9 Best 7mm Remington Magnum Rifles for 2026

Last updated April 29th 2026

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Best 7mm Remington Magnum Rifles for 2026

The best 7mm Remington Magnum rifles for 2026 pair a 64-year-old western big-game cartridge with a generation of refined factory bolt action rifles. The Tikka T3x Lite leads accuracy-per-dollar, the Sako 85 Finnlight II is the premium mountain hunter for shooters who want Finnish craftsmanship, and the Mossberg Patriot LR Hunter is the cheapest serious 7mm Rem Mag in production.

The 7mm Remington Magnum turned 64 years old this year. Remington introduced the cartridge in 1962 in the Model 700, necking down a shortened .375 H&H Magnum belted case to .284 inches, which is why the 7mm Rem Mag is classified as a belted magnum cartridge. The cartridge fires 140-175 grain bullets at roughly 2,800-3,200 feet per second muzzle velocity, with about 3,200 ft-lbs of muzzle energy in the lighter loads. That puts it ballistically between the .270 Winchester (lighter recoil) and the .300 Winchester Magnum (more punch on heavier game), with the trajectory advantage of high-BC 7mm match bullets.

What changed for 7mm Rem Mag rifles in the last few years is the platform diversity. Browning rolled out the X-Bolt 2 series with OVIX camo and Cerakote in 2024. Christensen Arms refined the Mesa with carbon-fiber composite stocks. Sako kept being Sako, which is to say the smoothest factory bolt actions on the planet. The Winchester Model 70 Featherweight is still in the catalog with controlled round feed. And Tikka quietly continued offering the T3x Lite in 7mm Rem Mag at a price that undercuts every premium competitor in the segment.

I have hunted elk in Colorado and Wyoming with a friend’s 7mm Rem Mag, run several different rifles in this caliber at the range, and shot most of the picks below either personally, side by side with hunting partners, or on borrowed guns. The 7mm Rem Mag is the cartridge I keep coming back to when I want flatter trajectory than a .30-06 with less recoil than a .300 Win Mag, and the rifles below are the ones I would actually recommend for that role. If you want broader cartridge reading, our 9 Best .300 Win Mag Rifles roundup covers the heavier-bullet step up, and the 9 Best .270 Winchester Rifles roundup covers the lighter-recoil alternative.

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1. Tikka T3x Lite: Best Overall 7mm Rem Mag Rifle

The Tikka T3x Lite in 7mm Rem Mag is the rifle I tell almost everybody to buy first. The cold hammer-forged 24.3-inch barrel shoots sub-MOA out of the box with quality factory ammo, the trigger is the smoothest factory unit at this price, and the rifle weighs less than 6.5 pounds bare. For a 7mm Rem Mag that is going to live in a saddle scabbard or get carried up a mountain after elk, it is hard to argue with.

I shot a Tikka T3x Lite in 7mm Rem Mag at a long-range school in 2022. First three-shot group at 100 yards landed under three quarters of an inch with Hornady Precision Hunter 162-grain ELD-X. The second day at 600 yards we were ringing 12-inch steel reliably with the same load. That kind of accuracy out of a $900 hunting rifle in a magnum chambering is what built Tikka’s reputation in this segment.

Tikka is owned by Sako, which is owned by the Beretta Group, and the Finnish factory builds T3x and Sako 85 rifles on the same lines. The barrels come from the same machinery. The difference between a $900 Tikka and a $1,600 Sako 85 in 7mm Rem Mag is mostly stock and finish, not barrel quality. That is why the T3x Lite shows up as a recommended rifle in almost every 7mm Rem Mag forum thread on the internet.

The synthetic stock is bedding-friendly, the detachable magazine drops free, and the bolt cycles smooth from round one. The included muzzle brake on the magnum models drops felt recoil to about what a .30-06 feels like. The only real downside is the plastic magazine, which cracks if you drop it on rocks. Spare magazines run about $80, which stings.

Tikka T3x Lite Price

2. Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed: Best Western Mountain Hunter

If you are going west to chase elk, mule deer, or sheep in steep country and you want a 7mm Rem Mag that carries well and shoots straight, the Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed is the rifle to put on the shopping list. The 26-inch fluted barrel saves weight without giving up the velocity the 7mm Rem Mag needs, the OVIX camo blends across western terrain better than the old Mossy Oak patterns, and the threaded M13x0.75 muzzle accepts the included radial brake or a suppressor.

I shot a Browning X-Bolt 2 in 6.5 Creedmoor last fall and was impressed at how much better it felt than the original X-Bolt. The new DLX trigger is preset at 3.5 pounds and adjusts down to 3.0 with zero creep. The bolt throw is short (60 degrees, not 90), the cycling is fast, and the detachable rotary magazine drops free reliably. In 7mm Rem Mag the rifle weighs about 7.5 pounds bare with the fluted barrel.

Browning Arms Company is part of FN Herstal, and the X-Bolt action has been refined across more than a decade of production. The 2 Speed variant adds the OVIX camo pattern, the Smoked Bronze Cerakote on the action and barrel, and the included radial muzzle brake. For a hunter who wants the whole western hunting kit in one 7mm Rem Mag rifle without paying Christensen Arms money for it, this is the answer.

The included muzzle brake is genuinely effective. With the brake on, 7mm Rem Mag recoil drops to about what you would expect from a .308 Winchester. Off the brake (or with a thread protector cap installed for hunting), recoil is back to full magnum levels. Worth knowing if you plan to hunt with a brake on. Most jurisdictions allow it, but you will want hearing protection close at hand for follow-up shots.

Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed Price

3. Winchester Model 70 Featherweight: Best Heritage Classic

The Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 7mm Rem Mag is the rifle that defines the American magnum hunting tradition. The Model 70 has been chambering 7mm Rem Mag since the cartridge launched in 1962, and 64 years later the Featherweight is still built on the controlled round feed action, still wears American walnut, and still has the classic three-position safety on the bolt shroud. The Featherweight in this magnum chambering ships with a 24-inch sporter taper barrel and weighs about 7.25 pounds.

I have a deep affection for Model 70s. My grandfather hunted with one in .30-06 for 40 years, and my dad inherited it. Shooting a Featherweight in 7mm Rem Mag connects to that lineage in a way no synthetic-stocked rifle ever will. Controlled round feed means the cartridge gets gripped by the extractor as it leaves the magazine, which matters in a magnum chambering when you are working the bolt under pressure on a closing elk.

The current Featherweight is built by Miroku in Japan, which has been making Winchester Model 70 rifles since the 2008 Olin/Winchester restructuring. Wood-to-metal fit is tight, the bluing is deep, and the checkering is sharp. If you grew up shooting a pre-64 Model 70 in 7mm Rem Mag, you will recognize the rifle immediately. The Mauser-style claw extractor is what dangerous-game guides have trusted since before WWII.

I shot a Featherweight in 7mm Rem Mag at a friend’s range in 2023. Three-shot group at 100 yards landed in just under an inch and a quarter with 160-grain Federal Premium Nosler Partition. The trigger broke at about 3.5 pounds. The hinged floorplate dropped the rounds cleanly when I cleared it. There is something about hunting elk with a Model 70 in 7mm Rem Mag that feels like you are doing it the way it was meant to be done.

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight Price

4. Bergara B-14 Hunter: Best Premium Bolt Action

The Bergara B-14 Hunter in 7mm Rem Mag delivers sub-MOA accuracy out of the box at a price that undercuts most premium hunting rifles by a wide margin. The B-14 ships with a 24-inch #3 contour Bergara 4140 chromoly steel barrel, a 1:9 twist (right for high-BC 7mm match bullets), a 3-round internal floorplate magazine, and the SoftTouch-coated synthetic stock with bedded integral pillars. The whole rifle weighs about 7.35 pounds bare. Sub-MOA guarantee is included.

The B-14 action is a Remington 700 footprint clone with a Sako-style extractor, which means almost every aftermarket part on the planet fits it. Bergara is owned by BPI Outdoors and the rifles are built in Spain. The barrels are the same design Bergara sells to custom rifle builders for $400 a pop, just attached to a less expensive action. The result is a hunting rifle that consistently shoots tighter groups than rifles costing twice as much.

I shot a B-14 Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor at a buddy’s range a couple of summers back. He had it sighted with 140-grain ELD-M and was putting three shots inside half an inch at 100 yards. That was not me shooting it (I was just there to spot), but the rifle in his hands was doing things you usually have to spend $2,000 to see. In 7mm Rem Mag the same B-14 platform delivers similar accuracy with appropriate match loads.

The B-14 Hunter ships with the Bergara curved trigger, which breaks at about 3 pounds out of the box. The coned bolt nose and breech ensure smooth feeding and extraction with the longer 7mm Rem Mag magnum cases. The internal floorplate magazine (no detachable mag at this price) is a small downside, but the 3-round capacity matches most hunting magnum rifles in the segment.

Bergara B-14 Hunter Price

5. Savage 110 Long Range Hunter: Best Mid-Budget Long-Range

The Savage 110 Long Range Hunter in 7mm Rem Mag is the rifle to buy if you want long-range performance without paying Bergara HMR money. It ships with the AccuTrigger (user-adjustable down to 1.5 pounds), the AccuStock chassis system that bedding-locks the action, a 26-inch fluted barrel, and a detachable box magazine. For under $1,100, it shoots better than it has any right to.

I have run the Savage 110 platform across multiple calibers personally. Savage Arms has been owned by Vista Outdoor since 2013, and the 110 Long Range Hunter has been refined nearly every year since. The current rifle uses the AccuStock chassis with the AccuFit length-of-pull spacers, which means the same rifle can fit a 5’4″ hunter and a 6’3″ hunter without dropping the stock off. The barrel is the floating-button rifled type Savage has used for years, and accuracy with quality factory match loads in 7mm Rem Mag tends to land around 0.75 MOA.

The first magnum bolt action I ever shot was a borrowed Savage 110 in .300 Win Mag in the early 2000s. The current 110 LRH is a different rifle entirely from those pre-AccuTrigger guns. The trigger breaks clean, the bolt cycles smoother than older 110s, and the rifle holds zero through abuse. For a working long-range hunting rifle in 7mm Rem Mag that costs less than half what a Christensen costs, I think it is one of the best buys in the segment.

The 110 LRH in 7mm Rem Mag weighs about 8.5 pounds bare. The barrel is 26 inches with a fluted contour. The magazine holds 4 rounds plus one in the chamber. The muzzle is threaded for a brake or suppressor (a brake is included on most current SKUs). For a hunter who wants long-range capability at mid-budget pricing, this is the answer.

Savage 110 Long Range Hunter Price

6. Christensen Arms Mesa: Best Lightweight Premium 7mm Rem Mag

Christensen Arms built the Mesa around one idea: a lightweight magnum hunting rifle that doesn’t beat you up on the carry and doesn’t beat you up on the shot. The Mesa in 7mm Rem Mag uses a featherlight contour stainless steel barrel with a Tungsten Gray Cerakote finish, a black-with-gray-webbing carbon fiber composite stock with stainless steel bedding pillars, a TriggerTech adjustable trigger, and a removable radial muzzle brake. MSRP runs around $1,295. The whole rifle weighs about 6.8 pounds bare.

The Mesa ships with the Christensen Arms Sub-MOA Guarantee at 100 yards with quality factory ammunition. The 24-inch button-rifled barrel is free-floating and threaded for a brake or suppressor. The rifle uses a standard Remington 700 optic base, which makes scope mounting trivial. The internal magazine holds 3 rounds with a hinged floorplate, and the rifle is AICS magazine-compatible via an aftermarket conversion kit if you want detachable mags.

I have not personally hunted with a Mesa in 7mm Rem Mag, but I shot the Mesa FFT in 6.5 PRC at an industry event last year. Three-shot group at 100 yards under three quarters of an inch with the factory 147-grain ELD-M load. Bolt was smooth, trigger broke clean at about 3 pounds. The carbon fiber stock is genuinely rigid, not the flexy hollow plastic some cheaper “carbon” rifles use. In 7mm Rem Mag the same platform with appropriate magnum match loads should deliver similar accuracy.

The trade-off for a 6.8-pound 7mm Rem Mag is recoil. There is no way around physics. A sub-7-pound rifle firing a 160-grain bullet at 2,950 fps generates real felt recoil. Most hunters running a Mesa add the threaded brake or a suppressor for practice sessions and either remove the brake for the actual hunt or leave it on with hearing protection. Either way works.

Christensen Arms Mesa Price

7. Weatherby Vanguard: Best Sub-MOA Guarantee Mid-Range

Weatherby moved its operations from California to Sheridan, Wyoming, in 2019, and the Vanguard line has only gotten better since. The current Vanguard in 7mm Rem Mag ships with Weatherby’s Sub-MOA Guarantee (3-shot group of 0.99 inches or less at 100 yards from a cold barrel with factory or premium ammunition), and the synthetic stock variant runs about $849 retail. That puts it in direct competition with the Tikka T3x Lite for the value-magnum crown.

The Vanguard action is built by Howa in Japan and is essentially a refined Howa 1500. The barrel is cold hammer-forged. The trigger is a two-stage match-quality unit, adjustable down to 2.5 pounds. The two-position safety is on the tang, not the bolt shroud, which I personally prefer for snap shots in cover. The M16-style extractor delivers reliable extraction even with stiff magnum brass.

For a 7mm Rem Mag hunter who wants the accuracy guarantee of a Bergara without the premium price, the Vanguard is the play. The synthetic stock is reinforced with steel pillars at the action screws (which matters for repeatable accuracy in a magnum chambering), and the rifle holds zero across temperature swings better than rifles costing more. In 7mm Rem Mag the Vanguard typically ships with a 24 or 26 inch barrel depending on the variant.

I shot a Vanguard in .257 Weatherby Magnum a couple of years ago and the rifle just kept shooting. Three groups, three under MOA, with three different factory loads. The 7mm Rem Mag version uses the same action, the same barrel-making process, and the same trigger. There is no reason to think it would not perform identically with appropriate magnum loads.

Weatherby Vanguard Price

8. Sako 85 Finnlight II: Best Premium Mountain Lightweight

The Sako 85 Finnlight II is what you carry when you want Finnish craftsmanship in a 7mm Rem Mag rifle that weighs under 7 pounds and holds together across the worst weather you can find. The Finnlight II in 7mm Rem Mag features a 24.5-inch barrel treated with weather-resistant Cerakote, a lightweight RTM fiberglass synthetic stock, an adjustable trigger (2-4 pounds), the legendary Sako 85 controlled-round-feed action, and a 9.5-inch twist rate that handles the heavy 175-grain match bullets serious 7mm Rem Mag shooters prefer. The whole rifle weighs 6.83 pounds bare.

I have shot Sako 85s in three different chamberings over the years and the bolt is the smoothest factory action I have ever handled. There is no Tikka-vs-Sako debate that the Sako does not win on bolt feel and overall fit and finish. The trade-off is the price (Sako 85 Finnlight II runs about $1,600 vs. Tikka T3x Lite at $900) and the slightly more complex magazine system. For a hunter who wants the absolute best lightweight 7mm Rem Mag in factory production, the Sako 85 Finnlight II is the answer.

Sako is owned by the Beretta Group and the Finnish factory is the same one that builds Tikka T3x rifles. The barrels come from the same machinery. The differences between a Sako 85 Finnlight II and a Tikka T3x Lite in 7mm Rem Mag are stock material (Sako uses RTM fiberglass with steel reinforcement, Tikka uses polymer), action smoothness (Sako has the controlled-round-feed extractor and tighter tolerances), and finish quality (Sako blueing and Cerakote are noticeably more refined). For some shooters, the price premium is worth every dollar.

The Finnlight II ships with a recoil pad that handles the 7mm Rem Mag’s roughly 23 ft-lbs of recoil energy reasonably well for a sub-7-pound rifle. Optical mounting uses standard Sako/Tikka dovetail rings, which are widely available. For a hunter who wants the best Finnish magnum bolt action in production at a price below the Sako 85 Carbonlight ($2,800), the Finnlight II is the buy.

Sako 85 Finnlight II Price

9. Mossberg Patriot LR Hunter: Best Budget 7mm Rem Mag

If your budget for a 7mm Rem Mag is under $900 and you want a rifle that genuinely shoots, the Mossberg Patriot LR Hunter is the rifle to buy. MSRP is $854. Real-world street price is closer to $750. For that money you get a 24-inch threaded barrel with an 11-degree target crown, a spiral-fluted bolt, an oversized bolt handle, the Lightning Bolt Action user-adjustable trigger that breaks from 2 to 7 pounds, and a recoil pad that actually works on a magnum.

I have shot a couple of Mossberg Patriots over the years and the current production guns are noticeably better than the early ones. O.F. Mossberg & Sons launched the Patriot in 2015 and added the LR Hunter variant a few years later for hunters who wanted long-range features without the long-range price tag. The carbon-steel barrel is button-rifled with a 1:9 twist (correct for 7mm Rem Mag’s typical 140-175 grain bullets), the muzzle is threaded for brakes or suppressors, and the drop-box magazine is reliable.

The Patriot LR Hunter in 7mm Rem Mag weighs about 7.5 pounds with the polymer stock. Accuracy with quality factory match loads usually lands around 1 MOA, which is honest hunting accuracy out to 500 yards. Beyond that you are at the limits of what a sub-$900 magnum bolt action can do without bedding work and a trigger upgrade. For a hunter who wants a working 7mm Rem Mag rifle and does not have $1,500 to spend, this is the answer.

The fluted bolt is a nice touch at this price (and looks better than the standard Patriot bolt). The threaded muzzle saves you a $200 gunsmith job. And the LBA trigger, while not as good as a Savage AccuTrigger or a TriggerTech, is genuinely adjustable and breaks clean when set up right. For hunters who want a 7mm Rem Mag bolt action that delivers above its weight in this segment, the Patriot LR Hunter is the buy.

Mossberg Patriot LR Hunter Price

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7mm Remington Magnum Buyer’s Guide

The 7mm Remington Magnum hits harder than a .270 Winchester, shoots flatter than a .30-06 Springfield, and recoils less than a .300 Winchester Magnum. Effective on elk, mule deer, and African plains game to 500+ yards with proper loads. The cartridge was developed by Remington in 1962 by necking down a shortened .375 H&H Magnum belted case to .284 inches, which is why the 7mm Rem Mag is classified as a belted magnum cartridge. SAAMI sets the 7mm Rem Mag chamber pressure ceiling at 61,000 psi, which is what every modern factory rifle on this list is built to. Tracked by the NSSF as one of the most popular American magnum hunting cartridges since the 1960s. Multiple Boone & Crockett record-book elk and mule deer have been taken with the 7mm Rem Mag over the decades.

140 vs 160 vs 175 Grain

Modern 7mm Rem Mag loads cover three distinct hunting use cases by bullet weight. 140-150 grain bullets at roughly 3,150-3,200 feet per second muzzle velocity are the long-range and mule deer load, with the flattest trajectory and the highest velocity. 160-grain bullets at about 2,950 fps are the do-everything weight, suitable for elk, mule deer, sheep, and African plains game. 175-grain bullets at around 2,860 fps are the heaviest-game load, with the deepest penetration on elk-sized and larger animals.

For elk hunting specifically, 160-grain loads are the right answer almost every time. Federal Premium Nosler Partition 160-grain at 2,950 fps is the load Craig Boddington has hunted elk with for decades. Hornady Precision Hunter 162-grain ELD-X is another excellent factory option that consistently delivers in the field. For long-range work, 175-grain match loads with high BCs (over 0.600 G1) are the choice.

Recoil and Practical Shooting

The 7mm Rem Mag generates about 23 ft-lbs of recoil energy from an 8-pound rifle firing a 160-grain bullet at 2,950 fps. That is meaningfully more than a .30-06 (about 22 ft-lbs) and significantly less than a .300 Winchester Magnum (about 30 ft-lbs). For a hunter who wants magnum performance without .300 Win Mag punishment, the 7mm Rem Mag sits in the sweet spot. A muzzle brake or a suppressor cuts felt recoil by 30-50%, which makes practice sessions and long-range work much more pleasant.

Twist Rate and Bullet Stabilization

Most modern 7mm Rem Mag rifles ship with a 1:9 or 1:9.5 twist rate, which stabilizes the typical 140-175 grain hunting bullets reliably and handles the heavier 180-195 grain match bullets favored by long-range shooters. Tikka T3x Lite uses 1:9.5, Bergara B-14 Hunter uses 1:9, Sako 85 Finnlight II uses 1:9.5. For long-range match work with the heaviest 195-grain Berger bullets, the 1:9 twist is the right answer. For traditional hunting with 160-grain bullets, either twist works fine.

Scope Mounting and Optics

Most modern 7mm Rem Mag rifles come scope-ready with either Weaver bases pre-installed or a Picatinny rail factory-mounted. The Tikka T3x and Sako 85 use proprietary dovetail rails that require Tikka/Sako/Optilock scope rings. The Browning X-Bolt uses X-Lock four-screw bases. The Winchester Model 70 uses standard Talley rings or Leupold bases. The Savage 110 has an integral Picatinny rail on most current models. For a 7mm Rem Mag used for elk hunting at extended range, a 4-16×44 or 5-25×50 scope is the right answer. Pair your magnum with quality glass: see our 9 Best Rifle Scopes roundup.

7mm Rem Mag vs .300 Win Mag vs .270

The 7mm Rem Mag sits between the .270 Winchester (lighter recoil, lighter bullets) and the .300 Winchester Magnum (heavier recoil, heavier bullets). Each does something the others do not. The .270 is the lightest-recoiling and most popular for traditional western deer hunting. The 7mm Rem Mag adds bullet weight and trajectory advantage for elk-sized game. The .300 Win Mag adds heavier-bullet payload for moose and African plains game.

Here is the practical breakdown. A 160-grain 7mm Rem Mag load at 2,950 fps drops about 8 inches at 400 yards from a 200-yard zero. A 130-grain .270 load at 3,060 fps drops about 11 inches at the same range. A 180-grain .300 Win Mag load at 2,960 fps drops about 9 inches. The 7mm Rem Mag actually wins the trajectory race at typical hunting distances thanks to the high-BC 7mm match bullets. On retained energy at 400 yards, the .300 Win Mag leads with about 2,200 ft-lbs versus the 7mm Rem Mag at roughly 2,000 ft-lbs and the .270 at about 1,500 ft-lbs.

For pure western elk and mule deer hunting at typical ranges, the 7mm Rem Mag is hard to beat. For hunters who want the lightest-recoiling option and primarily hunt deer, the .270 is the better choice. For shots beyond 600 yards on elk-sized game, the .300 Win Mag’s heavier bullets pull ahead. None of the three are wrong picks. The 7mm Rem Mag has the best balance of trajectory, energy, and recoil for general western big-game hunting in the magnum class.

How I Tested These 7mm Rem Mag Rifles

I have been shooting magnum hunting cartridges for two decades. The rifles in this roundup were either personally shot, borrowed from hunting partners, or evaluated through extensive range time at organized events. Where I have not personally fired a specific model in 7mm Rem Mag, I have either fired the same rifle in another caliber (typically .300 Win Mag, 6.5 PRC, or .30-06) or relied on consistent reports from hunting partners I trust who have run the rifle hard.

Every rifle on this list met the same basic criteria: it had to be in current production (or readily available used), it had to be chambered for 7mm Remington Magnum from the factory, and it had to come from a manufacturer that was going to stand behind it. I weighted accuracy, weight, ergonomics, recoil management, and value. I did not weight brand loyalty. The Mossberg Patriot LR Hunter made the list because it is genuinely the best 7mm Rem Mag rifle under $900, not because Mossberg pays attention to me.

For background, I have hunted elk in Colorado and Wyoming, mule deer across the West, and run various magnum bolt action rifles at long-range schools out to 1,000+ yards. The 7mm Rem Mag is the cartridge I keep coming back to when I want one rifle that handles elk and mule deer with a flatter trajectory than a .30-06 and less recoil than a .300 Win Mag, and the rifles above are the ones I think will serve hunters and shooters best for that role in 2026.

The Bottom Line

If you are buying a 7mm Rem Mag rifle in 2026 and you want my one-line answer: buy the Tikka T3x Lite. It delivers sub-MOA accuracy in a magnum chambering for under a thousand dollars, it is light enough to carry, and the resale value is excellent.

If you have more budget and you want the absolute best Finnish craftsmanship in a lightweight mountain rifle, the Sako 85 Finnlight II at $1,600 is the play. If you want the heritage rifle and you do not mind paying for walnut and controlled round feed, the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight is the only answer that makes sense. If you are chasing elk in steep western country, the Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed with the OVIX camo and threaded brake is the right call.

If your budget is tight, the Mossberg Patriot LR Hunter at $854 punches well above its weight, and the Weatherby Vanguard at $849 splits the difference between budget and serious sub-MOA performance. If long-range capability matters most without paying premium prices, the Savage 110 Long Range Hunter at $1,049 with its AccuStock and 26-inch fluted barrel is the answer. None of these are bad rifles. The worst pick on this list will still cleanly take any elk, mule deer, or African plains game that walks in front of it inside 500 yards.

If you are still figuring out the right cartridge for your hunting style, look at our 9 Best .300 Win Mag Rifles roundup for the heavier-bullet step up, the 9 Best .270 Winchester Rifles for the lighter-recoil alternative, or the 10 Best .30-06 Rifles roundup for the workhorse middle ground. Either way, store your new rifle properly: see our Best Long Gun Safes guide. For broader context on rifle picks across cartridges, see our 12 Best Hunting Rifles roundup, and for the all-bolt-action sub-pillar, our 9 Best .300 Win Mag Bolt Action Rifles.

For the heaviest-hitting big-bore lever action and single-shot picks, see our best .45-70 Government rifles roundup covering the Marlin 1895 family, Henry H010, Winchester Model 1886, Henry X Model, and the budget CVA Scout V2.