AXMC rifles from Accuracy International feature a Quickloc quick-release barrel system bolted and bonded to an aluminum chassis with a full-length, 30-MOA Picatinny rail. The six-lug, 60-degree bolt has a leaf-spring extractor and three-position safety, and the rifle also comes with a two-stage adjustable trigger and a detachable 10-round magazine. The stock features an adjustable cheekpiece and an adjustable buttpad with spacers, and it folds over the bolt on the right side. AXMC rifles are available in .338, .300 or .308 in Dark Earth, green and pale brown Cerakote.
ArmaLite AR-50A1
Who wouldn’t want a suppressed .44 Magnum rifle? The new Ultra 44 takes the technology proven in other integrally suppressed AWC rifles and introduces it to the bolt-action Ruger 77/44 chambered in .44 Magnum. The Ultra 44 can also utilize cowboy-style .44 Special loads for increased suppression. This integrally suppressed system is currently only available with a customer-supplied base gun.
Mention “50 cal.” and two names spring to mind: Browning for the original M2 heavy machine gun and Barrett for the Model 82A1 for deadly long-range sniping. Barrett’s latest version, the M107A1, takes .50-caliber precision to a new level. Every component was reengineered to be lighter yet stronger while retaining the reliability of the Model 82A1. The muzzle brake is even designed to be used with a suppressor. It’s also 5 pounds lighter than the original 82A1.
William “Billy” Dixon was an American scout and buffalo hunter in Texas. He helped found the town of Adobe Walls and became one of eight civilians ever to receive the U.S. Medal of Honor for his actions at the Buffalo Wallow Fight. Cimarron recently decided to honor Billy Dixon with this attractive shooter, the company’s take on the Sharps rifle that dominated the plains at one time. This .45-70 rifle comes with a 32-inch octagonal barrel that is attractively blued while the receiver is casehardened.
Founded in 1990, Cooper Firearms of Montana provides a wide range of high-quality rifles and backs them up with 0.5-MOA accuracy guarantees at 100 yards. The Model 52 Mannlicher features a hand-rubbed, oil-finished, AAA+ Claro walnut stock with an African ebony tip, multi-point wraparound hand checkering, a Pachmayr recoil pad, a steel grip cap and standard sling swivel studs. The barrel is a chrome-moly, match-grade model from Wilson Arms. All of the metal work has a high-gloss finish, though other options are available. The Model 52 is available in a variety of big-bore calibers, including the .375 H&H and .416 Remington Magnum.
Built on CZ’s 550 action, the American Safari Magnum is intended for use with a scope, but it also comes with three leaf-style express sights (one standing and two folding) that can be used once the scope is removed. The American-style stock includes quick-detach sling swivels and a thick rubber buttpad to help absorb recoil. Features include a hammer-forged barrel, a single-set trigger, Mauser-style controlled-round feeding and a fixed ejector. Several calibers are available with a variety of stocks and finishes.
The single-shot Handi-Rifle from Harrington & Richardson shrugs off harsh environments and extreme weather conditions. The high-density polymer stock and forend are mated to a simple break action with minimal moving parts that requires very little maintenance. Every Handi-Rifle model is equipped with a transfer bar safety that makes it one of the safest single-shot rifle platforms. The synthetic-stocked Handi- Rifles are available in big-bore calibers like the .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin and .45-70 Government.
Built for backcountry hunters in pursuit of their dream trophies, the Endeavor HZ from Horizon Firearms is lightweight and agile, yet rugged and ready to turn heads. Built on the all-new 27-ounce KRUX rifle stock from Iota Outdoors with a Sendero-profile, carbon-fiber-wrapped Proof Research barrel, the Endeavor HZ weighs in at only 6.6 pounds unloaded. The Endeavor HZ is available in a variety of calibers, including the 7mm Remington Magnum.
This six-shot, big-bore rifle in .45-70 Government features an Old-West-style, big-loop lever and a full-length tubular magazine. The lever action also features a solid-top, stainless steel receiver with side ejection and a tough FNC black finish. The green laminate, pistol-grip stock features black webbing, swivel studs and a deluxe recoil pad. The 18.5-inch barrel has deep-cut, Ballard-type rifling with six grooves in a 1-in-20-inch twist rate.
The TAC-50 A1 is McMillan’s update to the TAC-50 military sniper rifle. This newer model features a takedown fiberglass stock with a forend that is 5 inches longer, moving the balance point forward for the lighter, sturdier bipod. The buttstock includes an integral cheekpiece and a monopod with an option for vertical adjustment. The stock incorporates a smaller pistol grip to fit a wider range of hand shapes, with and without gloves. Also new is a positive, self-locking magazine latch that is easier to operate.
Mossberg’s Patriot bolt-action rifles are available in various calibers, including the .338 Winchester Magnum and .375 Ruger, with premium walnut, laminate or synthetic stocks. Standard Patriot features include detachable box magazines, recessed crowns, fluted barrels with Marinecote or matte blued finishes, spiral-fluted bolts with streamlined handles, Weaver scope bases and patented, user-adjustable Lightning Bolt Action triggers. Packages with Vortex scopes are also available.
Developed for Special Forces troops, the 458 SOCOM bullet is more than twice the diameter of the standard 5.56mm NATO projectile, but the cartridge still fits a standard aluminum M16 magazine. Rock River Arms built the LAR-458 X-1 for this cartridge with an RRA Operator CAR stock and an RRA Beast muzzle brake. The 18-inch, fluted, stainless steel, 1-in-14-inch-twist bull barrel is bead-blasted and cryogenically treated for accuracy. An RRA two-stage trigger and Hogue pistol grip provide rock-solid fire control.
The Rossi .45/.410 Circuit Judge is based on the Taurus Judge revolver. It is chambered for both .410 shotshells and .45 Colt ammunition without changing cylinders or barrels. It’s important to note that the Circuit Judge is sold in North America only as a rifle; no smoothbore versions of the Rossi .45/.410 Circuit Judge are imported or sold in North America.
Rossi’s various round-barreled R92 rifles deliver shorter, lighter versions of their big brothers with 16- or 20-inch barrels. These lever actions pack plenty of punch, with models chambered in .44 Magnum, .45 Colt, .44-40 Winchester and .454 Casull. Available in either blued or stainless, all R92 models feature a crescent buttplate and an extended front sight. Ideal for brush hunting and wilderness packing, the Rossi R92 carbine in .454 Casull features an optional magazine-tube loading port and recoil-absorbing buttpad.
Chambered for the .450 Bushmaster round, Ruger’s Ranch version of the American Rifle bolt action is a big-bore alternative to a semi-auto hunting rifle. The Ruger Marksman Adjustable trigger offers a crisp release with a pull weight that is user-adjustable between 3 and 5 pounds. The tan synthetic stock is capped with a soft rubber buttpad, and the cold-hammer-forged, 16.12-inch barrel comes with threading and a muzzle brake for faster follow-up shots.
Savage Arms is known for producing accurate bolt-action rifles, but the company recently got into the AR world. The MSR 10 Long Range is available in .308 Winchester or 6.5 Creedmoor with a 20-inch, 5R-rifled barrel. Notable features include a non-reciprocating side charging handle, custom forged receivers, a BlackHawk two-stage target trigger with a nickel-boron treatment, a free-floating M-LOK handguard and an adjustable Magpul PRS GEN3 buttstock.
The .50-caliber Cyclone HSR rifle is made in England by Steel Core and is suitable for law enforcement, military, civilian target and sport uses. Steel Core rifles are built to tight tolerances using state-of-the-art processes and high-grade materials. The Cyclone HSR comes with a 28-inch barrel with a 1-in-15-inch twist rate. The rifle weighs 33.1 pounds unloaded and measures in at 57 inches with the stock extended and 47 inches folded.
The bolt-action Steyr Pro THB (Tactical Heavy Barrel) is currently available in .308 Winchester with a 16-, 20- or 26-inch barrel. The barrel’s exterior hammer forging is left intact to provide for a cool look, and it also has a durable Mannox finish and 5/8×24 threading to mount muzzle accessories like sound suppressors. The synthetic stock resists weather and rough use, and removable spacers in the buttstock allow you to adjust the length of pull. The action also uses Steyr’s Safe Bolt System for safe transportation, and a Picatinny rail on top makes it easy to add an optic.
Weatherby is well known for building high-end hunting rifles chambered for its own custom cartridges as well as popular loads. The new Weatherby Mark V Deluxe has a redesigned stock with sharper contours, a reduced wrist radius, a slimmer forearm and a slight palm swell. Features include a hand-lapped, chrome-moly barrel with a field crown, diamond-point checkering and a rosewood grip cap. The Accubrake comes standard on .378, .416 and .460 Weatherby models to help tame muzzle rise.
The Weatherby Mark V Tacmark Elite features a fully adjustable stock with a CNC-machined aluminum bedding plate and a desert camo finish with black spider-web accents fitted to a 28-inch, #3-contour barrel. The match-grade, cut-rifled Krieger barrel is hand-lapped, fluted and free-floated to guarantee three-shot groups measuring 0.99 inches or less at 100 yards from a cold barrel when using Weatherby factory or premium ammunition. The rifle is available in .338-378 and .30-378 Weatherby Magnum as well as .338 Lapua Magnum with a detachable five-round magazine.
Wilson Combat offers the Recon Tactical in a variety of chamberings, including the .458 SOCOM round, which was originally developed for U.S. special operations troops to use in both suppressed and standard M16/M4s. This particular AR has only two parts different from a standard 5.56mm NATO AR-15: a .458 SOCOM barrel and bolt. The adjustable gas block, extra-power action spring and straight gas tube are just some of the reliable upgrades thrown in with this package. The .458 SOCOM rounds feed from standard, unmodified 5.56mm NATO magazines.
Bill Wilson wanted to design a big-bore AR that more closely matched his needs for a lightweight sporter, and the new Ultralight Hunter certainly delivers. Available in .308 Winchester, .338 Federal and .358 Winchester, this rifle comes with a match-grade barrel, billet-crafted upper and lower receivers, an SLR Rifleworks adjustable gas block, an M-LOK handguard, Wilson’s Tactical Trigger Unit (TTU), a durable Armor-Tuff finish and a carbon-fiber buttstock (a recoil pad is included for the .338 and .358 chamberings). And the rifle weighs only 7 pounds!
Designed for African big game, the Winchester Model 70 Safari Express has a matte blued finish, a pre-64-type claw extractor, a three-position safety, a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad and a barrel-band sling swivel base. Dual recoil lugs and two steel stock-reinforcing crossbolts handle heavy magnum loads. Fitting with the dangerous game design of this rifle, a hooded blade front sight and express-style rear sight are included. A flush-mounted, hinged steel magazine floorplate provides fast and easy unloading of the large-caliber rounds the rifle is available in, including the .416 Remington, .458 Winchester Magnum and .375 H&H Magnum.
While the .223 Remington/5.56mm NATO AR-15 might still be the darling of the gun world, many shooters want something that packs a bit more punch, especially when it comes to hunting. Many jurisdictions require larger calibers to ensure clean, ethical kills on game. That’s where big-bore ARs step in. But we can’t forget the other rifles still popular among American shooters, like lever actions, bolt actions and double guns. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the best big-bore rifles, new and classic alike, to help you see just how diverse your shooting options truly are.
For more information about the big-bore rifles featured in the gallery above, please visit the following sites.
