Best Big Game Hunting Rifles
Best big game hunting rifles have three consistent traits, including out-of-the-box accuracy, reliability, and perhaps most importantly, they fit the shooter.
Our careers in the sport optics business have given us the good fortune of shooting a whole lot of rifles. From the .22 LR all the way up to the considerable .50 caliber, we’ve fired all of them at least once and some several thousand times. Like many hunters and shooters who’ve been doing it for a while, we have honed in on a few makes and models that we rely on year in and year out. To us, the best big game hunting rifles have three consistent traits, including out-of-the-box accuracy, reliability in all terrain and weather situations, and perhaps most importantly, they fit the shooter to provide optimal performance.
The following manufacturers have turned out rifles that continue to meet this criteria year after year. They’re the go-tos for several members of the TRACT staff. Once you’ve chosen the make of the rifle, it’s time to select a caliber, then a riflescope. Though it’s hard to say there is a one-size-fits-all rifle and caliber for all big game animals, you can get pretty close.
Remington 700 Best Big Game Hunting Rifles
The reliability of the Remington 700 is known far and wide. Since its inception in the early 60s it’s been the rifle of choice for hunters, shooters, and snipers in the military. In fact, several rifle manufacturers use the Remington 700 action in their own builds due to its facilitation toward overall accuracy. Kind of ironic due to the fact that the 700 action was designed for mass production because it, at the time of development, cost less to build. When it comes to a practical big game hunting rifle that is reliable, accurate, and fits most shooters, it’s hard to argue the value of the Remington 700. It’s available in just about every caliber you could ask for to cleanly kill big game animals.
[caption id="attachment_764" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Best Big Game Hunting Rifles[/caption]
Learn more about the Remington 700 here.
Looking to get a youngster going in the hunting and shooting world? Check out the Remington Model Seven. It’s set on the same platform as the 700 though it’s nearly two and a half inches shorter and weighs just six and a half pounds.
Learn more about the Remington Model Seven here.
Bergara B-14
Bergara rifles continue to rise in popularity. And for good reason. When it comes to out-of-the-box accuracy on a production rifle, few manufacturers are in the same league. Bergara barrels, made in the town of Bergara in Spain, are world-renowned for their accuracy thanks to superior technology and decades of know-how in the barrel-building business. Similar to the Remington 700 action, many rifle manufacturers use Bergara barrels. You’ll be pleased to know that all B-14 rifles are guaranteed to produce groups of 1.0 MOA or less at 100 yards with quality factory match grade ammunition right out of the box. Essentially, what you’re getting is a production rifle that comes with a custom-quality barrel.
Bergara has done a really good job bringing the 6.5 Creedmoor to life. What started out as strictly a competition caliber has become much sought-after by hunters looking for a flat-shooting round with little recoil. Out of the B-14 series, we’re fans of the Woodsman, Hunter, and Timber, all of which are available in the 6.5 along with a range of other popular calibers like the .243 Win, .270 Win, and .30-06 Sprg.
Learn more about the Bergara B-14 here.
Browning X-Bolt
Guns & Ammo magazine has declared that the Browning X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed Long Range McMillan is arguably the best production rifle on the market. Joseph von Benedikt, a veteran gun writer, tested a rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, which further drives home the point of how desired a caliber the 6.5 has become. As we mentioned, a super important aspect of what we believe qualifies the best big game hunting rifles is that it fits the shooter. Browning has built a rifle that seems to just gel with the average-sized person. Some models of the X-Bolt even come with an adjustable comb on the stock to help optimize the performance of the rifle/shooter combo.
The X-Bolt line comes with a variety of options for hunters and shooters, including both long and short action calibers, camo, cerakoted, or wood stocks; a choice between left or right handed, and stainless or blued barrels. Basically, if there is something you desire in a rifle, you’ll probably find it in the X-Bolt line.
Learn more about the Browning X-Bolt here.
Ruger American
The Ruger American Rifle is not only one of the most affordable big game hunting rifles on the market, it also boasts the out-of-the-box accuracy you want on a production gun. You may already be thinking, “you get what you pay for.” But with the Ruger American, this is not the case. It blows just about every other rifle in its price class out of the water when it comes to both accuracy and reliability, not to mention the ergonomics that went into the new and improved lightweight, synthetic stocks. You can run several hundred rounds through it without having to clean it because accuracy is simply not affected. It is available in all the classic big-game calibers including .243 Win, .270 Win, .30-06 Sprg., and the new 6.5 Creedmoor.
Learn more about the Ruger American Rifle here.
Whether you’re hunting deer, elk, or antelope, long-range shooting is greatly improved with the addition of a TRACT riflescope. When it comes time to choose your optics, you can reach us via email, phone, or chat, or just buy directly here on our website. One of the most satisfying parts of our job is helping big game hunters improve their accuracy, therefore finding more enjoyment in the shooting sports.
email: [email protected] Phone: 631-662-7354 Chat online: tractoptics.com