While it seems so many of 2020’s hottest rifles are long-range, high dollar, precision quality builds, there are still plenty of new offerings with wallet-friendly price tags. Whether centerfire or rimfire, hunting, plinking, or long-range target shooting, the rifle market has plenty to offer the budget shopper looking for a sub-$1K rifle.
Savage Minimalist
Savage introduces a few models into the Minimalist lineup including the Mark II in green. (Photo: Savage)
Savage’s Minimalist line of rimfire bolt guns includes three models, each available with either brown or green laminate stocks showing modern lines and weight-savings. The Mark II Minimalist comes in .22 LR with an 18-inch carbon steel barrel that is threaded and capped.
The Model 93 Minimalist. (Photo: Savage Arms)
The Model 93 Minimalist is for the .22 WMR shooters, featuring the same 18-inch steel threaded barrel as well as the AccuTrigger. Like the aforementioned, Savage’s 93R17 Minimalist carries the same features but is chambered for the zippy .17 HMR.
Each of the magazine-fed Minimalist versions will debut with an MSRP of $349.
Mossberg Patriot Long Range Hunter
Mossberg unveiled the Patriot LR Hunter to SHOT Show attendees in Las Vegas in mid-January 2020. (Photo: Mossberg)
Long-range is the name of the game in the hunting world these days, and it was only a matter of time before Mossberg dressed up their successful Patriot line. The new LR Hunter spinoff is available in four calibers–.308 Win, 6.5 Creed, 6.5 PRC, and .300 Win Mag–with 22- or 24-inch fluted and threaded barrels. The company designed a Spider Gray wood-core, polymer-coated stock for added durability and grip.
Like the other bolt action Patriots, the LR Hunter features Mossberg’s LBA adjustable trigger, spiral fluted bolt, box magazine, and oversized bolt handle. Though the LR Hunter was on display at SHOT it will not begin shipping until later in the year.
MSRP is rumored around $700.
Winchester XPR Stealth, Suppressor-Ready
Winchester XPR Stealth delivers a suppressor-ready build for those quieter shooting moments. (Photo: Winchester)
Winchester expands its proven line of cost-effective XPR bolt action rifles with the compact and wieldy-sized XPR Stealth Suppressor Ready. Each rifle wears a free-floated, 16-inch heavy sporter threaded barrel and weighs in at 6.8-pounds. The stock features a dark green composite with black Permacote on the metalwork and a dropbox magazine.
Calibers include: .223 Win, .243 Win, 6.5 Creed, 7mm-08 Rem, .308 Win, 350 Legend, 6.5 PRC, .270 WSM and .300 WSM. A full Picatinny scope rail rounds out the suppressor-ready package.
MSRP, regardless of caliber, is an attractive $619.
Ruger American Hunter
Ruger brings a wallet-friendly bolt action rifle to American consumers. (Photo: Ruger)
Ruger’s budget-conscious line of American bolt action rifles continues to expand, this time with the addition of the American Hunter. The rifle offers a factory-installed, adjustable Magpul Hunter stock.
Available in both 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester, the American Hunter ships in three versions: a standard gray stocked model with a 20-inch heavy-contour barrel, a Sports South distributor version with short barrels and green stocks, and a 22-inch with a Flat Dark Earth stock selling as a Davidson’s exclusive. The rifles feature Ruger’s Marksman adjustable trigger, Picatinny scope base, and offer an MOA accuracy guarantee.
The American Hunter ships with a five-round Magpul magazine and a suggested retail price of $799.
Heritage Rough Rider Rancher
Heritage blends wheelguns and rifles with its latest innovation, the Rancher. (Photo: Heritage Manufacturing)
Budget revolver company Heritage Manufacturing ventures into the rifle market with the unique Rancher .22 LR rimfire. The Rancher is a 16-inch barreled six-shooter with a full buttstock. Fans of the company’s single-action wheelguns will find the Rancher built on the same Rough Rider frame with the addition of a checkered Walnut buttstock and trigger guard loop.
The front sight is drift adjustable, while the rear buckhorn can be set for elevation. The manual safety is the same as that found on the handguns. Though they’re currently shipping with a .22 LR cylinder only, we strongly suspect a .22 WMR cylinder will soon be a combo option as well.
The rifle ships with a sling for an MSRP of $297.
Savage Axis II Precision
The Savage Axis II Precision is a great entry option for those looking to dive into the precision shooting pool. (Photo: Savage Arms)
Competition shooters can pick up the new Savage Axis Precision for $550 less than Savage’s Elite Precision rifle, allowing entry into precision performance without breaking the bank. Savage partnered with Modular Driven Technologies (MDT) to offer an aluminum chassis with olive drab injection-molded skin to house the new bolt gun. Both the comb height and length of pull on the stock are adjustable and an M-LOK forend offers multiple accessory mounting options.
Each rifle wears a 22-inch button-rifled, threaded heavy barrel, and ships with a 10-round detachable AICS magazine. Calibers include .223 Rem, .243 Win, .308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30-06 Spfld and .270 Win.
The Axis II Precision retails for $949 which, for a precision rifle, comes in considerably lower priced than the majority of other options.
The post Best New Budget Rifles of 2020 appeared first on Guns.com.