Wrap Up
When it comes to ownership philosophy at the NSRA, we favor what you might call a utilitarian viewpoint. Whether it’s knives, backpacks, or guns, the equipment you purchase should be equipment you fully expect to use frequently. Often that means it should be multipurpose.
If you have a bolt-action rifle you really love, one that’s highly versatile, chances are you’ll find far more uses for the “deer rifle” than simply carrying it in the Fall. A rifle that can shoot 1 MOA groups can check lots of boxes for you, such as being your long-range target rifle, varmint rifle, survival rifle, or even a big game spot-and-stalk rifle.
The nominees on this list are all rifles that deliver far more value that their price tag would indicate. As we stated in the introduction, the main criterion we were looking for is “keeper-worthiness.” Is this a rifle that’s accurate enough, versatile enough, and durable enough to hold onto indefinitely? If the answer is yes, it’s far more than a deer rifle; and for under $500 that’s a steal.