Double Haul: The Montana Rifle Co. Prairie Runner (top, with the Meopta MeoPro 6.5–20×50 HTR) and Browning A5 Sweet Sixteen.The Voorhes
Sportsmen, despite their many benevolent (and totally gift-deserving) qualities, make Christmas shopping a major chore. They’re picky, opinionated, and often already well supplied. Rather than spoil your yuletide goodwill trying to find them the perfect present, defer to this foolproof grab bag of gear. And if you’re feeling extra generous, we’ve included 13 items we consider to be the Best of the Best.
Simms Riprap $90 • simmsfishing.com Wet wading in old sneakers is a slippery experience, but wearing wading boots without waders often equals ankle pain and rocks in your toes. Here’s the happy medium. As comfortable as sneakers, Ripraps have rubberized outsoles capable of receiving studs, and felt pads down the center of the sole that stick to rocks like glue. —Joe CermeleSimms
Nikon Monarch Fieldscope $1,400–$1,600 • nikonsportoptics.com This new spotting-scope series comprises four body styles and three eyepieces (shown in 82mm). This summer I scouted beanfields with a 60mm model, and it had the quality glass you’d expect from Nikon. As spotting scopes go, the Monarch series is compact. Plus, the bodies are waterproof, and the eyepieces accept Nikon cameras for digiscoping.—Will BrantleyNikon
Montana Rifle Co. Prairie Runner $1,415 • montanarifleco.com They could have called it “Coyotes’ Despair,” since this is a varmint rifle for the 21st century. All stainless, it has a laminated thumbhole stock and features a standard muzzle brake for virtually recoilless shooting. The Prairie Runner doubles nicely as a beanfield rifle and is available in .22/250, .243, and 6.5 Creedmoor. —David E. PetzalMontana Rifle Co.
Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport II $739 • smith-wesson.com This base MSR mimics the Colt M4 carbine issued to troops with its collapsible stock and 16-inch pipe. Chambered in 5.56, it’s got all the necessities, including forward assist, a corrosion-resistant finish, an aftermarket Magpul Pmag, and a folding rear sight. Best of all, since it’s less than $800, you can afford to accessorize it. —Jeff JohnstonSmith & WessonKuiu Icon Pro 5200 $475, full kit • kuiu.com Thanks to a carbon-fiber frame, this pack weighs a mere 5 pounds 9 ounces, but it has all the space and muscle needed for a backcountry hunt. I’ve been especially impressed with the internal lashing system, which allows you to secure heavy items—optics, water—toward the top of the pack for easier carry. Since Kuiu sells gear direct, the price isn’t bad, either. —W.B.KuiuCabela’s XML Bass Rods $150 • cabelas.com Touted as Cabela’s best bass rods to date, XML Bass is a 12-rod series that’s ultra high-tech at a very reasonable price point. All models are technique-specific—from jerking, to flipping, to frogging—and their high-modulus carbon blanks make these graphite sticks some of the most sensitive and durable on the market. You’d be hard pressed to find a better series of bass rods for the money. —J.C.Cabela’sUnder Armour Women’s UA Chase $150 • underarmour.com This water- and windproof jacket is cut for a woman’s curves and allows plenty of mobility. It has an internal draft guard that fits snugly to maintain heat, and for treestand hunters, there’s a back vent for a harness attachment. I wore the jacket to chase elk through some of Idaho’s coldest country and never shivered. —Kris MillgateUnder ArmourSavage 11/111 Lightweight Hunter* $991 • savagearms.com Most long-range rifles are heavy, long, expensive, and chambered for a .30-caliber magnum cartridge. The Lightweight Hunter is none of these things. By pairing a pared-down Model 11 action, chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor, and a lissome American walnut stock, Savage has created the antithesis of such guns. At less than a grand, this 51⁄2-pound rifle gives you more reach, with less strain on your back and wallet. —R.M.Savage
SOCK IT TO ME
Five handy (and affordable) stocking stuffers for every outdoorsman
2. SOG MacV Tool $13 • sogknives.com This TSA-compliant gadget fits in your palm, yet manages to contain 12 different tools, including a carbide blade sharpener, a cord cutter, three screwdrivers, three wrenches, and a bottle opener. The MacV is ready for quick repairs on the fly, and it makes a perfect key ring. Its price tag is nice, too.—Brett PuryearSOG
4. Alliant Powder Blue MZ and Federal Premium B.O.R. Lock MZ Bullets $20, powder; $25, bullets • alliantpowder.com federalpremium.com Alliant’s Blue MZ pellets and Federal’s B.O.R. Lock MZ bullets are a hard-hitting combo. Last fall, I shot a buck with the pair, and the bullet broke both shoulders, expanded fully, and retained nearly everything. You can’t ask for more.—W.B.Alliant; Federal
Penn Slammer III $250 and up • pennreels.com Trust issues with your reel? Not with the Slammer III. Available in eight sizes with 60-pound max drag capacities, these reels are designed for punishment. Full-metal bodies, side plates, and rotors make them tank-tough, and the sealed drags and oversize power handles help you whip trophies fast. —J.C.The VoorhesBeretta A350 Xtrema $1,150 • beretta.com A rebirth of the Xtrema series, the A350 represents a top value among 31⁄2-inch 12-gauge waterfowl guns. The soft-shooting, gas-operated semiauto will reliably cycle 23⁄4-inch target loads all the way up to 31⁄2-inch magnums. Spacers in the stock let you adjust length of pull to fit any hunter on your shopping list. —Phil Bourjaily.BerettaEddie Bauer 1957 Down Super Sweater $129 • eddiebauer.com Eddie Bauer did something cool with its new Originals collection, by choosing a few of its original and most iconic pieces of outerwear and updating them for the modern sportsman. My favorite is the Super Sweater. You could wear it as a light jacket around camp, but it’s thin enough to work as an insulated mid-layer on bitter-cold hunts. —C.K.Eddie BauerPatagonia Rio Gallegos Zip-Front Wader $599 • patagonia.com For 2016, Patagonia gave the Rio Gallegos waders a major overhaul. The improved design has a more athletic, streamlined fit; reinforced booties; and a heavier, yet still lightweight, neoprene fabric for improved durability. The Gallegos were already favorites—now they’re canonized. —J.R.S.Patagonia
Glock 40 Gen4 MOS $700 • us.glock.com My favorite gun from SHOT Show 2016, this 6-inch 10mm is probably the best autoloader option going for handgun hunters. The gun comes ready to accept reflex-style optics. It weighs 1⁄4 pound less than—and holds more than twice the ammo of—a full-size stainless-steel magnum revolver, making it a solid choice for bear-country carry. —W.B.Glock
An earlier version of this story featured the wrong photo for the Savage 11/111 Lightweight Hunter. The correct photo ran in the print magazine, however. The article also stated that the Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport II has a folding front sight, when the rear sight is folding and the front sight is adjustable. We regret the errors.
Keep reading:
Thirteen unparalleled items for outdoorsmen who deserve nothing less
