I own more than a handful of big-game hunting rifles in a variety of calibers, some lightweight and others downright heavy to carry. If I’m going to be crawling over the mountains, chasing elk for miles and miles, I’ll be toting one of my lightest rifles every time. Yet even if I’m just walking 100 yards from my truck to a whitetail stand, I’m still drawn to the lighter guns. They make even a short jaunt a little more enjoyable.
Lightweight rifles are not new to the big-game hunting scene. Firearms historians widely regard the Savage Model 1920, introduced 106 years ago, as the first American-made “lightweight” bolt-action hunting rifle. Since then, dozens of manufacturers have introduced hundreds of great models.
Note that when talking about “lightweight” rifles, we’re typically referring to those weighing anywhere from 4 to around 7 pounds sans scope. If you can keep it under 8 pounds once you get a scope in place, you’re in that “lightweight” category, although many hunters prefer rifles lighter than that.
The lighter a rifle is, the easier it is to carry in the woods, mountains, and prairies. Lighter rifles do have a few drawbacks, however, such as increased recoil. Since hunters don’t typically fire multiple rounds in the field, many opt for the lighter weight, accepting that a little additional recoil will be part of the equation.
While I’ll stop short of saying that “nearly everybody” introduced a new lightweight bolt-action hunting rifle this year, a good number of manufacturers did. With fall big-game hunting seasons on the horizon, let’s take a look at eight new models that might add to your bottom line.
Bergara is known for manufacturing exceptionally accurate, high-quality rifle barrels and precision bolt-action rifles for hunting and tactical use. The company says its new Premier Cima Pro is more than just a lightweight hunting rifle: It’s the embodiment of Bergara’s highest standards of performance, innovation and craftsmanship. Built entirely with carbon technology using an advanced autoclave curing process that extends from the stock to the barrel, it achieves an exceptional balance of strength and weight, ensuring rigidity, consistency and lasting reliability.
The Premier Cima Pro weighs about 5.5 pounds, depending on the action length. The CURE barrel is uniquely optimized mechanically and thermodynamically through a proprietary, patent-pending carbon weave with embedded stainless steel strands that dissipate heat. Caliber options include 22 Creedmoor, 25 Creedmoor, .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .300 Win. Mag., 7 PRC, 7mm Rem. Mag., and .300 PRC. Of course, the rifle carries Bergara’s sub-MOA guarantee. Note that this rifle isn’t for those on a tight budget, as the MSRP starts at $3,099.
Franchi Momentum Carbon Elite .400 Legend
Catering to hunters in states that allow only straight-wall cartridges for big-game hunting, Franchi is chambering its Momentum Carbon Elite bolt-action rifle for the .400 Legend, a Winchester-designed cartridge that delivers 25% more energy than the .350 Legend. This modern cartridge offers impressive ballistic efficiency and terminal performance, making it a serious option for confidently taking big game.
The Momentum Elite offers a compact feel with its 18-inch fluted barrel and Ergonom-X stock with an adjustable cheek piece and an extended Picatinny rail for effortless, perfect line of sight. The model features Franchi’s Terra camouflage paired with a Cobalt Cerakote finish — an ideal combination for more open terrain and agricultural field stands. It also features a three-round box magazine, a threaded muzzle with a muzzle brake, and an adjustable trigger from 2-4 pounds. This rifle weighs 7.1 pounds, and the overall length is 40.5 inches. The MSRP is a very reasonable $1,329.
The new technology featured in the Prevail is going to turn a few heads among big-game hunters this year. Franklin Armory says that at the heart of the new Prevail line is the company’s all-new Total Round Control (TRC) Action, designed to control each round throughout the entire feeding and extraction cycle, leaving nothing to chance. It features a Model 700-compatible carbon-fiber stock with custom V-block bedding, along with an S7 DLC tool-steel bolt head and a DLC-coated 17-4 PH stainless firing pin.
The Prevail is available with a 24-inch Fidelis carbon-ceramic barrel or a 24-inch steel-fluted sporter barrel. Weighing in at a svelte 5.75 pounds, the Prevail features Franklin Armory's new Conquest Performance trigger. Unique to the patent-pending Conquest design is the take-up adjustment mechanism, which interlocks with the safety to ensure maximum contact throughout the range, regardless of setting. Caliber choices include .308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, and .300 WSM. Backed by a sub-MOA guarantee, the MSRP starts at $3,299.
Nemo is best known for its heavy-caliber AR-style rifles, including the Omen chambered in .300 Win. Mag. The company’s new foray into the hunting rifle space is sure to turn heads, as its design differs markedly from your average bolt-action deer gun. Born of decades of mountain hunts and obsessive craftsmanship, the Electus pairs a titanium controlled-round-feed action with a cut-rifled, carbon-wrapped barrel and an ultralight carbon stock to deliver refinement, strength and stability.
At just 6.5 pounds and with a folding stock, the Electus is built to carry farther with less fatigue and to stow easily when terrain or travel demands a compact length. The short-barreled, suppressor-ready design keeps the rifle balanced and maneuverable when running a can, avoiding the front-heavy feel common in longer hunting rifles when suppressed. The carbon-wrapped, cut-rifled barrel delivers consistent, practical accuracy in a lightweight package, while a TRIGGERTECH Diamond trigger and tuned recoil management support clean first shots and faster, more controlled follow-ups. Far from a budget rifle, it has an MSRP of $7,499.
At about 7.7 pounds, the Savage 110 Core Hunter sits near the top of the “lightweight” weight range. That said, this new model from a storied rifle maker has a lot to offer, especially for the price. Built as a versatile hunting rifle, the 110 Core Hunter pairs modern ergonomics with rugged performance: a Flat Dark Gray stock with AccuFit V2, featuring toolless LOP and comb adjustments. Interchangeable grip modules and M-Lok panels let you tailor the fit and accessory layout on the fly, while a black ink Cerakoted barreled action and a jeweled bolt body with a threaded bolt handle provide corrosion resistance and smooth operation.
Savage’s user-adjustable AccuTrigger delivers predictable, tunable breaks, and the 16.5- to 22-inch carbon-steel barrels, in a heavy sporter contour with straight fluting, keep weight forward for steady tracking while remaining caliber-flexible. A threaded muzzle, a one-piece 0-MOA rail for optics, and a detachable box magazine make the rifle ready for any setup. Available in more than 30 cartridge options, the MSRP starts at $799.
Seekins Precision Element Hunter
The new Element Hunter from Seekins Precision won’t be mistaken for your grandpa’s Winchester Model 70 at deer camp, as it looks more like a chassis-style long-range competition rifle than a deer killer. The rifle is designed for the rugged, unforgiving terrain and extreme weather conditions found in Idaho’s mountains. The Element Hunter features the Element M3 barreled action with the company’s first carbon-fiber barrel, specifically designed and contoured for hunting. The chassis is also designed for hunters.
Seekins is quick to point out that this is not a tactical rifle slimmed down to save weight. This chassis has the fit, form, and feel of a traditional hunting stock while offering the modularity and features of a chassis-style rifle: a folding, slim, snag-free stock perfect for packing and quick to deploy; an adjustable cheek piece; a full-length M-Lok rail on a traditional-style fore end; and the Seekins Quick Change Barrel Collar, allowing hunters to change caliber to meet their specific needs. MSRP is $3,200.
Spandau Arms might not be a common name around the campfire at hunting camp, but the company’s new RL Bolt Action Rifle offers a lot for a small price tag. Built with the American hunter in mind, this bolt-action rifle uses a Remington 700-compatible short action, allowing shooters to tap into decades of stocks, triggers, bases and upgrades developed for one of America’s most iconic rifle platforms.
Chambered in the ubiquitous .308 Winchester and paired with a 1:10 twist 5R rifled barrel, the RL is field-ready right out of the box, with premium features such as an oversized bolt handle, AICS-pattern detachable magazines, and a zero-cant Picatinny optics rail. Finished with a durable oxynitride treatment and outfitted with a beautiful Turkish walnut stock, the RL offers a touch of classic deer rifles of the past while delivering a modern bolt-gun experience at a price hunters will remember and appreciate. MSRP is $799.
Weatherby Mark V Backcountry Capra
The Weatherby Mark V has been a classic bolt-action hunting rifle for nearly 70 years, and the newest iteration — the Mark V Backcountry Capra — is a special rifle guaranteed to turn heads in your retail establishment. The Backcountry Capra redefines the lightweight mountain rifle and raises Weatherby’s standard for backcountry performance. Starting at just 4 pounds, the Capra uses the Mark V 6-lug short action, machined from titanium, making it one of the lightest production rifles ever offered. Its thin-contour barrel features double-spiral fluting that forms a double helix, reducing weight while increasing rigidity.
A modified Peak 44 Blacktooth stock shaves ounces on the trail while preserving comfortable ergonomics and effective recoil control. Managing recoil in an ultralight rifle is one of the hardest engineering challenges. The 3D hex recoil pad uses a honeycomb structure to crush felt recoil, making the Capra easy to shoot and easy on the shoulder. Available chamberings include 22 Creedmoor, 25 Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win., .240 Wby. Mag., .25 Wby. RPM, 6.5 Wby. RPM, .270 Win., and .280 AI. MSRP is $3,499.
