November 29, 2010
By Doug Howlett
For many hunters, the essence of the hunt begins and ends with one key piece of equipment -- their deer rifle. Perhaps the next classic is on this list.
By Doug Howlett
Browning X-Bolt White Gold Browning adds a higher-end version to its popular X-Bolt line of rifles with the White Gold. Key features include a stainless barrel and action, gloss-finished high-grade walnut Monte Carlo stock with a rosewood fore-end and grip cap. The Monte Carlo stock design enhanced with the Inflex recoil pad permits more contact between gun and shoulder and better aligns recoil with the shooter's shoulder as well, minimizing felt recoil. Available in popular deer calibers ranging from .243 Win. all the way up to the arguably excessive .338 Win. Mag. (www.browning.com )
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CVA Scout You would expect to see CVA under the muzzleloader heading of this article, yet the company's biggest news of 2010 comes in the area of centerfire rifles. For the first time ever, CVA is offering a single-shot break-open rifle in the form of the Scout model. Available in both standard configurations for adults and a compact version for youth shooters, the Scout is available in .243; 7mm-08, .270, .30-06 and .35 Whelen for the standard and .243 only in the compact. Basic features include a synthetic stock, barrels in either blued carbon steel or 416 stainless steel and a DuraSight Dead-On Integral Scope Mount. (www.cva.com )
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Marlin Model XL 75 Designed to deliver premium features at a more affordable price, the beautifully crafted XL 75 features a stainless steel barrel and receiver, adjustable Pro-Fire trigger system, Soft-Tech recoil pad, a 22-inch button-rifled barrel, pillar-bedded stock and a recessed muzzle crown to reduce the threat of accuracy degrading nicks. Overall length is 42 inches and the rifle tips the scales at 6 1/2 pounds. Available in .25-06 Rem., 270 Win. and .30-06. (www.marlinfirearms.com )
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Mossberg 4x4 Bolt-Action Looking to better forge a blend of rugged, affordable overall performance with more reliable accuracy, Mossberg's 4x4 bolt-action rifles added fluted barrels with muzzlebrakes to their 2010 line. New to the line this year as well are caliber configurations in .270 WSM, 7mm WSM and .300 WSM. Designed for quick second shot recovery, the fluting reduces surface heat on the barrel, while the brake redirects high-pressure gasses to minimize felt recoil and muzzle jump. (www.mossberg.com )
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Remington Model 700 XCR II The new XCR II boasts a stainless steel receiver and barrel both coated with matte black TriNyte for reduced glare and the ultimate in protection against corrosion. To add to its performance in rugged conditions is an olive drab green synthetic stock with Hogue rubber overmolding on the grip and fore-end areas for sure handling and a SuperCell recoil pad to minimize felt recoil. The X-Mark Pro Trigger system delivers a crisp pull reminiscent of more expensive customized rifles. (www.remington.com )
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Rossi Wizard Not unlike Thompson/Center's Encore, the Rossi Wizard boasts a single-shot stock/barrel combination that allows the user to switch out up to 18 barrels for as many configurations (rifle, muzzleloader and shotgun) for the field. For deer hunters, base packages come in .243, .270, .30-06 or .308 calibers, and barrels in potential deer calibers of .357 Mag., .44 Mag., .45-70 Gov., and 7.62x39 can also be had. Key features include a cushioned recoil pad with spacer, contoured Monte Carlo stock with a curved cheek rest and fiber optic front sight. Available in a blued finish on the carbon steel barrel and receiver along with either a hardwood or camouflage stock. (www.rossiusa.com )
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Ruger Mini-Thirty Ruger's popular Mini-Thirty is now available with a 20-round magazine, we suspect more for fun on the range than for the hunter in the field! That doesn't take away from the gun's performance-with-attitude looks popping off 7.62x39 rounds, ideal for deer-sized game. Additional features include a ghost-ring aperture rear sight and non-glare post front sight along with scope bases machined directly into the receiver for the ultimate protection against a loose scope as a result of recoil. Scope rings come with each rifle. (www.ruger.com )
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Savage 10 GYXP3 This short-action r
ifle is chambered in .243 Win. for deer hunters and features a hardwood Monte Carlo stock with cut checkering, Savage's patented adjustable AccuTrigger, a free-floating and button-rifled barrel, blued barreled action and a top loading internal box magazine with a four-round capacity. (www.savagearms.com )
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Thompson/Center Venture T/C expanded the chamberings of their Venture rifle with the addition of seven medium-action cartridges, including four that might appeal to whitetail hunters. Those chamberings include .243, 7mm-08, .308 and 30TC. (www.tcarms.com )
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Weatherby Vanguard DBM & HB-ST Weatherby added three new models to its vaunted Vanguard line of rifles including two detachable box magazine (DBM) models and one with a Silent-Tek "sure-grip" finish (HB-ST). The DMB models -- a Sporter DBM and a Synthetic DBM -- were created for hunters who are in and out of vehicles a lot and require a quick loading and unloading ability made possible by a detachable box mag. The new Vanguard Synthetic HB-ST improves handling in cold, wet conditions with an injection-molded composite stock finished in textured Silent-Tek for better grip. (www.weatherby.com )
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Winchester Model 1894 High Grade Designed to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Oliver Fisher Winchester's birth, the Model 94 High Grade offers both deer woods performance with showcase collectability, with delicate scroll work, a fancy Grade II/III walnut stock with a high-gloss finish, detailed checkering, a silver nitride receiver and a blued half-round, half-octagon barrel. Chambered in the timeless 30-30 Win. caliber. (www.winchesterguns.com )