Are you getting ready for that Fall 2021 hunt? Would you like a FREE Special Hunting Edition of On Target Magazine? Just CLICK HERE to read the latest 85-page magazine in digital PDF format. This issue features New-for-2021 Hunting Gear, plus a round-up of new Suppressor-Ready LR Hunting Rifles:

In addition, two other interesting new hunting rifles are reviewed: Brenton 450 Bushmaster Stalker Carbon Hunter 18, and Rossi R92 Lever Rifle.

The firearms and shooting accessories price-search website Gun.Deals has created a useful collection of new long guns for 2021. These run the gamut from tactical rifles to classic lever-action guns. There are new super light-weight models such as the Savage 110 Ultralite and the Nosler Model 48 Carbon Mtn. Rifle with carbon-stock and carbon-wrapped barrel. For young shooters, or folks looking for a fun yet very affordable .22 LR rig, there is the Winchester Wildcat 22 Suppressor Ready. And if you like something new and very different, there is the brand new straight-pull Savage Impulse Big Game. SEE ALL RIFLES.

Gun.Deals Top Ten New Rifles for 2021:

From these 10 rifles, here are three of our favorites:

Springfield Armory Waypoint

The new Model 2020 Waypoint rifles feature optional carbon-wrapped barrels, TriggerTech triggers, and carbon-fiber, hand-painted camo stocks. The excellent TriggerTech trigger easily adjusts from 2.5 to 5.0 pounds. The base Model 2020 Waypoint has a fluted stainless barrel. The carbon-wrapped barrel is an extra-cost option, as is the adjustable cheekpiece.

Savage Impulse Straight-Pull Rifle

Savage’s new Impulse series of straight-pull bolt rifles is the first American-designed and crafted straight-pull centerfire rifle. The new Impulse features an innovative Hexlock bolt-locking mechanism with six spherical bearings that move radially outward into a ring in the barrel extension, thereby locking the bolt in place. That barrel extension is held in the receiver assembly by four cross-bolts on the lower front section. Ahead of the barrel extension is a conventional recoil lug and a familiar Savage barrel nut.

Winchester Wildcat 22 Suppressor Ready

Winchester has introduced a Wildcat SR, a suppressor-ready version of its popular Wildcat 22 semi-auto .22 LR rifle. This new Wildcat SR comes with a 16.5″ barrel threaded 1/2-28 TPI at the muzzle (with muzzle cap). This will allow the Wildcat SR to fit most rimfire suppressors as well as many muzzle brakes.

Every year the NRA Publications group announces Golden Bullseye winners for various product categories (rifle, handgun, shotgun, optics, gear etc.). These awards are like the Oscars for the shooting industry. There are many Golden Bullseyes given out each year because there are separate awards given by different NRA Magazines — including American Rifleman, Shooting Illustrated, and American Hunter. Here are the 2021 Rifles of the Year (Golden Bullseye Winners) as chosen by each of those three publications.

American Rifleman 2021 Golden Bullseye Award Winner

Rifle of the Year — Benelli LUPO

The LUPO is Benelli’s first bolt-action rifle (“Lupo” is Italian for “wolf”). This new chassis-style hunting rifle allows for user fitting/customization out of the box. The LUPO design boasts no less than seven exclusive Benelli patents. It offers a built-in recoil reduction system, adjustable trigger plus grip-to-trigger “reach” customizable via receiver/stock spacers. The Airtouch Grip surfaces allow for a firm, comfortable hold on the rifle. The action comes with rails and an ambi-safety. Fort its innovative LUPO Benellit offers a 3-shot sub-MOA guarantee.

American Hunter 2021 Golden Bullseye Award Winner

Rifle of the Year — Springfield Armory Model 2020 Waypoint

We’re in the thick of hunting season now, so we’re featuring an impressive new hunting rig from Springfield Armory. The new Model 2020 Waypoint rifles feature advanced carbon-wrapped barrels*, TriggerTech triggers, and carbon-fiber, hand-painted camo stocks. The actions are pretty impressive too — with precision machining, enlarged ejection port, and integral recoil lug. These Waypoint rifles rival full-custom hunting rigs, yet are reasonably affordable. Starting price is $1699.00 with stainless barrel, while the deluxe model with carbon-wrapped barrel and adjustable cheekpiece is still under $2,400.00.

Handsome Hand-Painted Carbon-Fiber Stocks

Minimum gun weight with carbon-wrapped barrel and fixed cheek is just 6.6 pounds.

Shooting Illustrated 2021 Golden Bullseye Award Winner

Rifle of the Year — Savage Axis II Precision

The Savage AXIS II has has been given a Precision Series upgrade with a MDT Chassis designed for Savage AXIS II platform. The MDT black aluminum chassis features an olive drab injection-molded skin. It has adjustable comb height while length of pull adjusts via spacers. An MLOK™ fore-end allows easy fitting of accessories. This rifle features a black-finished action fitted to 22″ carbon steel, button-rifled heavy barrel with threaded muzzle. The Savage AccuTrigger adjusts from 2.5 to 6 pounds pull-weight.

About the Golden Bullseye Awards
Now in their 19th year, the NRA Publications Golden Bullseye Awards acknowledge the finest products available in the shooting sports. The winners are selected by a seven-member committee consisting of editors, graphic designers and veteran NRA Publications staff, representing more than a century of collective experience in the shooting and hunting industry.

To qualify for consideration for a Golden Bullseye Award, a product must have been:

— Recently introduced and available to consumers.
— Used/tested by a staff member or magazine contributor.
— Reliable in the field, meeting or exceeding the evaluator’s expectations
— Innovative in design and function.
— Readily perceived as a value to the purchaser.
— Styled in a manner befitting the shooting and hunting industry.

“In the uncertain year of 2020, companies with in the firearm industry continued to innovate”, said American Rifleman Editor-in-Chief (EIC) Mark Keefe. American Hunter EIC J. Scott Olmsted added: “Companies in the firearm and outdoor trade industry continued to provide innovation, quality and value to us all. American Hunter is proud to honor these companies’ dedication to our pastime with 2021 Golden Bullseyes.”

There will be no SHOT Show this year. So, to learn about new gun industry products, we must rely on the print media, internet, and a few gun-centric cable TV shows (such as Shooting USA). Thankfully, Shooting Industry magazine remains alive and well. And SI just released its first of three new-for-2021 product features. Part One of the three-part 2021 New Product Showcase is found in Shooting Industry’s just-released December issue. This features new-for-2021 products from 50+ companies. CLICK HERE to see all new featured products.

Here are six standout products from the 2021 New Product Showcase:

Springfield Armory Waypoint Rifles

Springfield’s new Waypoint rifles feature steel or carbon-wrapped barrels, TriggerTech triggers, and carbon-fiber, hand-painted camo stocks with five QD mounts for versatile carry plus M-Lok slots. The actions are impressive too — with precision machining, enlarged ejection port, and integral recoil lug. These Waypoint rifles rival full-custom hunting rigs, yet are reasonably affordable. Starting price is $1699.00 with stainless barrel, while the deluxe model with carbon-wrapped barrel and adjustable cheekpiece is still under $2,400.00. All Model 2020 Waypoint rifles feature strong, light-weight, carbon-fiber-reinforced stocks with hand-painted camouflage finishes. You could easily pay $700-$800 just for an equivalent camo-painted stock from McMillan or Manners Composite Stocks.

New Lapua Brass: .284 Win, 6.5 PRC, .300 PRC, and .300 WinMag

Lapua will offer four new types of ultra-premium cartridge brass in 2021. The four new Lapua cases are: 6.5 PRC, .284 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum, and .300 PRC. The .284 Win cartridge still dominates the F-Open game, so this is good news for F-Class shooters. Lapua is excited about the PRC offerings: “The new Lapua 6.5 and .300 PRC cartridge cases provide competitive shooters, hunters, and accuracy enthusiasts a premium selection for precision hand loads, an option that’s been missing from the market since the PRC’s inception.” The venerable .300 Winchester Magnum remains a top choice for hunting.

Daniel Defense Delta 5 Pro Chassis Rifle

PRS/NRL shooters should check out the new DELTA 5 PRO from Daniel Defense. This features a stainless action with 3-lug bolt and hammer-forged barrels. The aluminum chassis stock is fully adjustable and features a thumbrest that works for both left- and right-hand shooters. This Delta 5 Pro comes standard with an Area 419 HELLFIRE muzzlebrake. The rifle is available in .308 (20″ Heavy Palma barrel), 6.5 Creedmoor (24″ Heavy Palma barrel or 26″ varmint barrel) and 6mm Creedmoor (26″ varmint barrel).

J.P. Sauer & Sohn — UltraLight Synchro XTC Hunting Rifle

For 2021, J.P. Sauer enhances the S404 series with the Synchro XTC, a carbon fiber, bolt-action rifle in camouflage green. Weighing 6.1 pounds, this lightweight S404-series rifle features a hand-laid, carbon-fiber, thumbhole stock with adjustable comb. The hammer-forged barrel is fluted for balance and weight reduction. The adjustable trigger offers four pull weights from 1.2 to 2.7 pounds. Adjusting the pull weight is easy using settings marked above the trigger. Like all J.P. Sauer S404-series rifles, the new Synchro XTC allows easy changing of bolt heads and barrels for quick caliber conversions. If you want something even lighter, the S101 Highland XTC carbon-fiber rifle weighs just 5.5 pounds for short action version. This features a hand-laid, carbon-fiber stock with fluted barrel. The manufacturer guarantees sub-MOA accuracy at 100 yards.

Lee Precision Primer Pocket Swager (Large and Small)

Lee’s new Ram Swage primer pocket swager will remove primer pocket crimps on both large- and small-primer brass. This new tool features spring-assisted case extraction. The all-steel case guide ensures cases will be positively centered on the push rod. The Lee Swager works on all single-stage presses with 7/8″-14 threads in the press frame that can accept universal shell holders. The unique design, which does not use a conventional shellholder, allows users to swage any small or large primer pocket without swapping to a different size shellholder.

Rite in the Rain All-Weather MRAD Target

Not that winter is here, there will be some cold, wet days at the range. No worries with Rite in the Rain Target Products with rain-proof cardstock. New for 2021 is an All-Weather 100M Sniper Target. Perfect for PRS shooters with Mil-Rad scopes, this target boasts a 1 cm grid with each box representing 1/10 milliradian at 100 meters. The bullseye and scoring rings represent an MR-1 target presented at 500 meters. Below the target grid are fields for recording load information and Range conditions. The target also has 1, 2, and 3 MOA rings so you quickly judge accuracy at long range.

More Women Become Gun Owners — Important Trend

More women than ever are becoming gun-owners. So far in 2020, women represented over 40% of first-time gun buyers, a notable statistic. To analyze this trends, leaders from The Well Armed Woman, A Girl & A Gun, and Shoot Like A Girl sat down with Shooting Industry Magazine to share their insights. They discussed how 2020’s events compelled new groups of women to not only purchase their first firearm, but to join the broader firearms community. READ Story HERE