Modern hunters have a world of options in firearms for going after game—big and small—but bolt guns are still boss. Here’s a quick snapshot of the best new bolt-action hunting rifles for 2023.
Savage AXIS II Precision
Renowned as a budget-friendly rifle, Savage has boosted its AXIS family with a precision series upgrade available in calibers ranging from .223 Rem. to 6.5 Creedmoor. Partnering with Modular Driven Technologies (MDT), the AXIS II was engineered to be a one-hole rifle that doesn’t break the bank. Fitted with an MDT chassis designed for the Savage AXIS II platform, the rifle sports an airy look, and black with an olive drab finish adds some eye appeal. The trigger is a user-adjustable AccuTrigger (2.5-6 pounds), and the 22-inch carbon steel button rifled threaded barrel boosts long-range accuracy. MSRP: $999
Savage 110 Carbon Predator
Savage’s Model 110 line is rooted deep in bolt-action lore, so it only makes sense to include this 110 addition as part of the best new bolt-action hunting rifles for 2023. The 110 Carbon Predator is fitted with an 18-inch carbon-wrapped stainless-steel Proof Research barrel, threaded for a suppressor or a brake. It comes in at a fighting weight of just a tad over 7 pounds. Created for pelt chasers, this rifle features Savage’s Accustock, which is fully adjustable for comb height and length-of-pull, and the rubberized pads on the fore-end and grip boost the rifle’s ergonomics. Savage did add a pair of 22-inch-barrel rifles to the lineup — a 6.5 Creedmoor and .22-250 Rem — and we like the detachable box magazine. MSRP: $1,695
CVA Cascade XT
Known for producing great smoke poles, CVA dips its toes in the bolt-action game and creates a precision-oriented rifle with a #5 taper-fluted barrel. The barrel has some weight, which was the idea — CVA wanted to boost stability and pre-shot balance. Reducing recoil is the radial muzzle brake, and fitted with a tactical-style bolt knob, manipulation of the bolt is rapid. CVA’s new, affordable Cascade XT bolt-action comes in calibers of 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win., .450 Bushmaster, .350 Legend, 6.5 PRC, 7mm Rem Mag, and .300 Win Mag. As one of few models coming in under a grand, CVA earns its place in the best new bolt-action hunting rifles for 2023. MSRP: $799
Benelli BE.S.T Lupo Bolt-Action Rifle – Walnut
We were a tad shocked when Benelli launched its AA-Grade Satin Walnut line, which was stunning … but didn’t include calibers of .308 Win and .30-06 Sprg. Don’t fret, though; that issue has been remedied for 2023. Both rifles are fitted with 22-inch precision Crio-treated free-floating barrels attached to a hardened-steel barrel extension bedded to a steel block alloy receiver. As reliable as the day is, Benelli’s BE.S.T Lupo Bolt-Action Rifle family has been received well by the bolt-action nation. With this caliber expansion in classic walnut, it makes the cut as one of the best new bolt-action hunting rifles for 2023. When it comes to comfort, the Progressive Comfort System and Combtech cheek pad shine. These three-lug bolt-action shooters feature a 60-degree throw and a detachable magazine. Not to mention, this beauty shoots as good as she looks with the AA Grade Walnut stock. MSRP: $2,199
Franchi Momentum All-Terrain Elite
Get it as a coyote killer or a deer wrecker in calibers of .223 Rem. and .308 Win., and hit the woods confidently with Franchi’s shiny new penny. Dubbed the Momentum All-Terrain Elite, both models come with an 18-inch threaded barrel and sport a Midnight Bronze Cerakote finish on the barrel and receiver. The rifle’s short, stocky build is optimized for truck or ATV carry, and both models can shoot their 5.56 and 7.62 Nato counterparts, which is an added bonus. The stock is modular with a low-rise comb that should ensure proper cheek-weld while ensuring good optic-to-eye or eye-to-front-iron-sight acquisition. The free-floated Picatinny-rail gives you loads of mounting options, and a 10-round Magpul AICS magazine is included. MSRP: $1,449
Browning X-Bolt Speed – Suppressor Ready
Browning scores again in 2023 with its X-Bolt Speed Suppressor Ready rifle. The want to add a suppressor to hunting rifles is at an all-time high, and this legendary gun maker gives hunters a suppressor-ready firearm right out of the box. Available in a range of popular hunting calibers, the rifle is unique compared to other X-Bolt makes in that barrel lengths are 4 inches shorter than what is normally designated for the caliber. The rifle sports a composite stock cloaked in Browning’s OVIX pattern, and the smoked-bronze Cerakote finish is as nice as they come. Each rifle has a muzzle brake, and weights range from 6.12 to 6.62 pounds, and in true X-Bolt fashion, you just can’t beat the quick, controlled throw of the bolt. MSRP: $1,429-$1,529
Mossberg Patriot Predator 7mm PRC
A caliber that has all the BC nuts buzzing, Mossberg adds the 7mm PRC to its fine and affordable line of Patriot Predator rifles. The Patriot’s chassis is tried-and-true. When you add in the suppressor-ready threaded barrels, Picatinny rail for easy optic mounting, and a user-adjustable trigger, hunters get an enormous bang for their buck. This bolt-action beauty comes in a pair of finish options: Flat Dark Earth (synthetic) and True-Timber Strata (polymer). Of course, Mossberg’s trusted push-feed, twin-lug action is fail-proof and marries perfectly with the rifle’s polymer magazine. MSRP: $519-$619
Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical Bolt-Action Rifle
Banging steel and punching lungs at long distances on the rifle range and in the woods is something many modern shooters crave, and Mossberg gives those in this crowd a fancy-to-do new option. The Patriot LR Tactical Bolt-Action Rifle will help you extend your downrange reach via its adjustment-ready customizable design. The MDT stock sports aluminum V-Block bedding for improved shoot-at-distance grouping, and the rifle has an M-LOK compatible forend. The rifle comes in .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, and 6.5 PRC—a trio-proven group of long-range killers. All muzzles are threaded; the .308 and PRC come in barrel lengths of 22 inches, and the PRC sports a barrel length of 24 inches. Depending on barrel length, total weight ranges from 8.8 to 9.4 pounds. MSRP: $1,085
Bergara B14 Squared Crest
Go ahead, roam the mountains with a 6.9-pound shooter finished in Sniper Grey Cerakote in your choice of .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, or .300 Win. Mag. It’s called the B-14 Squared, and each caliber features Bergara’s proven B-14 action and barrel. The two-bolt action system with sliding extractor and tapered bolt and breech stop scream smoothness. Sweetening the pot is the monocoque stock, a 100-percent carbon-fiber stock with an internal spine that provides the shooter with increased rigidity and strength. Not only is this rifle durable but it also meets the long-range accuracy needs backcountry wanderers demand. MSRP: $1,999
Weatherby Mark V Apex
Weatherby’s Mark Series has seen some remarkable bolt-action builds, but the new Mark V Apex might sit at the top of the heap. It’s the most costly in our roundup of the best new bolt-action hunting rifles for 2023, but shocking good looks and performance often come at a premium. A long-range assassin designed to be lightweight, the rifle’s backbone is Weatherby’s Mark V steel action with a fluted two-toned Cerakote barrel. The carbon stock cuts weight, and the new Peak 44 vertical grip boosts comfort, reduces weight, and boosts accuracy. Sporting the world’s first 3D-printed recoil pad, the 3DHEX contains a series of interlocking voids that work in concert to thwart post-shot recoil. MSRP: $2,799-$2,899
