12 Classic & Contemporary Bolt-Action Rifles Worth Your Time

Bolt-action rifles, bolt-action rifles, bolt action rifles, bolt action rifle, Armalite AR-30A1 — Cartridge: .338 Lapua; Weight: 15.40 pounds; Length: 48.1-50.1 inches; Capacity: 5

Bolt-action rifles, bolt-action rifles, bolt action rifles, bolt action rifle, Barrett MRAD — Cartridge: .308/.300 WM/.338 Lapua; Weight: 11.7-14.72 pounds; Length: 49.40 inches; Capacity: 10

Bolt-action rifles, bolt-action rifles, bolt action rifles, bolt action rifle, CZ 750 Sniper — Cartridge: .308; Weight: 11.90 pounds; Length: 48.00 inches; Capacity: 10

Bolt-action rifles, bolt-action rifles, bolt action rifles, bolt action rifle, FN Ballista — Cartridge: .338; Weight: 15.10 pounds; Length: 49.5-50.75 inches; Capacity: 5

Bolt-action rifles, bolt-action rifles, bolt action rifles, bolt action rifle, Kimber 8400 Advanced Tactical SOC — Cartridge: 6.5 Creedmoor/.308/.300 Win; Weight: 11.60-12.00 pounds; Length: 43.50-48.25 inches; Capacity: 5/10

Bolt-action rifles, bolt-action rifles, bolt action rifles, bolt action rifle, Mossberg MVP LR/LR Tactical — Cartridge: .223/.308; Weight: 7-8 pounds; Length: 35.25-39.5 inches; Capacity: 11

Bolt-action rifles, bolt-action rifles, bolt action rifles, bolt action rifle, Remington Custom Shop 40-XS Tactical — Cartridge: .308; Weight: 9.50 pounds; Length: 45.50 inches; Capacity: 4

Bolt-action rifles, bolt-action rifles, bolt action rifles, bolt action rifle, Remington 700 BDL — Cartridge: .243/.270/7mm Rem Mag/.30-06; Weight: 7.63 pounds; Length: 44.50 inches; Capacity: 4

Bolt-action rifles, bolt-action rifles, bolt action rifles, bolt action rifle, Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle — Cartridge: .308; Weight: 7.10 pounds; Length: 38-39.5 inches; Capacity: 10

Bolt-action rifles, bolt-action rifles, bolt action rifles, bolt action rifle, Ruger M77/357 — Cartridge: .357 Mag; Weight: 5.50 pounds; Length: 38.50 inches; Capacity: 5

Bolt-action rifles, bolt-action rifles, bolt action rifles, bolt action rifle, Savage Axis II XP — Cartridge: .223/.30-06/.308; Weight: 6.50 pounds; Length: 43.87 inches; Capacity: 4

Bolt-action rifles, bolt-action rifles, bolt action rifles, bolt action rifle, Steyr SSG 04 — Cartridge: .308; Weight: 10.80 pounds; Length: 46.30 inches; Capacity: 10

Bolt-action rifles are a staple among sportsmen and hunters. It’s a design that has its roots firmly planted in the 19th century (the first was patented in 1824) and has been evolving ever since.

Today’s bolt-action rifles are fundamentally the same as those used in the late 19th century by big game hunters, sportsmen and sharpshooters, but bolt actions have also been developed into exceptional tactical guns for law enforcement and military use, as well as for long-distance competitive shooting. The mechanisms are easy to operate; bolt actions are inherently very accurate and offer any number of cartridge loading configurations based upon design and use.

Most of the models listed here are tactical designs with overall lengths of only 40 inches and weights that average 7.5 pounds. The majority are chambered in the two most common calibers used, .223 and .308, and the average capacity for these long arms is four or five rounds contained in either an internal or box magazine, the latter allowing greater capacity with tactical models.

Nearly every major gunmaker offers a bolt-action rifle, and they include some very famous makes and models such as the Remington 700 BDL and Ruger M77. The bolt-action rifle is truly a multi-purpose design that has seen use in the field for hunting big game to supporting military operations around the world.

The selections include some of the finest classic (walnut and high-grade wood stocks) and contemporary (synthetic stocks) models available.