Deer season plans start in the summer, and every year the same question comes across the counter: "what rifle should I take out there?" Here are the ten hunting rifles selling hardest right now — bolt guns, a lever gun, and the rimfire that has outsold nearly everything on this page.
The quick answer: the Ruger American Gen II and the Tikka T3x split the vote between value and refinement, Savage's Apex package remains the fastest way to get a scoped rifle into the woods, and the 10/22 keeps selling to everyone regardless.
1. Ruger American Gen II
308 Winchester · 20" spiral-fluted barrel · three-lug bolt · Cerakote finish
The original Ruger American was already one of the best-selling centerfire bolt guns in America, and the Gen II answered every complaint about it. Adjustable length of pull and comb height, a 20" cold hammer-forged barrel with spiral fluting, a threaded muzzle with a radial brake, Ruger's Marksman adjustable trigger, and Cerakote on every steel surface. This is the deer rifle we sell the most of, and it is not close.
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2. Tikka T3x Hunter Stainless
7mm Remington Magnum · 22" stainless barrel · walnut stock · adjustable 2–4 lb trigger
Tikka builds on a Sako action, and the moment you cycle one you understand what you are paying for — the bolt throw is glassier than rifles costing twice as much. The adjustable single-stage trigger breaks between two and four pounds, and Tikka's sub-MOA reputation is genuinely earned. The Hunter dresses that action in walnut for people who think a hunting rifle should look like one, and the stainless barrel earns its keep in wet weather. In 7mm Remington Magnum it reaches as far as most hunters ever will.
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3. Savage 110 Apex Hunter XP
350 Legend · 18" barrel · AccuTrigger · mounted and bore-sighted scope
The Savage 110 is the oldest continuously produced bolt-action hunting rifle in America, and the Apex Hunter XP is the shortest path from the counter to the woods: rifle, Vortex Crossfire II scope, rings and bases, mounted and bore-sighted at the factory. Add the user-adjustable AccuTrigger and the AccuFit stock system and this package outperforms its price by a wide margin. The 350 Legend chambering is straight-walled, which matters if you hunt anywhere that restricts bottleneck cartridges.
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4. Browning X-Bolt 2 Hunter
308 Winchester · 22" barrel · walnut stock · DLX adjustable trigger
Browning rebuilt the X-Bolt for its second generation and the headline is the DLX trigger — adjustable, and crisp in a way the original was not. Underneath it is still the three-lug bolt with a 60-degree throw, the rotary magazine, and the free-floated barrel. The Hunter's polished bluing and walnut make it the rifle on this list most likely to get handed down.
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5. Bergara B-14 Ridge
30-06 Springfield · 24" barrel · synthetic stock · sub-MOA guarantee
Bergara barrels earned their reputation in precision rifle circles first, then worked their way into hunting rifles. The B-14 Ridge pairs one with a Remington 700-footprint action, so the aftermarket is already there when you want a different stock or trigger. Bergara guarantees sub-MOA, and in practice these tend to beat it.
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6. Weatherby Vanguard Sporter
243 Winchester · 22" barrel · walnut stock · two-stage trigger
The Vanguard is the workhorse of the Weatherby line and every one ships with a sub-MOA guarantee backed by a factory test target. The two-stage trigger is adjustable, the action is a cold hammer-forged design with a fully enclosed bolt face, and the .243 chambering makes this a genuinely pleasant rifle for a younger or recoil-sensitive hunter without giving up deer capability.
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7. Howa 1500 Fence Line
308 Winchester · 22" threaded barrel · Cerakote · camo synthetic stock
The Howa 1500 action has been quietly building rifles for other brands for decades, and Howa's own guns are one of the most underrated values in the case. The Fence Line adds Cerakote, a camouflaged synthetic stock, a threaded barrel and a radial brake — a suppressor-ready hunting rifle at a price most brands charge for the base model.
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8. Christensen Arms Ridgeline Scout
223 Remington · 16" carbon fiber-wrapped barrel · threaded muzzle · 5-round magazine
Carbon fiber is the whole point here. The Ridgeline Scout wraps a match-grade barrel in carbon to cut weight without giving up rigidity, then hangs it in a carbon composite stock. The 16" barrel makes it short enough to handle in thick cover or from a blind, and the weight savings are the kind you feel on the third mile, not the first.
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9. Henry Big Boy
357 Magnum · 20" barrel · 10-round tube · brass receiver
Not every hunt calls for a scoped bolt gun. In thick woods at short range the lever action still does everything you need, and the Big Boy does it with a ten-round tube and a brass receiver that looks like nothing else on the rack. In .357 Magnum it also shoots .38 Special, which makes it one of the cheapest centerfire rifles in existence to practice with. Henry's fit and finish is the reason these move as steadily as they do.
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10. Ruger 10/22
22 LR · 18.5" barrel · rotary magazine · stainless barrel · Magpul MOE stock
The best-selling rimfire rifle in American history, and the one that has probably taught more people to shoot than every other gun on this page combined. Small game, pest control, practice, or a new shooter's first afternoon — the 10/22 does all of it, and the aftermarket is deep enough that you can rebuild it into something else entirely if you ever want to.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best all-around hunting caliber?
For most hunters east of the Mississippi, .308 Winchester and 30-06 Springfield still cover nearly everything, with ammunition available anywhere. 6.5 Creedmoor has taken a large share of the market on the strength of flatter trajectory and lighter recoil, and .243 Winchester remains the best choice for a younger or smaller-framed hunter.
Bolt action or lever action for deer?
Bolt actions give you more range, easier optic mounting, and a wider caliber selection, which is why they dominate this list. Lever guns win inside 100 yards in thick cover, where their fast handling and quick follow-up shots matter more than reach.
Do I need a scope package or should I buy the scope separately?
A factory package like the Savage Apex Hunter XP gets you shooting immediately and is a real value at the price. If you already know you want quality glass, buy the rifle bare and put the savings toward the optic — glass tends to outlast the rifle it sits on.
Can I buy one of these online?
Yes — order on our site and pick up at our Marlton or Jersey City locations with no transfer fee, or have it shipped to a licensed dealer near you. See our guide to buying a gun online for the full process.
Want to compare a few of these side by side before the season? Call or visit Urban Tactical Firearms in Marlton or Jersey City and we will get them on the counter for you.