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1)Ed Brown Savanna Model 702
Serious shooters should check out Ed Brown's Model 702 rifle. Brown makes his own bolt action and adds Shilen barrels, Jewell triggers, and a McMillan fiberglass stock made to his specs. The Savanna isn't a light rifle, but, oh my, is it an accurate one. It comes in calibers from .25/06 through .338, in any stock color as long as it's black. About $2,800 (base price) and worth it. www.edbrown.com

2) Benelli R1 Rifle
The semiauto R1's ergonomics tell you that it's something different. It is dead reliable, very comfortable to shoot, and put together like a fine shotgun. The downside is that it's not great for long-range shooting. It has a woeful trigger and weighs more than it should. (The factory says 7.1 pounds, but it feels like more in person.) The R1 comes in .30/06 and .300 Winchester Magnum, with a choice of carbine- (20-inch) or standard-length barrels in both calibers. About $1,080. www.benelliusa.com

3)Ruger No. 1 Stainless
The No. 1 arises from a number of seemingly conflicted elements: an action inspired by one from circa 1900, a cartridge (the .405 Winchester) from the same period, a laminated wood stock, and an action and barrel of ultramodern stainless steel. But if you mix them all together, you get an indestructible single-shot brush gun that throws heavy bullets (300 grains) at low enough velocities (2200 fps) that your shoulder will not unhinge. About $910. www.ruger-firearms.com

4)Remington Model 673 Guide Rifle
The second incarnation of Remington's 1960s-era Model 660, the Model 673 Guide Rifle is actually two guns. In .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum, it's a light bolt action that will handle almost any game at any range. In .350 Remington Magnum, it's a light bolt-action thumper, guaranteed to knock down the biggest of beasts. About $825. www.remington.com

5) Mossberg SSi-One
This gun is all about versatility. Available this year with a synthetic stock in Mossy Oak Break-Up, the slug version features a 24-inch, ported, rifled 12-gauge barrel with an integral Weaver-style scope base. But with the interchangeable barrel, in minutes you can turn your slug gun into a tight-choked turkey gun or a centerfire in any one of five calibers. The trigger pull, while short, is a mite heavy. About $560; extra barrels, $240. www.mossberg.com