Pistols have outsold rifles in the United States nearly every year since 2010, according to government data. But while handguns are now the most popular firearm type among American gun owners, for many of the 15.9 million licensed hunters in the U.S., there is no substitute for a rifle.
Rifles are long-barreled weapons designed for accuracy over relatively long distances. While each rifle is designed to be used only with a specific caliber of ammunition, some common rifle calibers are more versatile than others and are capable of taking a wide range of different game – from rabbits and groundhogs to deer and elk – depending on bullet mass and distance from the target. (Here is a look at the 14 most versatile rifle cartridges for hunting.)
In many cases, however, rifle calibers are highly specialized and appropriate only for specific purposes. A big-bore rifle, for example, would be overkill for small to medium sized game, while a smaller caliber rifle will lack the power necessary for a clean and humane kill of larger game.
For the subset of hunters interested in pursuing the largest game in North America and beyond, there is no shortage of capable rifles to choose from.
Using ballistics data on 92 rifle different calibers, compiled by outdoor gear retailer Sportsman’s Warehouse, 24/7 Wall St. identified the most powerful hunting rifles. The 30 rifles on this list are ranked by estimated foot-pounds of energy delivered at a range of 100 yards. For each caliber, we selected the bullet weight, or grain, that delivers the most force at 100 yards. This ranking does not account for variations in barrel length and is based on a limited, and not necessarily comprehensive, list of available bullet weights.
The 30 different rifle calibers on this list can deliver anywhere from 2,933 to over 12,000 foot-pounds of energy at 100 yards. Each of these rifles is powerful enough for the largest game in North America, including moose and grizzly bear. Some are also well suited for hunting or protection from larger African mammals, according to the gunmaker and shooting academy, Griffin and Howe – though specialized and heavier grain bullets than those used to create this ranking may be necessary in some cases. (Here is a look at the states where hunters get the most deer.)
The most powerful rifle on this list, the 50 caliber BMG, is a military-grade weapon accurate out to 2,000 yards and capable of penetrating structures and destroying lightly-armored vehicles. Though too powerful to be a practical hunting weapon, rifles chambered for 50 caliber ammunition are available to civilians in much of the United States. (Here is a look at the 16 sniper rifles used by the U.S. military.)
It is important to note that hunting laws vary by state and municipality, and in some parts of the country, hunting with a rifle is not permitted. Be familiar with your quarry and with all local rules and regulations before selecting a firearm.
Click here to see the most powerful hunting rifles.
30. 7mm Remington Magnum
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 2,933 ft-lbs. of energy (162 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,856 ft. per second (162 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Large North American game (e.g. pronghorn, mule deer, mountain goat, etc.)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 3
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29. 7mm Weatherby Mag
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 2,948 ft-lbs. of energy (139 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 3,091 ft. per second (139 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Large North American game (e.g. mountain goat, wild sheep, elk)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
24/7 Wall St.
28. 9.3 x 74R
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 2,949 ft-lbs. of energy (286 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,155 ft. per second (286 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Large African game (e.g. wildebeest, zebra, lion, leopard, crocodile)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
27. 9.3 x 62
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 2,950 ft-lbs. of energy (286 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,155 ft. per second (286 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Large African game (e.g. wildebeest, zebra, lion, leopard, crocodile)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
26. 35 Whelen
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 2,961 ft-lbs. of energy (200 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,582 ft. per second (200 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest North American game and large African game (e.g. brown bear, moose, elk, caribou, leopard, crocodile, wildebeest, zebra)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
25. 300 Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,053 ft-lbs. of energy (178 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,780 ft. per second (178 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Large North American game (e.g. elk, deer)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
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24. 300 Ruger Compact Magnum
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,225 ft-lbs. of energy (180 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,840 ft. per second (180 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Large North American game (e.g. pronghorn, mule deer, black bear, elk, moose)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 3
23. 28 Nosler
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,275 ft-lbs. of energy (162 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 3,017 ft. per second (162 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest North American game (e.g. American bison, brown bear, mountain goat, moose, elk)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
22. 300 Winchester Short Magnum
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,290 ft-lbs. of energy (165 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,997 ft. per second (165 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest North American game and large African game (e.g. black bear, wild boar, American bison, brown bear, wild sheep, mountain goat, moose, elk, caribou, leopard, zebra, wildebeest)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 3
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21. 300 Winchester Magnum
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,297 ft-lbs. of energy (195 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,760 ft. per second (195 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest North American game and large African game (e.g. black bear, wild boar, American bison, brown bear, wild sheep, mountain goat, moose, elk, caribou, leopard, zebra, wildebeest)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 5
20. 338 Ruger Compact Magnum
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,313 ft-lbs. of energy (225 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,575 ft. per second (225 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest North American game (e.g. elk, moose, American bison)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
19. 376 Steyr
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,373 ft-lbs. of energy (270 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,372 ft. per second (270 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Large African game (e.g. Cape buffalo, lion)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 2
24/7 Wall St.
18. 300 Weatherby Magnum
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,491 ft-lbs. of energy (200 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,804 ft. per second (200 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest North American game (e.g. black bear, wild boar, American bison, brown bear, wild sheep, mountain goat, moose, elk, caribou)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 2
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
17. 338 Winchester Magnum
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,540 ft-lbs. of energy (225 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,662 ft. per second (225 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest North American game and large African game (e.g. wildebeest, crocodile, leopard, lion, zebra, American bison, brown bear, wild sheep, mountain goat, moose, elk, caribou)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 3
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Source: Courtesy of Bergara North America via Facebook
16. 300 PRC
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,620 ft-lbs. of energy (225 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,692 ft. per second (225 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Large North American game (e.g. pronghorn, mule deer, elk)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 2
15. 404 Jeffery
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,717 ft-lbs. of energy (400 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,046 ft. per second (400 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Large African game (e.g. Cape buffalo, warthog, elephant, wildebeest)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
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14. 300 Remington Ultra Magnum
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,736 ft-lbs. of energy (220 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,766 ft. per second (220 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest North American game (e.g. elk, moose, brown bear)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 2
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
13. 450 Nitro Express 3.25
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,769 ft-lbs. of energy (480 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,150 ft. per second (480 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest African game (e.g. elephant, cape buffalo, rhinoceros)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
Source: Courtesy of NEMO Arms, Inc. via Facebook
12. 458 Winchester Magnum
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,924 ft-lbs. of energy (500 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 1,880 ft. per second (500 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest African and North American game (e.g. elephant, cape buffalo, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, American bison, brown bear)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
11. 375 H & H Magnum
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,935 ft-lbs. of energy (270 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,562 ft. per second (270 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest African and North American game (e.g. American bison, brown bear, wildebeest, warthog, zebra, hippopotamus)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 3
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
10. 470 Nitro Express
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,945 ft-lbs. of energy (500 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 1,885 ft. per second (500 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest African game (e.g. elephant, cape buffalo, rhinoceros)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
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9. 416 Rigby
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 3,977 ft-lbs. of energy (400 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,116 ft. per second (400 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest African game (e.g. elephant, cape buffalo, hippopotamus, rhinoceros
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
24/7 Wall St.
8. 30-378 Weatherby Magnum
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 4,043 ft-lbs. of energy (220 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,877 ft. per second (220 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest North American game (e.g. elk, moose, caribou, brown bear)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
Source: Courtesy of Ruger
7. 375 Ruger
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 4,052 ft-lbs. of energy (270 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,600 ft. per second (270 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest North American game and large African game (e.g. American bison, brown bear, zebra, wildebeest, warthog)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 3
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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
6. 416 Remington Magnum
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 4,075 ft-lbs. of energy (300 & 400 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,142 ft. per second (300 & 400 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest African and North American game (e.g. American bison, brown bear, elephant, cape buffalo, hippopotamus, rhinoceros)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 2
5. 338 Lapua Magnum
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 4,362 ft-lbs. of energy (285 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,626 ft. per second (285 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest North American game (e.g. elk, American bison)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 3
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4. 500 Nitro Express 3″
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 4,518 ft-lbs. of energy (570 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 1,889 ft. per second (570 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest African game (e.g. elephant, cape buffalo, rhinoceros)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
3. 458 Lott
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 4,569 ft-lbs. of energy (500 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,029 ft. per second (500 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest African game (e.g. elephant, cape buffalo, hippopotamus, rhinoceros)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
2. 450 Rigby
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 4,755 ft-lbs. of energy (480 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,112 ft. per second (480 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Largest African game (e.g. elephant)
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
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Source: Pete_Flyer / iStock via Getty Images
1. 50 BMG
> Approx. power at 100 yards: 12,386 ft-lbs. of energy (750 grain bullet)
> Approx. speed at 100 yards: 2,727 ft. per second (750 grain bullet)
> Effective against: Not recommended for hunting
> Number of bullet weights considered: 1
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