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You could argue that the lightweight hunting rifle craze started in 1985 when West Virginia gunsmith Melvin Forbes created a 5-pound, bolt-action 308 Winchester rifle with a 22-inch barrel that shot like a bench-rest rifle. For almost 40 years, his company—New Ultra Light Arms—dominated the lightweight hunting rifle market. But major manufactures have caught uup, and today we have the best selection of lightweight hunting rifles ever offered.
What's more, not all of them will cost you an arm and a leg. There is truly a lightweight hunting rifle out there for every budget. And to prove it, we have picked a full dozen of the best models, ranging in price from around $600 to more than 10 times that. So, can you own a good-shooting lightweight rifle? Absolutely. Which one depends on how much you have to spend, how many high-end features you want, and, to a degree, how small you want the ragged hole in the target to be when you shoot a group. Here's a quick rundown of our picks, followed by reviews of each rifle.
The Best Lightweight Rifles for Under $1000
The Best Lightweight Rifles for Between $1000 and $2000
The Best Lightweight Rifles for Between $2000 and $3000
The Best Lightweight Rifles for $3000 and Up
How We Picked the 12 Best Lightweight Hunting Rifles
It wasn’t all that long ago when a 7.5 pound hunting rifle was considered "lightweight." Thanks to Melvin Forbes, the definition of that word has lost a little weight. To make this list, a rifle had to weigh in at 7 pounds or less, but we did not just select these dozen rifles based on weight alone. Every rifle on this list has been range and field tested.
We shot each rifle to see what kind of precision you could expect, carried them field, and actually hunted with many of them. If a bolt-action rifle could not consistently shoot five-shot groups at 100 yards that measured less than 1.5 inches, we didn’t consider it. (We allowed a maximum of two inches for lever guns and guns chambered for handgun cartridges.) Also, if rifles proved to have serious functioning issues or were overtly problematic in other areas, we passed on those too. In the end, we came up with a dozen good lightweight hunting rifle options with something for every budget.
Best Lightweight Hunting Rifles for Under $1000
Savage Axis 2 Pro
Pros
Lots of variations
Suppressor friendly
Good trigger
Cons
Stiff bolt operation
Key Facts
Weight: 6.9 pounds
Average Tested Precision: 1.49-inches
Cost: $599 to $639
This rifle just slips in under the 7-pound weight limit; it’s very affordable, and starting with the 223 Remington, there’s a wide array of chamberings to choose from, including two for straightwall cartridges. Our test rifle averaged 1.49 inches with four different loads, which is also just under our 1.5-inch allowable maximum. However, two of the loads averaged less than an inch. So, once you find the ammo it likes, this rifle should shoot quite well.
The Axis II rifles come with Savage’s AccuTrigger and a new stock that’s sort of a hybrid crossover between a hunting and precision-rifle stock. The rifle is offered in three different camo patterns and feeds from a detachable magazine. Unlike some of the more expensive rifles on this list, the Axis II Pro is available in left or right hand. If you want a new lightweight hunting rifle and you’re pinching pennies, don’t overlook this one. Though list prices start at about $600, you’ll often see these rifles on sale for less than $500.
Related: Savage Axis 2 Pro: Full Review
Ruger American Gen II
Ruger American Gen II Rifle
Pros
Sub-MOA performance
Versatile, modular stock
Three-position safety
Cons
Binding bolt
Limber forend
Key Facts
Weight: 6.34 pounds
Average Precision: 0.99 inch
Cost: $729.00
The original Ruger American Rifle was a great and affordable rifle, but the new Gen II is much better. Ruger crafted a very nice polymer stock for the Gen II, which allows the comb height and length of pull to be adjusted. They even offer a weight kit to help you achieve proper balance, which is handy when a suppressor is used. The rifle has a 20-inch spiral fluted barrel that’s threaded and comes with radial port muzzle break and a thread protector. The bolt has a 70° throw, you can swap bolt knobs, and the rifle feeds from a detachable polymer magazine. The tang safety has three positions and locks the bolt when on safe. Ruger’s Marksman Trigger and a Picatinny scope rail come with the rifle, and it is available in a great assortment of hunting cartridges. For the money, no other bolt-action rifle currently made comes with such a wide assortment of features that will appeal to the modern hunter.
Related: Ruger American Gen II: Full Review
Best Lightweight Hunting Rifles Between $1000 and $2000
Browning X-Bolt 2 Hunter
Browning X-Bolt 2 Hunter
Pros
Traditional Styling
Fantastic Trigger
Great, flush-fitting magazine
Practical bolt un-lock button
Cons
Muzzle not threaded
Ket Facts
Weight: 6.25 pounds
Average Precision: 1.07 inches
Cost: $1,249.99
What sets this rifle apart from every other rifle on this list is that is has a wood stock. You could call it “old school,” except for the fact that it weighs less than 6.5 pounds. The rifle stood out in three other areas too. The trigger was exceptional and is as good if not better than any trigger you will find on a non-custom rifle. The flush-fitting polymer magazine is as good as any you’ll see, and feeding was flawless. Finally, with the reconfigured receiver and additional bolt guidance tweaking on the X-Bolt 2 action, the bolt operated as smooth as melted butter. The rifle has a two-position safety that locks the bolt handle when on “safe,” but there is also a unique bolt-release button on the bolt handle that allows you to unload the rifle while on “safe.” On the downside, the muzzle was not threaded. Of course, you can have this corrected, which would make this a fantastically appealing and very good-looking lightweight hunting rifle that’s available in a great collection of hunting cartridges.
Related: Browning X-Bolt 2 Hunter: Full Review
Ruger 77/44
Pros
Light and handy
Great, flush-fitting magazine
Three-position safety
Cons
Limited reach
Key Facts
Weight: 5.6 pounds
Average Precision: 1.88 inches
Cost: $1,239 to $1,2279
Not all hunters need a rifle capable of reaching the next ridgeline. This is especially true with deer hunters who hunt in the timber or around small crop fields or pastures. Ruger’s 77/44 rifle is a wonderfully svelte, light, and compact bolt-action rifle that’s chambered for the hard-hitting 44 Magnum cartridge. Ruger offers three versions: two with a camo-finished polymer stock and one with a walnut stock. All three come with open sights and a threaded barrel, and they have been machined to accept Ruger scope mounts. If you know you’ll not be shooting beyond about 150 yards, and if you like to stalk the dark timber or sit a stand in the deep woods, you’ll not find a lighter, nicer bolt-action rifle anywhere near the price of the 77/44. Also, if you like to handgun hunt with a 44 Magnum, the Ruger 77/44 bolt-action rifle would make a fantastic companion.
Marlin 1895 Dark Series
Pros
Fantastic shooter interface
Reliable
Versatile
Cons
Trigger needs some work
Questionable comb attachment
Key Facts
Weight: 6.9 pounds
Average Precision: 1.79 inches
Cost: $1,429
The 1895 Dark rifle from Marlin is what many would call a modernized lever gun. It comes with a nylon-reinforced polymer butt stock that’s adaptable with a riser to adjust comb height. It’s also fitted with an anodized aluminum handguard that has M-Lok slots along the bottom and on the sides. This allows for the attachment of accessories like a flashlight, which might be handy around camp in bear country, or a bipod or tripod attachment for additional stabilization when shooting. Other features unique to the 1895 Dark include a long scope rail that allows for the mounting of a traditional riflescope, a scout scope, or even a red dot. Also, integral to this rail is a fully adjustable aperture sight that pairs well with a highly visible fiber optic and tritium front sight. Finally, the muzzle is threaded, and a muzzle break is standard. If you want a hard-hitting lever gun but you want it light, this is the rifle for you.
Related: Marlin 1895 Dark Series: Full Review
Savage 110 Ultralite
Pros
Adjustable stock
Adjustable trigger
Very precise shooting
Cons
Sticky buttpad
Limited capacity in some cartridges
Key Facts
Weight: 5.8 pounds
Average Precision: 0.75 inches
Cost: $1,739
As this rifle’s name suggests, it’s built on the famous Savage 110 action. But what sets it apart is its barrel. For the 110 Ultralite, Savage chose a 22-inch carbon-fiber-wrapped, stainless-steel barrel from Proof Research. The barrel is threaded at 5/8x24 and comes with a thread protecting cap. The other cool feature Savage chose to add to the 110 Ultralite is their AccuStock. It has sections at the butt and comb you can swap out to adjust the rifle’s length of pull and comb height. The rest of the synthetic stock has a Kuiu Verde 2.0 camo finish and checkered rubber overmold sections on the forend and grip. Savage’s AccuTrigger, a detachable box magazine, and a three-position/three-function tang safety round out what proved to be a very good shooting rifle. Coming in at less than 6 pounds, the 110 UltraLite we tested in 308 Winchester averaged 0.75-inch for multiple five-shot groups with three different hunting loads. It may not be the lightest rifle on this list, but it out-shot all the others. This rifle is clearly the best buy in this price range and can hold its own with rifles costing much more.
Related: Savage 110 Ultralite: Full Review
Best Lightweight Hunting Rifles Between $2000 and $3000
Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT
Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT Bolt-Action Rifle
Pros
Incredibly light
Great trigger
Outstanding precision
Cons
Safety does not lock bolt
Key Facts
Weight: 5.45 pounds
Average Precision: 0.86 inches
Cost: $2,049.99 to 2,149.99
The action Christensen used on the Ridgeline FFT rifle has a Remington 700 footprint and a similar two-lug bolt. However, the bolt on the Ridgeline utilizes an M-16/Sako style extractor, dual ejectors, and the bolt release is on the side of the action instead of in front of the trigger. It comes with a stepped, carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel, and Christensen Arms is the company that actually pioneered carbon-fiber-wrapped barrels. The FFT in the name stands for Christensen’s Flash Forged Technology they use to make their rugged, 20-ounce, pillar-bedded stocks. A muzzle brake, thread protector, hinged floor plate, and a Trigger Tech trigger are standard issue, along with Christensen’s sub-MOA guarantee. This rifle is available in 20 big-game chamberings with varying barrel lengths. For the money, it’s a fantastically lightweight and great-shooting rifle; it was our pick as the best overall rifle in our 2025 test.
Related: Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT: Rull Review
Springfield Armory 2020 Boundary
Pros
Well balanced
Good precision
Great stock
Cons
Safety does not lock bolt
Finicky feeding in early models
Key Facts
Weight: 6.75 pounds (with carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel)
Average Precision: 1.07 inches
Cost: $2,295
The Boundary is the third rifle in the Springfield-Armory 2020 bolt action rifle line. It sort of fills the gap between the heavier Waypoint and the lighter and odd-looking Redline. Its threaded 22-inch barrel lets you squeeze out a bit more velocity than you can with shorter 20-inch barreled rifles common to many lightweight rifles. It comes with a nice Trigger Tech trigger, the bolt handle can be interchanged, and one of its nicest features is the integral M-Lok rail on the underneath of the stock’s forend. This rail is nice if you want to attach a bipod. Also, the rifle is fitted with multiple quick-detach sling swivel sockets. Initially, there were some feeding issues with the Boundary, but they have been corrected. The Boundary rifle is also offered with a carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel for $2,295, or with a standard steel barrel for $1,995, which weighs in just a couple ounces heavier. With either, there is a good selection of short- and long-action cartridges to choose from.
Related: Springfield 2020 Boundary Carbon: Full Review
Best Lightweight Hunting Rifles for More than $2,500
Wilson Combat NULA Models 20 and 20S
Pros
Smooth Action
Incredibly Light
Perfectly balanced
Safety locks bolt
Cons
Limited chamberings
Key Facts
Weight: 5.17 pounds (Model 20)/4.9 pounds (Model 20S)
Average Precision: 0.97 inch
Cost: $2,995
In late 2022, Melvin Forbes sold his company to Wilson Combat, and they executed some modernizations to the NULA rifle design by adding a hinged floor plate, threaded Wilson Combat barrels, a new Timney Elite Hunter trigger that locks the bolt when on safe, and a custom AG Composites stock. Also, by using precision CNC and wire EDM manufacturing technologies, Wilson Combat was able to reduce the price by about 30%. These rifles are about as light as you’ll find, flawless in operation, and they shoot incredibly well. The Model 20 is offered in 243, 308 and 358 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, and 284 Winchester. The Model 20S is an even lighter and more compact rifle that is offered in AR15-compatible cartridges to include the 223 Remington, 300 Blackout, 300 HAMR, and 350 Legend. The NULA Model 20 won recognition as out Editor’s Pick during the 2023 rifle test. Four decades since its inception, and now under a new banner, the NULA rifle is still the standard all lightweight rifles are often judged by.
Related: Wilson Combat NULA Model 20: Full Review
Related: Wilson Combat NULA Model 20S: Full Review
Q Fix
Pros
Versatile
Modular construction
Cons
Safety does not lock bolt
Key Facts
Weight: 5.30 pounds
Average Precision: 1.19 inches
Cost: $3,475
The Q Fix is as different in design as it is in looks. This is a unique bolt-action rifle that combines some of the modular appeal of the AR15 with a bolt gun. It has a folding stock that is adjustable for length of pull and comb height; barrels can be easily swapped out allowing you to switch between cartridges; the bolt only has a 45° throw; and it has a very simple but very good trigger that works in conjunction with the striker firing system that is housed completely inside the bolt. Q also offers accessories for the Fix to include a featherweight strap, a bipod, and a suppressor that interfaces with the Fix’s Cherry Bomb muzzle device. You can even get this rifle in SBR (Short Barreled Rifle) configurations chambered for the 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Winchester, and 8.6 Blackout. A somewhat lighter and more compact Mini-Fix is also offered in 5.56 NATO, 300 Blackout, and 6mm ARC. There’s no doubt that if you show up at deer camp with a Fix, you’ll get everyone’s attention.
Related: Q Fix: Full Review
Weatherby Mark V Backcountry Guide TI
Pros
Powerful cartridges
Very lightweight
Safety locks bolt
Cons
Longer barrels
Key Facts
Weight: 5.10 pounds.
Average Precision: 1.11 inch
Cost: $3,799
The Weatherby Mark V Backcountry Ti has a titanium action and, at right around 5 pounds, is the lightest Mark V rifle made to date.
Depending on the chambering, this rifle can weigh as little as 5.1 pounds. This is achievable because of the titanium action, the tensioned 416R BSF carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel, and the Peak 44 Blacktooth stock, combined with the lightweight 3DHex recoil pad. It’s available with Weatherby’s Mark V, six- or nine-lug action, in left or right hand, in nine common cartridges, including the 7mm Backcountry, or four Weatherby cartridges to include their 6.5 RPM. The rifle comes with a threaded muzzle, a titanium Accubrake, and a user-adjustable Trigger Tech trigger. It’s also one of the only rifles on this list that’s fitted with the Spartan Precision MagnaSwitch bipod/tripod adapter, and it has two of them on the underside of the forend. If a super-lightweight rifle capable of delivering magnum power is what you’re looking for, look no further.
Proof Research Glacier Ti
Pros
Incredible precision
Excellent workmanship
Light and Compact
Cons
Hellaciously expensive
Safety does not lock bolt
Key Facts
Weight: 5.62 pounds
Average Precision: 0.84 inch
Cost: $7,499
This rifle is very light, shoots incredibly well, and it’s insanely expensive. It’s so light because the action is made from titanium, the stock is made of carbon fiber, and the barrel is wrapped with carbon fiber, too. It’ shoots so well because of the match-grade barrel and superb bedding job. And it’s so expensive because of all those things, and that fact that it is a full custom rifle. Full custom means you order the stock sized to fit you and in your color of choice, you order the barrel at the length you want and chambered for the cartridge you desire, and it comes with an adjustable trigger in either left or right hand. More than seven grand is a hell of a lot to pay for a rifle, but this is one hell of a rifle, that looks, feels, and performs like it was put together by a perfectionist.
Related: Proof Research Glacier Ti: Full Review
Why Trust Us
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
