Outdoor Life's Best Rifles Of 2023
John B Snow from Outdoor Life reviews and testfires the best new rifles of 2023
Best Rifle of 2023: Marlin 336 Classic (Editor’s Choice)
Scott Einsmann
Report Card
- Performance: Very Good
- Design: Very Good
- Value: Very Good
- Accuracy: 1.627 in. (Avg. of 10 best five-shot groups)
Marlin 336 Classic Specs
- Action: Lever
- Stock: Walnut
- Caliber: .30/30 Win.
- Capacity: 6+1
- Weight: 7 lb. 1 oz.
- Trigger: 8 lb. 0 oz.
- Barrel: 20 in.
- Length: 38.5 in.
The biggest trend in rifles for the last decade and a half has been in bolt guns pushing the boundaries of accuracy and long-range performance. In other words, precision rifles—whether for competition, hunting, or general recreation.
So it is rather surprising to see a rifle that traces its roots to 1893 firing a cartridge that was introduced in 1895 anointed as the best rifle of 2023. But indeed, that is the case.
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Best Rifle of 2023: Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical (Great Buy, Precision Rifle)
Tanner Denton
Report Card
- Performance: Very Good
- Design: Good
- Value: Excellent
- Accuracy: .582 in. (Avg. of 10 best five-shot groups)
Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical Specs
- Action: Two-lug bolt
- Stock: Synthetic chassis
- Caliber: 6.5 CM
- Capacity: 10
- Weight: 8 lb. 11 oz.
- Trigger: 2 lb. 9 oz.
- Barrel: 22 in.
- Length: 42.3 in.
We have been shooting, hunting with, and broadly praising the Mossberg Patriot rifle in its many variants since it was introduced in 2015. New this year is the Mossberg Patriot LR Tactical, which matches the familiar two-lug action with a chassis stock and heavy barrel.
Line extensions like this tend to be ho-hum affairs, eliciting little in the way of remark, let alone excitement. That’s not the case with the Patriot LR Tactical.
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