A list of the “best” of anything is often so subjective that it’s not even relevant, but hunters are always shopping for better rifles, and each year that list changes. While many solid selections won’t make the cut here based sheerly on numbers, this roundup of bolt actions, single shots, semi-autos, and levers offers choices you can trust for your hunt. Here’s a look at what we’re grabbing in 2025, all either newly launched or current production, sorted by action type. 
 

Best Deer Hunting Rifles

Bolt Action: Savage Axis 2 Pro, Ruger American Gen2
Single Shot: CVA Scout V2, Henry Single Shot, Traditions
Semi-Auto: Browning BAR, CMMG Mk4 Resolute 
Lever Action: Henry All Weather, Marlin 336 Classic, Smith & Wesson 1854 
Summary

Bolt Action: Savage Axis 2 Pro, Ruger American Gen2

Each year, hunters gain more options for affordable bolt actions that are impressively featured and accurate, too. With that in mind, we’ve been absolutely impressed with two new rifles: Savage’s Axis 2 Pro and Ruger’s American Generation 2, both on the higher end of budget models but with upgraded options ideal for deer hunting. 
 

Savage Axis 2 Pro

Savage’s new-for-2025 Axis 2 Pro line of bolt actions adds impressive features and improved fit-and-finish to the longstanding budget Axis family. The 2 Pro looks and feels the part of a much more costly rifle – and shoots like it. 
 

Ruger American Gen2

Like the Savage above, Ruger’s American has proven itself as one of the most practical and affordable bolt guns over the last decade. The newer Gen 2 version takes a leap forward in both aesthetic and creature comforts, while maintaining accuracy far above its pay grade.

Those wanting to spend more in exchange for more frills and features should look to Savage Model 110 variants, the Ruger 77 series, and so many more solid options to include Browning’s X-Bolt 2 series and Bergara’s B-14s. 

Single Shot: CVA Scout TD, Henry Single Shot, Traditions G3

One-shot, break-action rifles remain some of the most underrated, accurate, old-school builds on the market today. It’s a pleasure to see single shots coming from multiple manufacturers today, and we’re eager to see more new shooters learn to bag deer cleanly with one well-placed shot. As an added bonus, all three of these rifles can be had in the most common deer chamberings. 
 

CVA Scout TD

After years of hunting with CVA’s Scout V2 single-shot handguns, jumping into the company’s redesigned family of Scout TD (short for takedown) break-action rifles proved natural and enjoyable. The TDs show fluted stainless barrels with radial muzzle brakes, an impressive trigger pull on an affordable buy, and a revamped stock with LOP spacers and interchangeable comb risers. 
 

Henry Single Shot

If throwback walnut paired with either blued steel or polished brass sets your heart aflutter, Henry's single-shot rifles are meant for you. The elegantly simple rifles come in the top calibers, wear practical iron sights, offer a Youth variant, are American made, and come backed with the best warranty in the business. 

Traditions Outfitter G3: This is one we’ve only recently gotten hands on, but the Outfitter G3 is already impressing. The single shots wear black synthetic dress against gray Cerakote, and while they’re not fancy, they deliver on target. Plus, the BDC scoped combos are a solid way to get a hunter into the field quickly. Bonus points to Traditions for including some neat chamberings like .35 Whelen and .35 Remington alongside all the expected offerings. 

Semi-Auto: Browning BAR, CMMG Mk4 Resolute

If repeating firepower is top of your list in a deer rifle, options abound. While modern sporting rifles now dominate this space, it’s nice to see a classic remain in production with Browning’s BAR. Yet, many modern hunters are singing the praises of AR-platform builds with their adjustable stocks, higher capacity magazines, extended optics rails, and an ever-growing list of chamberings. 

In the AR-15 series for deer, we’re still high on the soft-shooting yet hard-hitting .350 Legend chambering on CMMG’s Mk4 Resolute. The rifle looks good, fits well, and shoots even better. Stepping up to the AR-10 family is an even better choice for most hunters, looking at chamberings like .308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor , and the like. To that end, the options are many. We’ve taken a shine to Daniel Defense, Rock River Arms, and SIG Sauer for all-around friendly features and reliability. 
 

Browning BAR

Since the earliest days of Belgian manufacture to today’s Mk3 and Mk4, the BAR continues to be a classy, attractive, reliable deer hunter’s darling repeater in a host of chamberings including deer favorites alongside hard-hitting magnums. Whether you like synthetic and camo or traditional hardwood and blued steel, there’s a BAR waiting to bag your buck. 
 

CMMG Mk4 Resolute

The carbine-length Mk4 Resolute is the perfect platform for a round like the .350 Legend, among others. It offers clean lines, color options, ample adjustability and customization, plus room for optics and accessories. Most importantly, our test .350 Legend shot lights out, more like a premium bolt action than an AR. 

Lever Action: Henry, Marlin, Smith & Wesson

America’s action continues making a resurgence that offers a build and chambering for every type of deer hunter. There are big bores in .45-70 Gov’t alongside soft-recoilers in the handgun chamberings of .357 Mag, .44 Mag, and .45 Colt. And who could forget the gold standard of all-time in deer hunting, the .30-30 Winchester? 

Two American companies – Henry Repeating Arms and Marlin – dominate the lever gun space, but a third recently burst on the scene with Smith & Wesson. Much like the Ford, Chevy, or Ram debate, the choice ultimately depends on the buyer’s personal preference in aesthetics, features, and warranty. Every hunter wins when shopping for a levered hunter from one of these manufacturers. 
 

Henry All Weather Picatinny Rail .45-70

I’ve picked it before, and I’ll do it again. The Henry All Weather Picatinny Rail .45-70 is a plain handy rifle in a chambering that some will claim overkill for deer but works wonders on most any North American game. That said, you can’t go wrong with any of Henry’s lever-action hunting rifles in a variety of finishes and chamberings. Henry’s Long Ranger, with calibers included 6.5 Creedmoor and .308, is also an attractive choice for beanfield deer hunters. 
 

Marlin 336 Classic

Revived with vigor by Ruger, the new iteration of Marlins picked up where earlier Marlins left off. The 336 family means reliable, attractive, meat-eating lever guns ideal for hunters. The 336 is one of the most popular whitetail levers of all time, and the Classic variant with its walnut and blued steel is an obvious choice. Like the Henry above, though, hunters favoring Marlin won’t lose with any of their models or variants. 
 

Smith & Wesson 1854

Smith & Wesson is not known for lever actions, yet here we are. The company has thrown down a handful of options in traditional hardwood, a blacked-out Stealth Hunter, and a black synthetic/stainless number. Though yet to be proven in the way of Henry and Marlin above, the S&W Model 1854 is staking its claim in the lever game. 
 

Summary

It’s impossible to compile a short best-of list without omitting some deserving rifles, as is the case here. These are quick-hitting top picks at a variety of price points, but there are plenty more deserving rifles that you’ll continue to read about from us. 

The biggest positive to glean from the shortcomings of such a list is that the 2025 market holds many solid, reliable, and impressively accurate rifles. There truly is something for every deer hunter, not to mention the wealth of used and discontinued classics.