Hunting season is right around the corner and this year the Range is getting involved with a whole new lineup of rifles and shotguns. From Winchesters and Brownings to Franchis and Benellis, there’s a wide range of new options to choose from whether you’re a casual hunter or a frequent shooter. Here’s a look at some of our new offerings.
Starting off is Benelli, a world-renowned manufacturer most famous for their inertia driven shotguns. Used by hunters, competition shooters, military and law enforcement all around the globe, Benelli offers a variety of lightweight and fast cycling firearms which are built with reliability and shooter’s comfort in mind for around fifty years. Besides their inertia driven action they have also pioneered their ComforTech recoil pads and Crio treated barrels which makes for a very smoothly finished barrel capable of better accuracy while requiring less effort to keep clean.
Whether opting for traditional wood furniture or a composite stock every Benelli has a glass-smooth action which is best felt in person rather than reading about. Shotgun options include the Montefeltro and Ethos Field for a more classic styling, the incredibly popular Super Black Eagle 3, the gorgeous two-toned competition tuned Super Sport, and my personal favorite of the breed, the compact and lightweight M2 Tactical. I really can’t stop picking this one up!
If rifles are more your speed Benelli has you covered as well with their R1 Big Game line available in .30-06 Springfield, .300 Win Mag, and .338 Win Mag. These rifles utilize a gas piston operation which they refer to as their A.R.G.O., or auto-regulating gas operation, for significant recoil reduction. R1 rifles are also offered with wood or composite stocks and with or without their ComforTech recoil pads, though all feature that same glass-smooth action of their shotgun counterparts as well as having detachable box magazines.
Next on the lineup is Franchi, which happens to branch off of the Benelli tree. Their Affinity line of semiautomatic shotguns utilize the same inertia driven action while having hunting in mind with oversized bolt handles, bolt releases, and magazine ports for easier use with heavy gloves.
If a semiauto shotgun happens to be a little more than necessary, they also offer break-action options with their Instinct line of over-unders. These models have threaded choke tubes, auto ejectors, barrel selectors, and an auto safety which engages whenever the action is opened. Models include the S and SL, the latter of which has extended choke tubes and sheds nearly a full pound of weight for the 12 gauge down to a svelte 6.3 with 28 inch barrels and walnut furniture. Between these two models you can get chamberings from the common 12 all the way through 20, 28, 16, and .410.
Bolt action enthusiasts are also covered with their Momentum line which brings some new tricks to the table. The Momentum’s stock is designed with raised curves and positive checkering to accomodate five different popular shooting positions along with having a non-snagging recoil pad for comfort. The spiral fluted bolt has a one piece body and a short 60 degree throw with three large locking lugs for reliability and elegance in simplicity. The trigger is adjustable from 2 to 4 pounds and has a two position safety which allows the bolt to be operated while engaged. Barrels are free-floated and cold hammer forged with threading at the business end for muzzle accessories. Magazines are fixed and flush-fit. Six calibers are available from .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Win, .308 Win, .30-06 Springfield, and .300 Win Mag.
Moving on is Stoeger, the last of the Benelli family and the most competitively priced of the bunch. Their M3000 series of semiautomatic shotguns also feature the inertia driven action which can take up to three inch magnum shells without any adjustments. If you need a little more oomph from your workhorse the M3500 will also accomodate 3.5″ shells. Or, if you happen to require a little less, the M3020 is available in a 20 gauge chambering. If you’re more of a pump-action shooter they’ve got you covered with the P3000 series, winner of the 2016 Outdoor Life “Great Buy” award.
Purists might be more intrigued by their coach gun, lightweight and incredibly handy side by side shotguns available with either a single or double trigger and in 12, 20, and .410 gauges. If you fancy a double barrel but prefer the sighting of an over-under then the Condor line is for you, offering a variety of options from their Competition model down to Youth. If you want to stand out from the pack, both of these double barrels are also available with polished nickel and black finished hardwood for a truly striking presentation.
Browning is next on the list with a mix of models from their traditional BPS pump action and semiautomatic shotguns to X-Bolt models of rifles. The BPS is a well known design which features dual machined steel action bars, a forged and machined receiver, and full ambidextrous operation with a top tang safety and a bottom ejection. BPS shotguns are rugged and reliable with fewer places for dirt or debris to fall into the action and can take the more punishing recoil of the 3.5″ 12 gauge shells. For an even bigger shot pattern this model is also available in 10 gauge.
Their A5 is a legend of its own, dubbed the Humpback for its distinct receiver design. Current A5’s claim to only share this characteristic with the original models as they have seen vast improvements under the hood. Browning offers a 100,000 round or five year guarantee that this semiauto shotgun will simply work “come hell or high water.” Their Kinematic Drive action is designed to work with any 12 gauge load available even down to a 1 ounce field load without adjustments. For a softer shooting experience the A5 is also available in 16 gauge.
The Browning Maxus is a newer take on semiauto shotgun designs with a couple of interesting features like the Speed Lock Forearm designed to replace the traditional threaded magazine cap for quicker and easier disassembly. The Power Drive Gas System and Lightning Trigger allow the firearm to be cycled and fired incredibly quickly while minimizing recoil and muzzle jump between shots. With the Maxus it is possible to completely load or unload the shotgun without ever cycling the bolt with their Speed Load Plus system.
The Citori is their over and under shotgun which is crafted with the utmost precision in mind with exact fitment of wood to metal and tight and consistent junctions of heat-treated metal components. The single trigger can be set for which barrel to fire first and the ejectors will only kick out the empties while gently lifting any unfired shells for easy removal. Chambers are chrome-plated for durability and corrosion resistance. A triple trigger system allows the shooter to tune the length of pull and select which style of shoe they want, including both a wide and a narrow smooth faced trigger as well as a wide checkered trigger. A tapered locking bolt is designed so that the Citori “wears in” over time instead of wearing out.
The X-Bolt rifle introduces a few new features to the bolt-action world, including some models which have a uniquely shaped bolt handle which has an angled flat instead of a typical lever or ball which neatly fits into the contours of your fingers. The barrel is bedded and free-floated for accuracy and their three level Feather Trigger provides light and consistent pulls without take-up or creep and minimal overtravel. The scope mounts are secured to the receiver with Browning’s X-Lock mounts which places screws at each corner of the mount for a rock-solid connection between rifle and optic. Other features include a 60 degree bolt throw and a flush-fit detachable rotary magazine which helps to control straight feeding of each round instead of tilting them toward the chamber as with leaf spring designs. Browning’s proprietary recoil pad is designed to pull the stock comb away from your face to reduce felt recoil and muzzle climb. X-Bolt rifles can be had in nearly two dozen different calibers.
Winchester rounds out this article with a collection of bolt-action rifles and shotguns. For semiauto shotguns the SX4 is the newest iteration of their Super X Autoloader lineup with a lighter construction, faster operation, and better ergonomics from the SX3. The stock can easily be adjusted for length of pull via spacers and a larger bolt handle and oversized bolt release allow for easier operation with gloves. They’ve also been given a Nickel Teflon coat for corrosion resistance and smoother operation. A large sized safety can be reversed at the back of the trigger guard which is also enlarged to accomodate the use of gloves. Their Influx Technology recoil pad provides a wide footprint and is shaped to redirect felt recoil downward away from the shooter’s cheek even with heavy magnum loads.
Bolt action rifles include the legendary Model 70 which has been in production since 1936. A three level trigger system leaves for zero take-up, zero creep, and zero overtravel between 3 and 5 pounds of pull weight. A three position safety allows for full operation of the action while in the middle position and a blade type ejector allows the shooter to easily and carefully extract the spent brass for reloading purposes if desired. The receiver is a solid block of forged steel for strength then bedded with epoxy to the stock at the front and rear for a precise fit. The recoil lug is also a part of the receiver rather than being added on during assembly, allowing for a much more precise fit with the bolt. While cycling the action of a 70 series the rounds are firmly held by the Controlled Round Feed extractor design which keeps the bullet connected to the bolt face from the moment it is drawn out of the magazine to when it is ejected, allowing even a partially chambered round to be effortlessly removed. The free-floated barrel is cold hammer forged from a solid blank then stress-relieved for accuracy even after being heated up from rapid shooting.
For shooters on a budget, Winchester offers the more modern XPR series of bolt action rifles which combines features of the Model 70 with more efficient manufacturing techniques. Aside from the XPR Sporter introduced in 2018 these rifles feature composite stocks which can be had in a variety of camo finishes or matte black. The XPR is available in a dozen different calibers and all have detachable magazines for quicker reloads.
This hunting season there is no shortage of options to be found at the Range, from shotguns and rifles to slings and bags to a line-up of optics from Vortex, Sig, and more. Whether you’re looking to get started or fine-tune your existing setup, we’ve got your back.
