Philip Bourjaily & David E. Petzal

24 Great Guns: Today's Best Rifles and Shotguns For Any Game

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:47:28 -0400

We live in a golden age of guns. The designs of modern rifles and shotguns are more cutting-edge and intricate than ever, and never has it been easier to shoot like a deadeye--or own a rack of fine-looking guns. Here, we've selected 24 of today's best guns, from custom breakthrough rifles to precisionist shotguns.

Items of Interest from Day One of the 2010 Shot Show

Online Editors — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:55:23 -0500

Rifle & Gun Rest

fieldandstream-editor — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 05:45:00 -0400

Charles Daly Field Grade Mauser
The most reliable hunting-rifle action ever made is the Model 98 Mauser. Around for 106 years now, it has few equals and no betters. Unfortunately, it was designed in an era when machinists worked cheap, and the mechanism is costly to produce. Therefore, any Mauser-action sporter is going to cost you a bundle, right? Not necessarily. Charles Daly, known primarily for its shotguns, is importing barreled Mauser actions from Serbia, where people with lots of consonants in their names turn out 98s at a price so low that I can scarcely believe it. The Daly Field Grade Mauser comes in most popular standard and magnum calibers, in blue-steel or all-stainless versions, with a sleek polymer stock and a 22-inch barrel (24 for the magnums). It is not a perfect rifle; the finish is something less than flawless. But as a working gun that you can use hard, it is damn near perfect, and the one I have is extremely accurate to boot. Most important, it's an astounding bargain. $490Â¿Â¿Â¿$580; 800-325-9486; www.charlesdaly.com

Caldwell Lead Sled
Deer slugs and turkey loads don't have Phil Bourjaily to kick around anymore. Ever since I started using the Caldwell Lead Sled at the range, sighting in magnum shotguns doesn't hurt in the least. The sled's padded rear rest fits against your shoulder and cups the butt of the gun. Under recoil, the gun has to push against the 17-pound frame and however many bags of lead shot you've added to the tray. This is one recoil-reducing gadget that really works. The Caldwell techies have measured recoil reductions up to 80 and 90 percent with hard-kicking shotguns and .458s with 50 pounds of shot added to the sled. My shoulder isn't calibrated to make precise measurements, but I'd say that's about the amount of relief I feel. $120; 877-509-9160; www.battenfeldtechnologies.com

Shotguns | Rifles

fieldandstream-editor — Sun, 24 Nov 2002 04:05:00 -0500

Caesar Guerini | Tempio Over/Under

This lovely o/u from the new Italian firm of Caesar Guerini is more than just a pretty gun. Although it's stocked with drop-dead-gorgeous Turkish walnut and decorated with gold engraving on the receiver, the Tempio is a well-balanced, fun shooter designed for the field. The Prince of Wales grip and slim Schnabel fore-end keep both hands working together and moving smoothly to the target. Available in 12, 20, and 28 gauge and with 26- or 28-inch barrels, it might cost a bit more than a basic field gun, but the Tempio is built as well as a shotgun that demands twice the price. It will last a lifetime. $2,250; 410-901-1131; www.gueriniusa.com
-P.B.

Why it wins: Custom-quality finish on a gun meant for the field

Tikka | T3 Lite Stainless

The very sleek Tikka (TEE-ka) is an ultramodern rifle that is wonderfully good. The stock is glass-fiber-reinforced polymer, and the action and barrel are stainless steel. The excellent trigger can be adjusted in a home shop. Available in calibers from .223 to .338 (including two Winchester shortfats), the rifle weighs about 61/2 pounds (depending on caliber) and feeds from a detachable magazine. Scope rings with great latitude of adjustment come with the gun. This is the best combination of superb accuracy, durability, and innovative design seen in a rifle in a long time. It's a world-beater. $618Â¿Â¿Â¿$646; 800-528-7453; www.berettausa.com
-D. P.
Why it wins: State-of-the-art design, accuracy, and toughness