By now, you're no stranger to firearms, and you’ve probably mastered your basics with a  reliable 9mm, an upgraded AR-15, and a steady supply of ammo. You've trained for defense, independence, and maybe even a little fun. But now, you're ready to level up. It’s time to move beyond the tactical realm into a pursuit that requires patience, precision, and skill: hunting and long-range shooting.

Perhaps you're inspired by memories of an older relative who was a seasoned hunter who could take down game with a single, well-placed shot from a trusted rifle. Maybe you're drawn to the challenge and satisfaction of mastering a tool built for precision and purpose. Either way, you're looking for a hunting rifle that excels in accuracy, ergonomics, and consistency.

The good news? Hunting rifles have evolved. Several manufacturers are now blending cutting-edge technology with the classic rifle designs we know and love. No more recoil-harsh wooden stocks. Today’s models offer advanced polymer chassis, recoil mitigation systems, and precision machining — paired with high-tech CNC-manufactured barrels. But with so many choices, where do you start?

At Pro Armory, we have you covered. Read on to discover the six best hunting rifles that are also good for precision shooting. Whether you're heading out for your first hunt, adding to your collection, or training for a competition, these picks will help you make every shot count.

(Source: Daniel Defense via Youtube)

Quick List

The Key Features of a Great Precision Hunting Rifle

Whether you’re looking to take on a big North American game, ring steel at amazing distances, or hit the long range competition scene, it’s important to know the key features of a great precision hunting rifle. When integrated properly, these individual factors form a weapon system that’s greater than the sum of its parts.

An amazing precision hunting rifle will sync up the following characteristics:

• Accuracy

• Precision

• Durability

• Weight

• Balance

• Modularity

• Ideal Trigger Break

• Brand Reputation

However, in order to accomplish this, each key feature has to be a case study in excellence. Think of tolerance stacking with computers — where the tolerances in a series of components in a system sum up to enhance or degrade the system overall. The same applies to firearms. If you have a precision match trigger from Timney, and an off-brand barrel with an improper twist rate, the whole firearm will be of reduced effectiveness.

Accuracy

Simply put, a precision hunting rifle should be both accurate and precise.

You want your shot to be placed as close to the point of aim as possible. Whether it’s the bullseye of a paper target or the critical area of a game animal, you want that shot to land where it needs to land. You also want follow-up shots to group nicely around that first shot (provided the first shot is accurate).

That’s precision. Ideally a salvo of, say, five rounds should form a ragged yet continuous hole in the target (rather than scattered across a surface).

It can be argued that good precision is a function of the rifle, and accuracy is a function of the operator. In a quality precision hunting rifle, the rounds will go precisely where the operator aims it. It may not be where you want them to go, but they will go there nonetheless. A $5000 precision rifle just means you’ll miss with precision if you haven’t mastered the fundamentals.

The rifles chosen below are noted for their accuracy and precision within their price point class. You shouldn’t expect a true laser-focused tack driver at a sub-$600 price point, but with today’s repeatable assembly and forging techniques, you can get a mass-produced precision hunting rifle that will give you some room to grow in terms of accuracy and precision. Hone your skills on the cheaper model, and step up later. You’d be surprised how long it takes to outgrow even a “budget” model.

Durability and Ruggedness

Going out in the field for a hunt or a day of long-range shooting subjects your rifle to some grueling conditions. Often, the lawful hunting seasons around our nation will be in the fall and winter. During these seasons, your rifle will be subject to temperature variations, snow, rain, mud, ice, and rough handling. You’ll have your rifle slung or carried at low ready as you traverse the terrain, and invariably the whole system will get bumped and dinged even before the first shot of the season.

With precision hunting rifles, you’ll deal with cartridges in the .30 caliber class. Legends like .308 Winchester, beasts like .300 Winchester Magnum, and others will over time subject your rifle to heavy amounts of wear and tear. Even your ammunition comes into play. If the projectiles themselves exhibit variations due to heat, cold, and the wear as they go down the barrel, your accuracy can suffer. Every caliber in this class has dedicated hunting rounds, which will account for this.

To handle all this, your precision hunting rifle will need quality components, engineering, and coatings to hold up to harsh conditions. Features like chrome-lined barrels, rust-resistant metallic accessories and highly durable polymer furniture come in handy. Be sure your optic can also withstand the elements (as well as the violent forces of recoil).

You’ll want your rifle to be a precision instrument — and remain so even after a long day in the field. Even more importantly, the rifle will take a beating in the field if you are stalking game. If it is durable enough to hold its specs after rough handling, you can rest assured you’ll take that trophy-winning game with speed and an eye towards a humane kill.

Weight and Balance

A heavier rifle will absorb a lot of force and recoil just by the virtue of physics. That energy gets soaked up, and less is transmitted to you. However, try lugging around a heavy beast of a precision rifle all day and your accuracy will suffer regardless.

Sore muscles degrade your skillset, no matter your training. A great precision hunting rifle needs to be lightweight enough for portability, but heavy enough to provide some recoil mitigation.

Balance is also key. Too many accessories crowded around one section of the weapon will throw off the balance.

Modularity and Customization

Our great nation has an incredibly storied and robust firearms market. There are guns in every conceivable effective configuration right off the factory floor. Many hunters and target shooters find “the one” at their local gun shop and leave it at that. They train and work with it until it becomes second nature.

However, for the real discerning shooter, there’s always that last “ten percent,” when a modular and customizable precision hunting rifle comes in handy. Fortunately today, many rifles are part of a “system” or platform. The legendary Remington 700 evolved from a simple bolt-action in .308 Winchester to a modern platform covering numerous calibers and configurations.

The various AR-10 variants are even more customizable. Like its little brother the AR-15, the AR-10 platform has a whole universe of stocks, triggers, handguards, muzzle devices, suppressors, optics, and more.

Recoil Management

Managing your recoil is crucial to landing those precise and accurate shots. Your first round downrange may hit the target, but the recoil and muzzle rise may throw off your follow-up shots, especially if you are using heavier magnum calibers.

For hunters using precision rifles, recoil management is key. The hunter wants to take their game with minimum effort and ammunition. This requires shooting the game in the correct place, often center mass, (i.e. heart and nervous system) to ensure a quick and clean kill. The game should be taken quickly to preserve the meat and observe ethical and humane hunting practices.

Skill is a big factor in recoil management, but avid and dedicated hunters will accessorize their precision rifles with enhanced stocks, buttpads, muzzle devices, ergonomic grips, and even suppressors.

Ideal Trigger Break

If you are fighting a low-quality and gritty trigger, everything else about your experience suffers, since you are introducing a major variable (movement) into the whole process. Having a quality trigger lessens this factor, and reduces the “tolerance stacking” effect.

Regardless of your rifle selection, you’ll want a trigger that exhibits a somewhat lower pull weight. You want some resistance for safety and accuracy reasons, but not so much that you have to mash the trigger hard to take the shot. Additionally, the trigger should have a predictable takeup with a firm “glass breaking” break.

The reset should be firm to accommodate easier follow-up shots. Single-stage triggers are generally more predictable.

Brand Reputation

Quality brands build their reputation by delivering quality products, repeatedly. Go with a known brand to eliminate some of the guesswork and potential service issues that a lesser-known brand may exhibit. Also, even the best precision hunting rifles sometimes have issues, and you’ll want a brand that stands with conviction behind their products.

In this sense, you’ll want to prioritize domestic US-based manufacturers. In the precision hunting arena, these manufacturers excel, and can also deliver top quality customer service and sales. While a premium foreign-made rifle may be desirable for cultural cachet and “flexing”, the overseas service can be less reliable, and importing components for repair can be difficult for bureaucratic reasons.

Top 6 Best Hunting Rifles for Precision Shooting

Now that we’ve defined our criteria and gone over the basics, let’s get down to business. These hunting rifles excel in precision shooting, each one selected for a combination of value and performance. With price points from bargain to bougie, there’s likely a rifle in this list that will fit your financial and practical needs.

(Source: danieldefense.com)

1. Daniel Defense DELTA 5® PRO, 20”, .308 Win

• Caliber: .308 Winchester

• Twist Rate: 1:10

• Weight: 10.8 lbs

• Barrel Length: 20 inches

• Mounting System: M-LOK

Daniel Defense is a relatively new company. Founded in 2002 by Marty Daniel, the firm cut its teeth building accessory rails for existing AR-15 and M4 rifles. Prized by discerning citizen and professional shooters alike, the accessory sales prompted Daniel to go full-bore into building complete weapon systems. Daniel Defense’s AR and M4 rifles are prized for a near mythical level of quality and durability, and many of our special operators seek Daniel Defense out by name.

Speaking of quality, Daniel Defense has made its first foray into the world of precision bolt-action hunting rifles with the DELTA 5 PRO series. Though chambered in a variety of calibers, the most reliable performer is in .308 Winchester with a 20-inch hammer-forged barrel. This caliber has over 70 years of history and real-world performance behind it, and ammunition isn’t too hard to find, even precision hunting loads.

 

Also, that smooth short-throw bolt action reduces movement in the system, ensuring the DELTA 5 PRO hits that .5 MOA accuracy guarantee when you pair it with match-grade ammo and, of course, your own skill. The adjustable single-stage trigger from Timney is a great bonus as well — you can tune the pull weight to what fits your ideal. Rounded out with a modern M-LOK rail, commonly available AICS-pattern Magpul PMAGs, a threaded barrel, and even AR-15 grips, the DELTA 5 PRO in .308 is a new gold standard in hunting rifles for precision shooting.

Of course, you’ll pay a premium for the quality. But  it’s worth it for a precision hunting rifle that will serve you for a lifetime.

(Source: www.sportsmans.com)

2. Ruger Precision Rifle 26” 300 Winchester Magnum

• Caliber: .300 Winchester Magnum

• Twist Rate: 1:9

• Weight: 15.2lbs

• Barrel Length: 26 inches

• Mounting System: M-LOK and Picatinny

If you’ve been around the firearms scene for any length of time, you’ve heard of Ruger. Technically known as Sturm, Ruger & Co, they’ve been around for over 75 years now. With their humble roots in the .22 LR Ruger Standard pistol, stretching to rifles like the Mini-14, and pistols like the RMX, Ruger has made its indelible mark.

No stranger to the precision rifle game, Ruger has seriously upped the ante with their Precision Rifle series. One of the standout variants sports a 26 inch cold hammer forged barrel in the beastly .300 Winchester Magnum caliber.

With such a truly punishing round, you’ll need a solid precision hunting rifle to launch those beasts downrange. The Ruger Precision Rifle delivers. With a fully-adjustable padded stock, a RPR Magnum muzzle brake, as well as a smooth fully-adjustable trigger, the quality components of the Ruger Precision Rifle in .300 Winchester Magnum all come together to tame the beast and give you accuracy, precision, and sheer power at a distance.

 

Also, this rifle is rounded out with modern features like an M-LOK rail attachment system, a threaded barrel, an AR-style grip, and a Picatinny top rail for sturdy optic mounting. The magazines for this firearm are AR-style, which are less common but can be easily acquired.

A firearm of this power that can maintain its precision and accuracy even with rough handling does come at a premium price, though. Consider your use cases before diving into this unique and powerful rifle.

(Source: www.remarms.com)

3. Remington Model 700 Magpul Enhanced 20” .308 Win

• Caliber: .308 Winchester

• Twist Rate: 1:10

• Weight: 8.5 lbs

• Barrel Length: 20 inches

• Mounting System: M-LOK and Picatinny

These days, many firearm enthusiasts and pundits speak of “platforms” — the AR-15 platform, the AR-10 platform, the GLOCK Gen3 platform, and so on. Before most of these was the Remington 700. Since 1962, the Remington 700 has evolved from a simple, sturdy, and combat-proven precision rifle into the world’s most popular bolt-action platform, with over 5 million known copies of the weapon in circulation.

For any legendary rifle, you’ll want to get it chambered in a legendary caliber — the reliable .308 of course.

While the thought of a Remington 700 conjures up the imagery of a humble and unremarkable bolt-action rifle, the platform has undergone a steady and astounding revolution. With the input from professional users (including the American Sniper himself, Chris Kyle) the 700 has spawned newer variants such as the Magpul Enhanced with a 20-inch barrel.

Remington combined their legendary 700 action with the Magpul Hunter chassis, which breaks the traditional mold and looks of the platform. With an aggressive tactical profile, the Remington Model 700 Magpul Enhanced combines classic efficiency with a lean and modern profile. With the impressive ergonomics of the Hunter chassis, and a quality Timney trigger, those long range shots become that much easier.

This rifle feels like it is part of you after only a few sessions. With easy-to-find Magpul AICS-style magazines, you can load up on quality .308 match-grade ammo and get those follow-up shots downrange with little effort. If you’re looking for a “tac’d out” bolt-action precision hunting rifle at a great price point, this one is for you. Throw a suppressor on that threaded barrel and with the smooth bolt action, you’ve got a truly quiet performer.

(Source: barrett.net)

4. Barrett REC10 LR AR-10 .308 20”

• Caliber: .308 Winchester

• Twist Rate: 1:10

• Weight: 11.1 lbs

• Barrel Length: 20 inches

• Mounting System: M-LOK

When someone mentions Barrett, it is likely their famous M107A1 in the monster .50 BMG caliber. However, founder Ronnie Barrett (one of the most respected names in the firearms world for decades) has tasked his company with a new mission — to get more rifles bearing his name out into the world, in a variety of calibers.

With that in mind, Barrett introduced the REC-10 LR in .308 Winchester. A variant of the AR-10, this precision rifle may not be the obvious choice for hunting, but you would be pleasantly surprised that you can use an AR-style rifle to take game.

Originally developed for military users who needed a precise, simple, and familiar way to really “reach out and touch someone,” the REC-10 LR is the result of years of extensive engineering and exhaustive testing by Ronnie Barrett and his team.

Every component of the REC10 is specifically designed to guarantee the reliability, durability, and accuracy customers expect from the Barrett name. There’s no cutting corners here, and this rifle is a solid and precise performer that can take a real beating.

The LR variant sports a 20-inch cold-hammer forged barrel with a user-adjustable gas block, which allows you to fine tune the rifle for suppressed use. Additionally, the rifle ships with a fully-adjustable Magpul PRS stock, a single-stage ALG trigger, an M-LOK rail attachment system, as well as the ability to utilize common Magpul AR-10 magazines.

The best part? Ergonomically this rifle functions pretty much exactly like your AR-15, except a little beefed up. You’ll feel right at home, but with a little more power and precision to really poke holes and take the game at a distance.

(Source: choose.tikka.fi)

5. Tikka T3X Lite .30-06 Springfield 22.4”

• Caliber: .30-06

• Twist Rate: 1:10

• Weight: 6.4 lbs

• Barrel Length: 22.4 inches

• Mounting System: Picatinny (limited)

While us Americans tend to lord over our firearms’ quality and prowess for a very good reason, sometimes the Europeans produce a quality firearm all on their own. While they may not be beasts like the RPR or high-tech tack drivers like the DELTA 5 series, the centuries of Old World gunsmithing turn out some surprising gems, like the Tikka T3x Lite series.

Simple and elegant, the Tikka T3x Lite represents the historic Finnish firearms manufacturer’s dedication to quality, efficiency, and durability. Even though they are now owned by Sako and imported to the US via Beretta, the 100+ years of Tikka’s experience shines through in every weapon they produce.

The Tikka T3x Lite is no exception. Even the variant chambered in that legendary and utilitarian American caliber, .30-06 Springfield, is a hard hitter.

 

Designed for an almost “thoughtful” mode of hunting with a 3+1 integrated magazine capacity, and a 22.4-inch barrel to get that .30-06 round up to speed, the T3x Lite will endure and take a real beating under those severe conditions north of the Arctic Circle. With the traditions of legendary snipers like Simo Häyhä running through their veins, it’s no surprise the Finns can engineer a great and affordable precision bolt action hunting rifle. You’d be inclined to call it “no frills,” but the “frill” is the rifle itself. Fit an optic to the T3x Lite and you have a simple and efficient precision hunting rifle that makes no excuses for its purpose.

The power of the T3x Lite is its reliability — with a minimum of wear components, you can almost be certain the rifle will never require any major service.

(Source: www.bearcreekarsenal.com)

6. Bear Creek Arsenal BC-10 20” .308

• Caliber: .308 Winchester

• Twist Rate: 1:10

• Weight: 10lbs

• Barrel Length: 20 inches

• Mounting System: M-LOK and Picatinny

Our final worthy entry for the best hunting rifle for precision shooting roundup is the Bear Creek Arsenal BC-10 in .308 Winchester. While many variants of this AR-10 pattern firearm exist, the most reliable and cost-effective variant is specifically chambered in .308 Winchester, since for a budget AR-10, you’ll be able to focus more on technique and training as you can allocate more of your funding to ammunition purchase.

Though the BC-10 fits squarely in the “budget” department, it’s definitely no slouch in the performance department. Unlike some manufacturers, Bear Creek produces most of their components and inventory in-house and at scale, allowing them to drive down the prices and accomplish their mission of equipping as many Americans as possible with quality and affordable firearms.

 

The BC-10 is a great way for someone new to precision hunting rifles to step into the world of bigger calibers like .308, while maintaining a familiarity in terms of a manual of arms (since the AR-10 is actually the “parent” of the AR-15 platform).

Specifically, the BC-10 employs a 20-inch black nitride finish heavy profile barrel. Heavy profile barrels tend to be more durable by simple virtue of weight, and with less barrel “whiplash,” accuracy does not suffer. The BC-10 does ship with standard basic black polymer stocks and grips, but these are easily replaced if needed. You’ll also be pleased to note that a rather robust 15” M-LOK/Picatinny rail rounds out the package, allowing you to attach accessories like MBUS sights, slings, and other AR-compatible items. Also, the BC-10 accepts commonly available AR-10 magazines like Magpul’s PMAGs in that pattern.

Plus, you can rest comfortably knowing that Bear Creek runs each and every rifle they produce through a basic firing sequence to ensure reliability and reasonable accuracy, even at an amazingly low price point.

Want to step into the big-bore leagues of precision hunting rifles, and not bust the budget? The BC-10 series has your back at an almost unbelievable price.

(Source: Thomas Tucker on Unsplash)

The Bottom Line

With the firearms market cooling off, a “glut” of inventory on the horizon, and the potential for improved economic numbers in the next year, it’s definitely a good time to consider rounding out your in-house firearms inventory. While you may have a solid base of workhorse guns, now you can consider getting more weapons for specific use cases, such as precision hunting.

With a new generation of precision hunting rifles such as modern takes on classic bolt actions like the Remington 700 series, and of course the numerous AR-10 variants out there, it’s easier than ever to become self-reliant and get situated with a hunting rifle that excels in precision shooting.

Looking for rifle ammo for competitions or hunting? Pro Armory has you covered with top-quality rounds in .30-06, 300 Win Mag, .308, and much more. Browse our selection today to find great deals with fast shipping!