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Home / Community home / Advice / Most Popular Bolt Action Rifle...

Most Popular Bolt Action Rifles for 2021

Gunstar’s Top 10 Bolt Action Rifles - Ranked by User Interaction

 

It’s very hard when choosing a new rifle to actually pick out the best performing models, or which rifles will offer you the best value for money. The fact is, most manufacturers will talk about the same technology and components, and many reviews you read online just won’t be honest enough.

 

We feel that one of the best ways to create a list of ‘must-buy’ rifles is to find out which models our shooters are most actively browsing. This list of the top 10 Bolt Action Rifles is put together by analysing all interactions from our users over the past 12 months. We’ve also included some average price data so you can see if each rifle fits your intended budget - take a look!

 

  1. Mossberg MVP LR Tactical

 

Mossberg MVP

 

Average Price: £500 - £600

Calibre: .308

 

The Mossberg MVP is an American-made rifle specialising in longer-range shooting. One unique benefit of the MVP is that it comes with the capability to attach most assault rifle magazines, making it very versatile across multiple shooting types and also helping shooters increase their efficiency.

There is a Picatinny rail on top to allow you to equip your own sight or optics, and the rifle weighs around 3.5kg which is considerably light for a bolt-action of this power. Most variations will come with this dark green textured stock finish, although you can occasionally find different visuals if you take the time to look.

 

You can find a selection of Mossberg MVP available on our site here.

 

  1. RPA International Quadlite 

 

RPA Quadralite

 

Average Price: £2,500 - £3,000

Calibre: .308

 

This is quite a rare model which has generated a lot of interest on our site. You don’t often come across an RPA Quadlite, which is made by a small British company in Shipston-on-Stour. They build every rifle with care and their products are very high end - a lot of their work focuses on professional target shooting, but they do offer stalking and hunting options too.

The Quadlite features a 5-shot detachable magazine and this rifle won Gold at the Canadian Target Shooting Championships in the Summer - there’s no real need to say much more than that - highly accurate!

 

  1. Mauser 98K

 

Mauser K98K

 

Average Price: £700 - £900

Calibre: 8x57 JS

 

The Mauser K98 is one of the most iconic bolt-actions in the world and is still used in military service to this day. A German-made model that became a dominant force during World War 2; more than 14,000,000 of these were made during 1935-1945, which explains why there is still such an abundance of them in military service today. 

Mauser still produces a vastly updated version of the 98 and the rebirth of the classic really is a thing of timeless beauty. You can see the current Mauser 98 range here.

 

  1. Remington Model 700

 

Remington 700 ADT

 

Average Price: £600-£800 (Upwards of £1,000 for premium editions)

Calibre: .223 or .308 (Commonly)

 

A slightly more modern rifle than the Mauser 98, but still an absolute classic. This is an American native that’s still produced in masses every year. One of the main reasons for its continued popularity is the fact that it can operate with more than 15 different calibre types, meaning it can be utilised nearly anywhere in the world. It weighs around 4kg and can accommodate a 10-round detachable magazine.

 

We have a huge range of different editions available on our site, including the SPS Tactical edition and even the US Police edition too.

 

  1. Ruger Precision Gen 2

 

Ruger Precision Gen 2

 

Average Price: £1,000

Calibre: .308

 

Now time for something a little more technical and present-day. The Ruger Precision is perfect for those who are looking for more of an AR style feel whilst still maintaining the features of a bolt action. Most commonly found in .308 calibre but there are various other options available such as 6.5mm Creedmoor and .243 Winchester.

As the name suggests, this ‘Precision Rifle’ is crafted for ultimate accuracy, largely down to the use of a cold hammer-forged 4140 chrome-moly steel barrel. 

Another very attractive feature of the RPR is its highly adjustable stock. This makes it really accessible for shooters of most shapes and sizes as the height and length of the stock can be precisely altered.

We have plenty of Ruger Precision Rifles active on our site.

 

  1. Accuracy International AX50

 

Accuracy International AX50

 

Average Price: £8,000

Calibre: .50

 

This beast from Accuracy International has only been in production for 10 years, and is an extremely powerful sniper rifle. It weighs more than 12kg without attachments and can be effective up to distances of 2.5km - seriously impressive! It takes the large .50 BMG calibre bullets and is used by the US Special Ops as a precision sniper. 

It has also recently become the sniper rifle of choice for the British Military. It’s probably not the most orthodox option for an everyday shooter, and you’ll need a more specialist firearms license to get your hands on it - but we can all agree that it looks like a serious piece of kit…

 

  1. Tikka T3x TAC A1

 

Tikka T3x TAC

 

Average Price: £1,500-£2,000

Calibre: .223

 

Tikka claims that their T3x TAC A1 is the ultimate combination of accuracy and price. There’s supposedly no long-range shooter within this mid-range price bracket that provides such an accurate shot. It’s a bold statement, but its popularity on our site would suggest that shooters agree. 

It features a double stage trigger with an adjustable weight of pull, and an AR grip and stock interface for a comfortable, agile feel. Another big focus for the T3x is a noise reducing stock that’s packed with a specially engineered foam to help keep your focus on the target at all times.

 

There’s a healthy selection of A1 TAC’s on Gunstar, which you can view here.

 

  1. Anschutz 1450

 

Anschutz 1450

 

Average Price: £200

Calibre: .22LR

 

One of the best value rifles you’ll find - it’s almost hard to believe that you can pick up a bolt action like this for less than £250! Basic 1450’s will come with iron sights, but it’s very easy to get yourself a set of scope rails and mount your own rifle scope for increased accuracy at range.

 

You’ll have to search quite regularly on our site to get your hands on one as they tend to pop up few and far between - undoubtedly down to the low price. You obviously won’t get the customisable elements nor the high-quality craftsmanship that you get in high-end rifles, but you can’t really complain when you’re paying less than most air rifles would cost you...

 

  1. Fabarm Iris Takedown

 

Fabarm Iris

 

Average Price: £1,000

Calibre: .308

 

Extremely lightweight and very nicely finished - the Iris is a very attractive rifle. You almost get the feeling that this should be a high-end over and under shotgun instead, but that’s a testament to the finishers and engravers that work at Fabarm. An Italian company who have specialised in game hunting guns for over 100 years, Fabarm crafted the Iris with power and precision in mind. Another versatile bolt-action - this rifle can work with 9 different calibres, allowing you to customise your shooting experience. 

A very modest price tag for such quality manufacturing - another model that you’ll have to be very quick to get your hands on as numbers are very limited.

 

  1. Lee Enfield No.4 MKII

 

Lee Enfield No.4 MKIII

 

Average Price: £400-£700

Calibre: .303

 

We finish with another icon. The No.4 was Britain's service rifle of choice in the mid 20th century and played a huge part in the victory of World War 2. It’s had a series of reproductions since then and this Mark III edition came considerably later than the war years. 

You’ll still see many No.4 floating about online and even most Mark 1’s are in full working order, which tells you everything you need to know about the engineering of this classic rifle. Simple to use and cheap to buy, you’ll get exactly what you paid for with the No.4 and that’s pretty good if you ask us…

 

Check out the Lee Enfield No.4’s on our site.

 
Archie Davis
Gunstar Chief Editor
Published on 26-02-2021
Archie has been on the management team at Gunstar UK since June 2018, and has since then been working to integrate the business with the shooting community. A skilled writer and self-taught country enthusiast, Archie has conducted numerous investigations into many of the industries unanswered questions to try and unify shooters all in one place; the Gunstar blog.