Another year of trade show booths at SHOT Show, filled with the latest guns, ammunition, and gear for hunters, gets whittled down to our favorites.
There was no shortage of new hunting rifles, but some have us more excited than others. After days on the floor and at Industry Day on the Range in Las Vegas, here are our early favorites for 2026’s young hunting rifles.
Bergara Platinum Stalker
Here’s one for hunters who prefer something more substantial than the ultralight carbon-type rifles. The Platinum Stalker joins Bergara’s Premier Series of bolt guns. It’s defined by a pepper-colored laminate wood stock with a Monte Carlo buttstock.
There’s a Cerakote stainless-steel action, TriggerTech trigger, and M5 bottom metal that converts to AICS compatibility. A No. 4.5 taper barrel is both fluted and threaded at 5/8x24 TPI, which is topped with an Omni muzzle brake. The Platinum Stalker weighs in at 6.7 pounds and carries a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee.
Calibers include .25 Creed, 6.5 Creed, .308 Win, 6.5 PRC, .270 Win, 7mm Rem Mag, .30-06 Spfld, .300 Win Mag, 7mm PRC, .300 PRC, and .375 H&H Mag.
CVA Cascade Rimfire
In recent years, CVA’s Cascade family of bolt-action centerfire rifles has taken the hunting and competition shooting world by storm. Now, however, a Spanish-designed rimfire joins the CVA team with the Cascade Rimfire.
At the time of the launch, the rifles we’re seeing are all chambered in .22 Long Rifle. They show an 18-inch threaded barrel with 1/2x28 TPI threads. A factory-installed two-piece Picatinny rail makes for easy optics mounting. A removable LOP spacer helps customize fit to the shooter.
The new series will be available in three distinct variants: a stealth grey, a more traditional walnut Classic, and an ODG/black-web Cascade Rimfire XT. All three feed from the same 10-round rotary magazine, which is compatible with Ruger 10/22 mags for versatility. The XT adds a fluted barrel with a tungsten Cerakote finish and green-painted stock with black fleck, while the Cascade Rimfire Classic pairs a blued barreled action with checkered walnut furniture.
The synthetic variants weigh in at 4.75 pounds, while the walnut version is heavier at 5.5 pounds. The Cascade Rimfires will be at home whether used as a training companion for those with the comparable centerfire Cascade or as a standalone hunting, plinking, or competition number.
Henry Provider & Protector
Henry turns its longtime Protect & Provide marketing campaign into two distinct rifle lines – the Provider and the Protector. Both are well suited for two different styles of hunting. Each of the new guns features matte blued steel, checkered American walnut stocks, and fully adjustable sights. They come drilled and tapped for optics mounting.
Provider rifles are built for the hunter who values features like a pistol-grip-style stock and a longer magazine tube. The 20-inch barrel is not threaded, so this one is for those uninterested in suppressed pursuits. The Provider is available in .30-30 Win, .360 Buckhammer, .38-55 Win, .35 Rem, .45-70 Gov’t, .357 Magnum/.38 Spl, and .44 Magnum/Spl.
Protector Carbines are lighter, more compact, and built with a penchant for defense, yet they work equally well for closer-quarters hunting. The carbines offer a shorter barrel length of 16.5 inches. A threaded muzzle makes for easy suppressor use. Protector Carbines are chambered for .357 Magnum/.38 Spl, .44 Magnum/Spl, .30-30 Win, .360 Buckhammer, and .45-70 Gov’t.
Browning BAR MK 4
Browning’s popular autoloading line of BAR rifles shifts into its fourth iteration for 2026. The BAR MK 4 family was on display at SHOT Show 2026 in eight different variants, including four left-handed selections.
The MK 4 shows several noteworthy differences. First is a redesigned barrel-to-receiver interface, with the button-rifled barrel threaded into the receiver. The gas piston design remains, with an integrated buffer to reduce wear. Exterior lines shift to a more angular, modern, ergonomic design, along with a more vertical pistol grip. The tagline now becomes “autoloader speed and bolt-action accuracy backed by magnum power.”
Chamberings are extensive, from .243 Win to .300 Win Mag. BAR MK 4 models wear everything from camo and Cerakote to nickel and walnut, along with a more basic black composite as well.
Bergara Cima Pro Premier Series
Saying this new Cima Pro is one of Bergara’s finest rifles yet seems like an understatement. Getting hands-on with the Cima Pro reveals an impressive build, and company reps were excited to show it off.
This lightweight hunting rifle weighs 5.7 pounds, thanks to its CURE carbon-fiber barrel and autoclave-cured carbon-fiber stock. It’s built around the company’s stainless-steel Premier bolt-action rifle, but it is now skeletonized for weight savings. A premium TriggerTech trigger remains for a crisp pull and serious accuracy. A stainless-steel Cerakote finish adorns the metalwork. All Bergara Premier rifles use the Remington 700-pattern scope base with 8x40 screws.
Calibers include .22 Creed, .25 Creed, .308 Win, 6.5 Creed, 6.5 PRC, .300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm PRC, and .300 PRC. A sub-MOA guarantee comes standard.
Browning X-Bolt 2 Goes Southpaw
Browning’s extensive X-Bolt 2 family of bolt-action rifles took SHOT by storm a year ago. For 2026, the company is adding a hearty group of left-handed variants.
Southpaw hunters will have a choice of six X-Bolt 2 models: Speed, Hunter Composite, Speed SPR, Speed LR, Hunter, and Medallion. These designs use the same features as their right-handed counterparts but have a redesigned receiver and bolt.
In addition to the lefties, Browning also announced that it would be chambering five existing models in two hot young rounds: .22 Creedmoor and .25 Creedmoor.
Henry SPD Predator
Touted as “the most accurate lever-action ever built,” Henry’s SPD Predator is a gem from its Special Products Division. With guaranteed sub-MOA accuracy, an 18-inch threaded carbon-fiber barrel, and a customizable laminate wood stock, this .223 Rem/5.56 NATO-chambered number is built for the hunt.
A carbon-fiber Picatinny rail provides a mounting point for all types of optics. The factory-tuned, user-adjustable trigger aids in accuracy. The rifle feeds from MSR-pattern magazines and comes with a Harris bipod. Based on Henry’s young Lever Action Supreme Rifle, the Predator shows those same buttery-smooth characteristics.
From vermin and furbearers to even bigger game, the SPD Predator will be a hunter’s best friend.
Weatherby Backcountry Capra
Weatherby debuted what they claim is “the lightest production bolt-action rifle ever made.” The Mark V Backcountry Capra starts at a shockingly low 4 pounds. That’s due in large part to a custom Peak 44 Bridger stock.
Not surprisingly, the Backcountry Capra is built around Weatherby’s lighter six-lug Mark V action. A light-contour barrel is double spiral fluted with a double helix pattern for the ultimate in weight reduction. We can tell you from handling the rifle that this thing is light. Like, really light. Weight-saving cutouts and a shortened forend add to the lightening measures, as does Weatherby’s first-ever Mark V blind magazine.
The rifle will be available in two main configurations: the six-lug Short Action, starting at 4 pounds with a 17-inch barrel, and a six-lug Standard Action with a 21-inch barrel, starting at 4.4 pounds. The former will be chambered in .25 CM, 6.5 CM, and .308 Win. The latter makes up the bulk of the lineup and includes .240 Wby Mag, 6.5 CM, 6.5 WBY RPM, .270 Win, .280 AI, and the new .25 WBY RPM.
Winchester SXR2 Line Extensions
Winchester’s young autoloading centerfire rifle family is expanding. The gas-piston-driven repeaters feature a lightweight aluminum-alloy receiver, fixed rear sight, and detachable box magazine. There’s a seven-lug rotating bolt that locks to the barrel.
The self-adjusting gas piston operating system works to reduce felt recoil while maintaining reliability. Both the SXR2 Field and Composite models were on display at SHOT. The Field wears satin-finish Grade 1 walnut stocks with line checkering and non-reflective matte bluing. Chamberings include .308 Win, .30-06 Sprg, .300 Win Mag, and 9.3x62, all with a 22-inch steel barrel.
The Composite comes in the same calibers but uses a weather-resistant black composite stock.
CVA Scout XP-SB
An addition to the company’s proven single-shot, break-action Scout line of centerfires, Connecticut Valley Firearms’ Scout XP-SB is a more compact variant, dressed in the company’s new, customizable buffer-tube stock system.
The XP-SBs use a 16.5-inch threaded, fluted barrel. The upgraded stock system makes the rifles user-friendly for many shooters, featuring an adjustable LOP and modular comb pieces. The list of chamberings appeals to hunters and shooters targeting small to large game, with plenty of popular suppressed options, too: .223 Rem, .300 Blackout, .308 Win, .350 Legend, and 6mm ARC.
Savage ‘New’ 110
Savage’s longtime 110 bolt-action platform gets some serious upgrades for 2026. The new 110 is defined outwardly by the also new AccuFit V2 stock system, which offers a full range of user adjustability.
There’s also a higher cheek piece, a steeper grip angle, and improved ergonomics and aesthetics. Manufacturing upgrades include what the company is calling a “vertical cut” in the receiver’s bolt travel for a smoother, more precise action. There’s an improved extractor claw in the bolt head, and a dual ejector system.
A new synthetic magazine, compatible with older model 110s, aims to increase reliability in both feeding and handling. The second generation of AccuTrigger has been refined to prevent lock-up on the new Accu-Release blade if the pull weight is set too light. As of SHOT Show, the newbies include 110s: Carbon Hunter, Core Hunter, Core Hunter Pro, Core Predator, Core Tactical, KLYM, Ridge Hunter, Scout V2, Trail Blazer, Trail Hunter Lite V2, Ultralite Elite V2, Ultralite Predator, and Ultralite Pro.
In addition to the 110, Savage is also extending many of the same upgrades to its straight-pull Impulse family of hunting rifles.
