GEAR
Learn more about rifles and accessories
by Brad Fitzpatrick
Famous for their outstanding quality, Browning’s top-selling X-Bolt rifles have garnered a fierce following among elk hunters since they hit the market in 2008. With the new Browning X-Bolt 2, the company has made some enticing upgrades that only add to this rifle’s allure.
Browning has kept all the best features of its predecessor with the X-Bolt 2, including a reliable rotary magazine, bolt unlock button, tang safety, free-floated button-rifled barrel and the X-Lock scope mounting system.
The X-Bolt 2 also comes with a host of refinements, like the brand-new Vari-Tech stock—my favorite new feature. It’s adjustable for length of pull and comb height while also offering interchangeable soft-touch pistol grips. I tested the Speed model with a Vari-Tech stock dressed in OVIX camo and Cerakote Smoked Bronze finish. The included muzzle brake dampened the .300 Win Mag’s recoil, and the customizable stock fit perfectly. I averaged ¾-inch groups using premium factory ammo—excellent, sub-minute-of-angle accuracy.
A new multi-lever DLX trigger comes standard—one of the best factory triggers available today. Set at 3½ pounds, shooters can adjust the pull down to 3 pounds. And unlike most other rifles with adjustable lengths of pull (LOP), this Browning positions the spacers within the comb section of the stock. This allows shooters to choose the number of spacers for a just-right LOP without having them visible at the rear of the rifle.
Browning also redesigned the X-Bolt 2’s receiver with improved bolt guidance for smoother operation. The Plus Magazine system allows the standard rotary magazine to be swapped for a higher capacity detachable box magazine.
Available in 14 different models including a new Micro version for youth and smaller hunters, the X-Bolt 2’s refinements reinforce Browning’s place atop the bolt-action hunting rifle market. MSRP: $1,099 - $4,069. Browning.com
The latest addition to Weatherby’s Model 307 lineup, the Weatherby Alpine CT is a light, accurate mountain rifle offering loads of high-end features.
Barely 6 pounds, the lightweight Alpine CT’s lack of heft comes courtesy of advanced materials— BSF carbon fiber barrel and Bastion Carbon Fiber stock with a carbon fiber bedding block that’s just 24 ounces, one of the lightest CF stocks available today.
Lighter rifles typically mean more recoil, yet Weatherby’s 3D Hex recoil pad does an effective job compressing to soften the blow of even the hardest-hitting rounds. I’ve tested it using potent calibers including the .300 Weatherby Mag and can attest that it reduces recoil as advertised, especially when combined with the Alpine CT’s DST directional self-timing brake.
The BSF barrel starts with a 416R stainless steel core wrapped in tensioned carbon fiber. The design helps reduce heat more effectively than other CF barrels for more consistent accuracy. The barrels are also two-inches shorter than traditional Weatherby Magnums, which makes them easier to maneuver with a suppressor.
Delivering bullets is Weatherby’s 307 push-feed, dual-lug action, which can be disassembled without tools. A crisp TriggerTech adjustable trigger comes standard on the Alpine CT, and its receiver includes a Peak 44 JRAIL picatinny rail but is also drilled and tapped to accept Savage/Stiller bases using 8-40 screws. Cerakote finish protects this metalwork and looks great.
Available in 14 chamberings from 6.5 Creedmoor to .300 Weatherby Mag and .300 PRC, the Alpine CT like others in Weatherby’s lineup is built in the heart of elk country at the company’s state-of-the-art Sheridan, Wyoming, facility. MSRP: $2,199. Weatherby.com
While hunting elk at New Mexico’s UU Bar Ranch, I tested the Silencer Central Banish Backcountry suppressor on a Browning X-Bolt in .300 Win Mag. I was so impressed by this suppressor’s performance, that I immediately contacted the company to purchase one for my own elk rifle.
The team at Silencer Central has simplified what can be a complex purchasing process due to applications and wait times, making buying a suppressor as easy and fast as possible. At just 5½ inches long and weighing only 7.8 ounces, the Backcountry doesn’t add a lot of length or bulk to your hunting rifle yet it cuts noise levels by 30 decibels. That reduction in noise and muzzle-blast not only protects your hearing but also improves accuracy. The .30-caliber suppressor is suited for rifles up to .300 RUM, and you can choose from several thread patterns to suit a variety of barrel mounts. MSRP: $1,099. Silencercentral.com
A clever hybrid between two of Gunwerks’ best rifles, the Magnus MTX Rifle System combines the stock of a Magnus series with the barreled action of their ClymR rifle system to create a perfect blend of the two guns.
The Magnus stock’s profile offers excellent control and is robust enough to handle the heavy recoil of long-range cartridges while the ClymR’s C20 carbon fiber barrel (the lightest in Gunwerks’ line) keeps mass to a minimum—the rifles start at a scant 5¾ pounds. The resulting gun is a smooth-shooting tack-driver that’s tailor-made for mountain hunters. Barrel lengths range from 18 to 22 inches, and like other Gunwerks rifles, hunters can pick from a host of customizable options including various metal finishes, stock colors, lengths of pull and more. MSRP: $8,500 and up. Gunwerks.com
A great hunting rifle, the Kimber Pro Hunter Boot Campaign bolt-action rifle serves up superb accuracy while supporting those who have served our country.
The first thing that stands out about the Pro Hunter is its light weight—at just 5 pounds, 10 ounces, it’s an ideal backcountry firearm.
The Kimber is chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and comes with a 22-inch stainless steel 1:8-twist barrel with a threaded muzzle, match-grade chamber and standard muzzle brake. The barrel is mated to an 84M stainless steel, controlled-feed action with a Mauser-style, full-length claw extractor. The Pro Hunter’s adjustable trigger comes from the factory set at 3 pounds, 5 ounces. A Kryptek Obskura Nox camo finish coats the pillar-bedded polymer stock, which looks good combined with the KimPro II black finish on the action.
This set-up delivers excellent accuracy from a mountain rifle, backed by Kimber’s sub-MOA accuracy standard. The Pro Hunters I’ve tested all held three-shot groups under an inch (some under ¾ inch) using Kimber’s recommended load fed from a detachable, three-round magazine.
These rifles offer everything a hunter needs for long days chasing elk, but an equally compelling reason to own this rifle is that Kimber has partnered with Boot Campaign which provides programs and services for veterans and their families transitioning from military to civilian life. It’s a great example of a firearms manufacturer giving back to the men and women who served this nation, and it’s a great value for an American-made hunting rifle. MSRP: $1,151.
Those looking for a pistol should also check out Kimber’s Camp Guard 10. Designed in collaboration with RMEF for backcountry defense, this 10mm semi-auto 1911 weighs only 38 ounces and features grips inscribed with a mountain scene for maximum utility and style. MSRP: $1,476. Kimberamerica.com
The next evolution of Bergara’s B14 line of hunting rifles, the Bergara Crest Carbon checks all the boxes for a modern mountain rifle.
It uses an ample application of CF components to keep weight down to just over 6 pounds, including a carbon fiber stock with carbon spine and a CURE carbon fiber barrel that measures 20 or 22 inches depending upon caliber. And like all of this company’s rifles, it’s backed by an accuracy guarantee. At the heart of the Crest Carbon is Bergara’s smooth-cycling B-14 premium push-feed action and the versatility of AICS magazines. Part precision gun, part ultralight sporter, the Crest Carbon is a great option for any elk hunter. And it looks great dressed up in a Sniper Grey Cerakote finish and a stylish splatter-pattern stock. MSRP: $2,099 - $2,149. Bergara.online/us
Warne may be best known for its excellent scope mounts, but its rugged and versatile Skyline bipods are making waves among hunters.
The most recent addition to the family is the Warne Skyline PRO, which features quick attach/detach ARCA or Picatinny attachment points, 4 degrees of cant, and three distinct stance angles of 72, 48 or 22 degrees. Whether you’re prone or just need a little extra elevation to shoot through grass or brush, push-button height adjustments from 3.7 to 13 inches ensure a rock-solid shooting platform. I’ve tested the Skyline bipods on both the range and out hunting and have been impressed with their one-touch adjustment design and stability. Far more durable than some competing models, the PRO is built for years of hard use in the mountains. MSRP: $499. Warnescopemounts.com
A classically styled sporter rifle, the new Springfield Model 2020 Boundary shares DNA with the company’s outstanding 2020 Waypoint in a package that’s made for the backcountry.
Springfield Armory’s 2020 Waypoint has been a huge success that’s developed a dedicated following, but the Waypoint has some decidedly target-centric features like an adjustable stock and detachable box magazine. Now, the new Boundary offers everything you love about the Waypoint in a more traditional sporter-style hunting package.
The Boundary comes with the same push-feed cylindrical action and EDM raceways as the Model 2020 Waypoint for cycling so smooth it rivals some custom rifles. The AG Sportsman carbon fiber stock features Rogue camouflage and comes with two flush-fit QD cups, M-LOK attachment points and a 1-inch Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad. The Boundary uses a more traditional internal box magazine with a hinged floorplate rather than the detachable box magazine found on the Waypoint, but keeps the adjustable 2½- to 5-pound TriggerTech Field trigger to help make your all-important first bullet count while elk hunting. Buyers can select either a fluted stainless or BSF carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel. MSRP: $2,173-$2,599. Springfield-armory.com
If you still view Savage as a “budget” brand, you haven’t seen the astonishing number of premium rifles the company has rolled out as of late. Case in point: The Savage 110 Ultralite Elite backcountry rifle, which is built to the highest standards.
The rifle pairs a blueprinted Savage 110 action with a PROOF Research carbon fiber-wrapped steel barrel and an MDT HNT26 carbon fiber folding stock that trims overall weight to as little as 5 pounds. Barrel lengths range from 18 to 22 inches, which means the rifle isn’t unwieldy with a suppressor in place. To make that addition all the easier, the barrel is threaded ⅝x24 and comes with an Omniport muzzle brake. The rifle also features an integrated ARCA rail and includes four ¼-inch spacers. The receiver and diamond-fluted bolt carry a Blackout Cerakote finish, while the magnesium center-section of the stock comes with a Cerakote Gun Metal Grey treatment. The rifle is equipped with an AccuTrigger adjustable from 1½ to 4 pounds, a 20 MOA Picatinny rail and accepts AICS magazines. Available chamberings range from 6.5 Creedmoor to .300 Win Mag. MSRP: $3,299. Savagearms.com
The new Nosler SR-30K suppressor is a lightweight and compact addition to any backcountry rifle. Based on the company’s hit SR-30 ALTi silencer, the SR-30K features a blend of aluminum and titanium construction. At just 5.834-inches long and weighing under 8 ounces, the suppressor is small and light enough for long days in the mountains. It doesn’t add much bulk to your backcountry gun but the modest weight increase will help dampen recoil.
The Nosler reduces sound by 21 decibels to protect your hearing by limiting muzzle blast. Threaded to mount directly on many rifles, the SR-30K works with cartridges from .17 caliber all the way to the powerful .30-378 Weatherby Mag. It works with barrels as short as 18 inches on .308 or larger calibers, or as short as 12 inches for calibers smaller than .308. The “K-Can” protects your hearing, reduces muzzle blast and recoil, and helps you shoot more accurately—what’s not to love? MSRP: $729. Nosler.com
It uses an ample application of carbon fiber components to keep weight down to just over 6 pounds, including a carbon fiber stock with carbon spine and a CURE carbon fiber barrel that measures 20 or 22 inches depending upon caliber. And like all this company’s rifles, it’s backed by an accuracy guarantee. At the heart of the Crest Carbon is Bergara’s smooth-cycling B-14 premium push feed action and the versatility of AICS magazines. Part precision gun, part ultralight sporter, the Crest Carbon is a great option for any elk hunter. And it looks great dressed up in a Sniper Grey Cerakote finish and a stylish splatter-pattern stock. MSRP: $2,099 - $2,149. Bergara.online/us
RMEF has teamed up with ALPS OutdoorZ to offer a lightweight, convenient soft case to protect your favorite scoped rifle. The ALPS OutdoorZ/RMEF Saratoga Rifle Case is built from tough 600D polyester over both open and closed cell foam and a polyester inner lining to cushion and protect your firearm from bumps and dings as you go afield. The full-length No. 10 heavy duty zipper provides easy access while a zippered side storage pouch has two internal zippered pockets perfect for accessories like scope wrenches, thread protectors and anything else you may need in the elk woods. It’s 48-inch length will accommodate most hunting rifles. MSRP: $45.95. https://www.rmef.org/product/rmef-saratoga-rifle-case
Tikka rifles have an outstanding reputation for accuracy, and the new Tikka Drover Ranch is purpose-built for all-around performance.
A ranch rifle that doubles as an all-purpose hunting gun, the Dover Ranch comes with a 20-inch cold hammer-forged fluted barrel with battue sights and a rugged polymer stock. The barrel is threaded ⅝x24 to seamlessly add a suppressor, while a 10-round detachable box magazine allows for fast reloads in the field. Other key features include a 17mm rail for securely mounting optics, an oversized bolt knob for smooth cycling and a crisp, adjustable trigger. The Tikka’s short bolt lift keeps your hands from bumping your scope as you cycle it. All in all, this light, compact rifles is a versatile companion on the ranch or in the field. MSRP: $1,399. Choose.tikka.fi/usa
From the company known for its class-leading bullets and ammunition, the Nosler Model 21 is an accurate, lightweight bolt-action rifle that’s loaded with high-tech features.
The Model 21 is an excellent all-around hunting rifle that’s purpose-built for elk country. The blueprinted, wire EDM action is ultra-smooth and comes with a one-piece, spiral-fluted 4340 chrome-moly steel bolt that is nitride coated and includes an M16-style extractor. The clever self-indexing 17-4 stainless steel recoil lug eliminates indexing issues. The stock is made from lightweight, durable carbon fiber with aluminum pillars and includes a 1-inch recoil pad.
Nosler offers plenty of options with the Model 21. Barrel lengths range from 22 to 24 inches depending on the caliber, which run from 6.5 Creedmoor to .375 H&H Magnum. The Nosler looks and feels like a custom rifle, and accuracy is superb thanks in large part to an adjustable (2½- to 5½-pound) Frictionless Release Technology trigger that’s smooth and crisp. Despite its many features, the Model 21 weighs in at around 7 pounds—perfect for a backcountry rifle. MSRP: $2,895. Nosler.com
The Winchester XPR was the company’s first new bolt-action centerfire platform since the launch of the Model 70 in 1936. Now it’s available in a southpaw configuration.
Winchester’s first entry into the affordable bolt-gun market, the XPR has proven accurate and reliable. For 2024, four new left-hand XPRs feature MOA adjustable triggers, durable polymer stocks, detachable magazines and two-position safeties with a bolt release. I’ve tested and hunted with several XPRs and was impressed not only by their accuracy but also their build quality and durability. It’s a worthy successor to the M70. MSRP: $699.99-$879.99. Winchesterguns.com
If you’re in the market for an ultralight mountain rifle complete with scope, the Howa Superlite Short Barrel-Vortex Combo needs to be on your list.
The Howa features a trim M1500 push-feed action, slim mountain profile threaded barrel (16¼ to 20-inches) and a light Stocky’s Stock with AccuBlock bedding system. The rifle weighs a scant 4¼ pounds and comes topped with a Vortex Diamondback 3-9x40 scope. I topped the Howa I tested with a Banish Backcountry suppressor and the entire rifle weighed just 6½ pounds. Despite its minimal mass, these rifles are capable of excellent accuracy, and the scope/rifle combo is an outstanding value. MSRP: $1,399. Howausa.com
The new SIG Sauer Cross Magnum marries the best features of a target rifle in a package compact enough for backcountry hunting.
The rifle comes with a 5R rifled barrel and SIG side-folding stock with a full-length ARCA rail and M-LOK slots for adding accessories. Mounting an optic is simple thanks to the included top rail and PRS-style pistol grips with thumb rests included. The two-stage trigger is crisp and the rifle uses AICS detachable magazines. I tested the Cross Magnum in .300 Win Mag and found it shoots like a dedicated competition gun, but at 8.9 pounds, it’s still light enough for field use. Best of all, with the stock folded it measures just 36 inches long, meaning it fits comfortably in a pack. MSRP: $2,800.99. Sigsauer.com
BOG shooting sticks have long offered unparalleled quality for hunters in the field, but the new BOG DeathGrip Infinite Carbon Fiber shooting sticks also reduce your load. At 6½ pounds, they weigh less than some shooting sticks costing more, and the smooth ball head with 360-degrees of rotation and 180-degrees of tilt allow you to get in the proper position to make the shot of a lifetime.
The Arca-Swiss compatible UltraLite head allows you to swap seamlessly between your optics and rifle and the twist-up legs with rubber feet and removable spikes provide the secure shooting platform you need hunting rough terrain. One of the simplest and easiest ways to make better shots is to carry a versatile tripod, and there’s no better option than the BOG DeathGrip Infinite Carbon Fiber. MSRP: $449.99. Boghunt.com
Ruger’s original American rifle has been a best-seller for over a decade, and the Ruger American Rifle Generation 2 ups the ante.
With some smart upgrades to the original design, Gen 2 Americans have new spatter-pattern stocks with adjustable lengths of pull and combs, spiral fluted barrels and Cerakote finishes on every model. But perhaps the most noteworthy addition is the tang-mounted three-position sliding safety that allows the shooter to unlock the bolt and operate the action with the safety engaged. Just like the original, the Gen 2 rifle comes with a Marksman Adjustable Trigger and cold-hammer-forged barrel, making this an accurate and affordable tack-driver. MSRP: $729. Ruger.com
Versatility is key for a hunting rifle, and the Stag Arms Pursuit Bolt Action offers lots of options to customize the gun to your exact needs. The polymer stock includes length-of-pull and comb height adjustments and AR10 toolless removal, while scopes can be mounted using ARCA, M-LOK, flush QD cup and a Picatinny top rail and Picatinny spigot. A TriggerTech primary trigger comes standard. The 416R stainless barrel is threaded and fluted and the Remington 700 footprint action uses a three-lug, cock-on-open bolt. I tested the Pursuit and found it to be as versatile as advertised, allowing the owner to customize the rifle for a day at the range or a week in the backcountry. Perhaps most importantly, these guns are extremely accurate and feed reliably from their AICS/AW magazines. MSRP: $1,899. Stagarms.com
When a company that has made quality firearms for years enters the bolt-action-rifle market, it is sure to raise some eyebrows. The Taurus Expedition will impress anyone who tries it.
Taurus spent years testing and refining the new Expedition rifle, and it shows. It’s offered in .308 Winchester with an 18-inch black DLC coated stainless steel threaded barrel. There’s also a five-round detachable box magazine and the rifle is compatible with AICS pattern mags. The polymer stock has a scalloped rear portion to ride on a bag or rest, M-LOK and Spartan Precision attachment points and sling studs make this a versatile rig that’s ready for the backcountry.
I tested the Expedition earlier this year and found it produced excellent accuracy with five-shot groups hovering around an inch with several factory loads. Taurus got things right with this rifle, and based on its success, I only expect the Expedition family to continue to grow. MSRP: $984.99. Taurususa.com
Perfectly suited for wilderness hunting, the Dead Air Nomad Ti XC suppressor offers everything we loved about the original Dead Air Ti titanium silencer in a lighter package.
These 7.4-ounce (bodies only) suppressors offer a two-stage coaxial buffer system that absorbs more pressure than its predecessor, which is not only extremely quiet but works well with low and high-pressure loads and is suitable for both bolt-action rifles and semi-autos. This is thanks in large part to Dead Air’s advanced 3-D printing processes that perfectly balances minimal weight with maximum sound suppression.
Adding to its versatility, the Nomad Ti XC is compatible with E-Brakes and R-Series front caps. It is available with the Xeno adapter or direct thread, but the HUB socket allows you to swap adapters (Xeno, KeyMo and direct thread). These suppressors work with calibers up to .300 RUM and are available with raw titanium satin bead blasted, black, or FDE high-temp Cerakote finishes. MSRP: $1,049-$1,099. Deadairsilencers.com
