Late January is an exciting time for deer hunters and firearms enthusiasts. Well, yes, the days are starting to stay light a little longer, so we’re a little closer to deer season each day. Really though, the excitement is due to all of the new hunting gear being released this time of the year at the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoors Trade Show in Las Vegas. Manufacturers bring their best new gear and unlock the secret vaults they’ve kept it all in, releasing tons of new hunting equipment to dealers, retailers, the media, and eventually on to store shelves.
So if you’re in the market for a new deer hunting rifle to replace your old trusty rusty cannon, you’re in luck. Here are a few of the top new rifles for 2018.
I was one of the first few writers to use this new variation of the venerable Model 110 back in December during a deer hunt with Savage Arms and SOE Hunts in South Texas. Chambered in .30-06 and topped with one of the brand-new Simmons Whitetail Classic scopes, this Savage made an impression.
For starters, the highly adjustable AccuFit stock fit me perfectly with a just a couple of minor changes to the comb height and length-of-pull using only a Phillips-head screwdriver. When the fit was dialed in I rattled off a few shots to make sure the scope was on, and the rifle is without a doubt, more accurate than my skills are. Some other accuracy enhancing features included on the rifle are the adjustable AccuTrigger and solid Savage AccuStock.
By the time the hunt had ended, I was fortunate to shoot the gnarly old buck in the photo above, as well as a nice healthy doe for some added venison. The rifle performed flawlessly, despite the foggy, rainy weather and muddy conditions.
The new AccuFit system is designed around a synthetic stock with five comb riser pieces of different sizes, and four length-of-pull inserts. These can be changed in and out to customize the rifle’s fit to any shooter with only a Phillips-head screwdriver. It also features a soft grip fore-end and pistol grip, in addition to a detachable box magazine. With a price aimed…
