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In the world of firearms, and especially bolt guns, there are insanely popular guns everyone seems to jump to buy.
But you might ask yourself, “Should I jump into this model, too?”
If you’re in the market for a new bolt-action rifle and you’re wondering if you should follow the well-traveled path or forge your own, we’re here to help.
We’re going to take a look at the most popular bolt-action rifles on the market, what they have to offer, what makes them so popular, and whether or not you should follow the crowd.
This article is a meta-analysis based on our experience with hundreds of handguns and tens of thousands of rounds over the years at Pew Pew Tactical.
We first chose our criteria for the best, narrowing down models based on features, performance, reliability, durability, and price. We then polled our editors and writers to get their top recommendations that met our criteria, and they've hands-on time with at the range.
It offers a lightweight, affordable, and astonishingly accurate design. If those aren’t good reasons to jump onto a trend, I don’t know what will convince you.
However, not everyone loves the Tikka. It has its haters out there. Most of them complain about Tikka’s penchant for adding plastic parts to an otherwise sturdy, dependable gun.
While plastic is certainly something to complain about, the T3 has plenty of shining features, including a crisp, adjustable trigger and a machined action with a reduced ejection port for improved accuracy.
The T3 series received an overhaul in 2016, and the newest models got an updated, although thoroughly unoriginal, new name --- Tikka T3x.
The T3x promises MOA groups right out of the packaging, which means the T3x will definitely be carrying on the crazy popularity of its predecessor.
3. Savage Arms Model 110 - Best All-Around Bolt-Action Rifle
Stock/Chassis: Synthetic stock, wood stock, and chassis options
Barrel Length: Model-dependent
Overall Length: Model-dependent
Weight: Model-dependent
The Savage 110 is “the oldest continuously manufactured bolt-action rifle in North America.”
Designed in 1958, the Model 110 occupied tens of thousands of deer stands across multiple generations.
Originally designed to provide the average American hunter with a strong, powerful hunting rifle, it also manages to be lightweight and relatively affordable.
Today, thanks to the Model 110, Savage is currently one of the largest bolt-action rifle makers in America.
One of the Savage 110’s best-selling points comes in the form of its patented AccuTrigger -- which was added to the design in 1966.
Plenty of other gun manufacturers have attempted to copy the AccuTrigger design, some with better success than others.
The Savage AccuTrigger definitely sets the bar for adjustable rifle triggers, and that bar is pretty freakin’ high.
Modern Model 110s also feature Savage’s AccuFit modular stock system, which allows you to adjust the stock for a perfect, personalized fit.
Why is the Browning X-Bolt so popular? Well...it's a Browning, so it should almost go without saying. However, the X-Bolt has plenty to offer beyond its recognizable and respected brand name.
The X-Bolt brings a level of accuracy usually reserved for custom rifles, which definitely does more for its popularity than the brand’s legacy.
The rifle features a free-float barrel, a crisp, no-creep three-lever trigger, and a 60-degree bolt lift that promotes fast, easy cycling.
Each rifle also comes standard with an Inflex recoil pad that supports “a directional deflection of recoil forces.”
What does that mean? Essentially it makes the recoil a helluva lot easier on your shoulder and reduces muzzle climb. So, you can more efficiently recover from each shot, get back on target, and hit it with accuracy.
Tried the Browning X-Bolt? Give it a rating below.
The Savage Impulse brings a straight-pull bolt-action rifle design. It provides a rock-solid, accurate, and easy-handling rifle. The recoil is low, the action is smooth, and the trigger is excellent.
There are three models of various calibers -- the Hog Hunter, the Big Game, and the Predator.
Hog Hunter has barrel lengths ranging from 18 to 24 inches depending on the caliber and comes in everything from .243 Winchester to .300 Winchester Magnum.
The Big Game model comes with barrels ranging from 22 to 24 inches and calibers from .243 Winchester to .300 Winchester Magnum.
Finally, the Predator hits us with a 20-inch barrel and calibers that include .22-250, .243, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .308 Winchester.
For a bolt-action rifle, anything over $1,000 is a lot of money. However, when you compare it to other modern straight-pull bolt action rifles, the Impulse is priced affordably.
What is a Bolt-Action Rifle?
Before diving headfirst into the world of bolt-actions, let’s talk about what makes this style of firearm unique.
If you’ve ever watched a sniper movie, you’ve seen a bolt-action.
They’re commonly used in media for precision-like scenes because, well, they’re pretty precise.
These rifles have been around the block a few times, winning fanfare among military and SWAT snipers, hunters, and long-range shooters.
With a bolt-action, the user manually feeds and ejects each round by manipulating the bolt on the side of the rifle. This bolt rotates, can be pulled to the rear, rotated, then pushed back into place.
Want to read up on the advantages and disadvantages (or learn more about other types of actions)? Head over to our Guide to Rifle Actions.
With that out of the way, let’s get to the most popular bolt-actions!
Final Thoughts
It isn’t always a good idea to do something just because everybody else is doing it. But in the case of these bolt-actions, following the crowd is a smart choice.
From Rugers to Weatherbys, these guns earn their hype.
July 14, 2024: Removed CZ 600 and Weatherby Mark V from recommendations. Added supplemental data to each product. Included more information on how we chose our recommendations.
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