With so many options to choose from, selecting a new long gun for the field or range can be a challenge. We asked some of Rock Island Auction Company's most passionate sportsmen and shooters their opinions on the best hunting rifle platforms and calibers of the past and present, and which combinations can give you the edge on your next hunting adventure.

A factory game scene engraved Blaser Model K95 Luxus Stutzen rifle with a Schmidt & Bender scope, chambered in .308 Win Mag.

Rock Island Auction Company's upcoming auctions in Bedford, Texas features some of the best hunting rifles of every genre, from the finest bolt action models, classic lever guns, single shot mainstays, and traditional muzzleloaders. You can learn more about each model by clicking on the images throughout this article.

Whether hunting the African savanna or the whitetail woods, finding the right rifle model and chambering can make all the difference.

The Blaser Straight Pull

The straight-pull bolt action developed by German arms maker Blaser has made a big impression with sportsmen around the globe since its introduction in 1993 and is widely hailed as one of the best hunting rifle platforms available. Acclaimed writer Rick Jamison praised the design in his 'Shooting Times' article, "The Bolt-Action Rifle of the Century," where he commended the Blaser's speed, innovation, and functionality.

A Blaser R93 straight pull bolt action rifle with a Swarovski 1.5-6x42 scope, Blaser case, leather sling, tools, and an illuminating scope turret, one of the best hunting rifles for sale this August.

About 200,000 Blaser R93 rifles were manufactured before the model was discontinued in 2017, but its legacy lives on in the Blaser R8.

"The Blaser R8 is maybe the most versatile and efficient rifle for hunting anywhere and everywhere," says Matthew Peake, Rock Island Auction Company's Digital Marketing Director. "Their ability to transform one rifle into different calibers makes it the Swiss army knife of rifles. It's fantastically accurate and the straight pull bolt makes it extraordinarily fast to get a follow-up shot if needed."

Matthew Peake carries a Blaser R8 in the Western Highlands of Scotland. Many seasoned sportsmen regard this model as one of the best bolt action rifles available today.

In addition to their straight pull rifles, Blaser produces quality combination guns like the D99 and BD14, as well as single shot rifles like the K95. A light and portable design, the K95 offers a reliable and accurate single shot platform that's easy to clean, transport, and swap quickly in the field.

Among the best hunting rifles for sale at RIAC, this factory engraved Blaser Model K95 Luxus Stutzen rifle with Schmidt & Bender Scope is chambered in the classic 7x57mm.

The Ruger No. 1

Speaking of single shot platforms, Matthew Peake makes a case for the Ruger No. 1 as one of the best hunting rifles in its class. "The Ruger No. 1 is a true classic. Based on the Farquharson-style hammerless falling-block action, it is as relevant today as it was when George Gibbs was building a similar gun way back in the late 1870s."

Matthew Peake hails the Ruger No. 1 as his favorite stalking rifle, adding, "When it's chambered in an absolutely classic caliber, like the .275 Rigby, it is hard to improve on."

"The Ruger No. 1 is maybe the perfect single shot," Peake continues. "It is a very strong action, and being a single shot allows the reloader to use longer bullets. "

Classic stock maker and gunsmith Lenard Brownell, who lent his talents to the Ruger No. 1's stock design, recalled, "There was never any question about the strength of the action. I remember, in testing it, how much trouble I had trying to tear it up. In fact, I never did manage to blow one apart."

The Ruger No. 1 ranks high on our list of best hunting rifles. This 1977 manufactured example has been rebarreled in .375 Renner by gunsmith R. J. Renner and includes a Leupold VX-3 1.5-5x20mm scope.

Like its British Farquharson forerunner, the Ruger No. 1 is built like a vault, and this strength and reliability has led to the model being chambered in a bevy of cartridges over the years, including some truly heavy hitters. The example below is chambered in the mammoth 450/400 Nitro Express 3", a cartridge famed for taking the largest game in India and Africa.

The Ruger No. 1, one of the best hunting rifles on the market today. This 2007 manufactured example, chambered in the hefty 450/400 N.E. 3", includes an Al Lind stock and a Swarovski Habicht 1.25-4x25mm scope.

The Weatherby Mark V

Back to bolt actions, we have the famous Weatherby line. Introduced in 1957, the Mark V has developed a reputation as one of the best hunting rifles as production models go, with an action that lives up to Weatherby's motto. "Nothing shoots flatter, hits harder or is more accurate. Guaranteed."

A Weatherby Mark V with a Swarovski Habicht 3-10x42mm A scope, chambered in 257 WBY magnum.

Though Weatherby has continuously updated the platform with options for synthetic stocks and more affordable iterations like the recent Mark V Hunter, classic versions of Roy Weatherby's famed rifle appeal to the collector and the gentleman sportsman alike. The 1978 manufactured example below, embellished with scroll engraving and gold inlay, demonstrates the elegant luxury that can be found in this exceptional rifle line.

An engraved and gold inlaid Weatherby custom Mark V chambered in 300 WBY Magnum, one of the best hunting rifles for sale this August.

While the Mark V personifies the Weatherby brand, the Vanguard line introduced in the 1970s expanded the company's foothold in the market. Joel Kolander, Rock Island Auction Company's Interactive Production Manager, offers a firsthand account of the Mark V's more attainable sibling.

"A lot of Weatherby fans out there don’t care for the Vanguard, because it only has 2 locking lugs instead of the nine on the Mark V (or six, depending on chambering), and other small changes like a 90° bolt throw instead of the traditional 54°. That said, it has many of the same safety features that the Mark V does, the same sub-MOA accuracy guarantee, and uses the extremely reliable and accurate Howa 1500 action. Plus, the trigger on the Series 2 is perfection."

"If I had the trophy of a lifetime on the other end of my scope, I’d want one rifle in my hands - and it’s this one," Joel says of his Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Deluxe.

The Winchester Model 70 and .308 Win

It's no surprise that the pre-64 Winchester Model 70 earns a nod as one of the best bolt action rifles of all time. In his book on the gun, author Roger Rule dubbed the Model 70 "The Rifleman’s Rifle," and perhaps the platform's most famous pairing is with the .308 Winchester cartridge. The versatile round was commercially introduced in 1952, the same year the popular Winchester Model 70 Featherweight hit the market.

One of the best hunting rifles for sale at RIAC, this Winchester Model 70 Featherweight chambered in .308 Win includes a Redfield 3-9x scope.

"The .308 is a perfect round for African plains game," Joel Kolander attests. "Sure, you could go with something slightly larger for some of South Africa’s tougher animals, but a .308 will get the job done on kudu and gemsbuck, and still isn’t too much for smaller targets like springbuck and impala. It also has adequate range so you can get shots even on the spookiest game."

"I used Hornady ELD-X 178 gr and took more than one critter at 450+ yards," Joel says.

While the modern Winchester Model 70 is a fine hunting platform, the hand craftsmanship of the pre-64 action is particularly revered. From the .375 H&H to the .270 Winchester, the pre-64 Model 70 can be found in a multitude of chamberings suited for nearly any role in the woods, mountains, or savanna. When it comes to classic American bolt action rifles, the Model 70 is a must-have for every hunter and collector.

Two pre-64 Winchester Model 70s, some of the best hunting rifles for sale.

The Model 1903 and .30-06

Another classic pairing that's often included in any discussion of best bolt action rifles, the Springfield Model 1903 and the 30-06 cartridge were both developed initially for military use and became one of America's most effective infantry rifles.

"Those same capabilities also found favor with the American sportsman," says Hayden Foster, a Firearms Describer at Rock Island Auction Company. "The platform proved capable of tackling a wide range of medium-sized game, including larger and more dangerous animals like moose and bear, with a retained power at range and accuracy potential that has allowed many a marksman to drop his quarry well out of range of their senses."

Is there such a thing as the perfect gun for every game? Hayden Foster fires the Springfield Model 1903 in .30-06.

Possibly the first sporterized Springfield Model 1903 was received by President Theodore Roosevelt in February of 1904. Teddy's Model 1903 rifle, serial number 6000, was fitted with a custom sporter stock, a short fore-end, and Lyman sporting sights. These types of changes became common with hunters eager to lighten the platform and make it more adaptable for carrying around the woods. In its sporterized form, the Model 1903 platform and the .30-06 flourished.

Philadelphia gunsmith Reginald F. Sedgley customized some of the best hunting rifles of his day, including this mechanically excellent U.S. Springfield Model 1903.

"The cartridges’ popularity and continual improvement by both military and civilian circles have resulted in a wide range of loadings from lighter 110 grain to heavier 220 grain options, tailored for a variety of ranges and animal sizes," Foster notes. "Even as more contemporary cartridges with higher ballistic efficiencies fill the niches within the role of the .30-06 Springfield, it still remains a capable and quintessential, unquestionably American, .30 caliber centerfire cartridge that is as storied and tested as the people of the nation that crafted it."

Nearly every rifle maker continues to offer options chambered in .30-06, including elite pieces like this factory signed and engraved Sauer 202 "The Oaks" bolt action rifle. Manufactured in 2009, one of the best hunting rifles for sale this August.

The Winchester Model 1894 and 30-30

Before the Springfield Model 1903 in .30-06 became one of the kings of the whitetail woods, there was the Winchester Model 1894 in .30-30. For 130 years, John Moses Browning's classic design has remained a contender for the best lever action deer rifle.

One of the best hunting rifles for sale for the classic lever gun lover, this historic, 1895 manufactured, Winchester Deluxe Model 1894 rifle with a matted barrel is the first of its configuration shipped.

“The Winchester Model 1894 and .30-30 W.C.F. are forever linked and together hold an important place in firearms history as the first sporting rifle chambered for the first American high velocity, smokeless powder sporting cartridge," says Seth Isaacson, Rock Island Auction Company's Lead Historian. "The combination quickly won over American sportsmen, and old and new Model 1894s in .30-30 still remain popular today with deer hunters."

Seth Isaacson fires a Ted Williams Model 100, a ‘house brand’ version of the John Browning designed Winchester Model 1894 that was manufactured for Sears, Roebuck & Co. in the 1950s-1970s.

In terms of tried-and-tested hunting arms, the Winchester Model 1894 and its modern iterations earn a nod as one of the best rifles of all time. The classic lever gun continues to populate countless gun racks, deer camps, truck beds, and saddle scabbards across the country. From antique and curio examples, numerous commemorative issues, and the current production from Miroku Corporation of Japan, the platform can be attained by hunters and collectors of all aspirations.

A stunning example of one of America's best lever action deer rifles, a M. Defourny signed and engraved Winchester Model 94 carbine chambered in 30-30, manufactured in 1981.

Best Hunting Rifles for Muzzleloader Season

All 50 states in America offer a special muzzleloader hunting season, a boon for hunters hoping to get a few more days in the field each year. Though modern inline muzzleloaders offer an affordable, reliable means to participate, many hunters enjoy the authentic experience of taking game with a traditional flintlock or percussion rifle.

One of the best hunting rifles for a muzzleloading enthusiast looking for a traditional feeling from a modern-made gun, this .52 caliber flintlock rifle was manufactured around 1960 by the late gunmaker Louis Smith of Jonesboro, Tennessee.

"As both a hunter and a historical reenactor, hunting is a bit of a spiritual experience for me," says Rock Island Auction Company Firearms Describer Brian Beck. "Appreciating nature, respecting the game, embracing the tradition, and feeling the echoes of the past. This approach led me to archery and flintlock hunting, which I find far more fulfilling than hunting with modern firearms."

Brian Beck carries a flintlock rifle on his first muzzleloader deer hunt.

"I enjoy the challenges that these types of hunting bring," Beck explains, "Whether it’s struggling to keep the powder in the pan dry or determining how a stiff November crosswind will affect the flight of my arrow. I feel that they both give me a sense of unrivaled achievement when I’m successful and allow me to take a short walk in the footsteps of those from the past."

A contemporary A T. Dawson copy of Jim Clyman's J. & .S. Hawken percussion rifle, one of the best hunting rifle options for those who want a more "Jeremiah Johnson" experience this season.

The Best Hunting Rifles for Sale

From classic to modern, from specialized pieces to do-it-all generalists, Rock Island Auction Company offers some of the best hunting rifles in the industry. Sportsmen, shooters, and collectors of all aspirations are invited to stop by RIAC's new state-of-the-art venue at 3600 Harwood Rd., Bedford to examine, handle, and shoulder these impressive sporting arms.

Find the best hunting rifles at Rock Island Auction Company this June.

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Built in 1893, this factory engraved Alexander Henry underlever double rifle is chambered in .577 Black Powder Express.