Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.
The New Guns And Gear:
Bergara B-14 Crest Carbon
At this point, it’s safe to say the B-14 is a stone-cold classic. Precision, affordability and quality—the rifle is about everything shooters or hunters seek. However, Bergara is upping the ante of its keystone iron with the introduction of a lightweight precision Crest Carbon. Featuring a 100-percent carbon-fiber stock, Bergara’s Cure Carbon Barrel and their proven B-14 action, the rifle is tailored for those deep-woods hunts at 6.2 pounds. It’s also a lights-out shooter, with the Cure barrel offering the exceptional rigidity required for consistent accuracy. Other features include AICS detachable magazines, an omni-directional muzzle brake, a sniper gray Cerakoted finish and six chamberings.
MSRP: $2,100
Colt CBX Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor
Colt’s history with bolt-action rifles is on-again, off-again. But since being acquired by CZ, the company has made a big push into this niche and continues to tread forward. The latest addition to its stable is a 6.5 Creedmoor chambering of its intriguing sporter: the CBX Hunter. This should prove a match made in heaven, given the original release in .308 Winchester proved very accurate and the 6.5 has more than proven to go the distance. To boot, the rifle has some desirable qualities besides its ability to hit distant targets, including a modular synthetic stock, a very manageable 7-pound weight, a snappy trigger and a silky-smooth action.
MSRP: $999
Taurus Expedition
Who had Taurus hunting rifle on their 2024 bingo card? Likely few people, but the Brazilian company recently released its first foray into this style of firearm with the Expedition. The bolt-action is interesting, smartly built on a 700-series footprint action, allowing easy stock and trigger upgrades. And, Taurus has done a solid job on the former, offering a hybrid precision/hunting synthetic stock with M-Lok bipod attachment points on its wide flat fore, as well as a pistol-style grip. It comes outfitted with a fully adjustable trigger and a spiral-fluted barrel. Available in .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor, Taurus is ready for the hunt with the Expedition.
MSRP: $985
Rossi Lightweight Carbine
Single-shot rifles aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but with the style of the rifle’s inherent accuracy and nimbleness, it’s easy to see why many fall for them. Rossi has jumped into this end of the market with a wicked little number—its Lightweight Carbine (LWC). Weighing in at just a tick over 5 pounds and boasting a 16.5-inch barrel, the carbine is right-sized to tote along on any adventure. Additionally, the muzzle is threaded, thus suppressor ready. The hammer-fired break-action comes outfitted with a Picatinny optics rail, lightweight polymer stock and a respectable trigger. Available in .350 Legend, .300 Blackout, 5.56 NATO, 6.5 Creedmoor, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum and 8.6 Blackout, the LWC is chambered for nearly any conceivable hunt.
MSRP: $334
Ruger American Generation II
A generation of new hunters have cut their teeth on the Ruger American Rifle. With some welcome freshening up to the rugged and affordable design in the Gen2 update, it’s likely a fresh group of sportsmen will do the same. The most notable enhancement to the bolt-action is its new ergonomic stock that accommodates a removable comb riser and length-of-pull spacer. Furthermore, Ruger includes a three-position tang safety, threaded barrel with radial muzzle brake, Cerakoted barrel, receiver and bolt handle, adjustable trigger and a factory-installed one-piece Picatinny rail. Ruger plans on releasing the Generation II rifle in a slew of calibers and three configurations—standard, ranch and predator.
MSRP: $729
Federal Ammunition HammerDown .45 Colt
The venerable .45 Colt didn’t blow away with the dusty boulevards of the Old West. It’s alive, kicking and arguably better than ever, thanks in part to the work of companies such as Federal. Focusing on the .45 Colt as a straight-wall hunting option, the ammunition manufacturer recently released the cartridge as part of its HammerDown line of ammo. Tailored for lever-action rifles, the .45 Colt ammo is not only engineered to work flawlessly in this class of rifle’s actions and loading gate but also ballistically. By Federal’s numbers, the 250-grain load has a blistering 1,025 fps muzzle velocity, giving it an excellent operational range on medium game. Plus, the bonded hollow-point bullet guarantees consistent and devastating terminal performance once at the target.
MSRP: $39.99, box of 20
ATN Corp Blaze Seeker Thermal Monocular
Whether seeking out hogs in the twilight or following a blood trail at dusk, hunters need something to cut through the night. At one point, ATN Corp brings thermal imaging to the masses with one of the most economical monoculars presently available: the Blaze Seeker. Budget priced, the optic doesn’t skimp in performance. Its workhorse 256×192 sensor boasts a NETD rating of <35mK, ensuring exceptional sensitivity to temperature variations and delivering unparalleled image quality. Plus, the Blaze Seeker features a built-in rechargeable battery, providing up to 9 hours of operation time along with an external power supply option for extended usage in the field—and the ability to record pictures and video.
MSRP: $529
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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