40 Best Rifles Perfect For Hunting Season | Gun Carrier

Looking for the best rifles for the trail, right in time for hunting season? I have a few choices in my collection so I'm quite fortunate to be able to choose the best rifles for a particular hunt. In the hunting grounds, a shooter sees to it his weapon is dependable, accurate, and can take some punishment in the field. Your gun is not just for hunting game, but can also be a tool for self-defense, if needed. The competition in the firearm industry has always been very stiff; companies often utilize the most hi-tech manufacturing practices and sell their product at a very affordable cost. This means good news for all the gun folks and more options for the best hunting rifles money can buy.

Best Rifles | The Most Reliable Rifles For Hunting

1. Benelli R1

Benelli R1 Photo by fullclip7 (Photobucket)

The Benelli R1 is a revolutionary rifle. This firearm set standards for semi-automatic sporting rifles. It has interchangeable barrels and a recoil dampening stock that cuts felt recoil by about half of most high-powered rifles.

2. Beretta 1873 Renegade

Beretta 1873 Renegade Photo by Guns America

The Beretta 1873 Renegade is a lever action steel-frame rifle with a capacity of 10 rounds. This gun is a favorite in the Wild West and a constant feature in countless cowboy action movies.

3. Chiappa 1892

Chiappa 1892 Photo by AR15

This lever action rifle is designed by the famous John Browning. The Chiappa 1892 doesn't have the most advanced design but it can definitely get the job done. It's one of the top quality classic design rifles.

4. Chiappa 1886

Chiappa Alaskan Scout SBR – .44 Magnum Photo by Gun Gallery (Tumbler)

The Chiappa 1886 has the ability to disassemble by simply turning a lever near the tip of the barrel. It's another strong and hard hitting firearm designed by John Browning.

5. CZ 512

The CZ 512 rifle has a good consistent 6-pound trigger. It's a semi-automatic rifle with a modular design and one of the famous bolt-action rifles in the market today.

6. CZ 527

The CZ 527 has excellent accuracy with a micro Mauser-style action, making it one of the smoothest and most reliable in the market. It features an 18-inch barrel with backup iron sights. This rifle's recoil is light and has good-looking walnut stocks with sling studs.

7. Henry Big Boy

Henry Big Boy New Skinner Express Photo by marlinowners

The Henry Big Boy is a lever action rifle which features a 20-inch octagonal barrel. It has slim and very comfortable American walnut stocks. This gun has very smooth action and is accurate in every shot you make.

8. Henry Golden Boy

Henry Golden Boy Photo by 5280armory

The Henry Golden Boy is a very smooth lever action rifle. It has a brass receiver classic design which is still viable for use today. This gun is a product of one of the premier lever action companies in the market.

9. Henry Pump Octagon

Henry Pump Octagon Photo by Guns

This is a pump action rifle made by Henry. The company is famous for their excellent, high-quality lever action firearms, now they have this pump version to make another step in the gun industry.

10. Henry US Survival

Henry US Survival Photo by The Truth About Guns

The US Survival rifle breaks down into its buttstock. It comes with two magazines stored in its water-resistant travel configuration. This unique ability is a game changer in folding survival rifles.

11. Henry Varmint Express

Henry Varmint Express Photo by marlinowners

As the name implies, this rifle is great specifically for shooting varmint. Small game hunters will be able to take advantage of a .17HMR in terms of almost everything from trajectory to accuracy.

12. Kimber Classic Select

Kimber Classic Select Grade Sp Photo by 24hourcampfire

The Kimber Classic Select is a rifle made for magnum cartridges. A gun made for a wide range of calibers, this rifle's versatility is the perfect option for hunting any type of game.

13. Kimber Varmint

Kimber Varmint Photo by 204ruger

The Kimber Varmint is a bolt action hunting rifle available in different caliber ranges. Hunting varmint requires a long range and highly accurate rifle – this model from Kimber is specifically designed for such purpose.

14. Magnum Lite Rimfire

Magnum Research MLR22AT Photo by alloutdoor

The Magnum Lite Rimfire is a super accurate lightweight rifle. This gun is very reliable, using a variety of ammo which makes it suitable for hunting as well as competition shooting.

15. Marlin 1895

Marlin 1895 Photo by Gun Blast

The Marlin 1895 is a 5-round capacity nifty little deer rifle. This side-ejecting lever action rifle is still widely used to hunt heavy game. It's a strong and reliable gun for the avid hunters.

16. Merkel RX Helix

Merkel RX Helix Photo by buytelescopes

This gun is extremely fast, accurate, and fires the next shot quicker than any other bolt action rifle. The Merkel RX Helix breaks down into a convenient briefcase size in only three steps, with no tools needed. It's definitely one of the best bolt action rifles in the market.

17. Mossberg 464

Mossberg 464 Photo by guns

The Mossberg 464 is fast-handling. It also has a marine coat finish which is extremely resistant to moisture. This lever action rifle can do just about anything a wood's hunter needs it to.

18. Mossberg 702 Plinkster

Mossberg 702 Plinkster Photo by mrgarrison87

The Mossberg 702 Plinkster has the qualities of more expensive rifles than itself. This has a bolt lock safety system that automatically engages after the last shot. It's well-balanced, accurate, and a great tool for hunting small game.

19. Mossberg 801 Half-pint

Mossberg 801 Half-pint Photo by rimfirecentral

This rifle is suitable for beginners and young shooters. The Mossberg 801 Half-pint can be configured by replacing the half-pint with a repeater as the shooter becomes more experienced. It's only 4 lbs in weight which makes this gun ideal even for the smallest starting shooter.

20. Mossberg 817 Varmint

Mossberg 817 Varmint Photo by armslist

The Mossberg 817 Varmint is a sleeker version of the Mossberg 802 Plinkster. It's a bolt action gun made for long distance targets and more serious varmint-hunting folks.

21. Mossberg Patriot

Mossberg Patriot Photo by sheriffjimwilson

This rifle was given the scout looks steel award a mark of overall value. The Mossberg Patriot is part of a full and growing line of Patriot bolt actions, ranging from durable wood stock to sturdy laminate models.

22. Navy Arms 1873

Navy Arms 1873 Photo by Guns America

This rifle is an old-school classic featuring the model 1873. The Navy Arms 1873 stocks are hand-select walnut material. Its design is undoubtedly an iconic symbol of the old Wild West.

23. Remington 7600

The Remington 7600 is one of the few pump action rifles on the market today. This gun is available in four cartridges, has a magazine capacity of 4 rounds, and weighs a total of 7 lbs.

24. Remington Model 700

Remington Model 700 Photo by rifleshooter

This Remington rifle has raw materials of the highest quality. The model 700 is a very accurate long range rifle built and carefully machined to the dimensions used for its barreled action.

25. Remington Rimfire

Remington Rimfire Photo by 5mmforums

The Remington Rimfire is one of the premier rifles in the rimfire class. This gun's cartridge was introduced back in 1969 to compete with the Winchester .22 WMR.

26. Ruger American Predator

Ruger American Predator Photo by lockerdome

The Ruger American Predator is a very accurate, lightweight, and affordable bolt action rifle. Tested for its solid performance, this gun is a viable option for hunting.

27. Ruger American Rimfire

Ruger American Rimfire Photo by ZRUS Outdoors Channel

The Ruger American Rimfire is a .22 caliber version of Ruger's centerfire model. One of its many cool features is an adjustable trigger and a synthetic stock that allows the use of a scope or iron sights.

28. Ruger Rotary Magazine

Ruger Rotary Magazine Photo by Bayanay

This rifle is a bolt action hunting rifle designed to use a rotary magazine. The Ruger Rotary Magazine  holds rounds and feeds the chamber with ammo as the rotor rotates.

29. Savage Axis

Savage Axis Photo by rifleshooter

The Savage Axis was initially sold as the “Edge.” This bold action hunting rifle is remarkable as it is affordable to the average consumer. Its quality matches more expensive rifles in the firearm industry.

30. Savage Mark II BV

Savage Mark II BV Photo by predatormastersforums

The Savage Mark II BV gave relief to shooters' problems with lousy trigger pulls with its “AccuTrigger.” It's adjustable to cater the shooter's preference in trigger lightness. The accuracy of this rifle performs well with a variety of tested ammunitions.

31. Savage Model 64

Savage Model 64 Photo by rimfirecentral

The Savage Model 64 is a semi-automatic rifle for learning shooters and small game hunters. Its high accuracy and affordable price make it one of the most popular target-shooting rifles in the business.

32. Savage Trophy Hunter XP

Savage Trophy Hunter XP Photo by gunsamerica

This bolt action savage firearm is good for hunting and comes with a Nikon 3-9x scope preconfigured. Both sides of the stock have aggressive texturing to secure your grip on the rifle when firing.

33. Steyr Scout

Steyr Scout Photo by bayoushooter

The Steyr Scout is a versatile rifle like no other. Its design is based on the demanding criteria of Jeff Cooper. You can hunt anything from a coyote to elk with this rifle and it's guaranteed accurate out of the box.

34. Steyr SSG 69

Steyr SSG 69 Photo by thetruthaboutguns

The Steyr SSG 69 is manufactured by an Austrian company as a precision shooting rifle. It's the gun of choice by law enforcement worldwide, as well as the military, for its tactical capability apart from hunting.

35. Taurus Thunderbolt

Taurus Thunderbolt Photo by rvbprecision

The Taurus Thunderbolt is a colt lightning reproduction manufactured in Brazil. It's a pump action rifle which is very similar to the Colt Lightning, easy to shoot and accurate – making it one of the best rifles in the market.

36. Taylor's Lightning Pump Action

Taylor's Lightning Pump Action Photo by Uberti Firearms

The Taylor's Lightning Pump Action designed to have a very fast short slide action, thus, the name “Lightning.” Amazingly, this rifle can hold up to 15 rounds of ammunition depending on the caliber– a feature made possible by its tubular magazine feature.

37. Thompson/Center Dimension

Thompson/Center Dimension Photo by gunsumerreports

This rifle makes use of a locking optimized component to switch just about anything on the rifle. Thompson Center simplified this for the consumer to enhance the rifle's versatility.

38. Thompson/Center Venture

Thompson/Center Venture Photo by gameandfishmag

The Thompson Center Venture's design allows it to deliver excellent performance and accuracy. This is part of our list of best rifles because of its adjustable precision trigger and its classic style composite stock. It's a bolt action rifle made for a quicker operation.

39. Uberti 1876

Uberti 1876 Photo by calguns

This Uberti is a replica of the Centennial rifle by Winchester. This newer model's enhancement allows it to be stronger and more accurate, powerful enough to deal with big-game animals.

40. Uberti Silverboy

Uberti Silverboy Photo by Guns America

The Uberti Silverboy is a lever action rifle with an aluminum alloy receiver. This gun is another great way to enjoy cowboy-action shooting with its classic yet powerful design.

Watch this Elk hunt video using the Mossberg Patriot rifle:

These firearms for hunting game are rated for their reasonable cost and reliability in the field. They're kickass rifles all built to cope with the modern consumer's shooting needs. Choosing how your preferred rifle operates depends on the firearm you're comfortable with. Like, I've always enjoyed watching cowboy movies with their lever action firearms. Eventually, I felt the need to learn pump and bolt action as each has their own advantages in hunting.

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Up Next: Rifle Shooting Tips & Techniques | 11 Surprising Things New Rifle Shooters Need to Know

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in May 2017 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

Featured Image Via – gameandfishmag