Top Guns — Twenty More of America’s Best-Selling Hunting Guns
Twenty more proven sellers our readers kept asking about — value bolt-actions, lever guns, inertia and gas semi-auto shotguns, and big-bore hunting handguns. Every pick below is in stock now at Guns.com; every one carries an honest HookNArrow take, and every BUY HERE coin takes you straight to its listing — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
1. Howa 1500 — 6.5 Creedmoor bolt-action rifle
Specs: 6.5 Creedmoor, 22″ threaded barrel, 5-round capacity, walnut stock, 7.2 lbs, SubMOA accuracy guarantee.
Best for: Deer and antelope hunters who want guaranteed accuracy on a working-man’s budget.
Pros: SubMOA guarantee at a $643 street price; the smooth Howa 1500 action is a gunsmith favorite; threaded barrel comes suppressor-ready.
Cons: Heavier than mountain rifles; the factory stock is functional, not fancy.
2. Browning AB3 — 6.5 Creedmoor bolt-action rifle
Specs: 6.5 Creedmoor, 22″ threaded sporter barrel, 4+1 capacity, Mossy Oak Bottomland finish, 6.9 lbs.
Best for: Whitetail hunters who want Browning fit and finish without the X-Bolt price.
Pros: Browning accuracy and a slick bolt for $739; threaded muzzle; camo finish shrugs off field wear.
Cons: 4-round capacity is modest; no detachable rotary magazine like the X-Bolt.
3. Christensen Arms Mesa — 6.5 Creedmoor bolt-action rifle
Specs: 6.5 Creedmoor, 22″ barrel, 4-round capacity, black stock with gray webbing, 6.5 lbs.
Best for: Backcountry hunters who want a light, accurate rifle with a premium feel.
Pros: Just 6.5 lbs with Christensen’s match-grade barrel reputation; crisp trigger; quality stock.
Cons: $1,100 is real money; 4-round internal magazine.
4. Franchi Momentum — 6.5 Creedmoor bolt-action rifle
Specs: 6.5 Creedmoor, 24″ barrel, 4-round internal magazine, black anodized finish, 6.7 lbs.
Best for: Budget-minded deer hunters who want a 24″ barrel for maximum velocity.
Pros: Under $590 with a 24″ barrel; smooth bolt throw; Benelli-family reliability.
Cons: Basic stock; internal magazine only.
5. CZ 600 Alpha — .30-06 Springfield bolt-action rifle
Specs: .30-06 Springfield, 20″ threaded barrel, 4-round capacity, black finish, 7.3 lbs, sub-MOA guaranteed.
Best for: One-rifle hunters who want .30-06 versatility in a handy 20″ package.
Pros: Sub-MOA accuracy guarantee; threaded 20″ barrel is suppressor-ready; excellent 600-series ergonomics.
Cons: 7.3 lbs is hefty for the barrel length; .30-06 thumps in a lighter rifle.
6. Weatherby Mark V Hunter — .300 Win Mag bolt-action rifle
Specs: .300 Winchester Magnum, 26″ barrel, 3-round capacity, gray finish, 7.3 lbs, multi-lug Mark V action.
Best for: Elk and big-country mule deer hunters who need magnum reach.
Pros: The legendary Mark V action; 26″ barrel wrings out .300 WM velocity; $1,253 street price.
Cons: 3-round capacity; magnum recoil and ammo cost.
7. Marlin 1894 Classic — .44 Magnum lever-action rifle
Specs: .44 Remington Magnum, 20.25″ barrel, lever action, 11-round capacity, walnut/blued, 6.4 lbs.
Best for: Brush-country deer and hog hunters who love a classic lever gun.
Pros: 11 rounds of .44 Mag in a 6.4-lb package; beautiful American walnut; Ruger-made Marlin quality.
Cons: $1,009 is steep for a pistol-caliber lever; .44 Mag range has limits.
8. Rossi R95 — .30-30 Winchester lever-action rifle
Specs: .30-30 Winchester, lever action, $701.99 street price.
Best for: Deer hunters who want an affordable, fast-handling .30-30 lever gun.
Pros: Classic .30-30 ballistics under $710; light and quick to shoulder; simple, proven action.
Cons: Fit and finish trail pricier levers; limited optics-mounting options.
9. Henry Single Shot Steel Rifle — .308 Winchester single-shot rifle
Specs: .308 Winchester, 22″ barrel, break-action single shot, blued finish, 6.94 lbs.
Best for: Hunters in single-shot-only areas and one-shot traditionalists.
Pros: $488 — the cheapest centerfire path on this page; Henry fit and finish; simple and safe.
Cons: One shot with slow reloads; direct-mount optics only.
10. Tikka T1x MTR — .22 LR bolt-action rimfire rifle
Specs: .22 LR, 20″ barrel, bolt action, 10-round magazine, 7.5 lbs.
Best for: Squirrel hunters and rimfire precision shooters.
Pros: Tikka barrel quality in a rimfire; 10-round magazines; shares T3x ergonomics.
Cons: $649 is premium for a .22; 7.5 lbs is heavy for a rimfire.
11. Ruger American Rimfire Standard — .22 LR bolt-action rimfire rifle
Specs: .22 LR, 22″ barrel, bolt action, 10-round rotary magazine, black composite stock, 6 lbs.
Best for: New shooters, small game, and cheap high-volume practice.
Pros: $376 — tremendous value; reliable 10-round rotary mags; adjustable trigger.
Cons: Basic stock; not a target rifle.
12. Benelli M2 Field — 12 ga semi-auto shotgun
Specs: 12 gauge, 28″ barrel, inertia-driven semi-auto, 3-round capacity, Mossy Oak Bottomland, 6.8 lbs.
Best for: Waterfowl and upland hunters who want Benelli reliability.
Pros: Inertia system runs clean in the worst conditions; 6.8 lbs; camo finish.
Cons: $1,433; 3-round capacity; inertia guns kick more than gas guns.
13. Stoeger M3500 — 12 ga semi-auto shotgun
Specs: 12 gauge, 28″ barrel, inertia-driven semi-auto, 4-round capacity, black synthetic, 7.8 lbs.
Best for: Waterfowl hunters who want 3.5″ magnum capability on a budget.
Pros: Handles 3.5″ magnums for $631; inertia reliability; Benelli-family design.
Cons: 7.8 lbs is heavy; basic fit and finish.
14. Mossberg 940 Pro Field — 12 ga semi-auto shotgun
Specs: 12 gauge, 28″ barrel, gas-operated semi-auto, 4-round capacity, black synthetic, 7.75 lbs.
Best for: All-around bird hunters who want soft-shooting gas operation.
Pros: Gas system tames recoil; 4-round capacity; Mossberg’s improved 940 platform.
Cons: 7.75 lbs; gas guns demand more cleaning.
15. Weatherby Element — 12 ga semi-auto shotgun
Specs: 12 gauge, 26″ barrel, inertia-driven semi-auto, 4-round capacity, gray finish, 6.8 lbs.
Best for: Upland and waterfowl hunters who want a light inertia gun under $600.
Pros: $600 inertia gun at just 6.8 lbs; simple and reliable; Weatherby service.
Cons: 26″ barrel is short for pass shooting; basic furniture.
16. CZ Drake — 12 ga over/under shotgun
Specs: 12 gauge, 28″ barrels, over/under break action, 2-round capacity, OD green and walnut.
Best for: Upland bird hunters and clays shooters who want an affordable double.
Pros: $837 over/under; classic good looks; simple and reliable.
Cons: Heavy triggers typical of the price class; limited choke selection.
17. Tristar Viper G2 Synthetic — 12 ga semi-auto shotgun
Specs: 12 gauge, 26″ barrel, gas-operated semi-auto, 3-round capacity, black synthetic, 6.8 lbs.
Best for: Budget dove and clays shooters who want soft gas operation.
Pros: $551 gas semi-auto; soft shooting; chrome-lined barrel.
Cons: 3-round capacity; resale trails the big names.
18. Smith & Wesson Model 629 — .44 Magnum revolver (hunting handgun)
Specs: .44 Magnum, 6″ barrel, double-action revolver, 6 rounds, stainless steel, 2.8 lbs.
Best for: Handgun deer hunters and backcountry bear defense.
Pros: The classic .44 Mag N-frame; stainless durability; $967 street price.
Cons: Heavy for belt carry; full-house .44 Mag recoil.
19. Colt Anaconda — .44 Magnum revolver (hunting handgun)
Specs: .44 Magnum, 6″ barrel, single/double action, 6 rounds, blued carbon steel.
Best for: Collectors and handgun hunters who want the Snake Gun legend.
Pros: Iconic Colt snake gun; excellent trigger; $1,383 street price.
Cons: You pay for the name; blued finish needs care.
20. Sig Sauer P320 XTEN — 10mm semi-auto pistol (hunting handgun)
Specs: 10mm Auto, 5″ barrel, 15+1 capacity, XRAY3 day/night sights, black finish, 2.06 lbs.
Best for: Backcountry defense and hog hunting with a high-capacity 10mm.
Pros: 15+1 rounds of 10mm; XRAY3 sights; modular P320 platform.
Cons: Large grip; 10mm ammo isn’t cheap.
As an affiliate, HookNArrow.com earns from qualifying purchases made through the BUY HERE coins on this page — Guns.com via AvantLink and Amazon (tag hooknarrow06-20). Prices and availability change; the seller’s page is the final word.