From revamped classic deer guns to tricked-out AR-15s to folding pistol caliber carbines, 2023 saw an exciting variety of new rifles. We’ve weeded through the herd for you and listed the best new rifles of 2023. Whatever type of long gun you’re hunting, you’ll find something to fit the bill.
Marlin 336 Classic
After falling out of production several years ago, Marlin is back under Ruger ownership with the revamped Marlin 336 Classic, one of the hottest new rifles this year. You can’t beat the handsome look of the black walnut furniture contrasted with the dark checkering and the bonus bling of the gold trigger. The lever-action .30-30 has proven its accuracy and reliability by taking down whitetails for generations of hunters.
Talk about convenient – Smith & Wesson’s FPC folding pistol caliber carbine packs all the 9mm punch you could need for a day on the range or ranch and folds down to an easily stowed 16.5 inches. There’s room in the stock compartment to bring two extra 23-round magazines (a 17-rounder and two 23-round mags are included with the gun). You’ll find tactical features like a Pic rail and handguard with M-LOK slots, along with a typical Smith & Wesson M&P pistol grip and trigger guard. This compact powerhouse is ready to fill many an empty role in your arsenal.
Designed for the Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons program, SIG Sauer’s XM5, later renamed the XM7, won the fiercely competitive contract in 2022. With SIG’s gas-piston action MCX platform and in-house SLX suppressor system, the civilian version, dubbed the MCX Spear, generated quite a buzz around its release this spring. At over four grand, the MCX is a serious purchase – but as a contender for the most robust large-caliber battle rifle on the market, it should be taken seriously.
Henry touts its first semi-auto PCC as a home/ranch defense gun with the tagline, “From bed post to fence post, what’s yours remains yours.” Henry offers the 9mm Homesteader with several options for increasing capacity, with adapters that allow it to accept Glock, SIG Sauer, and Smith & Wesson magazines as well as Henry’s proprietary five and 10-round mags.
FN America makes battle-ready guns trusted by the U.S. military and law enforcement, and now you can own one for under $1,000. The FN-15 Guardian is a light, fast-handling carbine with reliable mil-spec components backed by FN’s solid reputation. If you’re on the hunt for an AR at an entry-level price without an entry-level feel, this is a great choice. We have put 2,000 rounds (with no stoppages) through our test Guardian and found it quite capable.
Another folding carbine makes our top picks in new rifles: the eccentric yet entertaining KelTec R50. Chambered in 5.7x28mm NATO, we found the R50 to be reliable and fast-shooting. This space-age fun gun hosts 50-round FN P90 magazines, so there’s no shortage of firepower, yet it remains compact and lightweight at a sleek 5.24 pounds – and that’s fully loaded. Folded, it measures a handy 21.5 inches. The R50 is worth a look if you're interested in a unique, multi-functional, not to mention super portable, rifle.
Military history buffs know this rifle has a truly gritty origin story, born on the front lines in Vietnam. American GIs sawed off the barrels of their M16s to make the rifles easier to handle in tight quarters, whether patrolling through dense jungle canopy or crouched in the open door of a Huey. Now, Anderson Manufacturing is saving you the work of modifying your own M16 variant with its new 16-inch-barreled Dissipator. We’ve put 500 rounds through our test Dissipator and can report than Anderson has successfully updated the design with a more reliable gas system. Check it out in our full review below.
It seems Century Arms is bringing back the budget Romanian-built AKM with its new CGR, and our testing has proven it reliable, accurate, and durable thus far. With the classic stylings of a traditional AKM design, the CGR features a 16.5-inch barrel, wood furniture, an adjustable ladder sight, a barrel-mounted cleaning rod, and of course, that distinctive curved AK magazine. You can’t go wrong with 30 rounds of 7.62x39mm.
