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The Hottest New Hunting Rifles from SHOT Show 2025

This year's list of new guns contains everything from high-tech muzzleloaders to ultralight rimfires, so no matter the game, the conditions, or the range, there's a rifle on this list for you.

The Hottest New Hunting Rifles from SHOT Show 2025

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2025 is getting off with a bang thanks to a whole host of brand-new hunting rifles that will be released in the coming weeks. The class of ’25 is impressive and features something for every hunter and every budget. Whether you’re looking for an affordable, reliable deer rifle, a squirrel gun, or a serious long-range rig, you’ll find the perfect gun on our list of the top new rifles for 2025.

Savage Axis 2

savage axis 2
(Photo courtesy of Savage)

This year Savage introduced their Axis 2 rifle, a refresh and update of their entry-level Axis bolt-action rifle that has been in production since 2010. The new Axis 2 offers improved ergonomics thanks to an updated stock design that is more modern than the one on the outgoing model. Most notably, the Axis 2 features a more vertical pistol grip with palm swells, a feature found on many of today’s top hunting rifles. But the improvements are more than simply cosmetic. Having shot both the Axis and Axis 2, I have found the new vertical stock to be much more comfortable when shooting prone, and it accommodates a thumb-forward hand position better than the old gun’s traditional sporter-style grip. An adjustable, bladed AccuTrigger also comes standard on the Axis 2, and there are three different stock color options: FDE, OD green, and gray. All models come with a detachable box magazine and enhanced bolt design. The Axis 2 is available in a host of chamberings from .223 Remington to .400 Legend, and there are both compact and left-handed versions available as well. The original Axis was a well-rounded hunting rifle that was affordable to own. The Axis 2 offers improvements over its predecessor and remains an excellent value. $489; Savagearms.com

Seekins Precision PH3

seekins ph3
(Photo courtesy of Seekins Precision)

The Seekins PH2 is an outstanding rifle, but along with the company’s other bolt guns, it’s getting a refresh for ’25 and comes back as the PH3. The receiver and bolt have been revised and strengthened, so this rifle has absolutely no issues handling high-pressure loads like the .277 Fury and 7mm Backcountry. The three-lug bolt is easy to disassemble without tools and there are three different Shadow paint color schemes for the stock. Speaking of the stock, it comes standard with an adjustable comb, as well as a 20 MOA rail. There are also new options for shorter (20-inch) barrels, which makes the PH3 better suited for hunting with a suppressor than the PH2. With tight tolerances, premium materials, and silky smooth bolt operation, the Seekins feels like a premium, perhaps even custom—rifle, so it’s no wonder these guns are in high demand. Made in Lewiston, Idaho by folks who hunt and shoot often, the PH3 is one of the rifles I’m most excited about for 2025. Also exciting is the news that the pricing has not changed from the PH2, and that makes this gun an excellent value. $1,895.00; Seekinsprecision.com

Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber

ruger 10/22 carbon fiber
(Photo courtesy of Ruger)

The big news at Ruger has been the arrival of their second-gen American rifle, but this year the company is expanding one of their oldest product lines, the 10/22. New for 2025 is the Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber, a 3.5-pound version of their classic blowback rimfire autoloader. This rifle comes with a Magpul MOE X-22 stock and a 16.10-inch stainless steel barrel with a tensioned carbon fiber sleeve. The Magpul stock features a bag cutout, upright grip with Magpul’s TSP texturing, molded sling studs, and M-LOK slots on the underside of the forearm for attaching bipods or other accessories. Since the muzzle is threaded ½ x 28 it’s easy to add a suppressor to this rifle, and the aluminum rail allows you to easily mount an optic on the Ruger. Ruger’s BX trigger breaks between 2.5 and 3-pounds and is one of the best factory triggers you’ll find in an autoloading rimfire. The reliable rotary magazine and reliable blowback operation remain the same, and this new 10/22 offers the dependability we’ve come to expect from Ruger’s flagship rimfire rifle. This is the perfect rimfire for hunting squirrels and cottontails or for dispatching pests from the garden, and it’s a light rifle with low recoil that everyone can enjoy shooting. $649.00; Ruger.com

Bergara BMR-X and BMR-X Carbon Rimfires

bergara carbon x
(Photo courtesy of Bergara)

This year Bergara is launching two new bolt-action rimfire rifles, the BMR-X and BMR-X Carbon. Both of these rifles utilize Bergara’s Micro rimfire action and both are available in .22 LR, .17 HMR, and .22 WMR. As the name implies, the Carbon version comes with a #6 Bergara carbon barrel, while the standard model comes with a #6 4140 chromoly steel barrel. Both rifles come with 18-inch barrels, and both come with tactical polymer stocks with bag cutouts, length of pull spacers, and QD cups. Top rails make mountain an optic fast and simple, and the Bergara Performance Trigger is light, crisp, and smooth—exactly what you want when your quarry has a vital zone that’s the size of a walnut. The steel model weighs in at a manageable 6.6-pounds while the carbon barrel model weighs just 5.7-pounds, so these rifles are manageable for shooters of all sizes. These are both premium rimfires that look great and offer superb accuracy. $719 (BMR-X) & $819 (BMR-X Carbon); Bergarausa.com

Browning X-Bolt 2 Western Hunter LR

browning xbolt 2 Western Hunter LR
(Photo courtesy of Browning)

This year Browning is expanding on their X-Bolt 2 line of rifles. New for 2025 is the X-Bolt 2 Western Hunter LR which comes with a sporter contour barrel with matte blued finish on the metalwork and a Vari-Tech adjustable stock in Ovix camo. The Vari-Tech stock is great because it allows you to easily adjust comb height for perfect alignment with your optic. There are also stock spacers that allow you to adjust length of pull, and they are hidden within the stock, giving the gun a more streamlined, upscale look than rifles with exposed Lop spacers. A Picatinny rail on the forearm allows shooters to easily mount a bipod and the extended bolt handle allows for faster cycling in the field. A radial brake comes standard on the threaded barrel, and the muzzle is belled to accept 5/8 x 24 threads, which means you can mount popular suppressors and other muzzle devices without the need for an adapter. The new Plus Magazine System allows you to adapt the rifle to use either extended box magazines or standard Browning rotary magazines. The X-Bolt 2 Western Hunter LR is the latest evolution of the X-Bolt family of rifles and it’s a feature-rich, accurate rifle that’s purpose-built for western long-range hunters. $1,470-$1,550; Browning.com

Traditions NitroBolt Muzzleloader

traditions nitrobolt
(Photo courtesy of Traditions)

This year Traditions is offering what might be the most innovative product for 2025, the NitroBolt. It’s a bolt-action muzzleloader that utilizes the Firestick system. A pre-measured charge of black powder is housed within the Firestick's polymer “shell” and each powder charge is color-coded so you know exactly how much powder is contained within. To fire, simply insert a bullet through the muzzle and push it down the bore until it seats near the breech. After removing the ramrod, you simply insert a Firestick with a 209 primer inserted into the action, close the bolt, and fire. There’s a three-position safety with an intermediate position that allows you to operate the bolt with the safety engaged. Cleanup between shots consists of running a few wet and then dry patches down the bore, and the process is simpler since the bolt can be removed. The muzzle is also threaded and Traditions offers a muzzle brake as an option with this rifle. This is an innovative and reliable system that’s packed with patented components (including the extractor which had to be designed from scratch to function with Firestick system and it worked flawlessly during testing. I carried the rifle on an Ohio whitetail hunt, and although I didn’t have a chance to shoot a buck, I was afforded the opportunity to range test the NitroBolt rifle and was extremely impressed. This is a game-changer for muzzleloader hunters and one of the coolest new firearms for ’25. $995.00; Traditionsfirearms.com

Weatherby Range XP 2.0

weatherby range xp 2.0
(Photo courtesy of Weatherby)

Two years ago Weatherby launched the Model 307 rifle, the first new action from the company since the 1960s. Based on a Remington 700 footprint, the 307 is compatible with a wide range of aftermarket parts, and this year Weatherby is adding a new 307 to the lineup—the Range XP 2.0. The XP 2.0 comes with a polymer stock that is adjustable for length of pull and comb height and features a sponge paint pattern and a vertical grip orientation. A TriggerTech adjustable trigger comes standard, as does a ½ x 28 threaded muzzle outfitted with an AccuBrake to help tame recoil. The exposed metal is protected by a good-looking Graphite Black Cerakote finish, but perhaps the coolest feature of the Range XP 2.0 is the skip fluted steel barrel, a feature not found on other rifles in this price category. The Model 307 is made in Sheridan, Wyoming at Weatherby’s new state-of-the-art factory, and since it is compatible with so many aftermarket parts, you can truly customize this gun to fit your needs and hunting conditions. Then again, this rifle is so well-equipped right out of the box that even in factory form it’s a good-looking, stylish gun. Available in a range of chamberings from .223 Remington to 7mm PRC (including federal’s new 7mm Backcountry), this truly is a superb hunting rifle and just might be the best bang-for-your-buck hunting rifle of ’25. $1,279.00; Weatherby.com

CVA Scout and Scout TD

cva scout
(Photo courtesy of CVA)

The Scout and Scout TD are CVA’s new single-shot break-action rifles and they are chambered for a variety of cartridges that are suitable in straight wall-only states or areas with primitive seasons that allow the use of single-shot rifles firing .35 caliber or larger cartridges. New this year are the addition of the .360 Buckhammer and .400 Legend chamberings, both of which are perfect for whitetail and other similar-sized game like hogs and black bears. Manufacturers of break-action single-shot rifles have traditionally been pretty stingy with added features in an effort to keep costs down, but the Scout and Scout TD offer a lot of bang for your buck. Both versions of the Scout rifle come with adjustable combs and lengths of pull so you can customize the rifle for a proper fit. The stocks have vertical pistol grips—a feature not found on other single-shots—and both versions come with an ambidextrous hammer extension that makes it simpler to operate the rifle with an optic in place. The standard Scout rifle comes with a blued barrel, while the Scout TD comes with a stainless steel fluted barrel and muzzle brake. Whichever you choose, you’ll get a solid, reliable rifle that’s ready for the deer woods. $425 (Scout), $495 (Scout TD); Cva.com

Mossberg Patriot Suppressor-Ready Carbine

mossberg patriot carbine
(Photo courtesy of Mossberg)

Mossberg’s Patriot rifle has been in production for a decade now, and this year the company is offering a new Suppressor Ready Carbine version of the Patriot that is designed for use with suppressors. Shorter approval times have prompted many hunters to purchase their first suppressor, but cans add substantial length to your rifle and a long barrel makes hunting with a suppressor cumbersome. The new Patriot Carbine rifles come with shorter (16.5 to 20-inch) barrels than other Patriot rifles, and that shortened pipe makes it much more pleasant to hunt with a suppressor in place. Patriot Suppressor Ready Carbines are available in .22-250, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester (two barrel profiles), .350 Legend and .450 Bushmaster, all of which feature black synthetic stocks and Mossberg’s LBA bladed adjustable trigger. These rifles weigh under 6.5-pounds so they’re easy to carry, and like other Mossberg guns, the Patriot has earned an enviable reputation for reliability and value. Even if you don’t hunt with a suppressor, the short overall length of these rifles makes them ideal truck guns or for hunting in the tight confines of a bling or tree stand. $500.00; Mossberg.com

Marlin 1894 Guide Gun

marlin 1894 guide gun
(Photo courtesy of Marlin)

Hunters have been swooning over Marlin’s new rifles ever since the company was acquired by Ruger, but I think of all the new Marlin rifles the 1894 Guide is my personal favorite. The black laminate stock and matte blued finish give this gun a subdued look, and it manages to look like a modern lever gun without deviating too far from the classic Marlin aesthetic. It’s also a light, handy, and reliable hunting rifle that’s great for chasing deer in dense Michigan forests or hogs in the cypress swamps of Florida. At just 37.75-inches long, it’s also a great saddle or truck gun, and I’d imagine those who spend time in the backcountry—especially where big bears roam, will appreciate both the Marlin’s compact size and the stopping power of the .44 Magnum for which it’s chambered. The adjustable semi-buckhorn rear sight and hooded brass front bead are pure Marlin, and with its cold hammer-forged 1:16 twist alloy steel barrel this rifle is accurate enough for big game hunting. In addition to .44 magnums, the marlin will also fire .44 Special ammunition, which generates less recoil and muzzle blast than full-power .44 Mag loads. If you’re a fan of Marlin lever guns, this is one you’ll want to add to your collection. It certainly isn’t the flashiest lever-action to come out of the Mayodan, North Carolina factory, but it might be the most versatile and fun to shoot. $1,279.00; Marlinfirearms.com

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