Rifles

Capable of taking most North American game at reasonable ranges and hitting steel or paper at more extended distances, the 308 Winchester is a favorite of bolt-gun shooters across the country, and we think that a good 308 Win. belongs in just about every well-equipped battery. We found a couple of new rifles chambered in 308 Win. that we wanted to shoot, the first of which is the latest offering from Weatherby, fresh from their new factory in Sheridan, Wyoming. The Model 307 Range XP, $1150, sports a 22-inch stainless-steel fluted barrel, muzzle brake, TriggerTech trigger, and a polymer stock with some very interesting features. The second sample is Ruger’s Second Generation American Rifle 46902, $620. We’ve reported on American Rifles several times in the past, consistently noting that they punch above their weight class. From what we see in the Gen 2’s redesigned stock and barrel, it looks like Ruger may have moved this rifle up to a heavier division.

Capable of taking most North American game at reasonable ranges and hitting steel or paper at more extended distances, the 308 Winchester is a favorite of bolt-gun shooters across the country, and we think that a good 308 Win. belongs in just about every well-equipped battery. We found a couple of new rifles chambered in 308 Win. that we wanted to shoot, the first of which is the latest offering from Weatherby, fresh from their new factory in Sheridan, Wyoming. The Model 307 Range XP, $1150, sports a 22-inch stainless-steel fluted barrel, muzzle brake, TriggerTech trigger, and a polymer stock with some very interesting features. The second sample is Ruger’s Second Generation American Rifle 46902, $620. We’ve reported on American Rifles several times in the past, consistently noting that they punch above their weight class. From what we see in the Gen 2’s redesigned stock and barrel, it looks like Ruger may have moved this rifle up to a heavier division.

Early Low Powered Variable Optics (LPVO) scopes had 1-4x, 1.5-5x or even 1-6x magnification. We are finding that recent advances in optics have created individual scopes that are eminently usable for up-close shooting in a 3 Gun match as well as precise hits at 600 yards — but only if the reticle is designed correctly to handle both duties.

We’ve seen at least three changes in Marlin Firearm’s ownership over the decades, with the last coming when Remington Outdoor Co., which owned Marlin’s assets, filed for its second bankruptcy in July 2020. Shortly thereafter, Sturm, Ruger & Co. saw an opportunity and bought Marlin in November 2020, purchasing the Marlin name and all the tooling. The last of the Remington/Marlin-made rifles had a reputation for problems and poor accuracy. We wanted to see if Ruger properly addressed those issues, and if shooters who had been scared off by some of the reports from years ago needed to reconsider buying a redesigned Marlin.

We’ve seen at least three changes in Marlin Firearm’s ownership over the decades, with the last coming when Remington Outdoor Co., which owned Marlin’s assets, filed for its second bankruptcy in July 2020. Shortly thereafter, Sturm, Ruger & Co. saw an opportunity and bought Marlin in November 2020, purchasing the Marlin name and all the tooling. The last of the Remington/Marlin-made rifles had a reputation for problems and poor accuracy. We wanted to see if Ruger properly addressed those issues, and if shooters who had been scared off by some of the reports from years ago needed to reconsider buying a redesigned Marlin.