From a budget friendly, proven bolt-action rifle and scope combo, a top-notch factory precision rifle to one of the coolest pistol-caliber carbines on the market, if you're looking for a new addition to your gun safe, a rugged gun that will put meat on the table, or a cutting-edge home defense PCC, these guns fit the bill.
Mossberg Patriot - Vortex Scope Combo
Who doesn’t love an all-in-one, ready-to-hunt combo! Mossberg’s latest Patriot, wearing the 3-9x40mm Vortex Crossfire II, is available in both synthetic (shown) and walnut stock options. The new Patriot features a drop box mag, threaded barrel, spiral fluted bolt and bolt handle, recessed match barrel crown and a patented LBA user-adjustable trigger (2 to 7 pounds).
Pricewise, the synthetic retails for $650, while the more traditional-looking walnut-stocked variant goes for $874. Both short- and long-action models are available, and the caliber options run the big-game-ready gamut.
Pairs Well With:
SilencerCo’s new Scythe Ti or Scythe STM suppressor. Keep those hunts and range sessions super quiet with one of these two gems from the Scythe series, created to elevate suppression for .30-caliber rifles ranging from .223 Rem/5.56 NATO up to .300 RUM. MSRP: $1,174 (Ti); $939 (STM)
Ruger Precision Rifle
Since its introduction in 2015, the Ruger RPR (Ruger Precision Rifle) has been setting a new standard in the long-range shooting world. Besides being a real head turner, the latest new and improved design of the RPR features a fully adjustable buttstock that conforms to any shooter or style, a heavy contour barrel with RPR brake for devouring recoil and an in-line recoil pad that manages recoil directly from the rear of the receiver to the buttstock.
Caliber options include 6.5 PRC, .300 Win Mag, .300 PRC, 6.5 Creedmoor and the PRS/NRL favorite 6mm GT. Caliber-dependent barrel-length options include 20, 24 and 26 inches. MSRP: $2,149 to $3,349
Pairs Well With:
The Sightmark Latitude 6.25-25x56 with PRS Reticle is a solid match-ready riflescope that won’t break the family budget. The Latitude features oversized turrets, a zero-stop elevation dial, a locking, fast-focus eyepiece and an etched FFP reticle with red/green illumination.
The waterproof, up to .50 BMG-rated scope is built with a single-piece 34mm tube. MSRP: $839.97
Daniel Defense DD PCC Braced Pistol
For truck-gun use or home defense, this new short-barreled pistol really shines. The ultra-compact DD PCC (pistol caliber carbine) Braced Pistol is an AR-style pistol that’s portable and highly maneuverable. It features an 8.3-inch cold hammer-forged barrel and a free-floating, 7-inch DD4 rail with popular M-Lok attachment for accommodating lights, sling mounts or the vertical foregrip.
With its adjustable Maxim Defense CQB Gen 7 brace, the gun’s overall length runs between 22.5 to 27 inches, while overall weight is 5.9 pounds. MSRP: $1,949
Pairs Well With:
Federal Syntech PCC ammunition is designed to run like a thoroughbred in your favorite pistol-caliber carbines. The 9mm, 130-grain rounds feature Syntech Jacket Flat Note pills that zip away at 1,140 feet per second. MSRP: $29.99 for 50 rounds
Taurus Expedition Bolt-Action Rifle
Taurus’ first bolt-action rifle was originally launched in .308 Winchester with an 18-inch hammer-forged barrel. Since then, the under-$1,000 Taurus Expedition rifle, based on the Remington 700 action, is now available with a 20-inch tube chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor.
Taurus Expeditions feed from commonly available, five-round AICS-pattern magazines. Another hunter-friendly feature includes the scalloped cut on the stock, which allows the rifle to rest solidly in gun saddles. Shooters could also utilize the M-Lok attachment point on the bottom of the stock or the integrated Spartan Precision attachment point.
Overall lengths are 37.92 inches (.308) and 39.92 inches (6.5 Creedmoor), while overall weight is 7 pounds. MSRP: $984
Pairs Well With:
Go for the Gold — Black Hills Gold 6.5 Creedmoor, that is. The BHA cartridge is designed to employ the highest ballistic coefficient projectiles available in 6.5 caliber. Perfect pairing here is the 143-grainer with the Hornady ELD-X projectile.
Tests using a 22-inch-barreled rifle yield a muzzle velocity of 2,750 feet per second and downrange energy of a whopping 2,401 foot-pounds (ft-lbs)! MSRP: $47.99 for 20 rounds
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