Rifles are so handy for so many different uses. Hunting, plinking, home defense, law enforcement/military use – there are hundreds of millions of rifles in use throughout the world, but what sets them apart? What makes one rifle different from another? 

Simply put, there are many different types of rifles. Some are better for hunting, some are better for defensive shooting, and many can be used for multiple purposes. To help you understand more about the types of rifles, we’ve broken them down by types of action, then explained why you’ll need one. 
 

Table of Contents

Semi-Automatic
Bolt Action
Lever Action
Pump Action
Revolver Action
Single Shot

Semi-automatic

The most popular type of rifle in the world today, semi-auto rifles encompass many styles ranging from a basic hunting rifle to modern sporting rifles. We’ll give more detail below, but semi-automatic rifles work on the principal that for each time you pull the trigger, one round is fired. The spent cartridge is ejected from the rifle as the next round is pulled from the magazine and chambered into the rifle, ready for the next trigger pull. One pull of the trigger equals one shot from the rifle. 
 

AR-15

The most popular variant in the modern sporting rifle category, AR-15s are lightweight, accurate and easy to maneuver. A type of semi-automatic rifle, they closely resemble their military counterparts, the M16 and M4 rifles. 

Although the mainstream media would love for you to believe otherwise, AR-15s are great when used as a hunting rifle, as the .223 cartridge is capable for various sizes of game. These rifles are also often used for competition, target, and plinking. 
 

AK-47

The Soviet-designed Avtomat Kalashnikova is better known in the States as the AK-47. Chambered in 7.62, it’s a capable, affordable rifle that many purchase for bragging rights because it is an unmistakably cool rifle. Generally, AK-47s are fully automatic rifles, but semi-automatic variations are what are mostly available in the U.S. Of note, AK-47s are not legal in several states, so know the rules of your state before you buy.
 

AK-74

Another Soviet-designed rifle, the AK-74 has been on the market since the 1970s. Popular in other parts of the world for military use, the AK-74 is chambered in 5.45x39mm and is said to be lighter, faster and offer better penetration than the AK-47. It has a very similar look to the AK-47 and is popular among military collectors, plinkers, and shooters looking to have something unique-looking to show off. 
 

AR-10

Another popular modern sporting rifle, the AR-10 is similar in style to the AR-15 but is chambered in the beefier .308/7.62 caliber. Built for tactical purposes, it’s a popular choice for military and law enforcement. 

It’s also popular for those competing in 3-Gun, as it has better stopping power when compared to the .223/5.56 of the AR-15. Don’t rule out hunting with this MSR, either – it’s a great big game rifle that many overlook for more popular hunting rifles. 
 

Galil

The Galil is an Israeli-made automatic rifle chambered in 5.56 and 7.62 NATO. It’s gas-operated with a rotating bolt. Weighing in around 9 pounds on average, the Galil can fire 650 rounds per minute. 
 

SCAR

There’s no mistaking a SCAR, either in the field or when seen in a movie. With models available in NATO calibers 5.56 and 7.62, the SCAR is a battle-proven rifle with a reputation of being rugged, reliable, and accurate. Popular with military, it is also used by law enforcement as well as civilians due to its reliability and versatility. It delivers light recoil due to a piston-driven platform. 
 

Bullpup

Compact by design, a bullpup rifle is designed to have the firing grip placed in front of the breech instead of the traditional location behind it. They’re shorter, lighter, and more concealable than traditional rifles. Because of their size, they are easily maneuverable for tight quarters fighting. 
 

Plinkers

A style of informal target shooting known for using nontraditional targets, plinking is a great way to get into the sport or share the sport of shooting with new shooters. Anything from a watermelon to old electronics or odd targets can be used for plinking. Generally done with a .22 LR rifle, plinking can progress to different calibers but it’s a great way to improve your skills while having a good time on the range.  
 

Hunting/Drop-Box

Rifles with drop-box magazines store cartridges in a column, much like that of a semi-automatic handgun. Because the cartridges fit inside the detachable magazine and not directly into the rifle itself, you often have better ammo capacity that can be shot quickly. 

It’s also easy and convenient to carry extra full magazines, making these types of rifles a great choice for hunting, especially large or dangerous game where you may need several shots to stop the game from charging you. 
 

Bolt Action

Operating a bolt-action rifle is fast and efficient. The operator must manually manipulate a small handle behind the chamber, moving it up, back, and then forward. This ejects any spent cartridge that may be in the chamber of the rifle and loads a new cartridge from the magazine. 

The push forward at the end of the sequence also closes the chamber, making the rifle hot and ready to fire. Once the sequence is completed, the operator's hand lowers to the trigger position to fire the rifle. The operator must repeat the process for each round to fire. 
 

Bolt-Action Hunting Rifles

Serious game hunters have used bolt-action rifles for eons. They’re accurate, powerful and get the job done. Available in multiple calibers, confident and experienced hunters generally only need one shot to take down their game.
 

Bolt-Action Tactical/Precision Rifles

Bolt-action rifles are a favorite for both tactical as well as precision rifle competition uses. Often carried by the best snipers in the world, they’re accurate, adjustable for windage, and easy to dial in for the kill. For all the same reasons, shooters competing in Precision Rifle Series (PRS) competitions use them as well.
 

Lever Action

Popular since we were taming the old West, lever-action rifles remain popular today, more than 160 years since they were first introduced. To operate the rifle, a lever-like handle located behind the trigger is rotated forward. This action chambers a new cartridge into the rifle. They work well, are accurate, and look cool as heck!
 

Lever-Action Hunting Rifles

Available in almost any caliber that you’d care to hunt with, lever-action rifles make great hunters. Lever-action rifles often have a very decent round capacity, which may help a newer hunter put shots on target that count yet have more available should they miss with their first round. 
 

Lever-Action Tactical Rifles

That’s right, you can have a “tactical” lever action, and we’re not just talking about those used in the cowboy action shooting circles, though those were probably considered tactical at the time. Available with good capacity, tactical lever-action rifles contain Picatinny rails for accessories and some easily break down, making them a good choice for your bug-out bag or if you need to hike into where you’ll be shooting. 

Pump Action

They may not be as popular as pump-action shotguns, but pump-action rifles are equally reliable and resistant to adverse and extreme conditions. Also known as slide action, pump-action rifles are well-suited for hunting and can make excellent general purpose rifles.

Revolver Action 

Just as it sounds, a revolver-action rifle operates like a revolver with a rotating five or six-round cylinder. Colt first produced revolver-action rifles in the mid-1800s, some of which were used by Pony Express riders and some on Civil War battlefields. The design generally has some flaws, and while later iterations solved some of the issues, revolver actions remain a niche market. 
 

Single Shot

A single-shot rifle is a rifle that literally holds only a single round at a time. It must be manually loaded each time the shooter fires. Historically, muzzleloaders are single-shot rifles and were used for any and every rifle need.
 

Single-Shot Hunting Rifles

Yes, you can hunt with a single-shot rifle. Sometimes, they’re the only type of rifle allowed in the field – think big game muzzleloader season and primitive weapon season. Both of those are considered single-shot rifles. 

Single shots are also known to be very accurate. Experienced, confident hunters will use a single shot reciting the old adage, “One shot, one kill,” on their big game hunts.
 

Youth Single-Shot Rifles

A great choice for teaching new shooters, the single shot is exceptional especially for teaching young new shooters. They’re simple to load, simple to operate and only hold one shot. This can greatly minimize the chance for an accident with an inexperienced operator, especially if they’re younger. 

By learning the basics using a single shot, a young shooter will be able to focus on what they need to – the basics, until they’re proficient and ready to move up to a different style rifle.