Gun Tests reporters and editors on the scene at SHOT Show 2018 in Las Vegas scoured the show for new rifle, pistol, shotgun, and accessory entries for our readers to consider this year. For what seems like a long time now, new rifle introductions have been dominated by variations on the AR-15/AR-10 platform. But for 2018, we’re also seeing the emergence of more dedicated long-range precision sport and hunting rifles. Here’s a rundown on quite a few just-introduced rifle choices for 2018, some of which we’ll be looking at later this year.
Bergara
The HMR Pro builds on the legacy of the 2017 HMR. It provides a multitude of upgrades to include a Cerakote stainless-steel action and barrel with a threaded muzzle and a TriggerTech primary trigger. The HMR Pro is also shipped with an accuracy-qualified sub-MOA target. Weights range from 9.2 to 10.1 pounds, and it is available in 223 Remington with a 1:8 twist, 22/250 Remington with a 1:9 twist, 6mm and 6.5mm Creedmoor with a 1:8 twist, and 308 Winchester with a 1:10 twist. SRP: $1695.
Browning
The new X-Bolt Pro and X-Bolt Pro Long Range models feature an exclusive Generation 2 carbon-fiber stock with a palm swell. Barrels and receivers are stainless-steel-coated in Cerakote burnt bronze, and the bolt body and handle have spiral fluting. Rifles are hand-chambered and come standard with a target crown and threaded muzzle. The rifles can be had with either a 22- or 26-inch barrel (the outlier is the 300 WSM, which comes with a 23-inch barrel) in 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Winchester, 300 WSM, 26 Nosler, 270 Winchester, 30/06 Springfield, 7mm Remington Magnum, 28 Nosler, and 300 Winchester Magnum. SRP: $2069-$2129, X-Bolt Pro; $2099-$2179, X-Bolt Pro Long Range.
The X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon Speed Long Range McMillan rifle features a McMillan Game Scout stock with aluminum pillars, a vertical pistol grip, and a medium-width forend. It has a Cerakote burnt bronze finish and a 26-inch, fluted, free-floating, hand-chambered barrel with a muzzle brake. The stock sports an A-TACS AU Camo, Dura-Touch Armor Coat finish. A 20-MOA Picatinny rail is standard. Available in 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 300 WSM, 26 Nosler, 7mm Remington Magnum, 28 Nosler, and 300 Winchester Magnum. SRP: $2129-$2199.
The X-Bolt Micro Composite will give smaller-stature shooters the option of a rifle with a shorter length of pull. It features a receiver and barrel in matte blue and is available in 243 Winchester, 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08 Remington, and 308 Winchester. SRP: $939.
CVA
With the new Optima V2 LR, CVA brings long-range performance to a more affordable price point. The gun employs the same long-range-oriented concepts as the top-selling Accura V2LR, combining a velocity-enhancing longer barrel with the superior stability of a thumbhole stock. It features a 28-inch barrel, and like all CVA muzzleloaders, it has the exclusive Quick Release Breech Plug. The thumbhole stock is also 100 percent ambidextrous. The V2 LR is 43 inches long and weighs 7.65 pounds.
CZ-USA
For 2018, CZ is introducing a left-hand 557. It will be available in 30/06 Springfield (standard action) and 308 Winchester (short action). The 30/06 version has a hinged floorplate, and the 308 feeds from a detachable box magazine. Both have 24-inch, cold-hammer-forged and lapped barrels. SRP: $865.
DPMS
DPMS now has the GII Hunter in 243 Winchester and 260 Remington. Both feature 20-inch Teflon-coated barrels, threaded muzzles, carbon-fiber free-floating handguards, two-stage triggers, Magpul MOE stocks, Hogue grips, and an enhanced shell deflector.
The GII Compact Hunter is chambered for the 243 Winchester. This minimalized semi-auto rifle features a 16-inch Teflon-coated barrel, a threaded muzzle, a carbon-fiber, free-floating handguard, a two-stage trigger, a B5 Sopmod Stock, a Hogue grip, and an enhanced shell deflector.
Another addition to the GII line is the AP4 OR (Optics Ready). This GII has an improved upper receiver optimized for left-hand shooters, and a standard, plain-steel single-rail gas block. SRP: $1249.
E.R. Shaw
America’s largest independent manufacturer of gun barrels is now offering the new Mark X bolt-action rifle. Consumers can order online and choose between barrel lengths from 16.25 to 26 inches. They can also select one of 90 chamberings in calibers from 17 through 458. The highly acclaimed AccuTrigger is standard, but a Timney is an option. This is a custom, made-to-order rifle. SRP: $1399.
Mossberg
The Patriot line continues to expand. For 2018, you’ll see it in 6.5 Creedmoor in the top-of-the-line model—the Revere. This rifle features a 2.0 Grade European walnut stock and a rosewood forend tip and grip cap. SRP: $823.
The Patriot Cerakote is also new. Cerakote is a polymer-ceramic coating that protects metal surfaces, and this Cerakoted Patriot will be offered with a synthetic black stock in six popular chamberings, including 243 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, 270 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, 308 Winchester, and 30/06 Springfield.
To keep things on the cool side, Mossberg is offering three new rifles specifically intended to visually please; all are finished in Muddy Girl Serenity camo. This new camo has a dynamic combination of colors and natural elements for a sharp look that will likely appeal to anyone wanting some additional, eye-catching flair from their rifle. The list includes a Patriot Super Bantam in 243 Winchester, a Blaze autoloading rifle in 22 LR, and an International 715T semi-auto rifle in 22 LR.
Proof Research
The new Switch is easily user-modified to accommodate many cartridges. It comes standard with a free-floating, cut-rifled Proof Research carbon-fiber barrel in either 223 Remington, 6mm and 6.5mm Creedmoor, 260 Remington, or 308 Winchester. It incorporates a Savage-style barrel to allow for user-conversion to virtually any short-action caliber. SRP: $3,995.
Remington
The new 700 MTD Tactical Chassis rifle is available with a 24- or 26-inch barrel and is chambered for the 308 Winchester, 300 Winchester Magnum, or 338 Lapua Magnum. It has a stainless-steel-barreled action, a Magpul PRS II adjustable stock, an oversize bolt handle, and an AAC muzzle brake, and ships in a hard case. SRP: $3,500.
The SS 5R Black Cerakote is built on an HS Precision stock. It has a stainless-steel barrel and action, and the 5R rifled barrel has the distinctive LTR-style fluting with a black Cerakote finish. A threaded muzzle and X Mark Pro adjustable trigger are standard. Available in 308 Winchester with a 20- or 24-inch barrel, 300 Winchester Magnum with a 24-inch barrel, and 6.5 Creedmoor with a 24-inch barrel. SRP: $1250. There is also a non-Cerakote version in 223 Remington. SRP: $1150.
Savage
Since its introduction in 1958, the Savage Model 110 has served hunters and shooters well as an economical, hard-hitting, accurate rifle. Now it’s even better with the new Model 110 Big Game and Specialty series. These revamped rifles have received a fresh look and a full complement of new and improved features. Customized performance is the hallmark of the redesign, and these new rifles solve the three main issues shooters usually pay a gunsmith to address: fit, trigger pull, and bedding.
The all-new user-adjustable AccuFit system/stock is the key. It allows shooters to customize length of pull and comb height. Inserts included with the rifle can be installed in seconds with a Phillips screwdriver.
The new AccuStock also has a rigid chassis embedded in the stock. Combine these custom-like features with the standard adjustable AccuTrigger, and the 110s become affordable custom rifles, right out of the box. To help bring all this wonderfulness to the consumer, Savage has a full line of revamped 110s to choose from, covering everything from general-purpose to niche offerings.
The Savage 110 Storm features a detachable-box magazine, a stainless-steel barrel, and a gray synthetic stock. It is available in a plethora of cartridges, from 223 Remington to 338 Winchester Magnum. SRP: $849.
The 110 Engage Hunter comes out of the box with a mounted and bore-sighted Bushnell Engage riflescope. SRP: $629. The 110 Predator is a Realtree Max 1 camo version chambered for six coyote-killing cartridges. All feature 24-inch barrels and a four-round detachable magazine. SRP: $799.
For long-range 110 Savage use, there’s the Long Range Hunter. It comes with a 26-inch barrel and is chambered for the 6.5 Creedmoor, 260 Remington, 308 Winchester, 300 WSM, 338 Federal, 6.5×284 Norma, 7mm Remington Magnum, 300 Winchester Magnum, and the 338 Lapua Magnum. SRP: $1099; $1298, Lapua.
If you want the ideal general-purpose 110, there’s the 110 Scout. Configured to emulate Jeff Cooper’s concept, this 110 has a 16.5-inch barrel, a 10-shot detachable magazine, open sights, and an extended eye-relief scope rail. Chambered for the 223 Remington, 308 Winchester, 338 Federal, or 450 Bushmaster. SRP: $815. Other specific-purpose new 110s include the 23-inch- barreled 110 Bear Hunter ($999), the 26-inch-barreled 110 Varmint ($638), the 20-inch-barreled 110 Hog Hunter ($594), and the wicked 110 Wolverine in 450 Bushmaster ($899).
The 10/110 Stealth Evolution chassis rifle is chambered for six distance-delivering cartridges, including the 6mm Creedmoor. The rifle blends pinpoint precision with torture-tested toughness, and pairs a heavy fluted barrel, blueprinted 10/110 action, 5R rifling, and an AccuTrigger, with a monolithic aluminum chassis finished in rugged bronze Cerakote. SRP: $1799-$2149.
Steyr
The Zephyr II is Steyr’s new smallbore rifle. It features a classic European walnut stock with a Bavarian cheekpiece and fish-scale-pattern checkering, and the Steyr Mannlicher bolt handle and tang safety. Available in 17 HMR, 22 LR, and 22 WMR, the Zephyr II has a cold-hammer-forged 19.7-inch barrel, with an overall length of 35.2 inches. The rifle weighs 5.8 pounds. SRP: $995.
The Pro THB (Tactical Heavy Barrel) offers extreme accuracy at an extremely affordable price, and it’s a complement to Steyr’s traditional platforms. It has a durable synthetic stock with removable spacers in the buttstock to adjust length of pull. It also has a cold-hammer-forged, 16-, 20-, or 26-inch threaded heavy barrel, finished with Steyr’s durable Mannox coating. Chambered for the 308 Winchester, the magazine is the standard two-position five-round detachable box, with a 10-round conversion kit available. SRP: $1265.
Weatherby
The Mark V line includes five new rifles. The Camilla Deluxe has been designed for female hunters with input from the Women of Weatherby team. It weighs 6.5 pounds and has an AA-grade Claro walnut stock. A slim forearm, a narrow-radius pistol grip, and a high comb contribute to the fit a woman wants. Five chamberings are available: 240 Weatherby Magnum, 270 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Winchester, and 30/06 Springfield.
The Mark V KCR features a 26-inch, No. 3 contour custom barrel from Krieger. It is available in 257, 6.5-300, 300, and 30-378 Weatherby Magnum cartridges, and includes an Accubrake to reduce felt recoil by up to 50 percent. A LXX trigger, oversize bolt knob, composite Monte Carlo stock, and flat dark earth and graphite black Cerakote finish round out the features on this rifle.
The Altitude weighs 5.75 pounds with the six-lug action, 6.75 pounds with the nine-lug magnum version. It features a lightweight Monte Carlo stock with an aluminum bedded block, a fluted stainless-steel barrel, Kryptek Altitude camo, and a Tungsten Cerakote finish. The Altitude is available in 240, 257, 270, 7mm, and 300 Weatherby Magnums, as well as 6.5 Creedmoor, 270 Winchester, 308 Winchester, and 30/06 Springfield.
Winchester
The new XPC is a chassis rifle with a quick-cycling 60-degree bolt with plenty of clearance for large scopes. The XPC comes with an optic rail, a button-rifled free-floating chrome-moly barrel, a target crown, a threaded muzzle, and a nickel-Teflon and Perma-Cote black finish. It has a MagPul buttstock and grip, and is available in 243 Win. and 6.5 Creedmoor with a 24-inch barrel, and in 308 Winchester with a 20-inch barrel. SRP: $1599.
The new XPR Sporter features a Grade I walnut stock and an Inflex Technology recoil pad. Other features include the MOA trigger, Perma-Cote matte black metal surfaces, a detachable-box magazine, a steel recoil lug, and a two-position thumb safety. It’s available in a variety of cartridges, from 243 Winchester to 338 Winchester Magnum, with barrel lengths from 22 to 26 inches. SRP: $599.
A new 1873 Carbine model will feature a classic carbine-style forearm with a blued barrel band, a blued carbine strap buttplate, and a blued saddle ring. The stock and forearm are satin-finished walnut, and this lever gun comes standard with a ladder-style rear sight. It’s available in 357 Magnum/.38 Special, 44/40 Winchester, and 45 Colt, with a 20-inch barrel. SRP: $1299.
The Model 1892 Carbine has the same features as the old 1873 Carbine, but with a semi-buckhorn rear sight and Marble Arms gold-bead front sight. Available in 357 Magnum, 44 Rem. Magnum, 44/40 Win., and 45 Colt, with a 20-inch barrel. SRP: $1069.
Produced in association with SHOT Daily at the 2018 SHOT Show.
