Semi-automatic rifles have surged in popularity in recent years, in particular modern sporting rifles like those built on AR-15 platforms, according to data from industry group the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Still, the United States also has a large market for more traditional bolt-action rifles, typically used for hunting and precision target shooting – and many of the best-selling firearms in the country fit this description.
Though bolt-action rifles have a slower rate of fire than semi-automatic rifles, they also have several advantages. With fewer moving parts, bolt-action rifles are less prone to malfunction than semi-automatics. This same attribute that makes bolt-action rifles more reliable also makes them more precise. While precision shot placement has improved in semi-automatic rifles in recent years, the bolt-action platform still has greater inherent accuracy potential.
As a result, U.S. military sniper teams use several bolt-action rifle variations when maximum precision is a priority. And for millions of Americans, bolt-action remains the preferred rifle for hunting, target shooting, and plinking. (Here is a look at every sniper rifle currently used by the U.S. military.)
Using a report from Gungenius, which compiled sales data from GunBroker.com, an online firearms marketplace, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 10 most popular bolt-action rifles in America. Guns are ranked based on 2022 online sales, though exact sales figures were not provided.
Many rifle models on this list include variants available in a wide range of different calibers that are tailored to specific uses, including long-range precision and hunting anything from the smallest game to the largest. (Here is a look at the 14 most versatile hunting rifle cartridges.)
Though the estimated base price of many of these firearms can be as low as a few hundred dollars, higher-end variations can sell for many times that amount. Most of the guns on this list are manufactured in the United States, though others, like the Tikka T3, are made abroad and imported to the U.S. (These are the countries making America’s favorite foreign-made rifles.)
Click here to see the most popular bolt-action rifles in America.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
Source: Courtesy of 2023 Savage
10. Savage Model 93 Rifles
> Approx. base price: $299
> Popular usages: Small game hunting, target shooting, plinking
> Chambered in: .22 WMR, .17 HMR
> Parent company: Savage Arms, Inc.
> Parent company domestic rifle production, 2016-2020: 1,046,888 (7.1% of all U.S. rifle production)
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: Westfield, MA
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Source: Courtesy of O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc
9. Mossberg Patriot
> Approx. base price: $468
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting, security
> Chambered in: 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm-08 Rem, 6.5 PRC, .22-250 Rem, .243 Win, .25-06 Rem, .270 Win, .30-06 Sprg, .300 Win Mag, .308 Win, .338 Win Mag, .350 Legend, .375 Ruger, .450 Bushmaster, 7mm PRC
> Parent company: O.F. Mossberg & Sons Inc.
> Parent company domestic rifle production, 2016-2020: 465,082 (3.1% of all U.S. rifle production)
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: North Haven, CT
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Source: Courtesy of Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.
8. Ruger Precision Rifle
> Approx. base price: $1,929
> Popular usages: Long range, target shooting
> Chambered in: 6.5 PRC, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, 6mm Creedmoor, 300 PRC, .300 Win Mag, .338 Lapua Mag
> Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
> Parent company domestic rifle production, 2016-2020: 3,263,701 (22.0% of all U.S. rifle production)
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: Southport, CT
Source: Courtesy of CZ-USA
7. CZ-USA 457 Rifle
> Approx. base price: $549
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting, plinking
> Chambered in: .22 LR, .22 WMR, .17 HMR,
> Parent company: Colt CZ Group
> Parent company domestic rifle production, 2016-2020: N/A
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: Kansas City, KS (CZ USA)
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Source: Courtesy of TIKKA
6. Tikka T3
> Approx. base price: $1,170
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting, long range
> Chambered in: .308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7x64mm, .30-06 Sprg, .300 Win Mag, 9.3x62mm, .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem, 7mm-08 Rem, .243 Win, .260 Rem, 6.5 PRC, 6.5x55mm SE, .270 Win, 7mm Rem Mag, .270 WSM, .300 WSM
> Parent company: Beretta Holding
> Parent company domestic rifle production, 2016-2020: N/A
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: Accokeek, MD
Source: Courtesy of RemArms LLC
5. Remington Model 700 Rifles
> Approx. base price: $800
> Popular usages: Hunting, target shooting
> Chambered in: .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, .270 Win, .30-06 Sprg,300 BLK
> Parent company: Freedom Group/Remington Outdoor Company
> Parent company domestic rifle production, 2016-2020: 1,783,458 (12.0% of all U.S. rifle production)
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: LaGrange, GA
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Source: Courtesy of Savage Arms
4. Savage Axis
> Approx. base price: $414
> Popular usages: Hunting, long range, target shooting
> Chambered in: .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, .243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, .270 Win, .30-06 Sprg, .25-06 Rem,.350 Legend,300 BLK,6mm ARC, .280 Ackley Improved
> Parent company: Savage Arms, Inc.
> Parent company domestic rifle production, 2016-2020: 1,046,888 (7.1% of all U.S. rifle production)
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: Westfield, MA
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Source: Courtesy of Savage Arms
3. Savage 10/110 Rifle
> Approx. base price: $709
> Popular usages: Hunting, long range, target shooting
> Chambered in: .204 Ruger, .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, 6.5 PRC, 7mm PRC, 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, .270 WSM, .300 WSM, .270 Win, .30-06 Sprg, .25-06 Rem, .338 Win Mag,.350 Legend,.243 Rem,.260 Rem,.375 Ruger,300 BLK,6mm ARC,.450 Bushmaster,28 Nosler, .280 Ackley Improved
> Parent company: Savage Arms, Inc.
> Parent company domestic rifle production, 2016-2020: 1,046,888 (7.1% of all U.S. rifle production)
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: Westfield, MA
Source: Courtesy of Cabelas.com
2. Browning X-Bolt
> Approx. base price: $860
> Popular usages: Hunting, long range, target shooting
> Chambered in: .204 Ruger, .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem, 6mm Creedmoor, 6mm GT, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win, 6.5 PRC, 6.8 Western, 7mm PRC, 7mm Rem Mag, 28 Nosler, .300 Win Mag, 300 PRC, .243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, .270 WSM, .300 WSM, .270 Win, .30-06 Sprg, .280 Ackley Improved, 300 Rem UM, .25-06 Rem, .280 Rem, .375 HH, .338 Win Mag
> Parent company: Herstal Group
> Parent company domestic rifle production, 2016-2020: N/A
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: Morgan, UT (Browning)
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1. Ruger American Rifles
> Approx. base price: $599
> Popular usages: Hunting
> Chambered in: .204 Ruger, .223 Rem, .243 Win, .22-250 Rem, 270 Win, .30-06 Sprg, .308 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, .350 Legend, .450 Bushmaster, 7.62×39, 5.56 NATO, 300 BLK, 7mm PRC
> Parent company: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
> Parent company domestic rifle production, 2016-2020: 3,263,701 (22.0% of all U.S. rifle production)
> Parent company U.S. headquarters: Southport, CT
Methodology
To identify the best selling bolt-action rifles in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a report from Gungenius, which uses data from Gunbroker.com, an online firearm sales platform. The model or model families that make up the guns on this list are ranked by their 2022 unit sales on Gunbroker.com.
Data on 2016-2020 U.S. gun manufacturing totals for the companies on this list is from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Tobacco. Domestic manufacturing data was not available for every company on this list.
Approximate base price for each firearm is from the manufacturer’s website. Many of the models on this list have variations, however, that are far more expensive than the price listed in this story.
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