mark V Backcountry 2.0 Ti

Tanner Denton

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Report Card

• Performance: Good
• Design: Good
• Value: Fair
• Accuracy: 1.459 in. (Avg. of 10 best five-shot groups)

Weatherby Mark V Backcountry 2.0 Ti Specs

• Action: Six-lug bolt (two rows of three)
• Stock: Carbon fiber
• Caliber: .338 Wby. RPM
• Capacity: 4+1
• Weight: 5 lb. 5 oz.
• Trigger: 3 lb. 3 oz.
• Barrel: 18 in.
• Length: 38.5 in.
• Price: $3,449

In many respects this rifle was the most interesting of the test—in part because it occupies a very curious—and small—niche. It’s expensive. It’s ultralight. And it’s chambered the brand new .338 Wby. RPM, a hard-hitting thumper of a magnum that is reasonably accurate, but no long-range wonder.

On the one hand, it seems kind of like a guide gun. It has an 18-inch barrel, compact 38.5-inch overall length, and 4+1 magazine capacity. But we’ve been around a lot of guides and not many are going to throw down $3,449 on a rifle they are going to beat the snot out of. On top of that, though the rifle is portable, it isn’t going to outshoot a less expensive .45/70 lever action, 12-gauge slug gun, or .338 to .375 magnum-type bolt gun when trying to cope with an irate bear.  

I’m sure that some hunters will take to the rifle and cartridge as long as they don’t mind the 1.5 MOA performance. I could see humping it while slogging through a willow thicket in search of a trophy bull moose—or brown bear—where the shots will be relatively close. But it’s a fair bit of money to spend on a rifle with that small sweet spot.

Shooting it prone for accuracy was not the most fun we had during the test. Even though it has a good muzzle brake, it still hits fairly hard. But we had a lot of data to gather on the rifle and new round and soldiered through.

We shot four different loads through the rifle and recorded data using a Labradar. We were impressed by the results. The ammo was very consistent in terms of the standard deviation (SD) and extreme spread (ES)—especially for a short-barreled rifle shooting magnum powder charges in factory loaded ammo. All the data here are from 10-shot shot strings.

• 225-grain Nosler AccuBond (MV: 2686 fps / ES: 32 / SD: 10)
• 225-grain Barnes TTSX (MV: 2624 fps / ES: 30 / SD: 8)
• 225-grain Hornady Interlock (MV: 2688 fps / ES: 40 / SD: 13.0)
• 185-grain Barnes TTSX (MV: 2909 fps / ES: 42 / SD: 14.2)

When we started shooting the rifle during the practical field evaluation, we enjoyed it a lot more. The recoil isn’t bad when your body can rock with the blow, and the rifle is lithe and handy when working the bolt.

We really liked the ergonomics on the rifle. The stock has a negative comb with a quasi-hogsback shape and the recoil pad, the latest version of Weatherby’s 3-D printed design, is the best yet. Both help mitigate recoil.

The finish on the stock improves on what we’ve seen from Weatherby since they opened shop in Sheridan, Wyoming as well. The inletting is tight and even and the grip is smooth and clean with no signs of sanding or other handwork.

Final Thoughts on the Best Rifles of 2023

When it comes to the best rifles of 2023 we can borrow the favorite saying of shady pitchmen in infomercials, “But wait, there’s more!” Due to lingering supply chain issues, limited sample availability, and other factors, a bunch of gun companies have plans for new rifles this year which weren’t quite ready in time for the gun test.

Read Next: The Best 1911s, Tested and Reviewed

As the months progress we’ll continue to update this story with other relevant new rifles. And even though I’m not yet allowed to divulge specifics I can state that we’re going to see several high-end rifles that strive to balance the often incompatible qualities of being lightweight and extremely accurate.

In the meantime, 2023 is off to an encouraging start for rifle aficionados, especially those looking for great values.

About Gunsite

This year’s test of the best rifles was once again graciously hosted by Gunsite Academy in Paulden, AZ. As the home of the legendary Jeff Cooper and one of the first firearm training facilities that offered classes to the general public, Gunsite became one of the premier gun training destinations in the country.

At Gunsite we got to work with top-line instructors, and use their excellent ranges and facilities. The genuinely friendly, helpful, and overly-accommodating staff at Gunsite allowed us to conduct our most ambitious gun test to date. You can experience the magic of Gunsite, and improve your skills, by signing up for a class.

The post The Best Rifles of 2023, Tested and Reviewed appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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HAVE YOU HEARD the rumor that I set a shooting world record? It started last year and the rumor—unbelievable as it must seem—is true. In March 2012, I did indeed break a previous record that had stood for nearly 20 years. The record I set is in benchrest competition, and the bench-rest game, as Outdoor Life readers know, is the quest for the ultimate in rifle accuracy. The Holy Grail of Benchrest, as you would imagine, is to shoot every bullet through the exact same hole, but the closest anyone has come was back in 1973, when a single five-shot group fired at 100 yards measured an astonishing .009 inches. (That amounts to about the thickness of five pages of an Outdoor Life magazine.) No one since has even come close to that record, but thousands of riflemen keep trying, even though it’s as unlikely as running a one-minute mile or skipping up Everest in ballet slippers. It probably ain’t gonna happen, but it’s in the genetic makeup of hardcore bench shooters to chase impossible dreams.

The Shamrock Shoot

A tournament is held at Twin Oaks range near the town of Dublin, Georgia, on the weekend following St. Patrick’s Day, so what else could it have been named but the Shamrock? Sponsored by the Middle Georgia Gun Owners Association, it’s one of the more popular events on the Benchrest calendar because it is unfailingly well run.

Though I’d always had fun at the Shamrock, it had never been a successful tournament for me because things always had a way of going wrong. On one trip, my RV broke down en route. Another time a pair of new rifles developed extraction problems. The same bad luck seemed in store for this trip as well, when the refrigerator in my spanking-new RV went out, turning a four-day supply of frozen meals to mush.

Building My Ammo

By getting to Twin Oaks Range a couple of days before the main event, I figured I had plenty of time to check out my shooting battery of two Light Varmint rifles plus a pair of Heavy Varmints to see which combinations of loads and bullets worked best. (These are two of the several classes of benchrest rifles.) Each of the rifles was chambered for the 6mm PPC cartridge. Though ready-to-load PPC cases are now available, I still prefer to make my cases the way the cartridge developers did. This is a rather complicated process that involves rebuilding an otherwise obscure cartridge called the .220 Russian. The neck diameter is enlarged from .22 to 6mm (.243 caliber), after which the wall of the neck is turned down to a uniform thickness. After further refinements, such as making flash-hole diameters uniform, the case is loaded and fired in a PPC rifle. This step, known as fire-forming, expands the case to its final dimension.

I already had cases prepped and fire-formed for each of the rifles and anticipated a rather leisurely couple of days tweaking my loads, but by the end of the first practice day, such bright hopes dimmed. No matter how I tinkered with the propellants and charge weights, bullet seating depth, and even the neck tension of my cases, nothing clicked. One of my Light rifles, a cute but capricious thing that I’ve since named Trixie, stubbornly refused to cooperate, while my fallback Light rifle, a beautiful but rather aged lady that had served faithfully in years past, exhibited signs that she was past her prime. Clearly, the only way to give her new life would mean fitting a new barrel. Happily, I’d had the foresight to bring fresh barrels and the tools to do a barrel swap, but you can’t simply screw in a new barrel and pick up where you left off. Fresh brass cases need to be prepped and fire-formed to fit the new barrel’s chamber, after which begins the mysterious and time-consuming process of discovering which combinations of bullets and powder will yield the best accuracy. So by the time the second practice day came to an end, I’d barely managed to prep and fire-form a dozen new cases. A single test run with VV 133 powder and Hottenstein 68-grain bullets looked promising, but I would be shooting an essentially untried rifle. That’s no way to begin a major tournament.

Bad Bench

Clearly my usual Shamrock bad luck was holding, and to make matters more ominous, the bench I drew was one of worst on the range, as it was subject to constantly changing and viciously unreadable currents of swirling air. (Shooters have been known to go home after drawing a bum bench because a hellhole position can make winning virtually impossible.) Combined with the uncertainty of the new barrel, it seemed the fates were allied against me that March morning. The one bright spot in my otherwise dismal prospects was that I would be sharing the bench with Harley Baker and Jeff Stover. Harley and Jeff are savvy shooters who have made a science of positioning wind flags so that they provide vital information about the constantly changing direction and strength of air currents. Their neatly set flags and spinning windmills gave me a glimmer of hope.

Strong Start

As I started shooting, no one was paying the least attention to my progress because my first groups, while good, hadn’t been all that spectacular. The first one, in fact, measured .115 inch, which was small enough to put me in second place but was in no way a harbinger of better things to come. My second group came in at .139 inch–again, pretty good, but nothing to get excited about, even though the scoreboard now moved me into first. It was the highest ranking I’d ever earned at the Shamrock, and I was feeling pretty confident, though certain that the ranking would be temporary, as they tend to shift around a lot during the early stages of a bench tournament.

Somewhere during the firing of my third group of the day, I began to realize that there was something exceptional about the way my rifle was performing. Could this new barrel be what bench shooters call a “hummer,” one that delivers bullets that seem abnormally resistant to crosswinds? I’d had perhaps three dozen really fine barrels over the years, but only one that I would call a hummer. It won me trophies and championships but finally faded with time and wear. Could this barrel be another such treasure? One thing that seemed sure was that changes in wind strength that should have been moving my bullet’s point of impact on the target by a quarter inch or more were having only half that effect, meaning I could refine adjustments in my points of aim. That third group measured .164 inch, keeping me in first place but still nowhere near an attention-getting Zero (in bench lingo, any group measurement that begins with .0 is simply called a Zero) that signals a record in the making.

It was starting to look like a pretty good day, but it takes five groups to make a winning aggregate, and almost inevitably the fourth or fifth groups are the graveyard of dreams. The fourth group measured an even more satisfying .128 inch and my top ranking held, but setting a new record didn’t even enter my mind as I went to my camper to clean the rifle’s barrel and reload the fired cases. But I was keenly aware that I was on the threshold of breaking my Shamrock jinx and winning an event. The wind velocity was steadily increasing as the morning progressed toward midday, becoming more erratic as it swept over the berm, causing the flags to flutter and point in crazy directions. Five more shots to go, and any one of those could mean disaster.

Rapid Fire

My shooting technique is what’s known in the game as “running,” meaning I run off all five shots as fast as I can load, aim, and touch the trigger. This is the reason the BAT actions on my rifles have separate loading and ejection ports. With a block of ammo just a couple of inches from the left-side loading port, I can flip a loaded round into the open action, even as the fired case is ejecting from the right-side port. Normally I get off five shots in about 25 seconds using this technique. The purpose of running is to get all your shots on target before Mother Nature changes her fickle mind about which way she wants the wind to blow. Needless to say, running is fraught with risk because a sudden, unnoticed change in wind direction or force can mean disaster.

After firing two fouling shots on the sighting target and taking a final look at the row of flags, I dead-centered the crosshairs on the record target and began shooting. Like a poker player trying to exert the force of his will to draw a needed card, I tried to will that last shot into the group. It must have had some effect, because when I ejected the fired case and looked through the scope, all I saw was one ragged little hole that later measured .115 inch.

A Record Set

I knew I’d won the match, but the thought that I’d broken the 100-yard Light Varmint aggregate world record, which had stood at .1500 inches since 1994, still hadn’t entered my head. That realization came later, when I got to the scoreboard and found a group of shooters crowded around and shaking their heads in disbelief. “Hey, Carmichel,” one of them yelled. “You just shot a .1322 and beat the old record by a bunch.” Could it be true?

Those five targets were just the first of a string of luck, the next being that a couple of officials from the National Bench Rest Shooting Association, Harley Baker and Wayne Campbell, were on hand and knew the steps for guiding a pending record to certification: one being to confiscate the targets and target backers. (The moving backers provide proof that the correct number of shots have been fired.) Each was witnessed and signed by the referees, then sealed to prevent tampering. My rifle also had to be weighed and certified, and it passed this hurdle with a couple of ounces to spare. The next step would be submission to the records committee, a process that can take weeks as the targets are independently measured by each committee member. Again I was in luck, because another NBRSA official, Gene Bukys, chairman of the committee, was also there as a competitor and had observed these all-important first steps, thus virtually eliminating the possibility of a challenge.

And, so, to my surprise, my world record became official, and the rumors began.

Benchrest Explained

The Idea: As the name implies, benchrest rifles are supported on a solid rest. The underlying theory is that by minimizing the human element, the competition is strictly between rifles, and the most accurate rifles and ammunition will naturally win.

Specs: In the Light Varmint category, we shoot at 100 and 200 yards over the two days of the match.

Scores: Scores are not determined by hitting a bull’s-eye, but rather by trying to get all the bullets through a single hole. The score is the distance between the centers of the two widest shots. The smaller the group, the better.

Anatomy of a Winning Cartridge

The 6mm PPX, developed by Lous Palmisano and Ferris Pindell in 1975 is the most successful cartridge in benchrest history. Here’s the record-setting load.

Bullet: 68-grain Hottenstein
Powder: 29.5 grains of Vihtavouri 133
Brass: .220 Russian brass from Lapua, modified to 6mm PPC
Primer: Federal 205 Gold Medal primer

The Rifle

My record-­setting rifle is in the Light Varmint class, in which the rifle can weigh no more than 10 ½ pounds, including scope and mounts. This is not all that much heavier than a typical big-game hunting rifle and actually a good bit lighter than many of today’s commercial varmint and “tactical” rigs.

Barrel: The Kreiger stainless-steel barrel was chambered and fit by accuracy guru Dwight Scott.
Scope: Leupold 45X Competition scope
Chamber: 6mm PPC
Action: It is a single-shot BAT bolt-action with a right-handed bolt, left-side feed, and right-side eject.
Stock: Made from a pretty piece of Western cedar, the stock was built by Tennessean Terry Leonard, who knows how to work miracles with a slab of wood. He layered the stock with thin sheets of woven carbon fiber. These almost invisible layers give the stock strength, while the cedar gives it lightness. The stock on my rifle weighs a mere pound and a half.

This story, “I Finally Shot a Good Group,” originally ran in the June/July 2013 issue of Outdoor Life. Read more OL+ stories.

The post I Finally Shot a Good Group: The Story of Carmichel’s Benchrest World Record appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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It’s no easy feat determining the best rifles of 2022, but it’s a task that the editors at Outdoor Life took on with delight as we converged at Gunsite Academy in late March. I’ve been to Gunsite countless times over the years, but never had I arrived in such style—at the wheel of a rented RV stuffed to the gills with guns, ammunition, optics, tools, targets, and the other myriad bits and pieces required to conduct this annual event.

For the first time in the gun test’s history, we took it on the road. Previously, we held the test on our home turf. For the last 12 years that meant in Montana, where I live. And prior to that, we held the test in Tennessee, where Jim Carmichel, my predecessor as Outdoor Life’s shooting editor, hails from.

But enduring winter after winter of brutal weather for the gun test had taken its toll, and we all agreed it was time to head to warmer climes. So, I pointed the RV south, and covered the 1,000 miles between Bozeman and Paulden, Arizona, hauling the largest lineup of new guns we’ve ever tested.

The Rifle Test 2022 Award Winners

• Best Hunting Rifle: Nosler 21
• Great Buy Hunting Rifle: CZ-USA 600 Alpha
• Best Precision Rifle: Accuracy International AT-X
• Great Buy and Most Innovative Precision Rifle: Seekins Precision Havak HIT

Best Rifles of 2022: A Broad Field

The rifles this year were especially diverse. We had ultralight mountain rifles, lever guns, semi-auto carbines, scout rifles, heavy-barreled precision rifles, handy deer guns, one very specialized urban sniper rifle, and plenty of hybrids designed to serve multiple roles.

So what trends, if any, can be gleaned from such a mixed lot? One thing noticeable by its absence were any bargain-basement price point guns. Of the 17 rifles that survived the test (as usual, we had some casualties that couldn’t keep up), we only had three with MSRPs under $1,000. Those included the CZ-USA 600 Alpha ($749), which took home a Great Buy award, the Franchi Momentum Elite ($899), and the CVA Cascade SB ($670). The average MSRP across the field was $2,524, an eye-catching figure even in these inflationary times.

That average was driven higher by some very expensive—though undeniably cool—niche rifles such as the Proof Tundra ($7,999), the B&T SPR300 Pro ($5,200), and the Accuracy International AT-X ($4,999), which won an Editor’s Choice award in the Precision Rifle category.

How We Test

The Outdoor Life gun testing protocol is unlike any other in the outdoor industry. No other publication goes to the lengths we do to objectively test new rifles, shotguns, and handguns. The reasons for that are many, but these are some of the major ones: the costs are enormous, you need highly-skilled and objective judges, and you have to be willing to put the interests of your readers above the desires of the gun companies.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but many of the other awards that get tossed about the industry are vetted by those publication’s advertising departments. If you’ve ever wondered why small niche companies, some of whom have put out amazing products over the years, never win those awards, it’s because they don’t have the advertising dollars to compete with the big boys, who win year after year.

But this test is different, and always has been. We pit the entries head-to-head and when the dust settles we tabulate the scores and whoever wins, wins.

We shoot the hell out of each rifle for accuracy and practical field handling. We go over each with a critical eye to pick apart their construction and evaluate workmanship.

Our published accuracy results are the averages of the best ten 5-shot groups for each rifle. While it is fun to highlight some of the smallest groups in the test—and we will do that—this 10-group average is much more meaningful with respect to a rifle’s true in-the-field performance. (And, incidentally, is a much tougher standard than you’ll see in other gun tests.)

It takes a long time to gather that much accuracy data. The five shooters on the team spent two full days to shoot 374 5-shot groups for record. One reason we shoot that much is that we want each rifle to shine as brightly as possible. We shoot a variety of ammo, bullet styles and bullet weights. And in between groups we will clean the rifles if needed, and refoul them to get the most out of each. When the accuracy work was done, we ran each rifle through dynamic shooting drills from field positions.

How We Grade

Each rifle is evaluated on nine categories and given a score of 1 to 5 from each judge, except for the accuracy score, which is based on the data from the groups shot. We average the scores for each category and use that to determine the ranking and awards. The categories are handling, accuracy, workmanship, aesthetics, ergonomics, meets purpose, versatility, reliability, and value.

The scores then translate to the grades on the report cards for each firearm. Performance consists of the scores from handling, accuracy, ergonomics, and reliability. Design includes workmanship, aesthetics, meeting its purpose, and versatility. Value stands on its own.

To earn an “Excellent” rating, the average of that score must be 4.5 or higher, a difficult mark to hit. “Very Good” is an average score of 3.5 to 4.5; “Good” is from 2.5 to 3.5; “Fair” is from 1.5 to 2.5; and “Poor” is under 1.5.

Best Rifle of 2022, Hunting: Nosler 21

Tanner Denton

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Report Card

• Performance: Very good
• Design: Very good
• Value: Very good

Nosler M21 Specs      

• Action: Two-lug bolt
• Stock: Carbon-fiber composite         
• Caliber: 6.5 CM
• Capacity: 4-round, hinged floorplate magazine
• Weight : 6 pounds 10 ounces
• Trigger: 4 pounds 4 ounces, adjustable
• Barrel: 22 inch, threaded 5/8-24
• Length: 41.25 inches
• Price: $2,295

We’ve sung the praises of Nosler’s new Model 21 over the last year, so this win wasn’t unexpected. The way it handled for me on a dangerous game hunt in Zimbabwe last year certainly left a positive impression (read our full review on the Nosler Model 21 here). That said, this win wasn’t a sure thing either. The competition among the hunting rifles this year was fierce. Strong showings by Proof, Christensen Arms, Marlin, and Weatherby kept the race neck-and-neck until the end.

The Nosler 21 delivered solid scores across the board. Its handling, workmanship, and aesthetics impressed all the judges. In a field of extremely accurate rifles, it held its own. It happened to turn in the tightest group of the test, a 5-shot .266-inch bughole with Federal’s 140-grain SMK, and averaged .885-inch groups across the board.

A couple things in particular tipped the scales in the Model 21’s favor. The quality that the test team mentioned repeatedly in their notes was the rifle’s superb balance. Not only in terms of how well the gun ran, but with respect to its design, features, and price.

The rifle’s 7-pound 4-ounce weight hits a sweet spot for a big-game hunting rifle. It’s light enough to haul over rough ground, yet has enough heft so that it manages recoil and unsupported shooting positions like a dream.

The carbon-fiber stock is stiff and has good texturing for a secure grip and the Mack Brothers Evo action ran extremely well. It fed without any issue, but a couple of testers felt that the case ejection was a bit insipid from time to time. (The Model 21 uses a single plunger-style ejector.) The rifle comes with a TriggerTech trigger that I dialed down to a 3-pound setting, and gave a crisp, consistent break.

Internally, the rifle has some great features as well, such as toolless takedown of the bolt so it can be serviced in the field, and an innovative self-indexing recoil lug design that gives the barrel extra thread engagement.

One point of irritation was the bolt handle, which kept spinning loose. A drop of thread locker would remedy that, but it should come from the factory that way.

Other than that minor issue we felt that for $2,295 the Nosler delivered a lot of performance for the money. For a solid all-around big game hunting rig, you won’t find a better rifle. And that’s exactly why it won the Outdoor Life Editors’ Choice award for 2022.

Best Rifle of 2022, Precision: Accuracy International AT-X

Tanner Denton

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Report Card   

• Performance: Excellent
• Design: Very good
• Value:  Good

Accuracy International AT-X Specs

• Action: Six-lug bolt (two rows of three)
• Stock: Aluminum chassis
• Caliber: 6.5 CM
• Capacity: 10-round AI AW magazine
• Weight : 13 ounds
• Trigger: 10.4 ounces, adjustable
• Barrel: 24 inch, threaded 5/8-24
• Length: 42.75 inches
• Price: $4,995

Accuracy International threw down the gauntlet when they introduced the AT-X last year. They wanted to put all the makers of rifles for long-range competition on notice. AI, as you might know, makes some of the best sniper rifles in the world and their historic focus has always been on military and law enforcement.

Despite the expense of their rifles and the fact that they are built with the battlefield in mind, rather than shooting matches, a devoted number of civilian shooters have used their rifles in competition, including myself. For me and these other shooters the exceptional accuracy and ruggedness of AI’s rifles makes up for some of the competition-specific features the rifles have lacked.

Well, we don’t have to compromise anymore. The AT-X is AI’s first purpose-built competition rifle, and it has a number of design elements that shooters in field-style matches, like the NRL, PRS, and RTC, will find appealing.

The fore-end has a flat bottom that incorporates an ARCA dovetail that extends straight back to the magazine well. This is the most notable change in the stock from other AI chassis. The mag well has a cut to easily insert and remove magazines, which are released by a broad paddle-style lever in front of the trigger guard. The stock is festooned with AI’s proprietary Key Slot cuts to attach accessories. AI’s Key Slot predates (and is superior to) the often-derided Key Mod system, but it does mean a shooter will have to invest in AI-specific hardware to affix rails and other accessories to the stock.

The action uses AI’s six-lug system (two rows of three lugs) that has been a mainstay of the company for decades. The short, snappy bolt throw helps the shooter cycle the rifle quickly and the more wear and tear (and grit and grime) the shooter exposes the rifle to, the better the action seems to run. The three-position safety mounted on the bolt shroud is smooth, positive, and bomb-proof.

One very nice feature is the quick barrel-change system. By loosening a single set screw, the shooter can swap barrels. Our sample was chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, but barrels can be had in .308 Win., 6mm Creedmoor, 6 BR, and others.

The two-stage trigger is remarkable and provides outstanding control. The trigger on our rifle broke at 10.4 ounces, has a flat face and is adjustable for trigger reach, one of the many dimensions that the shooter can alter for a custom fit. (The rifle also comes with a heavier spring for the trigger that will set the minimum break weight to 1.5 pounds.)

The stock as you might imagine can be altered every which way as well. The length of pull, comb height, comb orientation, and recoil pad position all adjust. LOP and cheek hardware are secured by allen-key bolts while the recoil pad adjusts with a single wheel that the shooter can tweak on the fly.

The rifle runs off AI AW magazines, which are compact 10-round double-stack magazines that are easy to load, even through the ejection port with the magazine in place.

This short (and incomplete) list of features doesn’t really capture the essence of what makes the AT-X special, however. Of course, there’s the rifle’s accuracy, which was far and away the best of the test. The average 5-shot group measured .456 inches, which is outstanding for factory ammunition. But beyond this was how well the rifle handled. The AT-X is so steady and responsive that only the most insensible clod could fail to shoot better when running it.

The rifle delivers exceptional feedback. All the members of the test team commented on this quality. Even when shooting tiny groups, which the AT-X does at will, it was easy to call our shots when the trigger broke. The bullet holes appeared exactly where you expected them to. The AT-X inspires confidence.

Perhaps the only thing we didn’t care for was what isn’t included in the base $4,995 price. You don’t get any of the proprietary Picatinny rail sections (and an ability to attach a sling to the front of the stock). Nor does the stock fold. It would also be a benefit if the various fasteners all used the same size Allen-key. As it stands now, you need a small tool kit to service the rifle.

These critiques aside, the AI AT-X wooed the entire test team and sets a new standard for what a factory rifle can deliver.

Great Buy and Most Innovative Rifle of 2022, Precision: Seekins Precision Havak HIT

Tanner Denton

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Report Card   

• Performance: Very good
• Design: Very good
• Value:  Excellent

Seekins Precision Havak HIT Specs

• Action: Two-lug bolt
• Stock: Folding aluminum chassis      
• Caliber: 6.5 PRC
• Capacity: 5-round AICS magazine
• Weight : 11.5 pounds
• Trigger: 2 pounds 8 ounces, adjustable
• Barrel: 24 inches, threaded 5/8-24
• Length: 43.5 inches
• Price: $2,100

At the risk of venturing into dad-joke territory, HIT is an apt name for this rifle because it is an unqualified homerun for Seekins Precision. We’ve come to expect good things from Glen Seekins, but even when stacked against our lofty expectations, this new, innovative, accurate, versatile, and fun rifle blew us away.

Let’s examine each of those qualities in turn.

Some guns are newer than others. Some are built on pre-existing parts shared across different companies. Not the HIT. Except for the trigger, this rifle is entirely of Seekins’ design and the chassis and barrel change system are new as of late last year.

There are a lot of innovations stacked in this rifle. To change the barrel, for example, all that’s needed is for the shooter to loosen an easily accessible set screw positioned at the base of the forward edge of the Picatinny rail and then unscrew the barrel from the receiver. Changing to a cartridge with a different sized bolt face is simply a matter of removing the bolt from the action and swapping bolt heads, a process that takes about a minute.

With the proliferation of precision rifles, there’s no shortage of chassis on the market, and many gun makers have gone to after-market suppliers. Some of those chassis are very good (and expensive) and others are just okay, but affordable. It’s a roll of the dice for any gun maker to build their own, but the gamble paid off for Glen. Not only is his folding-stock design excellent, but by keeping those costs in-house he’s able to offer the HIT at an incredible price, which is why this rifle was a unanimous Great Buy pick.

The ultimate yardstick by which any precision rifle is judged is its accuracy. The Seekins Havak HIT makes the grade with room to spare. It was second in accuracy only to the Accuracy International AT-X, but even that doesn’t really reflect the rifle’s performance as the AI had a couple advantages over the Seekins. Specifically, the AI was run with an optional weight system installed that boosted its scoped weight to nearly 20 pounds versus the 14-pound, 2-ounce weight of the Seekins with its scope. Next, the Seekins was chambered in 6.5 PRC as opposed to the 6.5 Creed in the AI. With more factory loads to pick from, a rifle in 6.5 Creed will have an easier time finding more accurate ammunition, plus there’s the minor (but not negligible) disparity in the relative recoil of the two cartridges.

So that makes the average 5-shot group size of the Seekins—.542 inches—all the more impressive. It shot Hornady 147-grain ELD-M bullets especially well, with several sub-.5 MOA groups. But it also turned in excellent results with Federal’s 130-grain Terminal Ascent and Hornady’s 143-grain ELD-X, both of which are very effective long-range hunting bullets, with numerous groups between .5 and .6 inches from each.

That speaks in part to the versatility of the rifle, which wowed the judges as well. Down the road we’ll probably see carbon-fiber barrels for the HIT, which will drop it’s 11.5-pound weight to something that’s more in keeping with standard big-game rifles. With its folding stock, it can be stashed within a pack making it a viable option for hunters on the move. Conversely, there are numerous attachment points to add weight to configure it for precision rifle competitions where 20-pound guns are the norm.

The current list of available drop-in barrels includes 6mm GT, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, and .308 Win. The 6s and 6.5s barrels all have 1:8 twists, while the .308 is 1:11.25.

For a bunch of gun nerds like the Outdoor Life test team this adds up to a rifle that is a blast to run. The rifle is responsive, well-balanced and has great ergonomics. None of the rifles in this year’s test posted such high scores across the board, which is what drove it to an impressive (and rare) double award win.

Great Buy, Hunting Rifle: CZ-USA 600 Alpha

Tanner Denton

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Report Card   

• Performance: Very good
• Design: Good
• Value: Excellent

CZ-600 Alpha Specs

• Action: Three-lug bolt
• Stock: Synthetic
• Caliber: 6 CM
• Capacity: 5-round detachable box magazine
• Weight : 7 pounds 10 ouunces
• Trigger: 1 pound 11 ounces, adjustable
• Barrel: 22 inches, threaded 5/8-24
• Length: 42.2 inches
• Price: $749

The 600 series is the future of CZ’s centerfire rifles. Introduced in late 2021, this platform replaces the previous actions, which while beloved, were comparatively complicated to produce and out of step with more modern firearms manufacturing that favors modular platforms. (Read our full review on the 600 Alpha introduction here).

That modularity was evident with the product launch. CZ kicked off the 600-era with four distinct configurations creating rifles with vastly different missions.

The Alpha is the base model, the economy version if you will, and while the other 600s might have fancier stocks and more tricked out features, none of them can match the Alpha for pure value. In fact, none of the other new rifles could match the Alpha in value either, which is why it won this year’s Great Buy award by a comfortable margin.

The Alpha is a solid, all-around big-game rifle that won’t break the bank. And it is built in such a way that it will happily do just about anything you ask of it. It would be perfectly at home in a deer camp, hanging in the rear-window rack of a pickup, taking a bead on a prairie dog, or just punching holes in paper.

It was more accurate than a number of rifles costing twice as much (or more). The average 5-shot group from the Alpha measured .814 inches, with a number of groups measuring less than .75 inches.

Our sample was chambered in 6mm Creedmoor. Among the different types of factory ammo we shot, the CZ did well with Nosler’s 105-grain RDF, Hornady’s 108-brain ELD-M, and the Berger 105-grain Hybrid.

The 600 series has a couple interesting innovations built into it, including one of the better, and more idiot-proof, adjustable triggers we’ve ever seen. The adjustment screw is located right in front of the trigger and has four easy-to-see settings you can choose from. At the lightest setting, ours trigger pull was a sweet 1 pound, 11 ounces.

It also has a curious safety that is a crossbolt that runs vertically through the grip, with the top just behind the bolt shroud and the bottom located just behind the trigger guard. Pushing down on the plunger puts the rifle in “fire” mode and with the safety up the bolt locks into position, which is a useful feature on a hunting rifle. You can still open the bolt with the rifle on safe by depressing the ergonomic bolt release tab just aft of the ejection port. With a little practice the safety becomes intuitive to manipulate.

The detachable box magazine sits nearly flush with the stock and because it has a double-stack design, it’s able to hold 5 rounds. To insert the magazine correctly you need to rock in place pushing on the rear of the magazine first. The fact that you can’t just push the magazine straight in and have it seat home irritated some of the judges. Removing the magazine requires no similar digital manipulation. A push on the slightly recessed mag release in front of the mag well will pop the magazine free.

The Alpha has two rail sections on the receiver for mounting a scope, another nice value-added element. The barrel is threaded for suppressors and the like. If you’ve read about the CZ-600 before, no doubt you heard about its switch-barrel capability. Unfortunately, CZ has had to walk back on that feature. Going forward, all 600s will have their barrel permanently affix in place and they’ve issued a recall for the 600s they shipped out prior. You can read about the issue here. I know they are looking at ways to reincorporate this feature down the road, and I hope they do, because it is another cool feature of the platform.

Proof Tundra

Tanner Denton

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• Performance: Very good
• Design: Very good
• Value: Fair

Proof Tundra Specs

• Action: Two-lug bolt
• Stock: Carbon-fiber composite
• Caliber: 6.5 CM
• Capacity: 5-round hinged floor plate magazine
• Weight : 7 pounds 2 ounces
• Trigger: 2 pounds 10 ounces, adjustable
• Barrel: 24 inches, carbon fiber threaded 5/8-24
• Length: 43 5/8 inches
• Price: $7,699

The Proof Tundra is an undeniably sexy rifle with a price tag to match. It is more than just a pretty face, however—it’s a shooter. The two most accurate rifles of the test were the Accuracy International AT-X and the Seekins Precision Havak HIT—both heavy-barreled precision rifles—but the Proof Tundra nipped at their heels with an average 5-shot group size of .683 inches making it the most accurate hunting rifle of the evaluation.

Chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor it shot its best groups with 140-grain loads. All but two of the top 10 five-shot groups were with 140s from Federal, Nosler, and Hornady.

That accuracy takes some of the sting out of the $7,699 cost, but what else does the Tundra offer to motivate a hunter looking to spend the kids’ inheritance? A couple things come to mind. First, is the Tundra’s excellent balance. At 7 pounds, 2 ounces it hits a sweet-spot for a versatile big-game rifle. It handles nimbly from practical field positions with a lively, capable feel. It came quickly to shoulder and cycled well. Some testers felt the trigger reach was a bit excessive for their tastes, but other than that no one had any issues with the rifle’s function.

The fit and finish is one area where the Tundra really shines. The inletting between the stock and action is perfect and upon close inspection it is easy to see the level of craftsmanship that went into the Tundra, elevating it above the other high-priced hunting rifles in the test. The perfectly flush line where the stock and ejection port meet is one example.

The adjustable cheek piece on the stock is a useful feature and well executed. Often, adding an adjustable comb comes with a significant increase in weight, but Proof’s design is light and allows for quick in-field adjustments.

The team was split on the stock’s finish. Some of us liked the snake-scale pattern, which added a bit of texture for a secure handhold, others thought it looked too much like fishnet stockings for their taste. Given that Proof offers the rifle in a number of finishes, including custom paint jobs, this isn’t likely to dissuade a potential buyer.

In addition to the 6.5 Creedmoor, the Tundra comes chambered in 6 Creed, 6.5 PRC, 7mm Rem. Mag., 28 Nosler, .308 Win., .300 Win. Mag., .300 PRC, and for those who just can’t have enough recoil, the .300 RUM, and .338 Lapua.

Christensen Arms Ridgeline Scout

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• Performance: Very good
• Design: Very good
• Value: Very good

Christensen Arms Ridgeline Scout Specs

• Action: Two-lug bolt
• Stock: Carbon-fiber composite
• Caliber 6.5 CM
• Capacity: 10-round AICS magazine
• Weight : 5 pounds 14 ounces
• Trigger: 2 pounds 1 ounce, adjustable
• Barrel: 16 inches, carbon fiber threaded 5/8-24 with flash hider
• Length: 37.5 inches
• Price: $2,199

Christensen Arms has been one of the most exciting gun makers in recent years. They’ve been on a roll of late and it looks like for 2022 they have another winner with the Ridgeline Scout (read our full review on the Ridgeline Scout here).

The Scout comes with a 16-inch carbon-fiber barrel that is threaded and ships with a cool-looking (but superfluous) three-pronged flash hider. The short barrel is one of the key elements of the Scout-rifle concept. Also in keeping with the Scout vibe, the Christensen Arms is fed by a detachable box magazine (an AICS pattern) and is sub-6 pounds at 5 pounds, 14 ounces.

Scout rifles are meant to be handy general-purpose rifles that can work for hunting, personal protection or any other rifle-related chores and the jack-of-all-trades versatility of the Ridgeline Scout was immediately evident to all the gun test judges.

We could see it as a mountain rifle for sheep in Alaska, as a handy tree-stand deer rifle in the Midwest, as a suppressed hog gun in Texas, as a walking varmint rifle, and even as a viable option for the NRL Hunter competition series.

The rifle’s good accuracy helps inspire this confidence in its potential. It averaged .784 inches, with a number of five-shot groups smaller than .6 inches. The rifle can be had in five chamberings: 6.5 Creedmoor, which was what we tested, .300 BLK, .223 Rem., .308 Win., and 6mm ARC.

Universally, we found the rifle fun to shoot. We ran it several times through the Gunsite Academy Scrambler, where its virtues really shone. The oversized bolt handle made cycling the action a snap and even with a suppressor attached, the rifle’s balance and dynamic handling was excellent.

The rifle comes with a short section of Picatinny rail on the fore-end that incorporates a barricade block and serves as a mounting point for a bipod. The stock is carbon fiber and has stainless steel bedding pillars, and is stiff, strong and comfortable. The black nitride finish keeps the action running smoothly, but we did need to clean the rifle occasionally to keep the bolt lift from getting gummy.

The only misstep with the rifle’s configuration is the flat-faced trigger. The trigger itself, a TriggerTech, is excellent, but the flat face doesn’t work with the stock’s geometry. The trigger finger ends up bearing unevenly on the trigger face because of the curved radius of the stock’s grip. A normal curved trigger would work better.

But that didn’t prevent us from shooting the Ridgeline Scout nearly nonstop during the week-long evaluation. Even at $2,199 we thought it a wonderful value and and a strong choice for a do-it-all rifle.

Marlin 1895 SBL

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• Performance: Very good
• Design: Very good
• Value: Very good

Marlin 1895 SBL Specs

• Action: Lever
• Stock: Laminate
• Caliber: .45/70 Government
• Capacity: 6+1
• Weight : 7 pounds 4 ounces
• Trigger: 6 pounds 7 ounces
• Barrel: 19 inches, stainless threaded 11/16-24
• Length: 37 1/4 inches
• Price: $1,399

The reintroduced Marlin 1895 SBL, now being produced by Ruger at its Mayodan, North Carolina, factory has garnered a lot of attention, and for good reason. Not only has Ruger rescued the beloved Marlin brand from the brink of destruction, but it’s making the finest production Marlin lever guns ever (read our full review on the Marlin 1895 SBL here).

The 1895 SBL was Marlin’s first model to go into production following the acquisition of the company by Ruger. It is an appealing configuration, a short-barreled .45/70 in stainless steel stocked with an attractive gray laminate stock and equipped with an oversized lever loop and an XS Sights rail and ghost ring sight set.

We removed the ghost ring sight in order to mount a Leupold Mark 6 1-6×20, which is an ideal optic for the platform, allowing for close-up fast shooting while be able to reach out for the longer shots that the 1895 SBL is capable of making.

The 1895 cycles through the six rounds it can hold quickly, and did so in a reliable, consistent manner. The precise-fitting CNC-machined and EDM-cut components eliminate the slop that can bedevil some lever guns and make them hang up.

The average 5-shot group from the Marlin came in at 1.66 inches. Hornady’s 325-grain FTX load delivered the best accuracy with groups that averaged 1.28 inches. With that kind of performance, you can really reach out despite the .45/70’s rainbow trajectory. With the right elevation and windage hold, the Marlin is capable to 300 yards.

But its happy place is shooting that’s up close and personal. Once we got done with the accuracy portion of the evaluation, we were able to let loose and give the steel targets at Gunsite a proper workout with the heavy .45/70 slugs. The rifle’s 7-pound, 4-ounce heft, broad recoil pad, hand-filling fore-end, and polished lever loop make it comfortable to shoot even with stout loads.

The fit and finish of the stock and metalwork is a step above the Marlins of old. The checkering is the best I’ve seen on any modern Marlin production gun, while the engraving on the metal is tasteful and attractive. By any yardstick, Marlin is back and its prospects are brighter than ever.

Weatherby Mark V Backcountry 2.0 Ti Carbon

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• Performance: Very good
• Design: Very good
• Value: Good

Weatherby Backcountry 2.0 Ti Carbon Specs

• Action: Six-lug Bolt (Two rows of three)
• Stock: Carbon-fiber Composite         
• Caliber: 6.5 CM
• Capacity: 4+1
• Weight: 5 pounds 2 ounces
• Trigger: 3 pounds 4 ounces, adjustable
• Barrel: 24 inches, carbon fiber threaded 5/8-24
• Length: 36 1/2 inches
• Price: $3,850

We were fans of the original Backcountry from Weatherby, and the new 2.0 version is a smart evolution of the model. It comes in four different configurations, and we tested the flagship offering, which has a carbon fiber barrel and titanium receiver.

This is a true mountain rifle. Tipping the scales at a scant 5 pounds, 2 ounces, it is just what you want for a high-altitude hunt where you’re cutting the tags out of your underwear to save weight. That figure is especially impressive given that the rifle comes with a 24-inch barrel.

For such a light rifle, the accuracy was quite good. The 5-shot average of the best 10 groups was .824 inches. The rifle’s accuracy was remarkably consistent across different brands and weights of bullets, though, like many of the other 6.5 Creedmoors in the test, it favored the 140-grain projectiles.

The rifle tended to heat up quickly—not surprisingly—and we did note that often the fifth shot in a string would open up the group quite a bit. Point being, in a real-world hunting situation you can expect the rifle to deliver excellent accuracy for the first trigger pulls.

A bunch of the weight savings comes from the titanium receiver, a material that’s becoming more common in rifles with each passing year. The biggest knock on titanium is that it isn’t nearly as slick as steel, and titanium actions tend to stick and hang up. The Mark V action did this a bit, but not as much as other titanium actions I’ve used in the past and as we put more rounds through the rifle it seemed to smooth out some. Regular cleaning and drop or two of oil helps mitigate this as well.

The 6-lug action has Weatherby’s short 54-degree bolt throw and is a pleasure to run. We didn’t have any functionality issues during the test and the rifle digested everything we put through it.

The innovative recoil pad has been updated from the first-generation Backcountry. It has a similar 3-D printed construction, but the pad is not nearly as squishy and doesn’t take a set when the rifle is resting on it.

From an aesthetic standpoint, we felt the rifle could use some improvement, particularly in light of its nearly $4,000 price tag. The fit and finish of the stock wasn’t as sharp as we would have liked and where the top of the grip blends into the tang of the action showed some clumsy file work on our sample. It’s also probably time for Weatherby to update their Mark V safety as well. The folded tab of metal is functional but not very elegant and seems out of place on a modern premium rifle.

One great thing the Backcountry series has going for it is options. The rifles can be had with either steel or titanium actions, and steel or carbon-fiber barrels. On top of that, Weatherby is very lefty-friendly. In the 2.0 Ti Carbon, for example, the rifles are available in .257 Wby., .300 Wby., 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5-300 Wby., and 6.5 Wby. RPM. Of those, left-handed actions can be had in the .257, .300 and 6.5-300. 

Other variants of the Backcountry 2.0 are available in other calibers, both right- and left-handed as well. And while none of them are cheap—the base model with steel receiver and steel barrel starts at $2,699—any hunter looking for a rugged, accurate mountain rifle will be able to find something that suits their needs.

B&T SPR300 Pro

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Report Card

• Performance: Very good
• Design: Very good
• Value: Good

B&T SPR300 PRO Specs

• Action: Two-lug bolt
• Stock: Folding Aluminum Chassis
• Caliber: .300 BLK
• Capacity: 10-round AR-15 style magazine
• Weight : 8.5 pounds
• Trigger: 3 pounds, adjustable
• Barrel: 9.8 inches, included suppressor
• Length: 39.7 inches
• Price: $5,200

Look, guns are serious. This is a serious review of the best rifles of 2022. And the B&T SPR300 Pro is undeniably a serious gun designed for professionals doing serious work. That said, this firearm does an incredible job of turning gunpowder into smiles.

The B&T SPR300 Pro is a takedown rifle with a short, 9.8-inch barrel that is encased in a long suppressor that’s designed for sub-sonic .300 Blackout loads. With its folding stock it stows away in a very discreet case and makes a Hollywood-quiet pffft sound when you pull the trigger. It’s also remarkably accurate in a cartridge that isn’t known for superior accuracy.

In other words, it is exactly the kind of rifle that Jason Bourne, or his real-world counterparts, would take into an urban environment. And while you or I will never be called upon to take out the head of a global terrorist cell strolling across some bridge in Prague, you can justify the $5,200 price of this rifle with the knowledge that you possess the ultimate suburban whitetail rig. Or nighttime hog gun. Or maybe you just wanted to go all out for your kid’s first deer gun.

However you rationalize it, it is difficult to overestimate the amount of fun you’ll have watching 220-grain bullets arc downrange, dropping into small clusters on paper or steel 100 yards away. With your scope’s power dialed back far enough to provide a good field of view you can watch the whole show through your optic. What price can you put on such entertainment?

The barrel’s 1-in-8 twist stabilized the 220-grain .300 Blackout bullets well enough to deliver an average accuracy of 1.036 for 5-shot groups. Both Sig Sauer’s and Black Hills Ammunition performed well in the rifle. Both loads were essentially interchangeable and remarkably consistent with the spread between the best ten groups going from .843 to 1.2 inches. The 200-grain load we ran through the rifle shot 1.5 inches on average and the 125-grain OTM bullets grouped consistently at 2 inches.

It’s worth mentioning that the rifle kit includes two cases (one hard, and one soft that goes inside the hard case—both of them of good quality), a bipod, and scope rings. The clear-sided polymer magazine is a standard AR-15 pattern, so you won’t have any issues finding extra mags for the rig.

CVA Cascade SB

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• Performance: Good
• Design: Good
• Value: Very good

CVA Cascade SB Specs

• Action: Two-lug bolt
• Stock: Synthetic
• Caliber: 6.5 CM
• Capacity:  4-round detachable box magazine
• Weight : 6 pounds 15 ounces
• Trigger: 2 pounds 7 ounces
• Barrel: 18 inches, threaded 5/8-24
• Length: 38.5 inches
• Price: $670

CVA’s newest offering in the Cascade family has an 18-inch barrel (the SB stands for short barrel) and was designed for hunters who use suppressors and operate out of ground blinds and in tree stands.

We found the Cascade SB a fun little gun at a good price. At $670 it was the most budget-friendly of the year’s new rifles. The three-lug bolt-action ran with snappy assurance and while the rifle isn’t going to win any beauty contests, we liked its rugged, stubby, and utilitarian appearance. If for some reason you were inclined to treat it as a safe queen, don’t. It has a strong truck-gun vibe.

At the range it turned in a middle-of-the-pack accuracy average of 1.070 inches, which is more of a commentary on how good today’s rifles shoot than it is on the performance of the CVA. The plastic detachable-box magazine functioned well and was easy to load, insert, and remove from the gun. The receiver is topped with two short Picatinny rail sections for mounting optics, augmenting the rifle’s value.

The stock has a tacky coating and panels of diamond-shaped checkering on the fore-end and around the grip for a very secure hand hold. Moderate palm swells on either side of the grip are a nice touch too. The stock comes with dual swivel studs up front and one on the buttstock.

The one thing we found annoying about the rifle was the CVA sticker on the bottom of the fore-end. Stickers of this type are ubiquitous. Gun makers employ them so their wares have a chance of standing out among the sea of black stocks on your gun dealer’s shelves. But usually the stickers peel off easily. Not the Cascade SB’s. It was as tenacious as the impound stickers placed on car windows by big-city police departments and to this day we’ve only managed to remove about a third of it from the stock.

CVA is offering the Cascade in 6.5 Creedmoor, which we tested, .308 Win., and in .300 Blackout with a 16.5-inch barrel for an even more compact profile. In all cases the barrels are threaded 5/8-24 at the muzzle.

Benelli Lupo Limited Edition

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• Performance: Good
• Design: Good
• Value: Fair

Benelli Lupo Limited Edition Specs

• Action: Three-lug bolt
• Stock: Walnut
• Caliber: 6.5 CM
• Capacity: 5-round detachable box magazine.
• Weight : 7 pounds 6 ounces
• Trigger: 2 pounces 8 ounces
• Barrel: 24 inches, threaded
• Length: 44 5/8 inches
• Price $2,199

This upgraded Benelli Lupo, called the “Limited Edition,” is a quirky and charming rifle. The “Limited” refers to the upgraded wood and metal finishes that give the rifle a more sophisticated and European air compared to initial Lupo that Benelli introduced in 2020.

Before delving into the rifle’s aesthetics, which are a bit of mixed bag, let’s talk about the rifle’s handling, which the test team unanimously praised.

Even though the Lupo has made some inroads with American hunters, it was designed with European shooters in mind. While it can handle a variety of hunting scenarios, driven hunts and shooting from elevated stands are its happy place.

The stock geometry, slick three-lug action and protruding bolt handle favor nimble handling for shots at running game. And during our evaluation, it was dynamic shooting scenarios where the Lupo excelled. We loved running it off-hand and from kneeling positions while moving between shots. The relation of the shooter’s trigger finger to the trigger is spot-on, and the deep radius of the grip, with its slight palm swell, in conjunction with the trim angles of the fore-end make for superior handling. The two-position safety, located on what would be the tang if the Lupo had one, is extremely positive and comfortable to manipulate.

Though we didn’t fiddle with it, the Lupo’s stock can be adjusted in numerous ways to customize its fit. By messing with the included shims that fit between the butt stock and receiver and swapping cheek pieces and the length of pull spacer, a shooter can alter all critical dimensions including trigger reach.

Shooting prone, the Lupo was no slouch either. The best 10 five-shot groups averaged .928-inches in our 6.5 Creedmoor. Unlike some of the 6.5 Creeds in the test, the Lupo’s best groups included a variety of bullet weights: 140s, 143s and 147s. It even managed to print a .429-inch group with Winchester’s 140-grain BTHP.

If you count yourself among the 6.5 Creedmoor-haters club, you can get the Lupo in .243 Win., 6 Creed, 6.5 PRC, .270 Win., 7mm Rem. Mag., .308 Win., or .300 Win. Mag.

In terms of appearance, we like the treatment given to the stock to make the wood look fancy. And the look and construction of the detachable box magazine, which sits flush with the angle of the stock and loads easily while offering the cartridges a measure of protection via its double-stack design, is something we appreciated as well.

What we didn’t care for is the bright white lettering on the receiver that says “BE.S.T.” which is an acronym that stands for Benelli Surface Treatment. The treatment itself is fantastic—a combination of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) and Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) technologies that create a barrier between the steel and the elements. But the lettering on the lustrous black finish of the barrel is out of place, especially in light of the other colors and textures on the action—brushed metal, a gold “Lupo,” and matte black magazine. If Benelli fixed that, either by blacking out the “BE.S.T.” or, better yet, getting rid of it all together, there would be hardly anything about the rifle to criticize.

CZ-USA 600 Range

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Report Card

• Performance: Good
• Design: Good
• Value: Good

CZ-600 Range Specs

• Action: Three-lug bolt
• Stock: Laminate
• Caliber: .308 Win
• Capacity: 5-round detachable box magazine
• Weight : 10 pounds
• Trigger: 1 pounds 7 ounces, adjustable
• Barrel: 24 inches, threaded 5/8-24
• Length: 44.9 inches
• Price: $1,199

We had CZ send us the range along with the Alpha for the evaluation. The Range is geared for long-range shooting from the prone position thanks to its heavy profile barrel and adjustable stock. The action has all the same features as the Alpha described above, except that this rifle doesn’t come with any scope bases.

Our sample was chambered in .308 Win. and while the rifle handled extremely well while shooting prone, we didn’t take a shine to it the way we did with the Alpha. Two issues contributed to this. First, the Alpha was more accurate than its big brother, which took some of the wind out of the Range’s sails. (.814 inch average group versus .941 inches.) Secondly, the Range didn’t cycle with the same flawless assurance of the range. It had weak extraction and didn’t eject empties all the time.

But we did like the geometry of the stock. The fit of the palm swell and the adjustable cheek piece made for very comfortable shooting off our bellies. 

Henry Long Ranger Express

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• Performance: Good
• Design: Good
• Value: Good

Henry Long Ranger Express Specs

• Action: Lever
• Stock: Laminate
• Caliber:.223 Rem.
• Capacity: 5-round detachable box magazine
• Weight: 7 pounds 7 ounces
• Trigger: 5 pounds 4 ounces
• Barrel: 16.5 inches, threaded 5/8-24
• Length: 37 inches
• Price: $1,235

Like most rifle fanatics, I have a big soft spot in my heart for lever guns. And one of the great success stories in this realm is Henry Repeating Arms, which is celebrating its 25^th year of production in 2022. One thing I love about this company is that they aren’t afraid to think outside the box and build guns that are just plain fun.

The Long Ranger Express falls into that category. It is a nimble .223 Rem. that’s fed by a detachable-box magazine that can hold 5 rounds of spitzer-style (pointed) bullets.  It’s compact (37.75 inches overall) yet has enough heft (just under 7.5 pounds) making it both easy to maneuver in close quarters and shoot accurately off-hand and from other non-supported field positions.

The accuracy with the rifle, which we topped with a 1-6X scope, was pretty good, certainly good enough for deer and coyotes within reasonable ranges. Average five-shot group at 100 yards was 1.29 inches. When we put a higher-magnification optic on it, we got a handful of groups that were under an inch.

We liked the smooth operation of the lever, which cycled all the ammo we put through it without no failures, though the edges of the loop are sharp enough so that your hand will notice. Given that the rifle is designed to take a scope—there are no fixed sights and the receiver is topped with a Picatinny rail—shooters will probably want to add a pad of sorts to the comb so they can have a proper cheek weld when their eye is aligned with the optic.

The muzzle is threaded so you can run the Long Ranger Express with a suppressor. So equipped, it would be an especially-nice deer gun for a new hunter or a truck gun for predators.

Franchi Momentum Elite

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Report Card

• Performance: Good
• Design: Fair
• Value: Fair

Franchi Momentum Elite Specs

• Action: Three-lug bolt
• Stock: Synthetic
• Caliber: 6.5 CM
• Capacity: 3-round detachable box magazine
• Weight: 7 pounds
• Trigger: 3 pounds, adjustable
• Barrel: 24 inches, threaded with muzzle brake
• Length: 46.25 inches
• Price: $899

Like many of the other rifles in this year’s roundup, the Franchi Momentum Elite delivered very good accuracy. It’s .887-inch 5-shot group average is solid performance for a sub-$1,000 rifle. Shooting Federal’s 140-grain Sierra Matchking and Nosler’s 140-grain RDFs, it turned in groups just north of a half inch.

Everyone on the team liked the Franchi’s crisp 3-pound trigger and we had good things to say about the 3-lug action’s short bolt throw. These were two big checkmarks in the plus column for this hunting rifle. The rifle ships with a Picatinny rail for easy scope mounting.

But the rifle isn’t without shortcomings. The single-stack magazine, while easy to load, holds a stingy 3 rounds. More concerning was the rifle’s rough chamber, which made extraction and ejection difficult at times. Upon inspection, empty cases from the rifle showed consistent signs of scratches and marring which cleaning the chamber didn’t alleviate.

The camo synthetic stock has integral attachment points for a sling. The benefit of that is that you don’t have annoying swivel studs jutting off the rifle. You can attach a bipod to the stock still, however. There’s a threaded hole that comes with a rubber plug that you can screw a standard swivel stud into for that purpose.

The 24-inch barrel comes with a radial muzzle brake so the rifle’s 7-pound weight doesn’t generate much recoil. Our sample was chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, but you can get the Momentum Elite in 6.5 PRC, .308 Win., .300 Win. Mag., and .350 Legend.

Savage Impulse Elite Precision

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Report Card

• Performance: Good
• Design: Good
• Value: Fair

Savage Impulse Elite Precision Rifle Specs

• Action: Straight pull
• Stock: Aluminum chassis
• Caliber: 6.5 CM
• Capacity: 10-round AICS magazine
• Weight : 11 pounds 15 ounces
• Trigger: 2 pounds 15 ounces, adjustable
• Barrel: 26 inches, threaded with muzzle brake
• Length: 48 3/4 inches
• Price: $2,649

Savage Arms has moved quickly to expand their line of Impulse straight-pull rifles. On the heels of their successful 2021 introduction of this new action in a big-game rifle, they’ve taken aim at the long-range precision world.

The Impulse Elite Precision is stocked with an MDT ACC chassis, which is one of the most popular (and successful) designs in precision rifle competition. It is optimized for positional shooting. Used in conjunction with a shooting bag and bipod, the rifle can be shot off rocks, barricades, tree stumps, 55-gallon drums, tractor tires, and other obstacles while keeping the reticle steady on the target.

The stock is fully adjustable for all critical dimensions, has an ARCA dovetail that extends the full length of the fore-end, has numerous mounting positions for add-on weights to tune the rifle’s balance, comes with a barricade stop in front of the magazine well. It incorporates thumb rests on either side of the grip. The MDT ACC chassis is a top-of-the-line rig.

The action can be set up for right- or left-handed shooters by moving the bolt handle from one side of the bolt body to the other. The action also includes a 20 MOA Picatinny rail and has Savage’s user-adjustable Accu-Trigger.

The Accu-Triggers can be hit or miss in terms of quality, and unfortunately the trigger on our sample was not very good. The amount of grit and creep leading up to the 2-pound 15-ounce break was excessive. Another issue affecting the rifle’s performance is that the action isn’t very smooth. One of the key features of a quality competition rifle is the ability to keep the reticle on target while running the bolt. In theory a straight-pull should do this better than a turn-bolt, but in practice it isn’t so with the Impulse.

The accuracy of our rifle while not bad—it averaged .895 inch 5-shot groups—wasn’t on par with the other precision rifles in the test. As with many of the other 6.5 Creedmoors, it heavily favored 140-grain bullets.

Smith & Wesson Volunteer M&P15 XV-Pro 14.5

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Report Card

• Performance: Fair
• Design: Good
• Value: Poor

Smith & Wesson M&P15 Volunteer XV-Pro 14.5 Specs

• Action: Semi-auto
• Stock: Collapsible
• Caliber: 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem.
• Capacity: 30-round magazine
• Weight : 6 pounds 10 ounces
• Trigger: 4 pounds 14 ounces
• Barrel: 14.5, with pinned muzzle brake
• Length: 33.5 inches
• Price: $1,569

This was the only AR-15 rifle submitted for this year’s test. With the Volunteer series, Smith & Wesson is looking to ship well-appointed rifles that are ready for duty or competition right out of the box. This is accomplished by blending their base MSRs with top-notch furniture and accessories.

In the case of this carbine, it comes with a 14.5-inch barrel with a pinned PWS muzzlebrake to push the length to 16-inches to avoid SBR regs. It has Williams Gun Sight Company Folding Sights, a 2-inch section of M-Lok Picatinny rail, a B5 Systems SOPMOD stock, and is set up with a mid-length gas system.

On paper, it’s a sweet system, and for $1,569 it should be. Unfortunately, this rifle was less than the sum of its parts. While the flat trigger felt nice, it was creepy and at 4-pounds, 14-ounces, too heavy. The safety was very stiff, requiring excessive effort to manipulate. And the accuracy (2.65 inches) was run of the mill. It performed like a typical and basic MSR, not like one costing twice the price.

Notable Trends in the Best Rifles of 2022

With respect to rifle construction and functionality we continue to see more rifles incorporate carbon fiber into their designs, both bringing down weight and helping contribute to rising costs. While not a ubiquitous trend, rifles with switch-barrel systems are becoming more common as well. The Accuracy International AT-X and Seekins Havak HIT, both award winners in this year’s roundup, can change barrels by loosening a single screw.

A less notable, almost imperceptible shift has happened with rifle barrels. I speak of the humble threaded muzzle. It wasn’t so long ago—say 15 years—that relatively few rifles came from the factory with a threaded barrel. Today, nearly all do. In our field of 17, all but one of the rifles were threaded for muzzle devices, including both lever actions. The sole exception was the Smith & Wesson M&P15 XV-Pro 14.5, which is only excluded on a technicality. Its barrel is threaded, but because of the 14.5-inch barrel length, its brake is pinned in place to keep the barrel length over the 16-inch minimum so as not to trigger the BATF short-barreled rifle (SBR) rule. With the rise in practical field-style steel matches and a greater awareness of the risks associated with hearing loss, many shooters and hunters are opting to run suppressors on their rifles, which is part of the reason threaded muzzles have become standard fare.

Best Rifles of 2022: Accuracy Report

We continue to see excellent accuracy from factory rifles shooting factory ammunition. Of the 17 rifles, 11 of them averaged under an inch, which is remarkable given that each rifle did that with 50 shots with varying brands of factory ammo. Three rifles in particular delivered stellar performances. The Accuracy International AT-X lead the way with a .456-inch group average, followed by the Seekins Havak HIT at .524 inches, and the Proof Tundra with a .683-inch average 5-shot group.

What about the rifles that didn’t hit that 1 MOA accuracy mark? Even there the news isn’t bad. Four of those rifles—the two lever actions and the two modern sporting rifles—aren’t really built for that kind of work. And the other two bolt guns shot just over an inch: the CVA Cascade SB (1.07-inch average) and the B&T SPR300 Pro (1.036-inch average).

Excellent Performance from Factory Ammo

Running a gun test of this magnitude requires a lot of ammo, and in these lean times several companies stepped up to the plate to help us out. Federal, Winchester, Nosler, Hornady and Black Hills Ammunition were all extremely generous with both rifle and handgun ammunition—to the tune of many thousands of rounds. Heck, we put more than 2,000 rounds of 6.5 Creedmoor and 5,000 round of 9mm alone—to say nothing of the other cartridges.

I’m going to break down the performance of the ammunition in another story but two loads in particular are worth mentioning. Federal’s 140-grain SMK and Nosler’s 140-grain RDF. Both delivered stellar accuracy. The average 5-shot group size for the best ten Federal groups was .501 inch, while the Nosler 140 RDF was just a smidge larger at .510 inch. Factory guns shooting factory ammo at that level makes me reconsider all the time I spend handloading for my long-range rifles.

About Gunsite Academy

This year’s test was graciously hosted by Gunsite Academy in Paulden, AZ. As the home of the legendary Jeff Cooper and one of the first firearm training facilities that offered classes to the general public, Gunsite became one of the premier gun training destinations in the country.

At Gunsite we got to work with top-line instructors, utilize their excellent ranges and facilities. The existing range setups, number of target stands and faces, an exclusive range, and the genuinely friendly, helpful, and overly-accommodating staff at Gunsite allowed us to conduct our most extensive gun test ever. Even better, you can go do your own training by signing up for a class.

The post The Best Rifles of 2022, Tested and Reviewed appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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If asked to name the most remarkable rifle introduced in the last year, I’d have to go with the Seekins Havak HIT. The feature set, performance, innovation, and surprisingly affordable price elevate it to a category of its own. No other new rifle—and there’ve been a bunch of good ones trotted out in the last 12 or 13 months—is its equal.

The Seekins Havak HIT performed very well at Outdoor Life’s 2022 Gun Test, earning not only Great Buy and Innovation awards in a stacked field, but the hearts of the gun test team, all of whom were wowed by this switch-barrel precision rifle.

The rifle is accurate, of course, and chambered in 6.5 PRC turned in 5-shot groups that averaged .542 inches with factory ammo. That’s the average of twenty 5-shot groups, by the way.

The Seekins Havak HIT looks as good as it shoots, built on an attractive folding chassis stock of Glen Seekin’s own design. In fact, one of the very appealing aspects of the Havak HIT is that all the components are made in-house by Seekins, except for the trigger and grip.

Many firearms manufacturers use components sourced from other companies. The practice has long been common, but in today’s world of mix-and-match parts it is even more widespread. No one bats an eye at a company who takes a Proof barrel, Mack Brothers action, and a KRG stock and slaps their logo on it. This is why it is refreshing to see someone like Seekins design a rifle from the ground up.

Seekins Havak HIT Specs

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• Action: Four-lug bolt (two rows of two)
• Stock: Folding aluminum chassis     
• Caliber: 6.5 PRC/6mm GT (tested); 6mm Creed, 6.5 Creed, and .308 Win. also available
• Capacity: 5-round AICS magazine
• Weight: 11 pounds 4 ounces (measured)
• Trigger: 2 pounds 8 ounces, adjustable (measured)
• Barrel: 24 inches, M24 contour, threaded 5/8-24
• Length: 43.5 inches
• Extractor: M-16 style
• Ejector: Single plunger
• Price: $2,100

Seekins Havak HIT vs. Havak HIT Pro

Since the rifle was introduced a year ago, Seekins unveiled a second version call the Seekins Havak HIT Pro. The difference between the two is that that Pro comes equipped with a couple extra components and some upgrades.

Specifically, the Pro includes one of Seekins’ full-length ARCA rails pre-mounted to the M-Lok slots on the chassis’ fore-end. It also comes with a muzzle break, which the standard version does not. Lastly, the trigger is an upgraded model from Timney that can be set from 8 ounces to 2 pounds. The Pro is meant to be competition ready out of the box, while the standard Havak HIT needs a muzzle device and a rail at the very least.

Going with the Seekins Havak HIT Pro adds about $400 to the rifle’s price. But it can be cost-effective to just add the ARCA rail to the standard model for $129 if you already have a suppressor or break to run. You’re not giving up much with the standard model’s trigger. Mine broke at a crisp and even 2 pounds, 8 ounces, which isn’t bad by any means. In either trim, the rifle is still a good value.

Easy Switch-Barrel System

Switch barrel designs, particularly with precision rifles, have become more commonplace and generally simpler to use. The barrel-swap system on the Seekins Havak HIT couldn’t be more intuitive.

You screw barrels into and out of the action and tighten a single Torx T-15 fastener to hold them in place. The fastener is conveniently located at the front of the integral Picatinny rail on the right side of the rifle.

Toolless Bolt Head Change

Converting to cartridges that require a different sized bolt face is nearly as easy. The bolt doesn’t require tools to take it apart. A twist on the bolt shroud allows the shroud and firing pin assembly to come free.

After that you tap out the cylindrical pin that holds the bolt head in place and swap one bolt head for another. The tail end of the M-16 style extractor on the bolt head is slightly raised. That indexes with a cutout in the bolt body making it impossible to insert the bolt head the wrong way.

The only mildly challenging bit of the process is correctly orienting the pin that holds the bolt head in place. It has a hole drilled through it to accommodate the firing pin. After dropping the pin in place just look through the back of the bolt. If you can see daylight, you’re good. Keeping the whole barrel- and caliber-change procedure idiot-proof is one of rifle’s many fine qualities.

Smooth Action, Reliable Feeding

The Seekins Havak HIT has a full diameter bolt body, meaning the body is as wide as the bolt lugs. This has a couple advantages. One, actions designed this way tend to run smoothly since there’s ample contact between the bolt body and the raceway cut in the receiver. This keeps bolt chatter and binding to a minimum.

Secondly, this allowed Seekins to orient the lugs in the 12- and 6-o’clock position while the bolt is being run. This helps the rifle feed smoothly from the magazine because of the significant contact between the downward facing lug and the cartridge case head.

As an added measure to ensure reliable feeding, the height of the magazine catch can be altered. Changing the catch height will cause the magazine to sit higher or lower in the mag well, letting the operator tune the rifle to the magazines being used. I didn’t need to touch mine, which ran fine with the 5-round polymer AICS magazine that the rifle shipped with.

Accuracy Enhancements

The action is machined with an integral recoil lug and has more threads for the barrel—meaning the barrels have a longer tenon—than does a typical Remington 700-pattern action. It’s topped with an integral Picatinny rail with 20 MOA of declination and the ejection port is enclosed, too. All these features add weight, and stiffness, to the action. Gun nerds will debate until they’re red in the face whether these qualities contribute to rifle accuracy. But no one can argue that they hurt. And the level of precision that the Seekins Havak HIT delivered speaks for itself.

Seekins Havak HIT Folding Chassis

The chassis on the rifle is one of the more elegant systems out there, both in terms of looks and function. Many aluminum rifle chassis have blocky lines that aren’t very appealing, and that clunky affect is often made worse by the presence of the knobs and levers used to alter the chassis’ dimensions.

The chassis on the Havak HIT mitigates this by incorporating a lot of cuts that break up the sharp lines on the edges, and by removing a lot of material from various places, especially around the butt stock.

The folder is actuated by a spring-loaded button that causes the stock to fold over the bolt handle and ejection port. The hinge moves smoothly, and the release button is easy to operate. In the locked position the chassis betrays only the slightest amount of wiggle—certainly not enough to affect performance.

Chassis Adjustments

The chassis has two knobs on the butt stock. One controls length of pull, the other is to adjust comb height. Both length of pull and comb height can be increased by about 1.4 inches—which is more than sufficient for any user.

The recoil pad, which is an inch thick, pleasantly cushy, and effective, attaches to an assembly that includes a gently sloping bag rider. The bag rider is minimalistic but has plenty of surface area to contact a support bag.

The cheek piece is formed of carbon fiber. It’s slick and comfortable and glides against the shooter’s cheek under recoil without hanging up. It’s also rigid and strong, providing a positive and repeatable index point for the shooter’s head.

Other Notable Chassis Features

The chassis includes a dust cover that folds over the ejection port and springs open when the bolt is lifted. That’s a nice feature to help keep grit, mud, rain, and snow out of the action between stages at competitions. It looks and operates like dust covers on AR-type rifles.

Magazine Release

The magazine release tab is incorporated into the trigger guard and has two generously sized paddles that are easy to manipulate from either side. The trigger guard has machined recesses for the tabs. So even though the tabs have a fair bit of surface area to push against, they don’t stick out much beyond the edges of the trigger guard. Another smart design touch.

M-Lok Slots, QD Cups and Night-Vision Mount

The fore-end also has 6 M-Lok slots at the 3-, 6-, and 9-o’clock positions, for a total of 18 attachment points. You can also add Seekins HIT NVM ($189) to the fore-end if desired to mount a night vision device.

To mount a sling, the stock has QD cups machined into the butt stock and along the fore-end.

Barricade Block and AR-Style Grip

Just in front of the mag well is a ridged barricade block, so you can drive the chassis against a support to steady the shot and not put pressure on the magazine.

The grip on the rifle, made by Ergo Grip, is vertical and constructed from rubber with medium contour finger grooves. I like how it positioned my shooting hand, but if you don’t care for it you can easily swap it for any other A2 compatible pistol grip.

Though the chassis doesn’t have a dedicated thumb shelf there’s a small relief cut in the stock where I could rest the thumb of my trigger hand—but wrapping my thumb around the grip didn’t seem to compromise my trigger control either.

Running the Seekins Havak HIT

You don’t have to be John Browning to recognize that many of the features I’ve enumerated so far help a rifle run better. And when added together they turn the Seekins Havak HIT into a superior shooter.

When prone, the rifle tracks smoothly back and forth with a recoil impulse that’s easy to manage in 6.5 PRC. When dropping down to the 6 GT, the Havak HIT is even more biddable.

The ARCA rail on the fore-end allows you to position a bipod anywhere along its length. You can keep it within reach of your non-trigger hand to make adjustments without lifting your head off the stock. You can also pull the bipod close to pinch a support bag between it and the barricade block for a solid rest.

Well Balanced

The rifle’s balance point is just forward of the mag well and when you add on a substantial bipod and muzzle device it takes on a weight-forward attitude. Most shooters prefer their rifle to be a bit heavier up front. It helps counter muzzle rise under recoil allowing the shooter to maintain a better sight picture.

That said, I wouldn’t mind the option to add a bit more weight to the butt of the rifle because when running a heavier bipod and a heavy suppressor I found the rifle to be a bit more nose heavy than I liked.

Positional Pro

While all the accuracy testing was done shooting prone, I spent a great deal of time running the Seekins Havak HIT from various positions, as you’d encounter in a tactical field match. Using it in conjunction with an Armageddon Gear Game Changer it worked great off barricades and obstacles. I shot it from tree branches, stumps, boulders, off tripods, and while moving in and out of cramped cages and other props. Along with the other gun test team members we ran it through Gunsite Academy’s famed Scrambler.

The rifle is heavy enough that it settles quickly into place but is still light enough to maneuver without struggling. It shines from any shooting position. It’s a very capable system.

How Reliable Is The Seekins Havak HIT?

I’ve been using the rifle for a year now, and have put several hundred rounds through it in both 6.5 PRC and 6mm GAP GT. I’ve had zero issues with it. It has fed, extracted, and ejected every round I’ve chambered. Though I check the tightness of the fasteners on all my rifles regularly, I’ve never had one on the Havak HIT work loose.

The finish on the bolt show signs of wear, but is nothing out of the ordinary.

What The Seekins Havak HIT Does Well

This is a versatile precision rifle that can be used in competition or taken hunting. It isn’t really an ideal PRS rig—it’s too light—but for matches that require a lot of movement and where too much weight isn’t a good thing it’ll be right at home. In the NRL Hunter series it can hit the 16-pound threshold for the Open Heavy division, for instance, and be competitive there.

Though not a rifle you’d want to take into the backcountry, it’d work great on predators where the hike from the truck isn’t too far. And it would be a good fit for stand hunting, particularly in a beanfield scenario where longer shots can be expected. For ringing steel at long ranges the rifle is perfect.

Where It Could Improve

One gripe I have with the rifle is pretty minor and easily addressed. The bolt handle on the action is a tad short and skinny for my liking. Because it is threaded, however, swapping it for something that provides a bit more leverage and grip area isn’t a problem.

The other issue with it is the same problem I see with most aluminum chassis rifles. That is, it is made of aluminum. And when you live in a place like Montana where it is frequently cold, that can make for some uncomfortable shooting. The grip is made of rubber, which is great, but the fore-end has nothing but cool aluminum to hold on to. Not a deal-breaker. You just need to remember your gloves.

Final Thoughts on the Seekins Havak HIT

I have a very high opinion of this rifle—especially in light of its $2,100 MSRP. (Though the street price is just under two grand.) The list of features and refinements are typical of what you’d see on rifles costing twice as much—and in all honesty, the Seekins Havak HIT not only can hold its own with that crowd but will outperform many of them as well.

That kind of cost savings can easily be rolled into getting a better scope (always a good idea), or paying for some instruction (also a great idea).

This makes the Seekins Havak HIT a true rifleman’s rifle, which is about the highest praise I can bestow on a long gun.

Read Next: Best Hunting Rifles

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The success of any new cartridge depends partly on gunmakers bringing it into the fold, and the crop of 7mm PRC rifles that will be available this year indicates that things are looking good for the 7mm PRC. My colleague, shooting editor John B. Snow, had some quality time with the new cartridge pre-release and gave us all the juicy details in his review of the 7mm PRC cartridge, when Hornady unveiled it back in October.

If one of your New Year’s goals is to shake that hand tremor that hearing about the 6.5 Creedmoor has given you, you can kick it by getting yourself a rifle in 7mm PRC. Joking aside, the 7mm PRC embraces the principles of modern cartridge design and moves the ball forward with better efficiency and performance. It’s encouraging to see a wide variety of early 7mm PRCs: both high-end, high-priced rifles and normal hunting rifles that most people can afford and use. Here are some of the 7mm PRC rifles you can look for in 2023, and many of these manufacturers offer more than one model in the chambering.

Mossberg Patriot Predator in 7mm PRC

Mossberg

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An early adopter of the 7mm PRC cartridge, Mossberg was quick to announce that they are offering their popular Patriot Predator rifle in the new chambering. The Patriot Predator is an excellent and accurate budget rifle that will be a great fit for the cartridge. Chambered in .308, it was “best overall” in our budget rifles test last year, and we have high expectations for the 7mm PRC version.

Two versions of these 7mm PRC rifles will be available initially, one with an FDE-colored stock and blued finish, and the other in True Timber Strata camo with a brown Cerakote finish. The Patriot Predator has a fluted bolt and a flush detachable box magazine that’s easily loaded from the top while seated in the action. It has a sporter-profile 24-inch barrel that’s threaded for a suppressor or muzzle break and comes with a single-piece Picatinny rail for easy optics mounting. MSRP: $519-616

Seekins Precision Havak Element

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Seekins rifles are excellent performers and full of innovation. We loved the Seekins Havak HIT in 2022 and are excited to see the 7mm PRC rifles that they built in 2023. Another in the Havak line, the Havak Element, should be able to take full advantage of the efficiency of the 7mm PRC cartridge. The Havak Element is one of few long-action rifles with a target-styled stock that will weigh only 6 pounds.

In 7mm PRC, this rifle comes with a 22-inch, mountain hunter contour, fluted barrel that’s threaded for a muzzle brake or suppressor. The sleek two-lug Havak action is fed with a 3-round carbon-fiber detachable magazine and has a nicely fluted bolt. The Seekins carbon composite stock is light but shaped for precision shooting. It has a flat fore-end, a slightly raised comb, and a nice vertical grip with deep fluting. It has a user-adjustable trigger and should be a real shooter. MSRP $2,795

Allterra Arms Mountain Shadow Steel

Allterra

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Premium and semi-custom rifle makers are on the ball when it comes to the 7mm PRC, and a hunter will have a hard time finding more accurate 7mm PRC rifles than what Allterra Arms can turn out. Our Shooting Editor John B. Snow has been shooting them hard, and did a full review on the Mountain Shadow Steel chambered in 6.5 PRC this fall. He also shot an Allterra Carbon in 7mm PRC before the cartridge was released and saw five-shot groups that averaged .726-inches; excellent for a 6.75-pound rifle.

The Allterra Mountain Shadow Steel is a precision-manufactured, durable rifle that’s made to withstand the abuse of the most gear-beating sheep hunters and still turn in sub-half-inch three-shot groups. The Mountain Shadow Steel weighs about 6.5 pounds and has a tightly fluted, thin profile steel barrel. The proprietary carbon Allterra stock can be set up with a floorplate or detachable magazine. It has as slender profile, a nice reverse comb, and a small piece of Picatinny rail on the fore-end for bipod mounting. The precision-machined bolt has dual ejectors, a mini-M-16 extractor, and is built for perfect alignment with the bore in lockup. MSRP: Starting at $5,745

Ruger American with Go Wild Camo

Ruger

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The Ruger American is one of the most popular and most accurate budget hunting rifles on the market. It’s offered in a wide variety of calibers and has taken everything from whitetails to Kodiak brown bears. It will likely be one of the most affordable 7mm PRC rifles in 2023, and it will almost certainly be accurate.

Ruger has several variants of the American rifle, and they’re generally all accurate. Even in our .350 Legend rifles test, the American shot lights-out. The American is built around a three-lug short-throw action that’s fed with a detachable magazine. The Go Wild Camo edition is the first one to be chambered in 7mm PRC, and that’s the pattern you’ll see on the stock. The action and barrel have a Burnt Bronze Cerakote finish, and the 24-inch barrel is threaded and capped with a radial muzzle brake. The American has an adjustable trigger, and this model weighs right at 7 pounds. MSRP: $789

Gunwerks Nexus

Gunwerks

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Long-range shooting is Gunwerks’ game, so it’s all-but-assumed that they’d be camped out in line to get 7mm PRC rifles into production. One of those rifles is the Nexus. With sharp lines, smart features, and expected accuracy, the Nexus should pair well with this highly efficient round.

Gunwerks has been working on the Nexus for some time, and it features a new NXT aluminum action and new stock design. According to Gunwerks, the vertical grip has been improved, and in-addition to the short section of Picatinny rail for bipod mounting at the end of the fore-end, the bottom of the fore-end has an integrated ARCA rail—something we haven’t seen much of on non-chassis stocks. The stainless-steel carbon-wrapped barrel is threaded and comes with a directional muzzle brake. A key feature on the Nexus is that the barrel is user changeable. As with many Gunwerks rifles, the package can include optics and setup and doesn’t come cheap. MSRP: Starting at $8,809

Savage Model 110 Ultralite

Savage

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Though often called accurate, the Savage Model 110 had never been accused of being light; but the M110 Ultralite changed that. I was able to shoot and hunt with a 110 ultralight when they came out, and it’s one of the nicest rifles savage is turning out. Savage was quick to adopt the 7mm PRC, and the 110 Ultralite is a good one to pick from their lineup of 7mm PRC rifles.

The most significant features of the 110 Ultralite are the action and barrel. The action is slimmed up and hollowed out to get rid of excess weight. The Model 110’s stainless-steel receiver is thick, beefy, and had some weight to lose. After machining, it’s given a black Melonite finish. This model, not inconspicuously, features a Proof Research carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel. It’s threaded at the muzzle and includes a thread protector. Naturally, this 7mm PRC features Savage’s Accutrigger and Accustock, which has a stiff fore-end and is adjustable for comb height and length of pull. MSRP: $1,709

Fierce MTN Reaper in 7mm PRC

Fierce

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Fierce Firearms, based in Redmond, Utah, has been building both premium production and semi-custom hunting rifle packages, and they have earned a strong following. I was very impressed with the CT Rival rifle in .300 Win. Mag. I tested and reviewed last year, and they have several new models for 2023. The MTN Reaper is a streamlined version of their Reaper chassis rifle and will be one of several 7mm PRC rifles that Fierce offers.

The precision machined two-lug action and Fierce C3 carbon-fiber barrel sit in a light magnesium chassis that’s decked with a carbon-fiber free-float M-LOK tube and folding adjustable stock and cheekpiece, as well as an Ergo pistol grip. The rifle includes a NIX muzzle brake and zero-MOA optics rail that can be upgraded to 20-MOA. It has a Bix’n Andy adjustable trigger and uses AccurateMag Detachable magazines. It’s a streamlined platform that should shoot great and weigh a little over 6 pounds in 7mm PRC. MSRP: Starting at $3,399

Proof Research Ascension High Country Hunter

Proof Research

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This year, Proof is adding several 7mm PRC rifles to their lineup. One totally new model is the Ascension. It’s a mountain hunter’s dream; an ultralight, ultra-accurate, and durable hunting rifle that exhibits great attention to detail. It has a Monte-Carlo-style stock with a semi-vertical grip with deep fluting for excellent thumb pad placement. It has a Proof Sendero-contour carbon-fiber match-grade barrel, and boasts a sub-half-MOA accuracy guarantee.

The Ascension is built on a Zermatt Arms titanium receiver with split rail scope bases and a BDL magazine. The bolt has a medium-sized modified-ball handle that’s easy to grab and cycle, but not heavy. The Proof carbon-fiber stock is bedded, and the rifle has a TriggerTech trigger. Multiple colors and patterns are available, and Proof’s rifles typically display excellent fitting and finish work. The 7mm PRC version should weigh about 6 pounds and would make an excellent mountain gun MSRP: $7,699

Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT Titanium in 7mm PRC

Christensen Arms

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Christensen Arms released their Ridgeline FFT Titanium in 2022, and I was quick to snap one up. For 2023, they are now chambering the rifle in 7mm PRC, and it should be an accurate, light mountain rifle that you can hunt just about anything with. The Ridgeline FFT Titanium I tested, took sheep hunting, and reviewed was chambered in .308, but the 7MM PRC should make it an even more effective platform.

As with other Christensen Arms rifles, a signature feature on this 7mm PRC is the 22-inch stainless-steel carbon-wrapped barrel. It’s threaded on the end and comes with a side-baffle brake. The most notable features of the FFT Titanium rifles are the Cerakote-finished titanium actions, and the FFT (Flash Forged Technology) carbon parts. The FFT parts, most-visibly the stock, are made with carbon fiber that’s fused in a way that looks like OSB plywood, with small flakes layered over one another and fused. The stock has a foam core with bedding pillars and is wrapped in this FFT carbon. The magazine bottom plate and bolt knob are also made with FFT carbon. The short-action rifles start at 4.8 pounds, but the 7mm PRC in a long action will likely weigh a touch over 5 pounds. As with their other rifles, this one comes with a 3-shot MOA accuracy guarantee. MSRP: $3,399

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The Sako TRG 22 A1 is the most accurate out-of-the-box production rifle I’ve ever tested. That puts it at the head of a list that includes many of the finest modern sniper and precision rifles made. But that’s only part of the story. As enjoyable as it is to see a rifle shoot bug-hole groups with nearly any ammunition that’s put through it, what I admire equally about the Sako TRG 22 A1 are its refined ergonomics and brilliant design.

Ergonomically, the rifle can be fit precisely to the shooter with easy-to-use, elegant controls. Moreover, every component on the rifle that can be manipulated by the user functions in a smooth and flawless fashion. Its craftsmanship is second-to-none.

The design of the Sako TRG 22 A1 is also a homerun. It is built to survive the most trying environments and is cleverly engineered so that the operator can easily service all its major components in the field with tools stowed within the chassis.

It is a remarkable firearm, and should you get to spend some quality time with one, you’ll understand why it is one of the best sniper rifles in use today.

Sako TRG 22 A1 Specs

Sako

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• Action: Three-lug bolt
• Stock: Aluminum chassis folder
• Barrel: 26 in., 1:8 twist, cold-hammer forged
• Chambering: 6.5 Creedmoor (tested), .308 Win., .260 Rem., .300 Win. Mag., .338 Lapua
• Capacity: 10+1 (short-action cartridges)
• Weight: 12 lb. 7 oz. (empty, no mag, with three M-LOK sections installed)
• Trigger: Two-stage, user-adjustable, user-serviceable
• Trigger pull: 2 lb. 10 oz. (measured)
• Price: $5,400

Configuration For Evaluation

• Scope: Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56
• Mount: Spuhr SP-5006
• Bipod: MDT Ckye-Pod Lightweight Single Pull
• Suppressor: Elite Iron STFU .30 Caliber

Sako Sniper Rifles

The TRG 22 A1 is part of Sako’s family of sniper rifles. It is an offshoot of the TRG 22/42 models. The original-series TRGs (without the A1 designation) are heavy-barreled rifles that adjust for cheek height, length of pull, and other dimensions, although the stocks are fixed and do not fold. The 22 is for short-action calibers (.308 Win., .260 Rem., 6.5 Creed), while the 42 signifies long-action cartridges (.300 Win. Mag., .338 Lapua).  Like the TRG 21/41 that preceded them, they have been popular with military and law enforcement agencies around the world, as well as with civilian shooters.

In 2018, Sako introduced the A1 series—the TRG 22 A1 and TRG 42 A1—which is built on an aluminum folding chassis that was first developed for the Sako M10 sniper rifle.

The key difference between the M10 and the TRG 22/42 A1 is that the M10 is a multi-caliber rifle with a quick-change barrel system. The TGR 22/42 A1 doesn’t have this capability (nor the M10’s significantly higher price tag) but it does have the M10’s fantastic ergonomics.

The TRG 22 A1 Chassis

The chassis on a rifle performs two critical functions. First, it attaches to and supports the barreled action. The stronger and more rigid this connection, the better consistency, accuracy, and durability. Second, it creates the interface between the shooter and the rifle. The chassis’ geometry and dimensions dictate how naturally (or not) the shooter’s body conforms to the rifle. The more comfortable and relaxed the operator is behind the rifle, the better they’ll shoot.

Chassis’ Adjustable Ergonomics

Chassis that adjust for key dimensions like cheek height and length of pull are hardly new, but they aren’t all created equal, either. The chassis on the Sako TRG 22 A1 excels for its ability to fine tune these dimensions to a degree few other chassis can, allowing the shooter to really dial in rifle fit.

Cheek height, length of pull, and the height of the recoil pad adjust via low-profile buttons and tabs. Unlike many chassis that have bulky knobs or latches that can hang up on webbing, vegetation, clothing, and other objects, these controls are tucked out of the way. The TRG 22 A1 does a good job minimizing the possibility of snags.

Each of those dimensions adjusts in small increments to help the shooter get properly aligned behind the scope. Once the shooter has mastered the stock, these adjustments can be made quickly in the field to adapt to different shooting positions.

Changing Grip and Trigger Geometry

The Sako TRG 22 A1 comes with three grip inserts of varying thicknesses that are sized small, medium, and large. They position the web of the shooting hand either closer to or farther away from the trigger. The rifle ships with the medium grip installed and, while it will work for most shooters, it is worth trying the other inserts.

The inserts are held in place by a single T-10 Torx screw on the underside of the grip. Just back it out and the grip will slide right off. You can easily swap another in its place to test the fit.

As part of this fine-tuning process, the shooter can also change the position and orientation of the trigger. By loosening the T-10 on the bottom of the trigger, the operator can move the trigger forward and backward to tweak the trigger reach.  It’s also possible to rotate the trigger shoe to one side or the other, if desired.

Between the grip inserts, the adjustability of the trigger reach and position, and the adjustability of the stock, the Sako TRG 22 A1 is customizable to a degree surpassed only by target rifles used in Olympic disciplines and similar competitions. There’s certainly no rifle built for military duty that outdoes it in this regard, though some rifles, like the Accuracy International AXSR, have similar flexibility. 

Chassis’ Strong Connection to the Action

The Sako TRG 22 A1 uses three fasteners to secure the action to the chassis. They are ¼-28 screws, which is the standard size used in Remington 700 pattern actions. But because the Sako’s three points of connection, instead of two, makes it the stronger system. I measured the amount of thread engagement on my rifle and found that the screws in the TRG 22 A1 have about a turn to a turn-and-a-half more engagement than you’ll find on a typical 700 action. That translates to about 33 percent more engagement per screw, which improves the rifle’s ruggedness and reliability.

One interesting thing about the Sako TRG 22 A1 is that the specs call for the action screws, and even the screw that holds the trigger housing in place, to be tightened to 133 in.-lb., which is significantly higher than you’ll find on nearly any other rifle. Tightening action screws between 50 and 80 in.-lb. is the norm, with 65 in.-lb. being the most common recommendation.

To access the middle and rear action screws, the user removes the trigger housing by inserting a T-25 Torx driver through a hole in the trigger guard and loosening a screw. To get to the front action screw, remove the tool kit in front of the magazine well.

Floating Recoil Lug

The front action screw pins the rifle’s recoil lug in place. The lug is a small block that slides into a cut in the front of the chassis body. The top of the lug is flat, and fits into a machined flat on the bottom of the TRG’s action. The fit between the lug, chassis, and action is designed with a bit of play. When tightened, the three pieces self-center on each other to create a snug, stiff fit that doesn’t introduce any torque or stress into the system that could potentially degrade accuracy. It’s a smart, simple, and cost-effective system.

Stiff Folder Mechanism

The folding portion of the stock was designed for stiffness as well. When the stock is deployed, there’s no detectable wiggle or play. When folded, the stock locks in position. A button on top of the chassis just in front the hinge allows the user to fold and unfold the stock.

While folders make rifle transport and storage easier, they do have one shortcoming: if mud or snow gets into the hinge mechanism, it can prevent the stock from locking open when unfolded.

During my evaluation, I purposely jammed the folded stock into the snow, and sure enough I couldn’t lock the stock open until I had cleared the hinge, which took some doing. This isn’t a criticism of the Sako TRG 22 A1, as all folders are prone to this, but it is something be aware of should you take a folding stock of any type into the field.

Free-Floating Handguard

The octagonal-shaped handguard on the Sako TRG 22 A1 is held in place by two T-25 Torx crossbolt fasteners that pinch the rear of the handguard so it grips the cylindrical extension that juts off the front of the chassis. The rearmost fastener slides through a groove machined in the extension to properly index the handguard with the chassis. This also ensures that the handguard can’t work its way free even if the bolts aren’t tightened correctly.

A notch on the top of the handguard that fits around the Picatinny rail on the receiver also helps the handguard index properly.

The handguard extension doesn’t contact the barrel or the receiver, so pressure on the handguard doesn’t get transmitted to the free-floating barrel, which contributes to the Sako TRG 22 A1’s accuracy.

About the only criticism I have of the Sako TRG 22 A1 is that the handguard doesn’t incorporate an integral ARCA rail along the bottom. That feature has become common enough on precision rifles that it’s almost an expected feature.

30 MOA Rails

The handguard has a full-length Picatinny rail along the top with a 30 MOA declination that mates up with the 30 MOA declination on the rail on the receiver. This allows for hassle free mounting of night vision gear and other items that need to be aligned with the rifle scope.

Sako machined numbers in every other grove, going from 20 to 52, to help return accessories to the same position after they’ve been removed.

The other seven flats on the handguard have M-Lok slots. There are more than enough to mount whatever gizmos you want. The rifle comes with four M-Lok rail sections: two short, one long, and one with sling mounts.

Comfortable Rear Hook

The chassis includes a hook on the underside of the buttstock to snug the rifle into the shoulder. It is well-shaped and can be used a couple ways. The hook can either fit in the web between the thumb and index finger or be hooked by the fingers of the non-shooting hand, depending on what the shooting position dictates. It attaches to the chassis via a Picatinny rail and can be removed and replaced with some other type of bag rider if desired.

Sling Mounts

The chassis has mounting points for a sling on the buttstock and just forward of the hinge above the grip. These mounts include QD sling sockets and Mil-sling lugs, so you can use either attachment system. The mounts are ambidextrous, which is a nice touch.

The rifle comes with a small M-Lok sling attachment that goes on the handguard for the front of the sling. It includes a QD socket and Mil-sling lug as well.

Fancy New Colors

While the Sako TRG 22 A1 has been around for a few years, the Finns decided to spruce up the platform with the addition of some new Cerakote colors this year. My sample is in Tungsten Gray; the other new finishes are Olive Drab, Graphite Black, and Coyote Brown.

Running the Sako TRG 22 A1

The TRG 22 A1 is one of the most intuitive and natural rifles I’ve ever shot. Everything functions smoothly without any hiccup or hesitation. Settling in behind it feels as good as reclining in your favorite easy chair.

Slick Three-Lug Action

The three-lug action is phosphate coated for corrosion resistance and lubricity. The bolt glides easily back and forth in the action with no chatter, vibration, or hang ups no matter how dirty it gets or how aggressively the shooter works it. The knob on the bolt handle is oversized and juts out at an angle that makes it easy to grab and it provides a lot of leverage to extract empties, cock the action, and chamber the next round.

Flawless Cycling

During my time range sessions with the Sako TRG 22 A1, I put about 200 rounds through the rifle. Never once did I experience any failure to feed, extract, or eject rounds.

The rifle uses (of course) a Sako-style extractor and a plunger ejector. The ejector kicks the empties clear of the receiver in a snappy manner. To make sure the rifle does this with the larger magnum cartridges (.300 Win. Mag. and .338 Lapua) Sako added a second plunger ejector in the TRG 42 and TRG 42 A1.

Easy Reloads

The rifle runs off a proprietary 10-round magazine that accepts rounds easily—even with gloves on—and slides into the magazine well with minimal effort. The inside of the mag well is slightly beveled which helps guide it. The magazine locks into place in a very positive manner and doesn’t require any extra pressure to engage the latch.

The paddle to release the magazine is located just in front of the trigger guard and is easy to manipulate. When pressed forward, the magazine drops free without hesitation.

Even though this is exactly how a detachable box magazine system is supposed to work, they often don’t—even on top-end rifles with hefty price tags. So when one operates perfectly, you know you’re dealing with a well-made rig.

Crisp Two-Stage Trigger

Two-stage triggers are the norm on sniper rifles, and the Sako TRG 22 A1 is no exception in this regard. The trigger is user-adjustable with a pull weight that can set between 2.6 and 4.6 pounds.

I turned mine down to its minimum break weight, which came in at 2 pounds, 10 ounces. To adjust the trigger, insert a Torx T-10 driver through the smallest of the three access holes in the trigger guard and turn the adjustment screw counterclockwise.

The initial take-up on my trigger requires a touch over a pound of pressure to engage the second stage. Once the slack is removed, the trigger exhibits no creep before it trips with that extra pound or so of pressure.

The crisp, consistent break provides excellent trigger control and, along with the ability to fine-tune the trigger geometry discussed above, contributes significantly to the rifle’s exceptional accuracy.

Ergonomic Safety

The safety on the Sako TRG 22 A1 is a paddle located within the trigger guard that toggles back and forth. The paddle requires deliberate, but not excessive, pressure to switch between “safe” and “fire,” and it gives good tactical and audible feedback when moved. When pushed forward, the rifle is in the fire position.

When engaged, the safety mechanically blocks the trigger, which is what you want, and locks the bolt in place. As with other features on the rifle, the safety can be worked while the operator is wearing gloves.

Great Recoil Management

The Sako TRG 22 A1’s top-flight ergonomics, excellent controls, and weight—fully kitted out with scope, bipod, and suppressor, mine tipped the scales at 17 lb. 4 oz.—combine to give the rifle excellent recoil management.

With the chassis properly adjusted and the shooter square behind the rifle, it isn’t difficult to maintain your sight picture after breaking the shot. I found it easy to spot impacts and misses and stay in the glass while running the action.

Next-Level Precision

My first range session with the rifle was an eye-opening experience. I’ve shot and owned plenty of Sakos over the years, including the exceptional M10 sniper rifle when it was first introduced, so my expectations were pretty high. That said, the first 40 rounds I put through this 6.5 Creedmoor amazed me.

I was at an outdoor range in Colorado with temperatures in the upper teens and a fairly brisk crosswind blowing up the canyon. I bore-sighted the rifle, aimed at the center bull, and hit low right next to one of the other aiming points.

I shot the remainder of that 5-shot group, adjusted the point of aim on the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56, and shot another. I repeated this with three other loads, placing two 5-shot groups on paper for each. I had one shot I pulled on the final group due to heavy mirage coming off the suppressor, so I put an extra round downrange and discounted that one errant impact.

Most Accurate Rifle I’ve Tested

The average of those eight 5-shot groups was just .384 inches. That was with four different factory ammo loads with bullet weights from 130 to 147 grains. I’ve evaluated rifles for decades and never had a factory gun that shot to this level. Some of my competition rifles shoot this tight, but they are doing so with carefully constructed handloads, not factory ammunition.

One interesting thing I noticed on the target was that the first 5-shot group with each load was larger than the second 5 five-shot group.

Bullet Fouling and Precision

We’re all familiar with the idea of fouling a rifle: After a thorough barrel cleaning, it can take a few shots before the rifle starts shooting to its potential. The difference in group sizes from a sparkling clean barrel and one that’s had a dozen rounds through it can be dramatic. Sometimes you’ll see the same effect, though to a lesser degree, when you switch from one type of bullet to another.

In my experience this is most pronounced when switching between standard jacketed lead bullets and copper alloy “monometal” bullets. It seems barrels sometimes need to acclimate to the specific metal composition of the bullets they’re shooting.

Keeping that in mind, it was striking that the average of the first groups I shot with Sako TRG 22 A1 was .502 inches—still an impressive result—but that the average of the second groups was just .266 inches, which is really amazing.

While this data is suggestive, I wouldn’t deem it definitive. To really test the concept that you should foul a rifle when switching from one bullet type to another would require a much larger data set. It is something we plan to look at in the future.

Included in those groups was one that measured a scant .051 inches—by far the best group of the many thousands I’ve shot over the decades. That was with Hornady’s 147-grain ELD-M ammo. That ammo also happened to shoot the largest group with the Sako TRG 22 A1, which was .558 inches.

Cold-Hammer Forged Barrel

A lot of the credit for this accuracy has to go to the barrel. The Sako TRG 22 A1 has a 26-inch barrel that’s cold-hammer forged. In 6.5 Creedmoor it has a 1:8 right twist and is threaded 5/8-24 at the muzzle for the American market.

In .308 Win., the rifle has a 26-inch barrel threaded 5/8-24 as well. While the magnum cartridges in the TRG 42 A1 series (.300 Win. Mag. and .338 Lapua) have 27-inch barrels. The .300 Win. Mag. is threaded 5/8-24, while the .338 Lapua has the European standard M18x1 thread pitch.

Servicing the TRG 22 A1

Sako made it easy for shooters to take care of this rifle, whether in the field or at a bench. The designers went to great lengths to make sure an operator can keep the rifle in working condition no matter what. It’s reassuring to know that just about any problem can be addressed with very few tools.

Field Tool Kit

The rifle contains an on-board tool kit, located in the polymer palm swell underneath the handguard and just in front of the magazine.

To access the tool kit, remove the bolt from the rifle and use the Torx T-25 bit machined into the bolt knob to detach the kit. Sako smartly designed it with a captured screw, so you can’t lose the fastener.

Contained within the kit are three Torx keys: a T-25, T-15, and T-10. With them you can tighten and service any of the critical fastners on the rifle. They allow you to remove the handguard, adjust the trigger pull weight and trigger geometry, swap out the grip inserts, tighten the action screws, reconfigure the sling attachments, mount the included M-Lok rails, and remove and refine the position of the recoil pad.

Toolless Bolt Takedown

The bolt can also be taken apart and serviced in the field. The bolt shroud can be twisted off by hand giving access to the firing pin and firing-pin spring, and reassembled the same way. Sako includes a tool that makes this takedown and reassembly process easier to perform, but anyone with moderate hand strength won’t need it.

Sako TRG 22 A1 Pros and Cons

Pros

• Exceptional Accuracy
• Great Ergonomics
• Smart Design
• Rugged and Easy to Service

Cons

• Heavy for General Use
• Expensive

Final Thoughts on the TRG 22 A1

The Sako TRG 22 A1 is an impressive rifle, even when measured against its peer group that includes some really fabulous rifles made by Accuracy International, Barrett, and others. (The Tikka T3x UPR has many of the same qualities for a lot less money and is one of the best hunting rifles for those interested in the NRL Hunter series.)

While this review discusses the various features of the rifle in-depth, the experience of shooting the TRG 22 A1 is a bit more difficult to capture. The rifle is more than the sum of its parts in this respect.

Sako’s engineers did a fabulous job creating a rifle that serious shooters will appreciate and enjoy, whether they are carrying the gun as part of their job or just using it for competition or other recreational purposes.

Expensive? Yes. But it isn’t as costly as many custom rifles being sold today and, with precious few exceptions, it will out-shoot every one of them.

The post Sako TRG 22 A1, Tested and Reviewed appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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Best Overall		Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7×33	SEE IT
Best Crossover Hunting Scope		Maven RS.2 2-10×38	SEE IT
Best Precision Rimfire Scope		Blackhound Emerge 2-12×44 MIL	SEE IT

Between small-game rifles and precision target rigs, short-range plinkers, and rimfire ARs, there’s a .22 for every shooter and use, and every one of them needs a scope. The optics industry has answered the call, and you can find a scope for just about any rifle. Here are some of the best rimfire scopes on the market. You’ll notice, though, that these aren’t all your standard low-mag variable models. You’ll see some high-end precision scopes here as well as LPVO (low-power variable optics) that are designed for close-quarters AR and shotgun work but also make marvelous rimfire optics for either hunting or punching targets.

• Best Overall: Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7×33
• Best Traditional: Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32
• Best Crossover Hunting Scope: Maven RS.2 2-10×38
• Best Small-Game Hunting Scope: Bushnell Trophy Quick Acquisition 1-6x24l
• Best Second-Plane Target Scope: Tract 22 FIRE 4-12×40
• Most Versatile: Athlon Argos HMR 2-12×42
• Best Full-Size Precision Scope: Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25×56 FFP
• Best Precision Rimfire Scope: Blackhound Emerge 2-12×44 MIL
• Best Precision Scope Under $400: Sightmark Presidio 3-18×50 LR2
• Best LPVO: EOTECH Vudu 1-10×28
• Best .22 Magnum Rifle Scope: Hawke Vantage IR 4-12×40 AO

Best Overall: Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7×33

Leupold

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Why It Made The Cut

Combining simple controls and a modest but versatile magnification range, this durable scope is perfect for just about any .22 or .17, whether for small-game hunting, plinking, or most precision target work. It has good glass, repeatable controls, and enough holdover references on the vertical stadia that, with some practice, you can extend your range out to 100 yards and longer. At close to $300, it’s priced in the meaty middle of the market and can easily transition from a first-gun optic to just about any other rifle, whether a rimfire or not.

Key Features 

• Weight: 11.1 ounces
• Magnification Range: 2-7-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 33mm
• Tube Diameter: 1-inch
• Turret Click Values: .25 MOA
• Total Elevation Adjustment: 75 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: No

Pros 

• Excellent glass and coatings
• MOA-based references are simple and clear
• Low-profile mounting dimension
• Wide versatility
• Catchy turret graphics

Cons

• Reticle lacks windage references
• Parallax fixed at 100 yards
• Turret clicks are mushy

Product Description

Here’s a rimfire scope for just about any purpose. This outwardly pedestrian optic has a lot going on between a surprisingly precise second-plane reticle, bright glass, and fun indexing on the nicely tactile turrets. The best thing you can say about any scope is that it is consistent, and the VX-Freedom delivers bullets with pleasing reliability. It’s a good rabbit and squirrel scope. Still, the MOA-based references on the vertical crosshair make it a decent option for engaging distant targets, which means you don’t have to invest in a ponderously big first-plane target scope to take titles at NRL22 competitions. Lastly, the Leupold rimfire scope brings the company’s good glass and an excellent warranty.

Read Next: The Best Rifle Scopes

Best Traditional: Vortex Crossfire II 2-7×32

Vortex

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Why It Made The Cut

There’s not much innovative or surprising here, just a basic duplex reticle inside a straight-ahead scope with decent turrets and a durable build. Backed by an excellent warranty.

Key Features 

• Weight: 13.9 ounces
• Magnification Range: 2-7-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 32mm
• Tube Diameter: 1-inch
• Turret Click Values: .25 MOA
• Total Elevation Adjustment: 60 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: No

Pros 

• Long eye relief
• Appealing price
• Low-profile mounting dimensions
• Simple reticle
• Excellent warranty
• Parallax fixed at 50 yards

Cons

• Reticle lacks windage or elevation references
• Limited focus control

Product Description

If simplicity is the pathway to versatility, then the Vortex Crossfire II is at home on a small-game bolt rifle or a fast-shooting AR. It might not have the chops for precision work, but the duplex reticle is fast and reliable. The controls are a little mushy, but the eye relief and eye box are both forgiving and the fixed parallax makes it a great plinking scope. Basically, any tin can or cottontail inside 50 yards is in trouble. 

Best Crossover Hunting Scope: Maven RS.2 2-10×38

Maven

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Why It Made The Cut

This is a fun-sized optic with excellent controls and glass and a bright, light, and durable scope that’s a good fit for a rimfire or ultralight bolt-action build.

Key Features 

• Weight: 12.4 ounces
• Magnification Range: 2-10-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 38mm
• Tube Diameter: 1-inch
• Turret Click Values: .25 MOA
• Total Elevation Adjustment: 50 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: No

Pros

• Light and compact
• SHR reticle has (limited) elevation references
• Utility extends to center-fire scopes
• Liberal mounting dimensions
• Excellent glass and coatings

Cons

• No windage references
• Slightly spongy turret dials

Product Description

Excellent glass, velvety controls, and a reticle that offers just enough holdover references for precision work, this is a scope that’s at home on a lightweight mountain rifle or a bespoke squirrel sniper. The RS.2 is available in either a bold duplex or SHR reticle—I recommend the latter for more references (three elevation holds; no wind holds). That probably has more utility for big-game hunters than for .22 shooters, but the holdovers are pretty handy for making shots beyond zero range.

At about $550, this direct-to-consumer optic is a little pricey for a basic second-plane rimfire scope, but Maven brings elegance, brilliant Japanese glass, and sweet turret controls to the game. The low-profile objective and the magnification range make it a very good choice for a special rimfire rifle.

Read Next: The Best .22 LR Rifles

Best Small-Game Hunting Scope: Bushnell Trophy Quick Acquisition 1-6x24l

Bushnell

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Why It Made The Cut

This was the most fun scope in our test. A quick, precise, extremely nimble low-power optic, it gets on target quickly but has enough reticle references for longer-distance work.

Key Features 

• Weight: 18 ounces
• Magnification Range: 1-6-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Turret Click Values: .5 MOA
• Total Elevation Adjustment: 140 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes

Pros 

• Low-profile mounting dimension
• Extremely fast on target
• “Dot Drop” reticle has good holdover references
• 6-step illumination
• Compatible with shotguns and ARs
• Wide field of view

Cons

• Reticle lacks full precision references
• Some peripheral distortion

Product Description

This is the scope that small-game hunters have been waiting for. It’s fast, keeping up with running rabbits, and its “Dot Drop” reticle in the second focal plane pops against just about any background. The Trophy Quick Acquisition has a very precise illuminated center dot for precise bullet placement or for fast target acquisition, and its holdover references (there’s a hash every 2 MOA) allows you to drop bullets into targets at a distance. The 1-6-magnification handles just about any shooting situation, from close-in game and steel to out-there targets. Besides its technical attributes, it’s simply fun to shoot. The controls are responsive, the glass is good enough, and it mounts low enough that bringing it to your eye is as intuitive as pointing your finger. Best part: It’s priced under $200.

Best Second-Plane Target Scope: Tract 22 FIRE 4-12×40

Tract

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Why It Made The Cut

A purpose-built rimfire scope, the second-plane reticle features a MOA-based dot for precise aiming solutions.

Key Features 

• Weight: 16 ounces
• Magnification Range: 4-12-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 40mm
• Tube Diameter: 1 inch
• Turret Click Values: .25 MOA
• Total Elevation Adjustment: 60 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: No

Pros 

• Excellent focus control, 10 meters to infinity
• Extremely tactile turret controls
• Long eye relief
• Liberal mounting dimensions

Cons

• Focus on objective is clunky
• Extremely tight power ring

Product Description

Tract’s 22 FIRE series has a full series of scopes for .22 and .17 shooters, but this AO model (it stands for Adjustable Objective) is the most versatile scope in the line from the direct-to-consumer brand. The duplex reticle features a fine crosshair with a .25 MOA center dot, which allows for full view of the target and precise bullet placement, which competitive bullseye target shooters will appreciate. The adjustable objective enables precise focus for targets inside 10 yards all the way out to infinity, a feature you don’t often see on rimfire-specific scopes. The objective focus is a little clunky compared with the side parallax of most modern scopes, but it works well and further enables precise shooting. At about $275 it’s not a cheap scope, but the glass is good, the controls are some of the best in the business, and the precision it allows also makes it a killer squirrel scope.

Most Versatile: Athlon Argos HMR 2-12×42

Athlon

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Why It Made The Cut

This second-plane middle-of-the-road scope isn’t built for any specific task. Instead, it does a pretty good job at any shooting situation, whether mounted on a center-fire big-game rifle, a rimfire, an AR, or even a mid-range platform like a straight-wall carbine or slug gun.

Key Features 

• Weight: 19.8 ounces
• Magnification Range: 2-12-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 42mm
• Tube Diameter: 1-inch
• Turret Click Values: .25 MOA
• Total Elevation Adjustment: 130 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes

Pros 

• Versatile magnification range
• Illuminated reticle
• Side focus
• Capped turrets
• Good warranty

Cons

• Underwhelming glass
• Controls are mushy
• Limited mounting dimensions

Product Description

Priced at about $450, this Athlon has more features than most scopes at this price point. Its best attribute is side parallax control that brings targets as close as 10 yards into sharp focus, a feature that’s useful for rimfire shooters who are often engaging close-in and far-out targets. The illumination is also worth a look. The second-plane scope is available with a standard duplex reticle, but opt for the BDC 600A reticle, which gives shooters holdover hashes out to 600 yards when the scope is on its highest power. The glass in the Argos HMR isn’t the best, but for most shooting situations, it will provide a decent image and capably guide bullets of just about any caliber. The best attribute for a rimfire shooter is that this scope can easily be swapped out to just about any other rifle, making it a good all-around optic.

Best Full-Size Precision Scope: Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25×56 FFP

Vortex

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Why It Made The Cut

A big, serious precision scope with attributes for any long-distance target work, whether rimfire or PRS center-fire rifles.

Key Features 

• Weight: 30.4 ounces
• Magnification Range: 5-25-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 56mm
• Tube Diameter: 34mm
• Turret Click Values: .25 MOA
• Total Elevation Adjustment: 110 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: First
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes

Pros

• Huge magnification range
• Competition reticle
• Side focus, 15 yards to infinity
• Pull-to-turn tactical turrets
• Good warranty

Cons

• Underwhelming glass
• Controls are mushy
• Overkill for most rimfire applications

Product Description

Okay, I realize this isn’t your standard rimfire optic. It’s purpose-built for the 1,000-yard-and-longer center-fire steel-plate crowd. But the Strike Eagle has an extremely useful reticle for almost every rimfire competition, from punching paper at known distances to engaging steel silhouette targets and all the crazy shooting situations in the NRL22. Attributes that make it a worthy rimfire consideration: close-focus to 15 yards, a nicely illuminated first-plane reticle, holdover hashes at every MOA and windage dots out to 24 MOA, and nicely indexed turrets. All this for well under $1,000. The best argument for consideration: learn to shoot this reticle on a cheap and fun rimfire trainer, then graduate up to a center-fire chassis rifle.

Best Precision Rimfire Scope: Blackhound Emerge 2-12×44 MIL

Blackhound

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Why It Made The Cut

A ton of scope for almost any rimfire competition, it’s a great training platform to take this optic to NRL and Precision Rifle shoots.

Key Features 

• Weight: 29.1 ounces
• Magnification Range: 2-12-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 44mm
• Tube Diameter: 34mm
• Turret Click Values: .1 MRAD
• Total Elevation Adjustment: 30 MIL
• Reticle Focal Plane: First
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes

Pros

• First-plane tree-style reticle
• Capped low-profile turrets
• Ships with rings and levels
• Zero stop
• 6-step illumination
• 10 MILs of holdover references

Cons

• Ponderously big
• Fairly expensive

Product Description

Go back and read the rationale for this scope under the Vortex Strike Eagle spot. All those arguments go double for this big, serious precision scope from a new direct-to-consumer brand. The main argument for a rimfire shooter is that if you can learn to shoot well and quickly with this first-plane reticle on a .22 trainer, then you’ll be miles ahead of your peers when you strap it on a long-distance center-fire precision rifle. The Blackhound has fine glass, very tactile low-profile turrets, and a side focus control that brings targets as close as 10 yards into crisp focus. It’s pricey, around $1,150, but there’s a whale of a lot of value in this scope that has a magnification range that is way more useful than the standard 5-25-power of most precision target scopes.

Best Precision Scope Under $400: Sightmark Presidio 3-18×50 LR2

Sightmark

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Why It Made The Cut

The rare long-distance precisions scope that retails for under $400, this feature-packed option from Sightmark will get shooters of just about any budget and caliber ringing steel.

Key Features 

• Weight: 30.8 ounces
• Magnification Range: 3-18-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 50mm
• Tube Diameter: 30mm
• Turret Click Values: .1 MRAD
• Total Elevation Adjustment: 26 MRAD
• Reticle Focal Plane: First
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes

Pros 

• First-plane tree-style reticle
• Exposed tactical-style turrets
• Throw lever
• Zero stop
• 6-step illumination
• 25 mils of internal adjustment

Cons

• Disappointing glass
• Ponderously big for hunting
• Limited warranty

Product Description

Shooters with a limited budget should give their attention to this full-featured precision scope from Sightmark that retails for around $400. The Presidio has everything that the major brands offer shooters, from a very capable first-plane reticle with plenty of elevation and windage references, oversized exposed turrets to make field adjustments easy, and a zero-stop that allows shooters to return to their zero without tools. Other noteworthy features for rimfire shooters include a 10-yard-to-infinity focus, 6-step illumination, and reticle holds with 10 MILS of drop and 6 MILS of wind hold. How does Sightmark deliver so much utility for such an accessible price? The glass is flinty and shows lots of optical aberrations. You can expect to get some flaring and peripheral distortion. However, the center of the lens—where most shooters spend most of their time—is clear and sharp. In a field with mostly second-plane, hunting-style scopes, this is a full-featured standout that won’t cost a bunch.

Best LPVO: EOTECH Vudu 1-10×28

EOTECH

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Why It Made The Cut

A full-featured Low Power Variable Optic with enough features for small-game hunting and rimfire target work.

Key Features 

• Weight: 21.3 ounces
• Magnification Range: 1-10-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 28mm
• Tube Diameter: 34mm
• Turret Click Values: .1 MRAD
• Total Elevation Adjustment: 29 MRAD
• Reticle Focal Plane: First
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes

Pros 

• Monster magnification range
• Dual-purpose tactical reticle
• Push-button illumination module
• 10 reticle illumination intensity settings
• References for long-distance work
• Pull-to-turn elevation dial

Cons

• Wildly expensive
• 34mm tube is bulky

Product Description

The first time I shot this extremely versatile scope it was on a tactical AR and I was engaging targets from 10 yards out to 750 yards. All I could think was how fun it would be on a practical .22 course. This is definitely not intended for NRL22 games, but rather is a battle-hardened tactical optic that has caught fire with personal-defense carbine owners. Still, I maintain the EOTECH Vudu has all the attributes you’d ever want for any rimfire action, whether you’re talking about running rabbits, punching holes in paper targets, or running a steel plate course. The first-plane reticle evolves from a fast and bright red dot at 1-3-power up to a surprisingly detailed precision reticle with aiming points for distant targets from about 7-power up to 10-power. The illumination is bright, and the push-button control is intuitive. The build and turrets are durable enough for anything you can throw at it, and the Japanese glass is bright and crisp. The main downside is its $1,800 price tag. But at that price, you can switch it to just about any rifle in your collection.

Best .22 Magnum Rifle Scope: Hawke Vantage IR 4-12×40 AO

Hawke

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Why It Made The Cut

A bright, light, and durable scope with a second-plane reticle configured for the ballistics of the .22 Winchester Magnum.

Key Features 

• Weight: 18.1 ounces
• Magnification Range: 4-12-power
• Objective Lens Diameter: 40mm
• Tube Diameter: 1-inch
• Turret Click Values: .25 MOA
• Total Elevation Adjustment: 80 MOA
• Reticle Focal Plane: Second
• Illuminated Reticle: Yes, red and green

Pros 

• Holdover references tuned to .22 WMR
• Objective-bell focus
• Nice illumination
• Good magnification range
• Capped turrets

Cons

• Stingy mounting dimensions
• Reticle utility is limited to WMR

Product Description

If you’re a .22 WMR shooter, this is your scope. The reticle has drops for bullets with muzzle velocities of 2,000 fps. With a 100-yard zero, you can drop rounds with pleasing consistency out to 300 yards with the second-plane BDC reticle and the scope on its highest power. Suppose you want to use a lower magnification, or bullets with different velocities. In that case, you’ll have to experiment on the subtensions, but it’s a pretty handy feature for a rimfire optic. The Hawke has good glass, decent controls, and the illumination is a nice feature. But the attribute that also makes this a great rimfire scope is the focus control located on the objective bell. You can bring targets into focus as close as 10 yards and out to infinity.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Rimfire Rifle Scope

Your first consideration if you’re in the market for a rimfire rifle scope is how well it will perform with the short-range capabilities of the caliber. You probably don’t need a ton of magnification or reticle references if all you want is to shoot tin cans or 50-meter bullseye targets. But the world of rimfire shooting is evolving to look a lot like long-distance center-fire precision shooting, with all sorts of precision rimfire competitions and games that put a premium on both short-range and long-range precision. For backyard plinkers, you probably just want a simple scope with a duplex reticle, but for the latter, you’re going to want a first-plane reticle with lots of turret adjustment. Then there are the pure small-game scopes. These are lower-magnification optics with just enough reticle references to get you on game and maybe make longer shots, head-shooting squirrels, for instance.

FAQs

Methodology 

Some of the scopes in this roundup are new for 2022 and were included in the rigorous evaluations of Outdoor Life’s annual optics test. For those, I measured optical resolution on my resolution range, scored low-light performance against their peers, and measured the precision and repeatability of the reticle and turrets. But some scopes in this collection were not in the test, and I evaluated those by mounting them to my collection of .22 trainers and shot them on both paper and steel targets at various distances, evaluating their handling, reticles, and overall precision and speed.

I rated each scope on its ability to perform a series of shooting tasks, engaging targets at 20 yards, then at 50, and out to 100. I also used both reticle references and the turrets to make shots out to 350 yards, but this was more a test of “close-enough” than precision.

For each scope, I make a subjective determination of optical quality, looking for distortions, optical aberrations, and any distracting jags of light. And I determine how quickly and precisely I can use the reticle. Lastly, I assessed the extras, including the accessories that it ships with and each submission’s warranty.

Final Thoughts

Somehow, the optics industry has squeezed all the fun out of rimfire shooting. Instead of cheap, reliable, and utilitarian rifles, we now have fancy chassis rifles with all the attributes of their big-bore brethren. And prices to match. We’ve complicated what was once the most fun and simple type of shooting into rigorous competition. That’s all great if you want to make .22 shooting into a serious thing, but don’t forget that rimfires are the gateway for most shooters and hunters into our community, and the scopes and rifles that are the best for new shooters are often the most simple and cheap. So read this review with a little bit of skepticism. There are optics for every stage in a shooter’s evolution, but maybe pay special attention to those fun, simple, gateway scopes.

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