In case you weren’t aware, deer rifles weren’t always made as accurate as they are today. Buy just about any deer rifle manufactured today and it’s nearly a sure bet that you can match it with some quality ammunition and shoot 1-inch groups at 100 yards — and sometimes much smaller groups. But that wasn’t the way it was “back then.”
When I bought my first deer rifle — a Winchester Model 70 chambered in .270 Win. — back in the late ’70s, purchasing a rifle was a crapshoot as far as accuracy was concerned. One rifle of that model might be a tack driver, while another made in the same batch might be lucky to shoot 3-inch groups at 100 yards. Many were also very picky about the ammo used, and would only provide a decent group when fed their favorite “pet” load. I was lucky, and my rifle was very accurate right out of the box. In fact, I still take it on a hunt or two every year, and three of my children have killed deer with it.
What Has Changed?
Modern manufacturing techniques, which have increased the quality of most products made of metal, have greatly improved firearm accuracy through enhanced precision, consistency and quality control. And several specific advancements have helped provide the impetus for this quality improvement.
For one thing, tighter tolerances allow for much more consistent quality, ranging from barrel rifling, chambers and triggers to bolts and actions. The development of CNC machining allows precision that was never possible in years past. This technology automates the machining process, allowing for faster production and improved accuracy compared to traditional machining methods. CNC machines can replicate complex shapes and intricate designs with minimal human intervention, ensuring that every part meets strict specifications.
The materials used in firearm manufacturing have also seen significant advancements. Modern firearms benefit from stronger yet lighter materials, such as polymer composites and advanced alloys. These materials not only improve the overall performance and durability of firearms but also help reduce the weight, making them easier to handle and carry for extended periods.
Additionally, robotics and other automation technologies have become more common in firearm manufacturing, leading to greater efficiency, as well as reduced labor costs. Automated systems streamline various stages of production, from assembly to quality control, ensuring that every firearm produced meets stringent legal and safety standards.
Lastly, quality control is another area that has improved greatly over the past several decades. Modern manufacturers use rigorous quality control methods to ensure that all components meet strict standards. This includes inspections, statistical analysis and testing to identify and eliminate defects.
New for 2025
With all that said, let’s take a look at some of the top hunting rifles introduced at the 2025 SHOT Show that might just pique the interest of your customers with deer season coming soon.
Browning X-Bolt 2 Western Hunter LR
Browning has been making quality deer rifles for many decades, and they just keep getting better. This year’s introduction is the Browning X-Bolt 2 Western Hunter LR, a top-quality bolt action that will likely turn the heads of many customers.
This big-game hunting rifle features the company’s Vari-Tech composite stock with Browning OVIX Camo finish. The stock is adjustable for length of pull, comb height and grip angle, so users can perfectly personalize the fit of the rifle to their exacting requirements.
The Western Hunter LR is built to be a tough, reliable, easy-to-handle rifle that can deliver great accuracy in wide-open conditions. It has all of the performance-driven features made famous by the X-Bolt line rolled into an improved action with additional bolt guidance for smoother operation. Optimized for long-range accuracy, the lengths of the sporter contour barrels run 2 inches longer than standard lengths per caliber for added bullet velocities at distance.
The action and barrel wear a non-reflective matte blued finish, and the new Plus Magazine System offers extra cartridge capacity. All models are threaded for suppressor use, the action is bedded and the barrel is free-floated for consistent accuracy. Available chamberings include 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 6.8 Western, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm PRC, 28 Nosler, .300 Win Mag and .300 PRC.
When Ruger purchased Marlin a few years back, many lever-action aficionados were excited to see what the result might be. As most expected, the results have been good, and that includes the new Marlin 1894 Guide Gun in .44 Rem. Mag.
This lever gun offers everything the woodland deer hunter or deep-woods hog hunter might want, plus a few extras. The straight, black laminate stock and matte blued finish on the rifle say “modern,” while most of the other features are much like the Marlins of yesteryear. Sights include a semi-buckhorn rear with a hooded brass bead in front. Weight is 6.4 pounds empty, and the tubular magazine, which loads from the side of the receiver, holds 10 rounds.
Overall length is 37.75 inches, making the lever gun perfect for manipulating in a blind or other tight spots. Yet the 20.25-inch cold hammer-forged alloy steel barrel, which exhibits a 1:16 twist, will yield plenty of accuracy for shots out to the cartridge’s max potential. Sharp checkering provides an excellent grip in all weather conditions, and the slim forend adds a nice aesthetic. Even better, the gun will also shoot .44 Special ammo, which is a boon to those who would like to practice with less recoil and muzzle blast than the .44 Rem. Mag produces.
Mossberg Patriot Suppressor-Ready Carbine
Mossberg’s Patriot rifle line has proven wildly successful over the past several years thanks to high-level performance combined with a very reasonable price ($500 MSRP). That combination puts the rifle well within the budget of many serious deer hunters who just can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars on a new rifle.
The new Suppressor-Ready Carbine is a unique addition to the Patriot line and caters to those customers who have jumped on the hunting with a suppressor bandwagon. The carbine has a shorter barrel (16.5 to 20 inches, depending on caliber) to accommodate the use of a suppressor without being so long that it is ungainly and hard to manipulate. The carbine features a black synthetic stock and matte blued barrel, along with Mossberg’s LBA bladed trigger that is user adjustable from 2 to 7 pounds of pull. A receiver-mounted Picatinny rail makes for easy mounting of optics.
The carbine is built on a proven twin-lug push-feed machined-steel action that is fed from a flush polymer magazine. The free-floating, carbon steel barrel features an 11-degree match crown. Rounding out the package are an oversized bolt handle, spiral-fluted bolt and sling swivel studs. The Suppressor-Ready Carbine is available chambered in .22-250, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win., .350 Legend and .450 Bushmaster. And yes, hunters can use the gun without a suppressor, thanks to the screw-on thread protector that comes with it.
Savage is another gun company that offers quality rifles at very reasonable price points, and the Axis 2 Pro is certainly no exception to that rule. This is a feature-rich rifle that can get the job done in the deer woods and fields.
The gun features a redesigned, ergonomic stock with enhanced texturing, along with a pistol grip with ambidextrous palm swells. An updated bolt handle with a sleek, ergonomic design delivers on functionality, helping to enhance user control and comfort during operation, especially in adverse conditions like rain or cold weather. Barrel lengths range from 18 to 20 inches, depending on caliber. The rifle uses a detachable box magazine for ammunition feeding, and both left-handed and compact models are available.
The Axis 2 Pro also features Savage’s fantastic AccuTrigger, one of the finest user-adjustable triggers found in mass-produced rifles of any price. It’s available in three different Savage camo patterns — Woodland, Western and Forest SP Camo — along with Cerakote finishes to outlast the elements. Of course, the barrel is threaded for those wanting to utilize a suppressor, and a one-piece O-MOA rail offers easy mounting of optics. The Savage Axis 2 Pro is available in more than a dozen different chamberings ranging from .223 Rem. to 400 Legend.
Seekins Precision is no stranger to producing top-quality, accurate rifles. And the new PH 3, an updated version of the company’s popular PH2, is one your customers will probably take a close look at. One upgrade was strengthening the receiver and bolt, making the rifle capable of shooting high-pressure cartridges that weren’t possible with the earlier version.
With the new three-lug bolt design and 60-degree throw, this is the smoothest and fastest action on a Seekins rifle to date, and that’s saying something. The stock features an adjustable cheek riser for customization, and the gun comes stock with an integrated 20-MOA Picatinny rail and a full-length M-Lok rail. Additionally, Seekins’ Quick Change Barrel System and tool-less removable bolt allow the user to change calibers on the fly if desired. And the outstanding TriggerTech trigger is user adjustable from 2.5 to 5 pounds.
Chamberings include 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .277 Fury, .308 Win. and 7mm Rem. Mag. The rifle is available in three color options: Mountain Shadow, Urban Shadow and the all-new Woodland Shadow. With an MSRP of $1,895, this rifle isn’t cheap, but it isn’t overly expensive either. I’d say with all the features packed into the HAVAK PH3, it’s a pretty good buy for serious deer hunters.
The new Range XP 2.0 from Weatherby features the company’s 307 action, which is based on the Remington 700 footprint. The Model 307 action is a two-lug, fully cylindrical action compatible with many aftermarket accessories and designed to accommodate the vast offerings of stocks, triggers, rails, mounts and magazines that exist in today’s marketplace.
The new rifle features a polymer stock that is adjustable for length of pull and comb height, a vertical grip and an attractive hand-painted green and gray sponge paint pattern that really catches the eye. Touch points are textured for a nonslip grip, and dual front swivel studs allow for multiple accessories. The bolt, bolt knob and fluted barrel are all coated in graphite black Cerakote.
The TriggerTech trigger with zero-creep break and extremely short overtravel ensures good accuracy and is user adjustable down to 2.5 pounds. Naturally, the gun comes with Weatherby’s sub-MOA accuracy guarantee. The Weatherby Range XP 2.0 rifle is available in 11 different chamberings ranging from .257 Wby. Mag. To 7mm Rem. Mag., and all models weigh in at under 7.5 pounds. Barrels range from 22 to 28 inches, depending on caliber, and magazine capacity is five rounds. MSRP is $1,279.
