The birth of the modern sporting rifle has been a slow evolutionary process, built on a platform that can be configured for a wide range of applications — from target shooting to home defense to competition shooting to service duty and, of course, hunting. Modern firearms for modern hunters, today’s AR-platform modern sporting rifles are favored by a new breed of sportsmen and women who tote these high-capacity semiauto firearms when taking to the fields in pursuit of game, big and small.
While most of these rifles were designed for tactical and target purposes, some AR-platform models easily double as hunting rifles, or were designed specifically for hunters — for those modern riflemen and riflewomen looking for highly customizable, quick handling and accurate firearms. The availability of models that fill a wide variety of hunting niches is testament to the growing interest in owning these bad-to-the-bone firearms, and that’s good news for hunting retailers.
Also good news is that these highly versatile and modular firearms offer an opportunity to cash in on all those aftermarket goodies available for these guns — such as scopes and red-dot sights, custom stocks and grips, bipods, ammo carriers, lights and thermal optics, etc. And don’t forget ammunition! It’s up to you, the hunting retailer, to make the most of each and every firearms sale by cross-selling these products.
Check out this assortment of specialized firearms that are sure to trip their trigger when patrons visit your store or click on your website shopping for their next (or first) modern sporting rifle.
Daniel Defense DDMA Hunter 5.56
Accurate, tough and hard-hitting, the Daniel Defense AR-15 Style Hunter Rifle ($2,299) takes the best aspects of the gunmaker’s proven designs and tailor fits them to the modern sportsman. Built around an 18-inch cold hammer forged barrel, the Hunter 5.56 offers precision and accuracy with a wide variety of projectiles. Shielding the barrel and mid-length gas system is the MFR 15.0 free-floating handguard, and with a continuous Picatinny rail on top and M-LOK attachment on the sides and bottom, there is plenty of room for hunting accessories. The Hunter 5.56 comes with a Geissele Super semi-automatic, two-stage trigger and an ambidextrous safety selector. It is finished in a vivid hydro-dipped Kryptek Highlander camo pattern.
Franklin Armory F17-L
Franklin Armory has developed the world’s first piston-driven rimfire platform in its F17-L Rifle ($1,646.99). Chambered in .17 Winchester Super Magnum, it provides a cleaner and flatter shooting solution for all kinds of varmint/predator control. At the heart of this rifle is a new Osprey Defense slim piston system, which automatically adjusts for suppressed or unsuppressed use with no adjustments needed. This pairs perfectly for use with the 20-inch barrel, which is threaded in the common ½-28 thread pitch for use with compatible suppressors. Its handguard features an integrated barrier stop/indexing point and is M-LOK compatible. The F17-L’s 20-inch threaded barrel can propel a 20-grain .17 WSM round at 3,000+ fps.
Live Free Armory LF308 Hunter
Weighing in at 9.6 pounds, the LF308 Hunter from Live Free Armory (starting at $1,369) offers long-range precision and versatility, engineered with the help of backcountry hunters, military veterans and elite long-range shooters to become an exceptional, large-caliber platform hunters can trust. This modern sporting rifle features an 18-inch 4150 chrome moly vanadium steel heavy-profile barrel with a QPQ corrosion resistant finish, an LFA free-floating M-LOK handguard, two-stage match-grade trigger, ambidextrous charging handle, Magpul MOE SL-S stock and mid-length gas system — chambered in .308 Winchester. This rifle is guaranteed to deliver sub-MOA accuracy with match-grade ammunition. As with all Live Free Armory firearms, it comes with a lifetime warranty.
POF-USA Prescott
The Prescott from POF-USA ($2,152) was an exercise to turn the Revolution DI 6.5 Creedmoor platform into the lightest semi-auto hunting rifle on the market, and to do it without needless “lightening” cuts. Built on the company’s Rogue platform, the Prescott makes hunting with a semi-auto a reality. Weighing 7 pounds, it features a forged receiver set, 20-inch nitride 4150 steel barrel, KeyLock DI BCG, ambidextrous selector and charging handle, 14.5-inch Renegade rail, oversized heat sink barrel nut and a Micro B muzzle brake. It is equipped with a rifle length gas system with a black nitride low-profile non-adjustable gas block, continuous 12 o’clock Picatinny rail, M-LOK slots, four QD attachment points and much more.
Rock Island Armory TM22 Feather
The Rock Island Armory .22-caliber LR TM22 Feather lightweight modern sporting rifle ($249), with polymer furniture, is built to the newest standards while retaining classical attributes. It features an adjustable stock, rear handle with front sight post and target barrel performance, and is compatible with AR-type grips, commercial buffer tube adapters and a top rail. This rifle is built for all ages and all types of shooting scenarios. It is equipped with an 18-inch barrel and has an overall length of 36.5 inches. The TM22 Feather weighs 4.9 pounds and comes with two 10-round polymer magazines. Aftermarket 15- and 25-round magazines are available. It has a front bead sight and rear handle sight and comes with a black anodized finish.
Ruger 10/22 Carbon
Chambered in .22 LR, the Ruger 10/22 Carbon Rifle ($1,129) weighs in at a mere 3.5 pounds, sporting a 16.1-inch cold hammer-forged tensioned barrel with a carbon fiber sleeve. Its tough but lightweight Magpul MOE X-22 stock is painted black and features textured splatter paint for an improved grip, while complimenting the aesthetics of the rifle. The stock features M-LOK attachment slots at the 6 o’clock position and integral sling loops for use with locking sling swivels. Adding to the custom feel of this new model, this 10/22 sports a genuine Ruger BX-Trigger that has an approximate pull weight of 2.75 pounds and a crisp, clean break. The 10-inch forend features M-LOK slots and an Arca-Swiss rail.
cChambered in 5.56mm NATO, the Sig Sauer M400-Tread Predator ($1,299.99) has been specifically built to give varmint and predator hunters the features they need and want to be successful in the field. The custom-designed flat bottom, free-floating M-LOK Predator handguard makes it easy to mount to a bipod or rest on a set of shooting sticks. A Cerakote Jungle finish provides concealment and protection, while the stainless-steel 16-inch barrel delivers maximum accuracy and comes threaded for easy suppressor mounting. Other key features include the addition of a Magpul PRS Lite stock, two-stage Matchlite Duo trigger and PRS-style grip. Other Tread branded accessories may be purchased separately. www.sigsauer.com
Wilson Combat Ultralight Hunter
The Ultralight Hunter Series of Rifles by Wilson Combat ($2,318/Base price) combines a slick side mil-spec forged receiver set, Smoke Composites carbon fiber stock and the Ultralight Hunter profile match-grade, tapered and threaded barrel to create a fast-handling, lightweight precision AR carbine stalking rifle. Like all Wilson Combat custom rifles, the Ultralight Hunter is equipped with a strong and light M-LOK capable rail and a time-tested light and crisp tactical trigger unit. The cutting-edge Smoke Composites carbon fiber buttstock gives shooters a rigid, lightweight platform for precision hunting. Finished in the exclusive Armor-Tuff thermally cured finish, the Ultralight Hunter is a great all-around carbine for the modern sportsman, available in 5.56mm NATO, .300 HAM’R and .300 Blackout chamberings.
