By Bryce M. Towsley. This hunting rifle features either a 4140 carbon steel barrel with a matte blue finish or a Cerakote finished barrel, both with a threaded muzzle. Ruger introduced the American series of medium bolt action rifles in 2011. Browning BLR Lightweight ’81 ($900) The Browning BLR Lightweight ’81 ($900) comes in a variety of calibers, making it a great well-rounded rifle for North American hunting. Latest. For an affordable price you get an accurate, lightweight, quality rifle. This rifle should be considered if you are on a tight budget. More Guns. Mag., or .338 Lapua Mag. The Absolute Best Big Game Hunting Rifles 1. The Ruger American Ranch rifle offers a short (70-degree) bolt lift thanks to a three-lug bolt that rides in a one-piece receiver with a reduced ejection port for maximum rigidity. The Axis II is one of the best values in bolt action rifles. Not too much though. November 11, 2019. They are a reliable and accurate rifle for long to medium range contact, so they make ideal hunting rifles for woodland situations. These rifles have proven themselves on heavyweight bucks in big timber. Ruger’s beloved bolt-action rifles get a boost this year with the addition of the Hawkeye Hunter lineup. CVA, a longtime leader in muzzleloaders, has entered the bolt-action rifle market in 2020 with the new Cascade model. Because the caliber is so popular and the guns are both so good in their own right, there is enough room at the top for the two bolt action .22 rifles here on this list. The most common use for bolt action rifles today is domestic sporting and game management. The name of the game for bolt-action hunting rifles these days seems to be an emphasis on lighter guns that are accurate at longer ranges. Bolt action rifles have been used in everything from military operations, civilian enforcement, and common game hunting. Bolt action rifles have been the most popular hunting firearm since T. R. was in the White House. Tikka T3 Lite. Modern CNC equipment allows manufacturers to tighten tolerances and lower costs, and the result has been a trend toward more accurate hunting rifles at comparatively lower costs. The bolt-action rifle market has evolved over the past decade, and that’s due in large part to improvements in machining technology. If a shooter is willing to get closer to or break the $1,500 mark (and not by much), they can gun up to a long-action Model 110 BA Stealth and pitch .300 Win. With 22- or 24-inch barrels, there are seven calibers from the 6.5’s to the 7mm and .300 Magnums, with several options for lefties as well. 4. CVA Cascade. Hunting. Somebody who wants a good, basic .308 bolt action rifle for the money. 6 Best Deer Rifles for Hunting The Big Woods. This one is not as well finished or as pretty as the rifle detailed above, but it is a spectacular piece of work. 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