14 New Deer Rifles for 2012

July 10, 2012 By Tracy Breen

From classically-styled rifles dad would love to renegade lever actions that your son might enjoy, here's a look at some of the new deer rifles you might want at your side this fall.

Browning A-Bolt II

Browning has a rifle for giving a buck a dirt nap at a long distance. The A-Bolt II Long Range Hunter has plenty of features that will allow the hardcore hunter to drive tacks, including an extra-durable composite stock, a glass-bedded receiver that is drilled and tapped and ready for scope mounts, a 60-degree bolt lift, adjustable trigger, detachable box magazine, hinged floorplate and top-tang safety. It also has a right-hand palm swell for a steadier shot. It comes with a top-notch recoil pad so the hunter can worry about the shot, not the kick. The A-Bolt II Long Range Hunter is available in a variety of calibers including 7mm Rem. Mag and .300 Win Mag.

Marlin X7S

Marlin is best known for making top-notch lever-action rifles, but they also make a nice stainless steel bolt-action rifle called the X7 that comes with a variety of calibers including .243 Win., 7mm-08 Remington and .308 Win. This gun has a number of bells and whistles including Marlin's Pro-Fire adjustable trigger, Soft-Tech recoil pad and a lightweight pillar-bedded synthetic stock. This gun comes with a fluted bolt that makes for a smooth action. The X7S has many high-end features without the high-end price.

Mossberg MMR

Mossberg has a new semi-automatic .223 rifle called the MMR Hunter. This cool gun comes in black, Mossy Oak Treestand and Mossy Oak Brush and has a checkered aluminum tube forearm, stark SE 1 pistol grip and an AS-style buttstock. It has a Picatinny rail so accessories can be added and a free-floating, 20-inch button rifled barrel with a 1:9 twist.

Mossberg 464 SPX

Looking for a lever-action rifle with attitude? Check out the Mossberg 464 SPX. This .30-30 Winchester will get the job done in the field and be the conversation piece around the campfire. This rifle is a tactical lever-action. It has a 16.25-inch barrel and a flash suppressor. It comes with a six-position adjustable stock, Tri-rail fore-end with covers and a three-dot fiber optic sight. This matte black lever-action has attitude.

Nosler Model 48 Legacy Rifle

Those looking for a high-end rifle from a company known for extreme accuracy should check out the Nosler Model 48 Legacy Rifle. This rifle is striking, thanks to a hand-oiled walnut stock. Mechanics of the rifle are just as impressive. It is built with a hand-lapped PAC-NOR match-grade chrome moly and fully free-floated barrel, which is very accurate. It has a Custom Rifle Basix trigger adjusted to a three-pound let-off and is glass-pillar-bedded. In addition, the gun comes with a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad. This gun is for the hunter who wants one of the best factory guns available with a custom feel and look.

Remington 50th Anniversary Model 700 BDL

Remington is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 700 BDL by producing an Anniversary Edition. This model comes with a laser-engraved commemorative floorplate. The stock is made of classy B-grade walnut and has fleur-di-lis checkering and white line spacers at the recoil pad, grip cap and fore-end. The gun has a 24-inch barrel, and the X-Mark Pro externally adjustable trigger is set at 3.5 pounds. This rifle is super accurate and reliable, just like the original was 50 years ago.

Rossi Circuit Judge

Rossi has an versatile new rifle called the Circuit Judge. This rifle can hold five rounds and shoot .45 Colt, .410 three-inch shells and .410 2.5-inch shells. It can be purchased in a blued or stainless version. Some of the cool features include fiber optic front sight, yoke detent, transfer bar and the super-safe Taurus Security System. This gun looks like a revolver on steroids.

Sako 85 Grizzly

Hunters looking for a gun that can be passed through the generations should check out the new Sako 85 Grizzly. This gun is beautiful. It is made with a high-grade walnut stock, a fluted barrel and a smooth-operating blued action. The Grizzly allows for fast target acquisition thanks to iron sights with whole rear sight line and bead and a detachable staggered 2-row steel magazine. This rifle is available in a variety of calibers including .308 WIN, .338 Fed and .30-06 Sprg and has an adjustable trigger that can be set between 2-4 pounds.

Savage Axis

Savage is known for making great guns that are priced right. The Savage Axis fits the bill. The Axis has a sleek new design that looks great. The bolt is smooth as butter, so a second round can quickly be loaded. The Axis is drilled and tapped for scope mounts, has a synthetic stock, a carbon steel barrel and is available in a variety calibers including .22-250 Rem. and .308 Win.

Ruger American Rifle

Ruger has a new bolt-action rifle called the American Rifle. This eye-catching rifle is made entirely in the USA and comes with several top-notch features one would expect from Ruger. It comes with the Ruger Marksman adjustable trigger, which can be set between three and five pounds, a hammer-forged barrel, lightweight stock and power bedding. It also has a very reliable rotary magazine. This gun comes with a black composite stock and is available in a variety of calibers including the .243 Win. and .308 Win.

Tikka T3

For 2012, Tikka has a new rifle called the T3 Forest. This rifle comes with a beautiful walnut stock that has a roll over cheek piece. This style offers a better head position for the shooter and is especially appealing for shooters who use large variable scopes that require higher mounts. The Forest has an adjustable butt plate and is available in a wide array of calibers including .270 Win Short Mag and 7mm Rem Mag.

Thompson/Center Dimension

Thompson Center has a new bolt-action rifle called the Dimension that will change the way people think about a rifle. This versatile rifle offers interchangeable barrels. The same gun can shoot a .223 or a 30.06 Sprg. At the heart of the rifle is The LOC System (Locking Optimized Components), which has seven parts -- a universal stock and receiver that accepts multiple barrels, magazine groups (magazine and housing), bolts and bridge scope mounts. Dimension hand tools work with all Dimension rifles. Now the favorite varmint rifle can also be the deer rifle and the bear rifle.

Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Synthetic

Weatherby has a new mid-price-point rifle that is big on features called the Vanguard Series 2 Synthetic. This rifle is reportedly guaranteed to shoot a 3-shot group under an inch at 100 yards when used with specified Weatherby factory or premium ammunition. The rifle has a two-stage creep-free trigger that can be set as light as 2.5 pounds. The gun is built with a composite Monte Carlo Griptonite stock and features a pistol grip, fore-end inserts and right side palm swell, which aids in comfort and control, often resulting in more accuracy downrange. It also has a three-position safety. The Series 2 synthetic is available in everything from a .223 Rem. to .300 Wby. Mag.

Winchester 1892 Large Loop Carbine

Those who like to dream of the old West can now own a gun that is the symbol of the old West. Winchester has reintroduced the 1892 Large Loop carbine, which comes with a Large Loop Lever with raised edges. This gun will look great hung on the wall or in the field. The 1892 Large Loop comes with a grade 1 walnut stock, a Marble Arms front sight with a brass bead and an adjustable rear sight. The full-length magazine holds 10 cartridges and the gun is available in .357 Mag., .44 Rem Mag., .44-40 Winchester and .45 Colt.

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14 New Deer Rifles for 2012

Browning A-Bolt II

Marlin X7S

Mossberg MMR

Mossberg 464 SPX

Nosler Model 48 Legacy Rifle

Remington 50th Anniversary Model 700 BDL

Rossi Circuit Judge

Sako 85 Grizzly

Savage Axis

Ruger American Rifle

Tikka T3

Thompson/Center Dimension

Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Synthetic

Winchester 1892 Large Loop Carbine

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