Special Report

The 30 Most Powerful Hunting Rifles You Can Buy

Samuel Stebbins

Published: January 22, 2024 11:40 am

According to government data, pistols have consistently outsold rifles in the United States almost every year since 2010. Despite handguns being the preferred firearm type among American gun owners, most of the 15.9 million licensed hunters in the U.S. still consider rifles essential.

Rifles are long-barreled weapons designed for precision across relatively long distances. While each rifle is designed to be used only with a specific caliber of ammunition, some widely used rifle calibers have greater versatility. Depending on bullet mass and distance from the target, some rifles are capable of hunting a wide range of game, from rabbits and groundhogs to deer and elk.

Rifle calibers are often highly specialized and designed for specific purposes. For instance, a big-bore rifle would be excessive for small to medium sized game, whereas a smaller caliber rifle would lack the necessary power for a humane and effective kill of larger game.

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. 

The 50 caliber BMG, the most powerful rifle on this list, is a military-grade weapon known for its accuracy up to 2,000 yards. It has the ability to penetrate structures and destroy lightly-armored vehicles. Although it is considered too powerful for practical hunting purposes, rifles chambered for 50 caliber ammunition are available to citizens in many parts of the United States.

It is important to emphasize that hunting laws differ among states and municipalities, and in certain regions of the country, hunting with a rifle is prohibited. Familiarize yourself with rules and regulations in your area before deciding on a firearm.

Here are the most powerful hunting rifles:

30. 7mm Remington Magnum

Remington Model 700 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by User:M855GT

• 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

29. 7mm Weatherby Mag

Weatherby MarkV 7mm (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Arthurrh

• 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

28. 9.3 x 74R

Drilling display (CC BY-SA 4.0) by AdTerrorem8492

• 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

Gewehr 98 noBG (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Armu00e9museum

• 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

26. 35 Whelen

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• 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

25. 300 Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• 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

24. 300 Ruger Compact Magnum

RIFLES RUGER (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Eduardo Olaechea GM

• 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

300 Rem Ultra Mag (CC BY-SA 3.0) by AliveFreeHappy

• 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

22. 300 Winchester Short Magnum

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• 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

21. 300 Winchester Magnum

ARMS & Hunting 2012 exhibition (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Vitaly V. Kuzmin

• 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

Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Dave56678

• 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

19. 376 Steyr

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• 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

18. 300 Weatherby Magnum

Weatherby 300 Magnum Leupold r... (CC BY 2.0) by Hunting Mark

• 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

17. 338 Winchester Magnum

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• 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

16. 300 PRC

Source: Courtesy of Bergara North America via Facebook

• 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

404 Jeffery Cartridge-01 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Robert C. Wolf

• 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

14. 300 Remington Ultra Magnum

308 30-06 300WBY (CC BY-SA 3.0) by AliveFreeHappy

• 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

13. 450 Nitro Express 3.25

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• 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

12. 458 Winchester Magnum

Source: Courtesy of NEMO Arms, Inc. via Facebook

• 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

11. 375 H & H Magnum

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• 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

10. 470 Nitro Express

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• 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

9. 416 Rigby

engraved 416 Rigby Rifle (CC BY 2.0) by big-ashb

• 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

8. 30-378 Weatherby Magnum

Weatherby .30-06 (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Hellbus

• 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

7. 375 Ruger

Source: Courtesy of 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

6. 416 Remington Magnum

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• 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

IDF Barak 338 - H-S Precision ... (CC BY 2.0) by Zachi Evenor

• 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

4. 500 Nitro Express 3″

500 Nitro Express cartridge (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Lordcaine666

• 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

Winchestermodel70 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Meniscus

• 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

2. 450 Rigby

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

• 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

1. 50 BMG

Source: Pete_Flyer / iStock via Getty Images

• 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